Jetsettersblog

Adventure Travel Website ‘Off the Radar

Off the Radar travels far and wide to bring readers information about unusual and difficult-to-find adventure destinations and tour operators. In three short years of operation, it has become an invaluable resource for adventure travelers, travel writers, and tour operators.

Off the Radar is establishing a reputation for “breaking” the news about emerging operators and destinations in the media - some examples include:

• In May 2008, Off the Radar featured a range of itineraries and operators in Assam, India; later this year this remote NE Indian state will likely be the subject of a PBS television show

• Protect the Earth, Protect Yourself (www.PEPYride.org) non-profit organization and adventure tour operator offering cycle trips and volunteering in Cambodia was featured in Off the Radar’s Aug 2006 issue; by April 2007 PEPY was gracing the pages of National Geographic Adventure magazine

Sample advertising opportunities with Off the Radar include: mention of the company and its product or service in the ‘Try This’ feature column, sponsorship of the monthly photo contest, banner ads, and sponsored ads in the Off the Radar newsletter which is sent to over 600 subscribers each month. Bundled advertising packages are available.

Please contact paigestringer@xolaconsulting.com for a full menu of options, rate cards and further details.

In 2005, Xola Consulting (www.xolaconsulting.com) launched Off the Radar (www.travelofftheradar.com) to bring passionate, independent travelers reliable information about entrepreneurial adventure companies around the world – those who provide guests with a genuine, personal experience; who believe in sustainable, environmentally sensitive travel; and who believe in incorporating the local people and traditions of the places where they operate.

Snowboards On Sale Right now

Ski Tour Operator Erna Low Gears Up For Season

• Exciting new resorts and properties worldwide
• Free FlexiPlus Eurotunnel upgrade
• Improved Google Maps locator facility
• Choice of travel and accommodation only arrangements
• Price Match Guarantee
• Save up to 20% with Early Booking Discounts*

Erna Low, the best independent ski operator to France as voted by Maison de la France in the 2008 British Travel Trade Awards, introduces another adrenaline packed ski brochure for the 2008/09 season.

This comprehensive bumper brochure includes even more resorts in France, Switzerland and British Columbia, Canada while ever popular resorts like Flaine, Les Arcs, La Plagne and Serre Chevalier offer impressive new properties.

Underlining Erna Low’s great arrangement with Eurotunnel, travellers can again take advantage of Erna Low’s free FlexiPlus upgrade which allows priority check-in and priority boarding and access to the FlexiPlus lounge facilities.**

“Our clients will enjoy the new season’s brochure,” says Jane Bolton, Managing Director Erna Low Ski, “particularly the increased choice of upmarket self catering we offer however we are mindful of the possibility of the credit crunch and our holidays offer exceptional value for money. Flexibility and choice is still key; we offer budget to luxury, short breaks, weekends and longer stays, accommodation only or a full package.”

Skiers and snowboarders can find an even greater selection of properties on the Erna Low web site: www.ernalow.co.uk  and should check out the latest Google Maps™ to find the perfect location of the residence and resort before booking either online, by email or by telephone: 0845 863 0525. “Our online booking facility is proving popular but our experienced sales team is here for those who need advice and guidance on their holiday choice,” continues Jane.

Erna Low offers a Price Match Guarantee on all self-drive holidays and is happy to beat the cost if found cheaper and available from another UK tour operator.

California - surf, sun and ….snow

It snows in California….who knew? Famous for long stretches of golden, sandy beaches and months of dazzling sunshine, few Australians know that California is also home to 30 ski resorts meaning you really can ski and surf in the same day.

While there are ski regions throughout the state perhaps the best known areas can be found at Lake Tahoe, Mammoth and Big Bear. North Lake Tahoe alone has 12 resorts, giving it the highest concentration of ski resorts in North America.

Only four hours drive from San Francisco, ‘the Big Blue’ as Lake Tahoe is affectionately known is an astoundingly beautiful but also very comfortable place to ski. The benefits range from the average 10-metres of snow and 300 days of sunshine annually – more than San Diego. At an altitude of 1,900 metres it is an easy environment to acclimatise to meaning skiers won’t feel they are in the ‘nose-bleed’ section. Lake Tahoe enjoys a long ski season – resorts are open from December sometimes right through to April.

One thing all visitors to the region comment on is the beauty of the lake – a federally protected lake known for its crystal clear water and vivid blue hues. The second deepest lake in the United States it never freezes over with the effect being skiers and boarders often feel like they are skiing right down into the lake.

