New Tours: Where Exotic Meets Luxury

Melding the unique experience of independent travel with the convenience of having someone else take care of the details, luxury tours open up exotic, hard-to-reach locales to the growing number of travelers who’ve “been there, done that” in all the usual destinations. Silk Road Treasure Tours’ 18-day In the Footsteps of Marco Polo tour begins in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, exploring legendary Samarkand and other UNESCO sites in Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan as it follows the ancient Silk Road through the heart of Central Asia. Highlights are insider tours, visits with local families and authentic dining.

International Expeditions, which pioneered small-group travel to remote nature destinations, offers a new Nicaragua tour combining Latin America’s most pristine and uncrowded natural attractions with luxurious lodging. Hailed as the new Costa Rica, Nicaragua offers premier wildlife reserves, colonial architecture and cultural riches previously experienced only by the most intrepid independent travelers. Like International Expeditions, Cox & Kings’ 2012 catalog encompasses worldwide adventures; new this year is the in-depth Grand Tour of North India, two weeks that include experiences such as watching the sun rise on the Taj Mahal.

Safari specialist Africa Odyssey offers luxurious wildlife viewing based at some of Tanzania’s best new bush camps. The 12-room Nomad Lamai Serengeti, opened in 2011, is uniquely situated to overlook the Great Migration and can be combined with other lodges, such as the Selous Safari Camp, for an all-inclusive customized experience. With less emphasis on luxury and more on getting close to a remote and endangered landscape, Great Canadian Travel Company offers a one-of-a-kind voyage sailing the length of Greenland’s west coast. Shore stops offer unparalleled opportunities to experience Greenland village life, watch icebergs calve from Eqi Glacier at close range and drink in the rugged coastline’s magnificent scenery. The Classic Greenland Coastal Voyage has 12 departures through August.

Comparing the Fine Print

Do skiers need hazardous sports coverage in their travel insurance? Does someone who has had a heart attack need extra “pre-existing condition” coverage? The answer to both may be “no,” according to Squaremouth, a website dedicated to comparing travel insurance policies from major insurers. The look-back period for pre-existing on many policies is only 180 days, but if your kids plan to join the resort’s slalom competition, they may need that extra sports coverage.

Live and Learn

Hotels can offer travelers a lot more than a room and meals — some teach the art of good living. At Boston’s Royal Sonesta, guests can learn the fine art of mixing perfect cocktails at ArtBar’s Classic Cocktail Classes. On the third Thursday of each month, guests can master two classic cocktails while enjoying appetizers and learning the history of the spirits being used.

DUS Goes Solar

Passengers flying in and out of Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) have a new sight, a field of 8,400 solar panels on an area as big as six soccer fields. The panels, which make up one of Germany’s largest photovoltaic plants, generate two megawatts of sustainable energy per year, enough to power 600 households. A large monitor in the airport’s departure hall displays actual figures of energy generated and carbon dioxide saved. Solar is not the only renewable energy source at DUS, which also employs combined heat and power technology in a block heating station.

Sweeter Dreams to Brussels

Months in advance of the June launch of its new route to New York, Brussels Airlines unveiled its new fully flat business-class seat. The new business cabin features a staggered 1-2-1/2-1-2 layout, each seat offering a 77.5-inch fully flat bed with an integrated massage function and adjustable lumbar cushion. Also new is the entertainment system, with a 15.3-inch TV screen, 100 hours of in-flight entertainment and ports for laptop power and USB connections. The new cabin will debut on Brussels Airlines’ forthcoming New York route, then be extended to the entire long-haul fleet.

WiFi in the Air and on the Ground

Last month Qantas began piloting in-flight Internet in first and business cabins on selected Airbus A380 aircraft between Los Angeles (LAX) and Sydney (SYD)/Melbourne (MEL). Passengers on these flights can access the Internet in exactly the same way as a terrestrial WiFi hotspot, paying for the service by credit card. Turkish Airlines added high-speed WiFi broadband Internet access to its trans-Atlantic flights, enabling passengers to access high-speed Internet via laptops, tablets, smartphones or any other WLAN-enabled device. Business travelers can also access their company’s Virtual Private Network on board Turkish Airlines. Amtrak, meanwhile, has added free Internet access on its Northeast Regional (Boston–Virginia), Empire (New York–Buffalo), Palmetto (New York–Savannah) and Carolinian (New York–Charlotte) routes, along with several other short-haul routes in the East. Western routes are scheduled for addition in the coming months.

Lufthansa Private Jets

In February, Lufthansa Private Jet extended service to North America through an interchange program with NetJets Europe. Lufthansa Private Jet will provide flexible, convenient flights tailored to the customer’s itinerary throughout North America. Booked through Lufthansa, flights combine seamlessly with trans-Atlantic flights to and from the 21 North American destinations served by Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines. The Lufthansa Private Jet customer service team provides a single point of contact for all flight arrangements, ground transportation and special requests. Passengers also enjoy a personal escort and VIP transfer between Lufthansa and Private Jet flights, and access to Lufthansa and partner lounges. Passengers accrue 10,000 Miles & More status and HON miles per flight leg.

