Peckham Pearls Limited, at Matei, Taveuni, is now offering snorkeling tours of their pearl farm to travelers. The pearl farm is located in the Naselesele Lagoon, a two-minute boat ride from Audrey’s Beach. Tours depart Mondays through Fridays in a fiberglass boat, and run between an hour and one and a half hours in duration.

Participants are taken on a snorkel tour to the pearl farm and the coral heads next to and around the pearl shed.

The farm is around 45 feet deep while the area around the coral heads is around 12 to 15 feet deep at high tide.

The cost of the tour is FJ$25 per adult and FJ$12 per child aged six to eleven.

Information:

peckhampearls@connect.com.fj

This offer is valid for sale through December 31, 2009 for travel through May 31, 2010.

Blackout dates include
December 25, 2009—January 10, 2010.

Information: www.manafiji.com

In honor of the newly remodeled and refurbished 30-room property, Garden Island Resort, Fiji has unveiled an unbeatable reopening special featuring seven-nights in an ocean-view room priced at only US$375 per person.

The package includes:

• Seven nights accommodation in an ocean view room
• Roundtrip airport/resort/airport transfers
• Free continental breakfast daily
• Thirty-minute massage
• Half-day Soqulu golf and country club tour with lunch
• Honeymooners receive “sulu” and fruit basket on arrival

Guests have the option of adding five days of diving to this package for US$424 per person, or a daily meal plan for US$55 per person per day.

Upgrade to an ocean view garden room for US$20 per person/per day with a minimum of seven nights stay.

The grand-reopening offer is valid for sale until November 15, 2009 for travel through May 15, 2010.

Information:

Debora@robertsrepresentation.com

Opened in 1992 and with major additions in 1998 and 2002, the Resort is stylish in both design and execution.

Native timbers, plantation shutters and Fijian architecture harmonize with modern interiors designed to please the most discerning guest.

Information: http://www.sonaisali.com

The vessel is ideal for bachelorette parties, wedding parties and honeymooners, fun day trips, champagne transfers and morning twilight cruises. Charter packages can be catered to suit any requirements. Wedding and celebration packages are also available, including all legalities, catering, bridal makeup and hairstyling.

Information: sales@senikaispas.com.fj

One of the world’s best beaches is now home to the pinnacle of luxury resorts, Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, the pride of Fiji’s Coral Cost.

At the Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, the authentic Fijian experience is available and easily accessible for pre-wedding getaways, wedding celebrations and honeymoons.

Intercontinental Fiji’s intimate wedding chapel overlooks the azure waters of Natadola Bay and has live video feed capabilities so friends and family can share in the day.

Guests can also choose to hold their wedding ceremony on the white sands of the west-facing Natadola Beach at dawn or dusk—with the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean.

Newmarket-on-Fergus and Castlemartyr, IRE — Ski spots and sunny seasides are all well and good, if a bit crowded and pricey during peak winter months. Something refreshingly different and delightfully relaxing awaits a few hours away – the luxurious resort estates of The Dromoland Collection.

Located in Ireland’s temperate western region, Dromoland Castle in County Clare and Castlemartyr Resort in County Cork are featuring three remarkable “Bed and Breakfast” mid-winter value packages – each with government tax and service charge inclusive.

The “bed” and “breakfast” — and dinner — included in these packages are only a few of the unique pleasures to be found at these majestic resorts.

Guests who revel in outdoor pursuits will find no finer locale to enjoy classic year-round Irish sporting activities, including world-class golfing at the resorts’ two courses, falconry, fishing, archery and clay shooting.

Those who fancy an educational experience will be entranced by the flora, fauna and natural history of these expansive estates and the surrounding areas of unspoiled Cork and Clare counties.

Cultural activities abound, of course, from history tours both on and off property to visits to art galleries and a cooking school. For those seeking a slower pace,

Dromoland Castle and Castlemartyr Resort are equally accommodating, as they feature soothing vistas, elegant yet welcoming great halls and galleries, the delightful ritual of afternoon tea and sumptuous spas with staff devoted to guests’ complete relaxation and rejuvenation.

At Dromoland Castle, one of Ireland’s finest castle hotels, the “Midweek Two Nights B&B and One Dinner” package, available until 28 April 2010, includes:

Two nights’ accommodation in a luxurious deluxe guestroom;
Full Irish breakfast daily (a treat not to be missed);

and A table d’hote dinner on one evening in the elegant yet intimate Earl of Thomond Restaurant.