The Australian snowfields are coming off one of the best seasons in years, so for those needing an extra hit of the white stuff this year now is the time to get in and book a trip to the California skifields.

www.visitcalifornia.com.au and www.visitcaliforniasnow.com.au

Fresh New Look For Family Skiing

The Ski Famille winter 2008/09 brochure is out now. A clear magazine style format enables families to quickly get to grips with what’s on offer from the leading family ski specialist.

Managing Director Chris Thompson explains the new approach “Brochures are often dragged down by page after page of descriptive text, small images, confusing price panels and boring small print. We wanted to create a crisp design that quickly gives readers a feel for what our holidays are all about. To get to the nitty gritty they can then visit our website or pick up the phone and speak to our expert team.”

To download a copy of the brochure (.pdf approx 2MB) visit: THIS LINK.

The 2008/09 season also sees the introduction of a stunning new flagship chalet for Ski Famille in Les Gets, France. Chalet Les Chats Bleus offers up to 13 guests luxurious all en-suite accommodation beside the piste. Visitors will enjoy modern design, stunning views and little indulgences like an outdoor hot tub.

The property was designed for Ski Famille and includes family suites, as first seen in the firm’s Chalet Le Marjorie, also in Les Gets.

Family skiing holidays with Ski Famille start from £495 per adult and £430 per child. Infants are £395 on all dates. All holidays are in well located catered chalets in the heart of the French Alps and include 5 days of free childcare. Packages include either Channel crossings or Geneva airport transfers.

For more details visit www.skifamille.co.uk  or call 0845 64 437 64

Frontier Ski’s 2008 – 2009 Brochure

Packed with exciting ideas for this coming Winter’s ski holidays, the new Frontier Ski brochure features the pick of Canada’s best accommodation in the country’s top resorts.

Five star luxury awaits at the Four Seasons’ Resort in Whistler, there is a warm and friendly welcome at Nancy Greene’s Cahilty Lodge in Sun Peaks and pure indulgence is on offer at The Post Hotel in Lake Louise. Add in dozens of high quality hotels, resorts and lodges from Tremblant to Big White and there is no need to look any further than Frontier Ski for Canadian holidays.

For those looking for the ultimate in ski holidays then Frontier can offer luxuries such as U.K. airport lounge access and private hotel transfers. They can also offer chauffeur transfers in the U.K., concierge services in resort and upgrades on flights.

Experts on Canada for 17 years, Frontier are also in a prime position to be able to offer the best in extensions and excursions on holidays. Perhaps add a couple of nights in Vancouver to a stay in Whistler or maybe even some whale watching on Vancouver Island? Montreal is the perfect addition to a visit to Tremblant, with its vibrant nightlife and tremendous shopping.

After yet another great Winter for snow, Canada surely has to be high on the list of destinations to choose in 2008-2009. Frontier also have dozens of early booking offers available too, to make that visit to Canada even more attractive.

Prices start from £735, at the Hilton Homewood Suites, Tremblant, early December departure, including scheduled flights, transfers and seven nights’ accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, twin share.

Frontier Ski: Telephone 020 8776 8709 or visit www.frontier-ski.co.uk

Scotland’s winter festivals

With an exciting line-up of festivals and events this winter, Scotland makes the perfect winter getaway destination. Flights direct to Edinburgh and Glasgow - cities just 45 minutes away from each other - are operated by Delta Airlines and Continental Airlines year-round.

Edinburgh’s Christmas is a month-long festival which runs from late November through late December, offering festive celebrations with fireworks, markets, Christmas lights, entertainment and the iconic Winter Wonderland. The Big Wheel will provide stunning views of the city, and the Highland Village-style market will showcase food, clothing and jewelry from all over Scotland.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay takes place over four days at the end of 2008 and will include a Torchlit Procession, the Night Afore Celebrations and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party, culminating with the concert and fireworks to mark the new year. Downtown Edinburgh will be buzzing with processions, street theater, live music and ceiledhs.

Celtic Connections takes place in Glasgow from January 14 through February 1, 2009. The music festival includes leading names in folk and world music performing at venues across the city, and is Britain’s premier Celtic music festival featuring more than 300 concerts, ceilidhs, talks and workshops.

January 25, 2009 marks the 250th anniversary of Scotland’s cultural icon Robert Burns. On this night every year, people in the four corners of the globe mark the Bard’s birth with poems, music, merriment and of course haggis. But for the ultimate cultural experience, travelers should head to a Burns Supper in his hometown of Ayr; Dumfries, where he lived and died; Edinburgh (or Auld Reekie as he referred to it), where he made his name, or indeed Glasgow, which houses the largest collection of Burns artifacts in the world. On Burns Night, restaurants and hotels will offer special menus and traditional entertainment.

