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Ski Trips Updates

CLUB MED  $1,599

The CLUB MED all inclusive ski trip, Feb. 1- Feb. 7, 2004, is no longer a Jacksonville Ski Club sponsored ski trip.  We will, however, continue to offer this great trip on an individual basis subject to availability at time of booking.  The price has been reduced to $1,599 per person, and includes round trip air from Jacksonville to Gunnison, transfers, 6 nights ski in/out lodging, 5 day ski pass, 5 day ski rentals, 5 days of lessons, all meals with open bar.  This trip is sure to sell out fast so call early to book this care-free holiday!

BRECKENRIDGE

The advertised Duval Spring Break trip to Breckenridge, March 13-March 20, is selling out fast.  There is limited availability of lodging so if you are interested in this trip call soon so you do not miss out!  Rates start at $1,149 per person for a package including air Jacksonville to Denver, rental car, 7 nights ski in/shuttle out lodging based on 4 persons in a 2 BR condo, and a 4 day lift pass.

SKI PROMOTIONS

PARK CITY

From the opening of the ski season on November 25, until December 19, 2003 the Radisson Park City will be running a buy 2 nights get the third night free.   No restrictions, no ifs. ands, and buts…It’s that simple!  

WINTER PARK

Winter Park is offering a great promotion this winter.  Stay 3 nights, ski 3 days, and get the forth free!  Land Packages starting at $84 per person, per night for slopeside lodging and ski pass!  Restrictions apply and availability is limited.  Call Coleman Travel for availability and air/transfer packages!

Book Early Specials for early season savings at Breckenridge, Vail, Beaver Creek and Heavenly.

Pay for 3 nights and ski for 3 days, get the 4th FREE.  Restrictions apply, availability is limited.  Tax and surcharge not included.  Call Coleman Travel for details and availability.

Vail – from $385 per person for 4 night stay and ski package, based on 4 persons in a 2 BR condo.  Valid 12/1-12/19

Breckenridge – from $327 per person for a 4 night stay and ski package, based on 4 persons in a 2 BR condo.  Valid 11/14-12/19

Beaver Creek – from $417 per person for a 4 night stay and ski package, based on 4 persons in a 2BR condo.  Valid 12/9-12/19

Heavenly – from $144 per person for a 3 night stay and ski package, based on 2 persons in a hotel room./  Valid 11/30-12/18

Pan Pacific Lodge Whistler is offering a ski special from Nov. 27 to Dec. 23.  A three-night package starts at approximately $807 per couple and includes two adult two-day ski passes, three nights in a studio suite and breakfast for two. From Jan. 4 to April 30, packages start at $1,137 per couple.  Call Coleman Travel for details and availability.

Cruise Specials

Viking River Cruises is offering a new, two-tiered Early Booking Discount, valid on all 2004 sailings. Passengers booking and paying in full prior to Oct. 29 will save $350 per person, with a maximum of $700 off per cabin. Those who book and pay prior to Dec. 30, 2003 will save $250 per person or $500 per cabin maximum

Norwegian Cruise Line is offering special rates on many ships this month. For example, two seven-day Norwegian Sun sailings roundtrip from Miami between Oct. 12-26 start at $549 per person double for a guaranteed oceanview, category H cabin. The brochure rate was $1,649 per person, reflecting a savings of nearly 67 percent with the current deal.

Windjammer Barefoot Cruises has lowered its six-day cruises onboard the S.V Legacy and the S.V. Polynesia through January. The fare for this Caribbean cruise is now $599 per person, representing a savings of $400, and includes accommodations, all meals, onboard entertainment and select drinks.

This fall the Seven Seas Navigator will operate four cruises to or from Tampa, along with two-for-one fares that include gratuities; an in-suite bar set-up with complimentary wine, beer or premium liquor; and complimentary wines at dinner. Sailings are a 10-night cruise from Palm Beach to Tampa on Nov. 8, two seven-night roundtrip Tampa cruises on Nov. 18 and Nov. 25, and a 10-night cruise from Tampa to Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 2.

Other Specials

The Doral Eaglewood Resort & Spa in Chicago is offering a "Bears & Birdies" package. Included are two nights' accommodations, a round of golf, breakfast buffet, bratwurst and beer cookout and Chicago Bears baseball caps. Rates start at $379 for two. The package is available during Chicago Bears' home games through December

In commemoration of Columbus' discovery of the New World, Bolongo Bay Beach Club on St. Thomas, USVI, is offering nightly rates as low as $49.50 per person double through Oct. 31.

The two Almond Resorts on Barbados have a new 50 percent off promotion on a package that includes four nights' lodging, roundtrip air from Miami, roundtrip transfers, all meals and beverages, activities, and taxes and surcharges. Up to two kids can stay free at the Almond Beach Village. The package costs $829 per person through Oct. 30

Sol Melia: The Melia Puerto Vallarta All-Inclusive Beach Resort offers families the opportunity to play together or enjoy themselves separately with different activities. The program also features family rooms with bunk beds for kids. The Club 4 for kids up to four years old is staffed with certified nannies. Children 5 to 12 can join the Mini Club for games and sports, or the Ecology Club to learn all about plant life. On Saturday night, kids get to camp out under the stars and enjoy a barbecue dinner. Older kids up to 16 years of age can join the Teen's Club, which features tennis clinics, rifle shooting, a golf and batting cage, darts, ping-pong, a pool and a new private lounge. Through Dec. 23, a promotion offers all-inclusive rates of $82 per person double occupancy. Up to two children six years or younger can eat and stay free in a room with two adults, while kids 7 to 16 years old pay $17 each.

