Jetsettersblog

According to Mr. Sérgio Gaudenzi, President of the Brazilian Company for Airports Infrastructure (INFRAERO), the airport of Campinas (Viracopos) is among the Brazilian airports due to receive the highest investments from PAC (Program of Growth Acceleration - the government initiative which aims to attract foreign investments for key infrastructure projects in Brazil). “Viracopos will be the most important airport till 2030 and can well become the largest one in the South hemisphere”, declared Gaudenzi.

The expansion plan of Viracopos foresees - in the short run - the construction of extra landing lanes, an additional terminal and the high-speed train connection with the International Airport of Guarulhos (Cumbica).

To celebrate the opening of its five new deluxe bungalows, Ponta dos Ganchos, the exclusive beach resort located on Brazil’s pristine southern coast, is auctioning the inaugural weekend stay (Dec. 5 to 7) in each Emerald villa bungalow, with proceeds going to charity. It’s an opportunity for travelers to be the first to experience the villas along the water’s edge while contributing to a worthy cause.

Situated on a private peninsula along Brazil’s Emerald Coast, Ponta dos Ganchos is a haven for beach lovers who appreciate laid-back elegance and seclusion.

The award-winning Relais & Châteaux resort features 25 private bungalows overlooking the water, each rustically refined and designed to be in harmony with the natural surroundings.

The four new 2,455-square-foot Emerald Villa Bungalows and one 3,210-square-foot Special Emerald Villa Bungalow, opening in December, will add a new dimension of luxury to Ponta dos Ganchos.

The bungalows feature dry saunas and Jacuzzis with sea views, personal spa areas with massage tatamis, wine cellars, and private decks and plunge pools, as well as music systems, Internet connections, and flat-screen TVs. The Special Emerald Villa Bungalow also includes an in-villa fitness center.

To commemorate the opening, the resort will give back to the community by contributing all of the money generated from its silent auction to the charity, Instituto Guga Kuerten.

Founded by Brazilian tennis champion Gustavo Kuerten, Instituto Guga Kuerten (www.igk.org.br) is dedicated to helping underprivileged children in the region enjoy access to after-school sports programs and supports organizations that aid people with disabilities. Kuerten is a beloved Brazilian sports figure who has worked tirelessly to mobilize philanthropic activities in his country.

The silent auction is open until 4:30 p.m. (local time) on Oct. 31, and the minimum bid for each bungalow is 30 percent less than the standard weekend rate, offering travelers further incentive to participate. The minimum bids for the weekend (two nights/double occupancy) are Emerald Villa Bungalows (four units), $2,560; and Special Emerald Villa Bungalow, $3,360. Travelers may make a bid by calling Ponta dos Ganchos reservations at 011-55-48-3953-7000, 877-8BOOK PDG. E-mails, containing contact information, desired bungalow, and bid amount, should be sent to reservas@pontadosganchos.com.br.

For more information about the services and amenities of Ponta dos Ganchos, visit www.pontadosganchos.com

The historical center of the city of João Pessoa, Capital of the State of Paraíba, has been declared as national heritage by the Institute of National Heritage and Culture (IPHAN) of the Ministry of Culture of Brazil. Founded in 1585, João Pessoa, situated at the easternmost point in the Americas, is considered by UNESCO as the second greenest city in the world (after Paris) .

The Tourism Board of the City of Rio de Janeiro (RIOTUR) is making preparations to coordinate the implementation of a tourist bus tours service/fleet to serve the major tourism attractions of the City. The process of selecting and issuing the operational licences should be done in the later part of 2008. According to RIOTUR, the bus should be operational in the beginning of 2009.

AA AND DELTA AIRLINES START

Based on a bilateral agreement, the US Department of Transportation authorized Delta and American Airlines to operate new flights to Brazil. As per November, American Airlines will operate daily flights between Miami-Salvador-Recife and three flights per week between Miami and Belo Horizonte. Delta Airlines will operate daily flights in the route Atlanta-Manaus and four times a week between Atlanta-Recife-Fortaleza, scheduled to start in December. TAM should get from the Brazilian Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) the authorization to operate 7 new flights to the USA.

The interest around the International Airport of Manaus (Eduardo Gomes) is partly due to the increase of air freight from the Capital of Amazonas State. The airport of Manaus registered an increase of 13,2% in cargo movement in relation to the same period in 2007. The Cargo Logistic Terminal (TECA) – the company handling cargo in Manaus – transported 90 tons of cargo from January to July 2008, which is third place among Brazilian airports, only behind the airports of Guarulhos/São Paulo and Viracopos/Campinas.

The Brazilian low-cost airline “Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras S.A.” – due to start its operation in January 2009 - made it public that it will offer its clients a millage loyalty program and that its reservations system will be fully operational as per November.