Websites: www.edinburghswinterfestivals.com; www.celticconnections.com ; www.visitscotland.com/burns

Edinburgh Pass The Edinburgh Pass, it your passport to explore Edinburgh, allowing you to see and save more. The Edinburgh Pass lets you visit as many attractions as you wish from museums, art exhibitions, fine dining and shopping. Using this electronic smart card is a quick and hassle-free way to see the best of Edinburgh.Every card comes with a FREE guidebook with helpful information on the establishments associated with the card, as well as area maps - BOOK NOW!

Whistler Blackcomb Peak 2 Peak Gondola

ARRIVE IN WHISTLER AFTER 18,000KM/11,000 MILE JOURNEY

Critical components arrive after 11 week journey from Switzerland to Whistler

Five cable reels for Whistler Blackcomb’s PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola are in the homestretch of a 18,000 kilometre/11,000 mile journey as they arrived by train in Whistler in the evening of Tuesday, June 17. After travelling over 11 weeks via truck, barge, boat and rail; the final leg of the journey consists of a literal push from the Whistler valley to the Blackcomb PEAK 2 PEAK lift station located at 1860 metres/6,102 feet.

“Navigating the final route from the Mons Road rail siding in Whistler will be our biggest challenge of the entire project,” says Hermann Amsz, OmniTrans Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, the transportation logistics company that has coordinated the details of this epic journey.

A German built Goldhofer trailer shipped from Montreal will transport the reels up Blackcomb Mountain’s gravel access road. Besides 48 wheels, the trailer features a hydraulic sliding system, which enables the reels to be loaded from the railcars in Whistler, and then unloaded on Blackcomb Mountain, without a crane.

A great deal of work has been completed on Blackcomb’s access road to accommodate the heavy haulage trailer consisting of four sections with six axles each.

With eight wheels on each axle, this specialized trailer is specifically designed for extremely heavy loads. Maneuvering this massive trailer up a gravel mountain road will be no simple feat. Due to the extreme weight of each reel, the trailer will be pulled and pushed up the mountain road with two all terrain, off-road haul trucks. All reels will be placed at the lift station ready for stringing by the end of the week.

The cables, or ropes as they are known in the ski industry, are critical components of the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola. Almost every rope installed at Whistler Blackcomb originates from FATZER AG’s Swiss factory, and all lift ropes are constantly monitored and inspected by FATZER representatives long after installation.

“To be part of the PEAK 2 PEAK project and to work together with Whistler Blackcomb’s team, who we found to be as dedicated to their jobs as we are, is a great privilege and honour,” says Peter Kuenzle, FATZER AG General Manager. “Our specialists will be present when the installation of the ropes starts. Our service does not stop when the ropes are sold - that is when our service starts.”

The initial “straw lines” were flown by helicopter to connect Whistler and Blackcomb on June 9 and 16. With these ultra-light connections in place the real work can begin. It is a 12 to 14 week process of pulling progressively larger cables across the 4.4km/2.73 mile span until the final track and haul ropes are in place. The cable stringing will be managed by lift manufacturer and a ski industry leader, Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group.

“The cable that has arrived will connect our two world class mountains,” says Dave Brownlie, Whistler Blackcomb President & Chief Operating Officer. “With all four towers erected and tremendous progress being made on each lift terminal, getting the cable to Whistler to begin the stringing process is another exciting milestone towards the completion of the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola.”

Cable Stats

A total of 28 kilometres/18 miles of cable

Track Rope

Four reels weighing 90 metric tones

Mass: 18 kilograms/metre or 13 pounds/foot

Diametre: 56 mm – full locked coil construction

Haul Rope

One reel of haul rope weighing 80 metric tones

Mass: 8 kilograms/metre or 6 pounds/foot

Diametre: 46mm – full locked coil construction

Inghams A Cut Above for snow holidays

Inghams Travel, the winter sports specialist with almost 75 years of experience, is launching its new Ski & Snowboard brochure.

The brochure offers a choice of over 90 resorts in 14 countries worldwide from Japan in the East to Canada in the West. With departures from 23 UK airports, prices start from £250 per person for a week in Europe and from £484 for a week in Canada with flights and transfers. It also offers a range of fun activity snow experiences as an alternative to down hill skiing, for those who want to escape for a winter holiday and do something a little different.