Viva Resorts: Families can enjoy great deals with Viva Resorts' "FALLing Prices," a promotion valid at the company's all-inclusive properties in Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Maya from Sept. 1 through Dec. 23. Besides savings of up to $28 per couple, families get the added value of Viva's year-round "Kids Stay, Play & Eat Free" program, for a maximum of two kids 12 and under staying in the room with two adults. In addition, the Viva Kid's Club features supervised daily activities. Nightly prices are $89 per person double at Viva Vallarta in Puerto Vallarta, and $112 at Viva Maya and $119 at Viva Azteca, both in Playacar about 45 minutes south of Cancun.
Families staying at the Viva Playacar properties can dine at the new Viva Caf é , a modern Italian restaurant and bar located in the adjacent town of Playa del Carmen. Viva hotel guests pay $5 for a complete dinner with wine, beer and soft drinks; kids 12 and under eat free.

Featured Ski Destination – Telluride

Telluride expands its possibilities with some recent improvements

It's often said that no matter how long a place exists, something of its original character always remains. If that's true, it's no surprise that Telluride is a destination of both excitement and opportunity, given that its roots go back to 1878 as a boisterous mining town. Its modern-day incarnation as a cutting-edge ski resort is certainly no less exciting, and its contemporary owners have certainly sought to capitalize on its promise through a consistent string of upgrades, both on mountain and off.

One of the most recent improvements to the Telluride product is also one of the most significant in its history: In January 2002, Telluride officially opened Prospect Bowl, a 733-acre ski area that greatly increased the resort's skiable terrain (it previously had about 1,200 acres). The $14 million project also improved the skiing and snowboarding opportunities for beginner and intermediate skiers and riders. According to Pete Woods, Telluride's vice president of sales and marketing, the new ski area expands the on-snow options to clients who may not be expert skiers. "Even though it's a bowl, it's a huge mix of intermediate, advanced and beginner terrain," he says. "That really allows for a normal family to ski within the backcountry and remain within their abilities."

Woods says another advantage of the area is that skiers of different abilities can now use the same lift. Prospect Bowl encompasses three lifts: Ute Park Lift, which serves Ute Park, the beginner area; Prospect Lift, serving a mix of beginner, intermediate and advanced trails; and the 12,260-foot Gold Hill Lift, which offers access to terrain that could only previously be reached by hiking. The latter, which is already a favorite among advanced skiers, offers the ultimate in visuals, says Woods. "It offers 360-degree views," he says. "There's no way you can go up there and not be stunned. You can see all the way into Utah."

Telluride has also kept up with the times by improving its opportunities for snowboarders and other snow activities such as tubing, both of which have been growing in leaps and bounds in popularity. The mountain's new Sprite Air Garden Terrain Park caters to skiers and snowboarders wanting to practice or show off their stunts. The new park has been relocated and its size tripled; along with the additional terrain, new jumps and a steeper half-pipe are featured. Plus, the park has three different lines that enable visitors of varying abilities to use the park simultaneously. The top of the park opens Christmas Eve; the rest of it opens Jan. 15.

Thrill Hill, which offers still more ways to slide down Telluride's mountains, also opens Christmas Eve; along with the ever-popular snow tubing, snow skating (wheelless skateboarding designed for snow) and snow biking (a "bike" with blades instead of wheels) are available for travelers' enjoyment.

MORE FAMILY FRIENDLY

Woods says the changes have made Telluride more conducive to families looking to spend time together on a ski vacation. "The mountain has become incredibly focused in offering specific activities for families," he says; for example, now that Telluride has Thrill Hill available as an option, parents can enjoy some on-mountain fine dining while kids indulge in snow tubing.

According to Woods, another key selling point to Telluride is the fact that most clients "can simply be there and not have to drive anywhere." This may be the deciding factor for clients weary of cars: Everything in the historic town of Telluride (which is only eight blocks by 12 blocks in size) is within walking distance. There's also free shuttle service to the free gondola, which connects the historic mining town with the much newer Mountain Village (elevation 9,500 feet), which is home to hotels, condominiums, shopping and dining. Many of these properties offer direct access to the slopes. "You can catch the airport shuttle to Telluride," Woods says, "and just take the gondola. That's huge, not to have to deal with cars when you're on vacation."

For skiers who are looking to mingle their on-snow experience with a gastronomic carnival, Telluride offers an unmatched array of eating and drinking for a Colorado ski resort, according to Woods. Its 50 establishments consistently earn excellent reviews from culinary publications, and strive to rival the reputations of their coastal brethren. A top draw is Allred's, located 10,550 feet up and the recipient of a host of culinary accolades. Bob Scherner, Allred's chef, has recently taken over all the food and beverage on the mountain, undoubtedly providing a serious upgrade in the available fuel for those looking to conquer Telluride's mountains.

It's possible that all of Telluride's investments are beginning to pay off-Woods says that following last year's war and economy-related struggles, visitation "already looks to be up this year, and back on track to where we need to be."

Early-season packages at the resort are available and are quite attractive.

Properties both lavish and historic abound in the town.

Telluride article written by Fred Folmer

Well folks, that’s about it for the first issue of

Coleman Travel News

a monthly newsletter designed to inform our clients of specials, promotions, great places to go, and changes in our trip list!

Hope you enjoyed reading this and we look forward to see you on the slopes!