It's one of the oldest moneymaking games in the book: convince tourists that the bags they're traveling with aren't safe enough, or convenient enough, or stylish enough, and sell them a more jaunt-friendly bag. Very very soon however, all this could be put to rest by the release of the fruit of the labors of a fashion designer-airline combination.

Whether you're of the type that prefers the sixteen zippered pockets and multitude of snaps, or the type that wants only a simplistic tote, V Australia is asking you to help them design "the perfect bag for the perfect trip." ]]> JetSetCD 2009-10-28T12:12:53-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/10/22/9320/9494

How do you throw a launch party for a luxury catamaran without the boat or its owner present? Well, if you're Virgin Limited Edition and Richard Branson and his new Necker Belle are unavailable to party, you just down canapes at one of New York City's best restaurants: Le Bernardin.

Surrounded by Virgin's signature red rubber duckies and with visions of Virgin Limited Edition's luxury properties—Swiss ski chalet and Moroccan retreat, anyone?—dancing in our heads, we managed to make it through a few Blue Margaritas at the Necker Belle party last night. Officially to welcome the twin-hulled beauty to the Virgin group, the event also showcased these other small and carefully curated properties owned by Branson through his Limited Edition Label. ]]> JetSetCD 2009-10-22T09:33:41-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/10/20/0201/1864

Are you a last-minute planner when it comes to big holiday travel times like Thanksgiving in Christmas? Yes, we are too, especially because everything looks so darn expensive and plain booked up. This year, it's either another Thanksgiving of ordering Chinese takeout or booking it out of the country for some autumn appeal overseas...like in Prague.

Remember that it's not Thanksgiving over in the Czech Republic, so that means no dinner reservations or pressure to eat cranberry sauce. Virgin Vacations seems to have the best deal we've seen for this, with a 6-night hotel, airfare, and daily breakfast starting at $669 per person. Sure they have other deals for Thanksgiving to Barcelona, London, Paris and Rome, but the Prague trip sounds like the most fall foliage and old school charm for the lowest price.]]> JetSetCD 2009-10-20T09:34:06-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/9/15/03535/4884

When we aren't out jetting around or hopping a high-speed train, we like to fantasize about that other form of transportation: the almighty ship. So to allay our own curiosity as much as yours, we're spotlighting yachts with either notorious owners or histories...or both. Know of a bootylicious boat? Let us know.

Who doesn't dream of owning a lush private island in the Caribbean? Perhaps Virgin Group head honcho Richard Branson, who has been living the dream since 1979, when he purchased Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands and turned it into a private resort.

If you can't afford to take over the whole island for your vacation, at a cost of $47,000 a day, then how about chartering his new catamaran yacht, the Necker Belle, for a mere $88,000 a week? She'll be fresh from a makover (she used to be the Lady Barbaretta) in February 2010, just in time to catch the end of the rich exodus to the Caribbean in winter.]]> JetSetCD 2009-09-15T10:28:53-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/7/6/9434/28348

The world’s most famous stout purveyors are upping the ante in travel giveaways; Guinness is celebrating the company’s 250th anniversary with a spate of special events throughout the summer, and instead of just giving away a couple of tickets to Ireland, the Dublin-based brewers are promoting their celebration by offering one lucky winner the chance to hop on board Virgin Galactic.

Guinness has reserved a $200,000 seat on Richard Branson’s private spacecraft, and one lucky drinker will be among the first astro-tourists to ride on the rocketship when it takes off in 2012. Two runners-up will receive more earthly prices—a four-day cruise aboard the Guinness Deep Sea Bar—an underwater adventure around Norway’s Lofoten Islands—and the chance to enjoy an exclusive studio performance from the Black Eyed Peas.

The catch? Well actually, they’re not saying yet. You’ll have to keep an eye on Guinness’ web site for details on how to win. Obviously, we’ll be checking for updates religiously.

Related Stories:
· Remarkable Experiences [Guinness]
· Virgin Galactic Will Depart From Spaceport Sweden in 2012 [Jaunted]
· More Galactic Fallout: More Video of Virgin's Newest Plane [Jaunted]

[Photo: Guinness] ]]> BS 2009-07-06T15:04:17-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/6/23/10507/2494

Hot on the heels of Virgin Atlantic's 25th Anniversary flight and celebration, good old Richard Branson is launching yet another new product into the travel ring. But this time, it's not a spaceship or a smartphone; it's a website: vtravelled.

Taking serious inspiration from Dopplr, vtravelled focuses its content around "Trip Pods" that you create for each of your trips. In their words, a Trip Pod is "a tool to store and organise travel ideas and aspirations. It’s easy to bookmark content from other sites and then share with friends and family to create the ultimate itinerary." These pods are then scattered around a map of the world, powered by Google, with each featuring a photo that you have to upload. ]]> JetSetCD 2009-06-23T11:16:13-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/6/3/92844/85307

How much do you love Richard Branson? As if his LCC Virgin America isn't awesome enough for introducing mood lighting and fleet-wide WiFi to the US skies, now his Aussie outfit of V Australia will join with VA to offer seamless cross-Pacific travel between the two airlines.

Via an interline agreement between the carriers which goes into effect this week, passengers can now book a single ticket on V Australia's website for travel on both airlines from Australia into the US and beyond. Not to mention that trips through LAX mean enjoying the awesomeness of Virgin's Terminal 3— think mood lighting both inside and curbside, destination weather information displayed next to flight details, Eames sling chairs, and check-in counters more like concierge desks. ]]> JetSetCD 2009-06-03T10:32:04-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/