� Article # 22 – May 20th �” Holiday Travel � Title: ����������������� Holiday’s �” Who has the time � Writer: �������������� Alan Hawkins � � Keywords:����������� Accommodation, South, Africa, Cape Town � …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. � � Do we live to work or do we work to live. In this crazy world why is it that we simply exist from day to day, seemingly in continuous pursuit of problem solving objectives, be they those of your employer, your family, a child’s demands, we seem to be on this hamster wheel that never stops turning. There is an old cliché that tells us to stop and smell the roses, perhaps this is the better way to go. A “crooner” many years ago had an album, yes, a ling playing record, remember those, this was tiled “Stop the World, I want to get off” �” if we apply this to the purpose of this article, let’s stop the madness and squeeze in some holiday and travel time. � In South Africa we are blessed, yes we might have experienced a little political turmoil but hey, so has Sri Lanka, the English parliamentarians haven’t exactly covered themselves in glory either, we are blessed with many destinations, many accommodation options and a climate that is often described as moderate in that day time temperatures in winter, yes winter, are on average more than 22 deg. C and rainfall, except perhaps in the Western Cape, is quite limited. Mist areas of Southern Africa experience light summer rains, often limited to afternoon shows and thundershowers particularly in the higher lying areas. � Our main tourism destinations are the game reserves and the Western Cape, centred around Cape Town, one of the internationally acclaimed and mist sought after travel destinations in the world. Unfortunately for our family, this is a nine hour drive and an expensive flight from East London, but certainly a destination we often visit, there is a great web site www.staysa.co.za which includes a travel guide and general information on Cape Town and many other areas. � Think about this for a moment, we work approximately 260 days of each year, we work in order to be awarded 15 days leave, if we are normal, we dedicate some 5 or so of those to family functions and that leaves us about two calendar weeks, weekends included, to have a holiday. Subject to all other conditions being acceptable such as budget, children’s school and sport commitments, both adults being able to be on leave simultaneously, the car being on good order, the kennel available for the dogs, whew, it’s actually amazing that we ever manage to leave home at all! � What we try and do as a family is to escape on weekends, at least once per month, this being our objective anyway, we target short trips usually less than two hours from home. We are blessed in owning holiday accommodation in Port Alfred, approximately one and a half hours drive from home. We go there if we are short of a better plan or if it’s been a last minute travel decision. Other recent destinations that are worth recommending in the Eastern Cape are Storms River Mouth, the Baviaanskloof, Addo Elephant Park, Seagulls Hotel on the Wild Coast, all being great short stop travel destinations in South Africa. � The moral of this story, make it your business to hop of the hamster wheel now and again, work to live, don’t love to work, quality family time is more important than we think it is sometimes. � � YOUR INPUT IS CRITICAL…….. Please send any travel tip or travel idea to info@staysa.co.za �help fellow travellers to enjoy safe and happy travelling. � � Alan Hawkins �” CEO – STAYSA

Alan Hawkins is the CEO of StaySA, www.staysa.co.za, The South Africa Accommodation Solution.
StaySA provides a directory of South African Accommodation, Bed and Breakfasts and Holiday Homes.