Azul plans to offer 25 Brazilian destinations avoiding the busiest hubs, to explore new routes and/or to develop new gateways not yet being offered by other Brazilian airlines. Azul aims to operate a fleet of 20 Embraer 195.

The Equatorial airline TAME started offering two flights per week from Manaus to Quito. The flights depart from Manaus on Mondays and Thursdays, making a stop in Guayaquil. With a duration of three hours, TAME will initially operate the flight with an Embraer 170, with a capacity of 76 passengers. If the flight meets TAME’s expectations, the company will use the Embraer 190 (100 passengers).

Located in a privately-owned reserve 160 km west of Manaus, AMAZONAT JUNGLE LODGE – a Dutch enterprise – opened recently the RIVER LODGE, a floating hotel carefully designed to allow fishers and tourists to experience an adventure in the Amazon region.

 Surrounded by a huge diversity of unspoiled ecosystems and abundant wildlife, River Lodge is the only eco-accomodation located in the area that can easily take visitors to three nearby rivers (Amazon, Urubu and Preto da Eva River). It is situated close to an Indian reservation, with access to primary and secondary forests at its doorstep.

The management of AMAZONAT is in the hands of Jacques and Cristina van Egeraat, who started the “Amazonat Project” 10 years ago. It has grown over the years to include a reserve of over 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) with a Jungle Lodge, the new River Lodge and a Jungle Survival Camp.

Jacques and Cristina’s dream is to do their part in preserving this beautiful and important part of the world. By making it accessible to visitors, showing and teaching them about the Amazon rainforest and the delicate balance of its many ecosystems, they hope to raise awareness of the importance of preserving this unique and wonderful asset.

Through ecotourism they are also able to provide local communities with an alternate way to make a living other than from cutting the rainforest for farming or logging, while also developing their appreciation and understanding of the importance of conserving their surroundings.

Following their wish to open a subsidiary abroad, Jan and Monique Ruiter finally conquered their share of a sunny diving paradise in Brazil.

They have operated a diving school in Rotterdam since 1995 and, in March 2008, they opened their subsidiary in Fortaleza, Capital of the State of Ceará, in the Northeastern region of Brazil (“Nordeste”).

“After visiting Fortaleza a couple of times and exploring diving possibilities in the region, we realized that this place had everything!”

“We were considering and searching for a place with stable weather, beautiful beaches, pretty good diving conditions, but also that had easy connections to Europe, affordable living standards and not over-populated with diving schools.

 We found all that in Fortaleza, plus the overwhelming nature and hospitality of the locals.” 

 “Most of our clients come from the Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, Scandinavian countries and, naturally, many Brazilians.”

We are very pleased with the initiative and fully confident that we shall achieve the same success we gained in the Netherlands”.

Jan Ruiter dives since 1975, in 2000 he became professional Padi Dive Instructor and, in 2003, he was qualified to Padi Master Instructor.

Monique dives since 2000 and, besides taking care of the promotion activities of the school, she has also become a qualified diving assistant-instructor.

If the idea of nearly a third of a year off to go cruising sounds like your sort of a holiday, consider an amazing 101-nights from New York to Sydney and back to New York aboard Cunard’s grand Queen Mary 2 in 2010.

This ultimate in special anniversary, birthday or even retirement gifts to yourself (or an employee,) will visit 32 ports in 21 countries between January 4 and April 15 2010 and is selling through ecruising.travel at over 30-per cent below previously advertised prices.

A hotel night in New York pre-cruise, all 5-star onboard dining throughout the 101 nights cruise, a special World Cruise Celebration Dinner and complimentary World Cruise Gift, nightly Broadway-style shows and late-release movies, complimentary room service, gratuities, port charges, and transfers in New York are all included.

As well, an onboard spending credit of up to US$1000pp (depending on cabin category) is included in the price that starts from $24,999pp twin-share – a saving of $10,750pp – with free cabin upgrades on select cabin categories, and an additional 5% off for past Cunard guests.

Air travel and taxes are additional; for full information and a detailed itinerary phone 1300 369 848 or visit www.ecruising.travel

ITINERARY DETAILS: Queen Mary 2 will sail 7-nights across the Atlantic to Southampton, then Lisbon, Civitavecchia for Rome, Port Said (Cairo,) Safaga for Luxor and Karnak, Muscat, Dubai, Mumbai, Phuket, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hong Kong where she will overnight.

From Hong Kong she sails on to Shanghai, Nagasaki, Yokohama for Tokyo, Guam, Rabaul, the Whitsunday Islands, Auckland, the Bay of Islands, Sydney (overnight,) Adelaide, Perth, Port Louis in Mauritius, Durban, Cape Town (overnight,) St Helena, Rio de Janeiro, Barbados, Fort Lauderdale and New York.

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