Three New Fairmonts

Three new Fairmont hotels are slated to open early this year, each in a major new global market. Fairmont Jaipur is in the heart of India’s Rajasthan capital, with 199 luxurious guestrooms; nine villas; a Presidential Suite; a rooftop bar; full-service restaurant; Willow Stream Spa; a 5,000-square-foot health club and more than 45,000 square feet of conference space. Fairmont Baku will be one of the tallest buildings in the capital city of Azerbaijan, adding 318 guestrooms and suites, next to the parliament buildings overlooking the Caspian Sea. The 24-hour business center will offer IT butler service and secretarial support. Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv will be the Ukrainian city’s first luxury hotel, featuring 257 guestrooms and suites in a classic Old World design reminiscent of a palace. All three will include Fairmont Gold, the brand’s hotel-within-a-hotel concept.

High Tea at Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey fans can not only tour Highclere Castle, the stately home where the popular PBS Masterpiece Classic production filmed, but can join its owners, the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, for a day that includes a private lunch in their formal dining room, visits to attractions on the estate and high tea with the countess. The experience, available only to private groups of no more than four people, must be booked in advance through NoteWorthy Events. The day at Highclere Castle can be combined with other one-of-a-kind experiences for a bespoke itinerary in the United Kingdom.

Deals

Jamaica Fairways

Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa and Cinnamon Hill Golf Course in Montego Bay, Jamaica, team up to offer four- and seven-night packages that include guestrooms and all-inclusive dining at the resort, golf on the seaside Cinnamon Hill Golf Course (par 72), green fees, cart, caddy fees and taxes. Four-night packages that include three rounds of golf start at under $1,000 per person based on double occupancy. Cinnamon Hill and the Hilton Rose Hall Resort are 15 minutes from Sangster International Airport (MBJ). The offer is good through April 30.

When in Rome …

Bettoja Hotels’ Rome properties highlight this spring’s special exhibitions at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni with a package valid at any of their four city hotels. Along with 10 percent off the best available rate, guests will receive free admission to the exhibitions, exhibit guidebooks, a welcome drink at the hotel, 15 percent discount in the restaurants of the Hotel Mediterraneo and the Hotel Massimo d’Azeglio, complimentary breakfast and free WiFi. The special exhibit of American avant-garde works from the Guggenheim Collection ends May 6.

Ski Free

It’s not too late to enjoy Vermont’s legendary skiing, or the pampering winter packages at The Woodstock Inn & Resort. The resort’s Suicide Six Ski Area celebrates its 75th anniversary with two Ski Packages, one of which includes two nights’ weekend accommodations, daily breakfast for two, two lift tickets per day and a $150 spa credit. A one-night weekend package includes breakfast and lift tickets for two. Additionally, a Ski Free program is available for guests purchasing any weeknight room rate or package, including lift tickets, free passes to the inn’s Nordic Center, morning coffee, afternoon tea and discounted equipment rentals at ski shops.

New York Break

Affinia Manhattan celebrates the hotel’s recent $25 million renovation with a New Year’s Renovation package that includes 10 percent savings on the best available rate, two cocktails at Niles and a $25 SpAffinia credit. The package is available until June 30. Make reservations via the website with booking code NEWYR.  

Rewards

New Service, Double Miles

In celebration of the first service linking Boston directly with Asia — Japan Airlines’ and American Airlines’ new service between Boston (BOS) and Tokyo Narita (NRT) beginning April 22 — the airlines are offering customers double AAdvantage or JAL Mileage Bank miles every time they fly the new non-stop service using qualifying business-class and most economy-class fares between April 22 and June 30. Pre-register for the offer online.

MegaMiles at Marriott

Marriott Rewards MegaMiles members can earn 2,000 bonus miles with every stay, beginning with their second stay before April 30, at any of more than 3,500 participating hotels. Members may earn up to a total of 50,000 bonus miles during the promotion, in addition to their usual base miles, with any one of the participating airlines with every stay. Register online; members earning points must update their profile by choosing miles for their earning option and selecting a participating airline in the MegaMiles promotion before registering.

Alaska Airlines Additions

Emirates and Alaska Airlines announced a frequent-flyer partnership that will allow travelers to accrue miles on Alaska Airlines when they fly to any of Emirates’ 118 destinations, including Emirates’ new non-stop flights between Seattle (SEA) and Dubai (DXB) that began March 1. Miles flown on Emirates will count toward qualification for Alaska’s MVP elite-level program. Both airlines are offering double miles on each other’s flights March 1 through May 31. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan elite members can also enjoy benefits accorded AAdvantage elite members when flying with American Airlines as part of a new expansion of the airlines’ relationship. Privileges for members of both plans include priority check-in and boarding, additional checked baggage and complimentary access to preferred seating on the other airline. Frequent-flyer members of both airlines can earn miles that count toward qualifying for elite status when traveling on the other carriers’ flights.