Package rates are available starting at €260 for a Queen Anne Bedroom and €285 for a Deluxe Bedroom.

Also available at Dromoland Castle is the “Weekend Two Nights B&B with One Dinner” package featuring the same exceptional included items. Package rates begin at €310 per adult for a Queen Anne Bedroom and €335 for a Deluxe Bedroom. (available until 28 April 2010)

The refined-yet-glamorous Castlemartyr Resort is offering a “Weekend B&B and One Dinner” package, available until 4 May 2010, which includes:
Two nights’ deluxe accommodation in one of three categories of spacious and enchanting guestrooms;

Full Irish breakfast each morning; and

A Dinner on the evening of your choice at The Bell Tower.

Package rates are available beginning at: €550 for a Classic Room, €590 for a Deluxe Bedroom and €630 for a Junior Suite.

Rates are per room, minimum two adults and maximum two adults and one child.

The Dromoland Collection experience: a refreshingly different and delightfully relaxing winter escape.

The Dromoland Collection comprises Dromoland Castle and Castlemartyr Resort, two of Ireland’s finest and most celebrated hotels. The hotels in this collection embody the legendary Dromoland tradition of incomparable hospitality complemented by exquisite surroundings, yet each possesses a distinctive style, character and charm all its own.

About Dromoland Castle:

Dromoland Castle, located in Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare, was built in the 16th century.

Majestically set on the shores of Lough Dromoland, it is surrounded by over 410 acres of breathtaking scenery, including a championship parkland golf course.

Lavish interiors, fine food and superb wines complement the deluxe accommodations of the Castle’s 99 guest rooms, while Dromoland Castle Golf and Country Club, an intimate spa and traditional outdoor recreational opportunities ensure a unique guest experience.

Dromoland Castle is located at Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare, Ireland. The hotel can be contacted at: 011 353 61 368144 or 1-800-346-7007; website www.dromoland.ie

Reservations can be made through the hotel (sales@dromoland.ie) or through The Dromoland Collection at: www.dromolandcollection.ie

About Castlemartyr Resort:

Nestled in the unspoiled rolling countryside of East Cork near the ruins of an 800-year-old castle, Castlemartyr Resort’s crowning jewel is a classic 18th century manor house.

The Manor has been magnificently restored and elegantly enhanced to offer 103 deluxe guest rooms, gourmet dining, an expansive world-class spa and welcoming, impeccably styled interiors.

Opportunities for outdoor pursuits abound both on the estate, which includes an inland-links-style golf course designed by the renowned Ron Kirby, and in the surrounding region.

Castlemartyr Resort is located in Castlemartyr, Co. Cork, Ireland. The hotel can be contacted at: 011 353 21 4219000; website: www.castlemartyrresort.ie

Reservations can be made through the hotel (www.reception.castlemartyrresort.ie)   or through The Dromoland Collection at: www.dromolandcollection.ie  Read the Jetsetters Magazine feature about Dromoland Castle.

Lake Quinault Lodge in Washington’s majestic Olympic Peninsula is hosting another round of Quinault Quintessentials, a series of culinary weekends featuring dishes inspired by the Pacific Northwest.

Beginning Nov. 6-8, 2009, guests to Lake Quinault Lodge have the opportunity to spend the weekend with Executive Chef Patrick Norris, tasting and learning about the featured flavors of the region.

Opening with a sampling of local wines from Maryhill Winery, fruits and cheeses on Friday evening, Executive Chef Patrick Norris will host an intimate gastronomic weekend featuring cooking demonstrations, an elegant four-course dinner on Saturday and a breakfast on Sunday.

Washingtonians who want to try the tasty recipes for themselves – and stay at Lake Quinault Lodge at a reduced price – can take advantage of the historic resort’s “Culinary and Wine Weekend” lodging package. For $499* for the entire weekend, guests will receive a two-night stay in a Main Lodge View or Lakeside room, Welcome Wine Basket with two Lake Quinault wine glasses, recipe cards of the food demonstrations and access to all the weekend’s culinary festivities: meet the chef reception, cooking demonstration, four-course elegant dinner with wine pairings and breakfast buffet.

In between the weekend’s festivities, guests can unwind and take in the spectacular show of stunning fall colors around Lake Quinault.

