January 14th, 2011
Cartagena, Colombia
Crystal Cruises is excited about their new You Care, We Care initiative now available on every sailing… and even more so after the first was such a success! Guests aboard Crystal Serenity stopped in Cartagena, Colombia on Saturday to help the Foundacion Granitos de Paz plant local organic gardens and general facility repairs.
All participants enjoyed the ability to better interact and learn from the local community – more than one typically gains from just disembarking for the afternoon. Bravo! Upcoming You Care, We Care programs are:
Lima, Peru – Brightening the environment of the children at the ANQUIEM Burn rehabilitation center with arts & crafts
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Assisting the PEACE organization in beach cleanup and community beautification, including possibly helping in light construction at a local green space.
Santa Lucia, Uruguay – Contribute to the SOS-Children’s Village–an NGO village which provides a family-based infrastructure for raising children without parental care—via cookie-baking, handcrafting, painting, or gardening.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Join RIOVOLUNTARIO in engaging local orphans in recreational activities such as face painting or traditional Brazilian games
Marigot Bay, St. Martin – Help the St. Maartin Pride Foundation’s conservation of local culture and historical landmarks via painting a school or community center
Honolulu, HI – Learn about local geology and preservation of ecosystems via weeding at Makapu’u Beach Native Coastal Plant Preserve
Astoria, OR – Assist “Friends of Fort Stevens” with the restoration and cleaning efforts of the grounds, trails, and camping sites at the much-revered, 84 year-old Fort Stevens State Park
January 13th, 2011
Who says thirteen has to be an unlucky combination? U.S. News and World Report recently released its top thirteen destinations for this year – and we felt only fitting to share today!
13. Stockholm, Sweden
12. Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
11. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
10. New York City, U.S.
9. Wellington, New Zealand
8. Valencia, Spain
7. Seoul, South Korea
6. Sri Lanka
5. Copenhagen, Denmark
4. Salta, Argentina
3. Northern Tunisia, Africa
2. Melbourne, Australia
1. Istanbul, Turkey
Park Hyatt is clearly ahead of the curve with hotels in #7 – Seoul, #2 – Melbourne, and #1 – Istanbul (and on the way in #10 – New York) – and for those interested in checking out #6 – Sri Lanka Banyan Tours & Travels offers several itineraries around the up and coming island.
If Stockholm has been recently added to your list thanks to a girl with a striking tattoo, consider taking a Crystal Cruise to the North Cape and relive the action from the pages on the Stieg Larson’s Stockholm Shore Excursion.
Participants will go on a walking tour of the island of Södermalm and a one-hour visit to iconic City Hall, and architectural masterpiece designed by Swedish architect Ragnar Östberg. Continue by bus past the fashionable Östermalm district, the Royale Dramatic Theater, the city center and the colorful Hötorget market, and the island of Kungsholmen. Lastly guests will stop at Fjällgatan to see the Royale Palace, Parliament building, and Royale Opera House.
January 7th, 2011
This Valentine’s Day 30 lucky couples will learn all about the importance of body heat. Igloobase is open each winter as an idyllic winter wonderland escape and is partnering with Victoria-Jungfrau Collection to make February 14 a little more special (and memorable!).
Couples will enjoy romantic poem readings, musical performances, and a fire show before taking part in the action with waltz or a tango lessons on the frozen Lake Hinterstockensee. After working up an appetite, participants will enjoy an intimate meal at the Panorama Restaurant at the top of the mountain (at 7,185 feet) before returning down to the valley for an overnight stay at Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa. The “Fire & Flame” package for two is 260 Swiss Francs (about $270) and includes transfers, dinner, and the shows. The best reason we’ve encountered to brave the cold!
January 4th, 2011
Don’t you want to kiss that friendly face? Visit Shakti 360° Leti to taste the culinary creations from resident chef, Yeshi. The former Buddhist monk trained under Australian food celebrity, Christine Manfield, and now prepares both authentic Himalayan cuisine like momos, jholi, and bal mithai and Western comfort foods for guests daily.
In addition to preparing celebratory meals, he can also preside over traditional Buddhist ceremonies for guests. Two birds, one stone!
January 3rd, 2011
The holiday blizzards and residual slush have us longing for a tropical respite. Get a taste of the Caribbean when the Jolly Boys come to New York. This mainly septuagenarian mento band has been playing since its start at Errol Flynn’s parties in the 40s. They just released a CD of covers featuring an amazing rendition of Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab.” (See the youtube video to get a feel for their totally unique style.) There are two chances to catch the band while in NYC, so crack open a Red Stripe, close your eyes, and pretend you’re in Jamaica.
When and Where:
January 8, 2011 at the B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
January 13, 2011 at the Hiro Ballroom
December 23rd, 2010
Anantara’s artist-in-residence Christopher Hogan led local orphans in arts and crafts lessons this week at Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa in the Maldives. As part of the company’s ongoing collaboration with the local community, ten children created works that will be sold at the resort over the holidays. All profits will be donated to the Children’s House, the best kind of souvenir!
December 22nd, 2010
While headlines may be predicting doomsday airline fee hikes for 2011, Continental Airlines is bucking the trend and will be offering great rates to Albuquerque all year! As long as tickets are booked at least two weeks in advance, one way tickets are $99 for all travel (no blackout dates!) through November 3, 2011.
Visit the city with 300-days of annual sunshine and some 30 events and festivals annually and catch the view from Hotel Parq Central’s rooftop Apothecary Lounge. Or plan ahead (New Year’s resolution!) and experience the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, to be held October 1-9, 2011, known as the world’s most photographed event!
December 22nd, 2010
You can’t consider yourself a true jetsetter until you’ve caught sight of a Whale Shark on its annual circumglobal path. The gentle giants swim in tropical and warm temperate seas (rich in plankton) – for geography junkies, usually between latitudes 30° N and 35° S – and for laymen anywhere from Australia to Belize, and the Maldives to Madagascar.
December 10th, 2010
When planning a vacation, it’s sometimes hard to know if you’re really getting the best deal or seeing the most authentic ‘non-tourist’ spots. It’s even more difficult when traveling to a destination for the first time! If India is on your must-see list (for the first time, or a return trip), don’t board the plane without consulting with Lucy Davison of Banyan Tours & Travels.
Not only does Lucy have clout with India’s top hotels—translating into superior availability during peak travel times—but she has personally selected the best rooms in the palace hotels and will reserve only those rooms for her clients. Her goal is to bring clients into cultural moments ordinarily off-limits to travelers—weddings, school speech days, obscure festivals with costumed cows—and loves to arrange surprises based around her clients’ personal interests: a private Sufi music performance for an aficionado, for instance.
December 8th, 2010
While it is confirmed that the first 300 US audience members for Oprah’s Australian taping have touched down, sources remain tight-lipped about Oprah’s personal plans for her visit down under. All that is known: she will be in Sydney on December 14 to record two shows at the ”Oprah House”, and access to the surrounding area will be blocked. In fact, local bus schedules have been changed and there will be a maritime exclusion zone imposed.
The leaked filming location dubbed the “Oprah House” sounds a little too much like the “Opera House” – the iconic setting in Sydney Harbor and just across the water from Park Hyatt Sydney. If you’re lucky enough to be in Sydney to enjoy its warm Southern Hemisphere weather… and chance an Oprah sighting… visit Park Hyatt Sydney before transportation is too restricted and gawk from the rooftop pool that overlooks the harbor. There have also been reports Oprah will be staying there as well!