Red Cross
Help Haiti Now
Yele
H.E.L.P. – Haitian Education & Leadership Program
Haiti Children
Help for Haiti – sponsored by the White House
UNICEF 1-800-4UNICEF

Get involved! Its very important!

The offer is available for 1,000 people under the condition that they come in for tests should they fall ill during the vacation. What’s in it for you? A round trip ticket to either Mexico or Guatemala and 3 star hotel accomodations for one week. However, the hotel must be in close proximity (no more than three hours) from one of the centers where the traveller will be required to give blood test and provide stool samples if they get sick.

Intercell hopes the trial will confirm initial findings that the vaccine significantly reduces the chances of contaminated food or drink leading to a nasty bout of Montezuma’s revenge.

The eye-catching offer has already been inundated by volunteers, particularly hard-up students looking for a cheap holiday. Of the 170 human trials so far the chances of one coming down with an upset stomach have been cut by three-quarters.

Travellers’ diarrhea is one of the most common and debilitating illnesses experienced by holidaymakers, particularly in the developing world. Attacks last four to five days, involve 18 trips to the toilet and cause dehydration, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting.

Volunteers will receive the vaccine through a patch worn on the arm for six hours three weeks prior to travelling, followed by a booster dose one week before they set off.

Similar trips are planned to India – another destination notorious for stomach upsets – and the vaccine could be available within five years if it is proven to be safe and effective.

Gotta be in or near London to participate!
If you go for this foolishness, report back in, let us know all about it!

New Year's Day Mudslide at Pousada Sankay Resort

On New Year’s Day 2010 experiencing more rain than usual on the island of Angra dos Reis in a region of Brazil near Rio de Janiero, mudslides reign down covering 3 homes and a portion of the upscale waterfront lodge Pousada Sankay Resort.

Ten people were injured by the resort slide early Friday, and about 120 rescuers scrambled through mud and around toppled trees and large rocks to search for more survivors. Police helicopters and navy vessels helped in the rescue effort.

In addition to the two deadly mudslides in Angra dos Reis, local authorities said nearly 80 mudslides were reported throughout the region, toppling trees and destroying power lines. Rain-related deaths in Rio de Janeiro state from three days of heavy rains reached 50, officials said, and more rain was predicted across the region.

The mudslide at the Pousada Sankay resort apparently happened after tourists had returned to their rooms following the New Year’s celebration at the lodge on Ilha Grande, a 90-minute ferry ride from Angra dos Reis, fire department commander Pedro Machado said. He said at least 17 people died.

Globo TV reported that a boy and a teenage girl were among the victims, but authorities could not immediately confirm the information.

Police said some of the dead may have been in the houses. They did not immediately release the identities or nationalities of the victims.

A bulldozer was brought in to help in the search for survivors. Bodies recovered from the rubble were being transported off the island by boats and helicopters. Authorities said the search was expected to continue through the night.

Witnesses told local media the hillside lodge and the houses, which can only be accessed by boat, collapsed after being struck by a slab of earth nearly 300 meters (330 yards) wide.

A broad, raw scar of dirt remained on the jungle hillside above the lodge, which was smashed by mud, trees and other vegetation. Only a handful of houses and small patches of vegetation were left unscathed.

Wooden pieces of the lodge were seen floating near the shore and on the beach.

The hotel, which advertises nightly rates of about $200 and can accommodate 50 guests, was reportedly full. The lodge was inaugurated in 1994, according to its Web site.

Local officials in Angra dos Reis declared three days of mourning and canceled the city’s annual celebration scheduled for Wednesday.

The car rental company is offering the rock-bottom-rate of $1 per day for renters willing to pick up the car at Houston Hobby, Houston International, Corpus Christi, Boston, Burlington, or Providence airports and drive to Florida before November 15th.

So you have a few days to jump on this if you’re headed south for the winter.

News courtesy of one of our most favorite travel blogs…Gadling!

HOWEVER, have no fear….we shall return! The beautiful thing about our blog is that a lot of our stories are timeless and you can go back to them again and again. We’d like to thank all of our readers, new and old, who have left comments and still support our site… even during its ‘downtime’.