Seven new resorts have been introduced and include Les Menuires in France, with excellent affordable access to the 600kms of skiing in the vast Three Valleys; Gressoney, in Italy, at the heart of the 180km Monterosa Ski region is perfect for experts; Serfaus and Fiss in Austria, are suitable for intermediate skiers and families searching for luxury Austrian alpine holidays; Bad Gastein, a charming spa town, offers great skiing for all abilities and is also a perfect choice for non-skiers with prepared walking paths and the famous thermal spa baths. For the North American experience head to Winter Park, an affordable family holiday destination in the heart of the Colorado Rockies; Kicking Horse, in Canada, offers enticing Canadian backcountry terrain.

For those who want a quick fix, ski short break winter destinations are very popular. The appeal lies in the fact that flights, transfers and accommodation are all arranged as a package and are ideal for those who lead busy lifestyles. New short breaks of three and four nights have been added to our existing portfolio in the leading resorts of Zürs, Kitzbühel and Zell am See in Austria.

Last winter there was a marked increase in holidaymakers who are looking for more than just a ski experience. Inghams has added more Santa Short Breaks to Lapland, whilst in Switzerland, Canada, Austria and Lapland additional activities include experiencing the Northern Lights, sleeping in a glass igloo gazing at the stars, ice-driving, ice-karting, winter walking on cleared paths, snowshoe trekking, dog sledding, snowmobiling, winter walking trails, train excursions, ice fishing, Gold panning and spa treatments.

For ski and board enthusiasts more technical clinics are available in La Thuile and Courmayeur in Italy. Inghams are pleased to introduce “Warren Smith’s Ski Academy” for a five day course in Japan. Famous for excellence in training intermediate and advanced skiers, the academy concentrates on increasing skills and boosting confidence for skiers to tackle the whole mountain. With snowfalls on average of up to 8 metres per season, this will be the course to try out the best Hokkaido powder.

Rather than fly, why not relax and enjoy the sense of adventure of an international rail journey whisking you across Europe to your mountain destination? New day time services from London St Pancras to all 12 Inghams’ Swiss resorts are available. Inghams has always been at the forefront offering a wider choice of regional departure airports than other ski operators. This winter new charter flights from Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham to Brescia and an expanded service to Turin serving the Italian resorts have been added. It will be easier for skiers to get to the slopes from Leeds-Bradford with flights to Salzburg and Geneva. But if you prefer to drive to the slopes this winter, a saving of up to £200 per person is available for self-drive, using P&O Ferries.

Litsa Constantinou, Chief Executive, said “Following a fantastic season last winter, the Inghams ski programme continues to grow from strength to strength. The introduction of new resorts in five countries will further enhance the most comprehensive range of ski holidays on the market. Inghams is also taking positive steps to make our business more sustainable as we know that we need to invest in our future. We are helping our accommodation suppliers develop sustainable social and environmental practices.

Inghams are using the Travelife Sustainability System. Our partners have been invited for assessment and the top performers will be awarded with a Travelife accreditation of Bronze, Silver or Gold. While encouraging our suppliers to be more environmentally responsible, the scheme will help clients make more informed choices about where clients will go on holiday”

Ski holiday prices rise by 7-8 per cent

The price of ski holidays for next year has risen by around 7-8 per cent compared with last season but bookings have not yet been affected, according to Crystal Ski.

Speaking at the launch of the operator’s annual ski report, managing director Mathew Prior said the increasing price of fuel and the poor sterling/euro exchange rate had left companies with no choice but to put prices up.

“Prices have gone up on average by 7-8 per cent and slightly more than that in peak season,” he said.

“But there are good early booking offers to temper the effects. However, you can’t get away from the fact that prices have had to rise. For US trips, the rises are slightly smaller.”

Prior said bookings for the 2008-09 season were strong, despite the uncertain economy.

“Demand for next year is pretty good,” he said. “There’s no evidence yet of people trading down. Skiing is not just a holiday, it’s a hobby, a pastime and we expect the ski holiday to remain an unavoidable fixture in the calendar.

“However, people may become more selective about who they travel with and what they buy.”

Crystal’s predictions of hot resorts for next season are Whistler in Canada, Formigal in Spain, Ischgl in Austria, Finnish resorts such as Levi, and Davos and Klosters in Switzerland.

Prior said his tip for families was to travel at Easter.

“It’s a great time for families. The weather can be warm with good snow. It’s easy to get obsessed by half term but there are other options.”