With access to calming waterfalls, surrounding wildlife and more than 250 miles of trails through the emerald Quinault Rainforest—one of only three temperate rain forests in North America—Lake Quinault Lodge is an ideal local destination for an outdoor adventure or a relaxing retreat (after enjoying the tasty delights of Chef Norris).

Upcoming Quinault Quintessentials weekends will feature the following local wineries:

January 29-31, 2010 – Cadaretta Winery and Clayhouse Vineyards
March 19-21, 2010 – Cougar Crest Winery
May 21-23, 2010 – Maryhill Winery

Please see below for the complete weekend schedule. To find out more about the culinary weekends, or to book a package at Lake Quinault Lodge, please go to www.visitlakequinault.com  or call (866) 297-7367.

*Disclaimer: Package rate is based on double occupancy. Taxes additional. Additional persons pay for their own dinner and activity as well as the extra person room charge.

Weekend Schedule, Nov. 6 – 8, 2009
Friday, November 6th
6:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Meet the Chef Reception
Featured wines with a fruit and cheese selection

Saturday, November 7th
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Food and Wine Workshop
Cooking demos by Chef Patrick Norris

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Four course elegant dinner with wine pairings

Sunday, November 8th
8:00 am - 10:00 am
Chef attended breakfast buffet

Each town’s market has its own style, some with a medieval theme, some specialising in handicrafts but all of them brimming with atmosphere as shoppers browse the wooden stalls piled high with handmade gifts and decorations, and the scent of mulled wine and baking gingerbread wafts through the air.

The seven-night Christmas Time Cruise operates on two AMAWATERWAYS vessels, Amalyra and Amadolce, between Nuremberg and Budapest, with ample time in the markets at Regensburg, Linz, Vienna and, for Advent with a Hungarian flavour, Budapest.

There’s also an optional excursion to romantic Salzburg, a tour of the abbey at Melk and complimentary guided walks and tours in every port.
Departure dates are November 23 and 30 and December 7, 14, 21 and 28, and the `Christmas Time Cruise’ costs from £1,085 plus £56 port taxes, cruise-only. The itinerary operates in both directions, Nuremberg-Budapest and Budapest-Nuremberg.
Christmas Wonderland, operates between Trier and Amsterdam on M.S. Amacello and offers the chance to explore the bigger markets in some of Germany’s major cities as well as Amsterdam itself, with calls at Trier, Frankfurt, Cologne and Dusseldorf.

The market in Cologne, in the shadow of the magnificent cathedral, is especially impressive, while the snow-covered setting of Trier, Germany’s oldest city, is one of the most romantic, with 95 festively decorated wooden chalets laden with wooden toys, candles and glassware overlooked by the historic buildings of the main square.
Departures for this cruise are November 22, 29, December 6, 13 and 20, with prices from £1,085 plus £56 port tax, cruise-only.

Each AMAWATERWAYS cruise includes all meals on board (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, midnight snacks), unlimited wine with dinner, a daily sightseeing programme, on board folklore and musical performances, bicycles for use in port and free internet access.

Prices exclude flights, which can be booked with a multitude of airlines, flying into major European airports, usually with pre-arranged transfers to join the ships.

With this in mind, it has created a dedicated new service which will help take the stress and worry out of air travel and make it easier for customers to book all those extras which help make their flight even more enjoyable.

For many customers, a flight is the start of a well deserved holiday and Thomson Airways believes it should be a relaxed and memorable experience; not the part they dread the most. This new service, which launches on 15 September 2009, will allow customers who purchase reserved seating to select their own seat onboard the aircraft prior to flying, at no extra cost.

This will mean that they can say goodbye to the seat lottery which is in place on many low-cost carriers, and select the seat of their choice.

This new service will also allow customers to book flight extras including in-flight meals, extra luggage allowance and sports equipment carriage.

 For those extra special occasions, or just as a treat on the start of your holiday, customers can also book champagne and chocolates; all this at a touch of a button!

Carl Gissing, Director of Customer Services for Thomson Airways, comments: “This new online service makes things easier for our customers and removes the common worry many passengers have about sitting next to one another onboard a flight. So our customers can sit back and focus on the more important things; like enjoying their holiday!”

Customers who have booked extra legroom, premium seating or are on a premier* package with either Thomson or First Choice, will receive this service absolutely free. Alternatively, passengers can book reserved seating from as little as £6 per adult one-way.

This new online service is available for those customers due to travel from 1 November 2009 onwards.

All customers must be within 90 days of their inbound flight date to be able to access the service.