With all the big changes this year, it’s actually been a while since Eb and I have seen each other. Which is why I’m excited about this Labor Day Weekend – Eb is coming to visit me in Los Angeles!

You may remember a year ago, I came to L.A. as a visitor. Now…I’m a resident. School has had me pretty busy since June…so I haven’t had a chance to really explore the city as much as I’ve wanted. I just recently moved to the Hollywood area near Sunset Blvd, and am now minutes away from neighborhoods like Los Feliz, Silverlake, West Hollywood, Koreatown. Plus, I now have my car with me (which I learned is a MUST in L.A.) So hopefully I will be able to get out and about a little more (after I study, of course!)

Eb is my first out-of-town visitor…so its only fitting for us do it up in true JetSet Diva style. So I KNOW I will get to see more of L.A. with her here this weekend (she’s already got her things to do list..lol).

Follow us on Twitter (TJSD, Eb) and get in on the fun as we take on L.A.

Feel free to send us suggestions on where to go, what to see, where to eat, where to chill… We up for anything… well almost anything..lol.

Hollywood, get ready.. Two JetSet Divas are coming your way!

Nationwide Flights on Sale from $85 R/T. Orbitz and AirTran have teamed up to offer discounted fares to/from 50+ cities all the way into November, but you must book by 3/5.

$89 & up – 5-Star Hotels on Sale in Top Cities Nationwide. Indulge in New York, Vegas, San Francisco, Boston, more Hotels.com

50% OFF 2nd Person on All-Inclusive Club Med Escapes. Half off 7-night stays at U.S. Club Med.

Car Rentals in Cities Nationwide from just $8.99/Day. Pick from brands like Budget, Thrifty, Hertz, Alamo, more at CarRentals.com

$135 & up – Upscale Condo Rentals on Hawaii’s Big Island. Choose from stays in Kona, Keauhou, and Waikoloa Outrigger Hotels & Resorts

$48* & up – Huge Denver Flight Sale on United, Each Way. Travel to/from 100+ cities across the U.S. and Canada into April on United Airlines

$139 & up – Carnival Cruises up to 30% OFF + FREE Upgrades. Exclusive offer on sailings to the Caribbean, Alaska, and Mexico Cruises Only. I know I said Domestic, but can you beat that?

To top it off, once you join the community, you can enter for a chance to win a vacation giveaway by Luxury Link. So that’s really two perks in one – travel to an exotic locale and look good while you’re doing it. The giveaways will starts on a special date and time (which is a secret to the rest of the ideeli community… but we know people). All the details about the event can be found in the ‘coming soon’ section of the site . So, don’t miss this great opportunity to be a JetSet Diva in style.

For the special invitation to this exclusive shopping community, visit www.ideeli.com/invite/twojetsetdivas

Got Canada on your mind? Well, we’re giving away a free Niagara Falls Tour courtesy of eTours.
The tour includes:
- A brief bus tour around Toronto and some of its attractions, such as the CN Tower, Sky Dome, Air Canada Center and Maple Leaf Gardens.
- The tour stops at one of wineries in the The Niagara region, famous for its ice wines.
- Visit Niagara-on-the-Lake, voted Canada’s most beautiful town.
- The package includes a choice of a boat ride (Maid of the Mist) that takes you almost under Niagara Falls, or admission to actually walk behind the Falls (Journey Behind The Falls).
- Much more!

While airfare and lodging for this Niagara Falls giveaway are not included, Expedia offers some great packages to make this trip a great experience.

It’s easy to enter our Niagara Falls Tour giveaway…just leave us a comment about your experience in Toronto or Niagara Falls (if you’ve been before) or why Canada is on your travel list! Sunday, March 8th, we will announce the lucky winner!

source: forbes traveler

But, Mardi Gras is only one of many festive Carnivals taking place all of the world this week. Street parties, parades, and people donned in vibrant colors, feathers and beads are a part of Carnival celebrations from Aruba to Trinidad and Tobago to Rio de Janiero.

It seems like every year I’m wishing I was celebrating Carnival, but because the dates vary year-to-year, it always sneaks up on me and I miss it. However, I’ve discovered that Carnival isn’t just celebrated in February, but its held throughout the year around the world.

For instance, Carnival is being celebrated February 23-24 in Aruba, Trinidad/Tobago, Rio de Janiero, New Orleans, Dominica, and Guyana. But, I can still catch Carnival celebrations in Jamaica, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and the Cayman Islands during the month of April. St. Lucia in June; Barbados in August; and St. Kitts, St. Croix and the Bahamas in December and January. Go here for a listing of more 2009 Carnival dates.

Carnival and Rio go hand-in-hand. If this is the spot where you want to celebrate Carnival next time, you can get your trip planning started early. We’ve got you covered, with a a list of Rio Carnival Dates from 2009 to 2030. Talk about pre-planning!

Carnival isn’t just a Caribbean or South American celebration, Carnivals take place in Venice, Germany, Canada, and the U.S (hey, even ATL celebrates Carnival!). Forbes Traveler has some great photos of how various countries celebrate Carnival. Check it out.

Trinidad

But now I have no excuse to experience the mother of all parties. I’m grabbing my beads and going to shake my “tailfeather”….somewhere…somehow…sometime soon. Question…where should I go for the most ‘unique’ Carnival experience? I know this question will be open for debate…but we welcome it!

JetSetters, have you experienced Carnival? If so, tell us where and your best experience. If you’re like me and you haven’t, where you’d like to celebrate Carnival if given the opportunity?

Share your thoughts.

A girl from Detroit and one from St. Louis were randomly paired together as roommates freshman year in college at Xavier University of Louisiana, KD Hall Room 511, and 11 years later (11 YEARS!) Janelle and I are still friends! There is this social networking site, XU Gold, where Alumni hook up and she sent me a message – Synopsis: I am going to Germany and I want to be the next JetSet Diva of the Month. I got the pictures from the trip before I actually read the message so, I’m calling her to see if she will accept such an HONOR as being named the JetSet Diva of the Month and she’s calling to tell me about the trip and so it…!
I get to wrtie about my friend, Dr. J, our JetSet Diva of the Month.


Please read her ‘virtual interview’.






Recently you visited Germany and The Netherlands. What made you decide to visit?
My husband recently started a new job, [and] the headquarters are based in Kelve, Germany. We were invited to come for the company annual Christmas party.

Did you see any great cultural differences between Europe and the USA?
The Germans tend to eat more organic food that is grown on farm land near their homes. They also, eat more pork than beef or red meat. There are trails that cross the country side for walking and bike riding. One could walk from town to town if he/she desired. In the Netherlands, the main difference is that marijuana is legal.

What are some of the other places you have visited domestically and internationally? Which is your favorite location and why?
Domestically I have traveled to Hampton, Baltimore, Chicago, Nashville, Little Rock, New York, and Boston just to name a few. Internationally, I have visited Windsor, Canada, Los Cabos, Mexico, Bahamas and Jamaica. My favorite place was Negril, Jamaica. The weather was awesome and the water was warm with great spots of snorkeling.

We hear you are expecting! Do you have any tips for Traveling Mommy-to-Be Divas?
I would highly recommend some compression socks; they help prevent swelling of your ankles and feet. Also, I would suggest comfortable clothing to wear on the plane. Lastly, get up and walk around everyone hour as well as use the restroom frequently

What is your dream destination?
Italy


What are your next vacation plans?
We have a baby on the way, so traveling will be on hold for a little while.

Any words of travel wisdom you would like to share?
When going to Europe use the ATM for money, don’t exchange because you will lose money, the USA dollar is worth less.

Give us your best shot(s) (a photo from your travels) and the story behind it.

Visiting at a outdoor Christmas Market. Christmas Markets are huge in Germany. Most of the items are hand made by the vendors. In the background that is a 900 year old castle.

My husband Jimmie and I in the Netherlands standing in front of a 1000 year old church; the entire walk way was cobblestone. There were tons of outdoor shops, strip malls, cafes and restaurants, they went on for miles.

Area shot of shops and restaurants in the Netherlands.

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Want to share your travel experiences? Join our online community…and you just might be featured in our JetSet Diva or JetSetter (we’ve got love for the guys too!) of the Month column.