With its beautiful beaches, magnificent mountain and breathtaking scenery, Cape Town is ideal for luxury holidays and indulgent getaways. Travellers from across the globe flock to the coastal city to enjoy luxury holidays in Cape Town, which are made all the more special by the opulent hotels located throughout the city. If you�re travelling to Cape Town, ensure that you make the most of your holiday by securing accommodation at one of its leading establishments. Then, plan your holiday itinerary to make the most of the attractions and recreational facilities on offer in the city. No matter what time of year you choose to travel to the Cape, you�re sure to enjoy your time in this vibrant city. Below, find out more about luxury hotel accommodation in Cape Town, and read tips on planning the ultimate luxury holidays in Cape Town. Planning luxury holidays in Cape Town There is so much to experience in the Mother City that it�s a good idea to plan your holiday itinerary in advance. There is a wealth of exciting activities and attractions available in the city, and the ones that you choose should be dependent on your tastes, holiday preferences, and the type of holiday you�re taking. For families, it�s a great idea to include some of Cape Town�s famous cultural landmarks, museums and child-friendly entertainment venues in your itinerary. Visit the South African Museum, Greenmarket Square and the Company Gardens in the City Bowl, where kids can feed peanuts to the squirrels that scurry through the avenue. You could also spend a day at Ratanga Junction, South Africa�s largest theme park, and choc-full of fun rides, games and roller-coasters to delight kids of all ages. And of course, you simply must take the kids to the beach for a day of sandcastles and swimming! Boulders Beach in Simon�s Town is a great option, as it is home to South Africa�s largest colony of African penguins. For young couples and single travellers, Cape Town is the ultimate entertainment destination. The city abounds with trendy bars, clubs and restaurants, where locals and visitors alike can relax with chilled cocktails, or dance the night away to the latest beats. Camps Bay�s beachfront is the definitive destination for anyone seeking a night of glamour and thrills. Head to the strip to enjoy sundowners alongside the beach, and experience the views that have made Cape Town famous! If you�re visiting the city on business, you can still enjoy some of its leading venues once you�ve packed your laptop away. Unwind after a long day at one of the city�s outstanding restaurants. Cape Town has long been recognised as the culinary capital of South Africa, and many of its top restaurants are located in and around the CBD. They also make ideal venues for upmarket business lunches and dinners, where the cuisine, service and d�cor are bound to impress your fellow diners. Round off your holiday with luxury hotel accommodation in Cape Town No matter what type of holiday you desire, you simply must treat yourself to luxury accommodation in Cape Town. Make the most of your luxury holiday in Cape Town by booking accommodation at one of its leading hotel establishments. The city centre, one of Cape Town�s most sought-after districts, now boasts boutique hotels that cater for travellers seeking a luxury vacation. Here, you�ll not only find opulent suites, but also a range of world-class facilities, designed to offer the all the comforts of home

Taj Cape Town is the newest luxury hotel in Cape Town, offering travellers a unique accommodation venue in the vibrant City Bowl. The hotel features fine dining establishments, 24-hour room service, in-house boutiques, and an indulgent spa for guests.

Its the little hiccups that can ruin a holiday. Weve all had them before- they happen very easily, yet have catastrophic results. You forgot to check the time zones and missed the flight by an hour. The reference number for your tour has mysteriously disappeared. You didnt confirm your booking, the flight is overbooked and because you got there so late youve been bumped and placed on standby. You forgot which hotel you booked into. The hotel has no record of you… did you even book at all? Its a planning thing really- a well thought out and well planned holiday will run smoothly nine times out of ten so long as you remember the small details. To help you do this, Discovery Car Hire in Australia have created a free online Travel Planer which you can access at tplan.net. You enter all your travel details into the planner, whether it be accommodation, flights, tours and car hire, and Tplan methodically organises them and lets you print them out as a hard copy. You can also save it online, and access and change the details from anywhere in the world. Give it a go the next time you travel, it could just save your holiday.

Of course there are some things that go wrong which we have no control over. Lost luggage is the scourge of air travellers everywhere, and is bound to happen to you at least once in your lifetime. In fact there is a 1 in 150 chance that when you travel internationally your baggage is going to be lost. So try to pack anything valuable or sentimental in your hand luggage and keep it on you. Medication is a no brainer, no one wants to be seperated from that. If your luggage does get lost, let the airline know straight away, but dont be too hopeful about getting any compensation. You need receipts for everything of real value in there, and even then the airline will classify it as second hand goods and only pay out a portion of the value. Really the only option is to be positive and try not to let your holiday be ruined by the whole mess.

When visiting poorer third world countries the issue of theft rears its ugly head. It happens everywhere of course, but is more common in these places. We are all on a budget when we travel, and to have that disrupted by the loss of a wad of cash or a wallet can be fatal to the trip, as can the theft of travel documents like passports. The best way to avoid pickpockets is to try not to look like a tourist, because tourists always carry cash. Avoid those stupid bum bags, opt instead for an inconspicuous money belt or large pockets on your trousers with zips on. Carrying cash altogether is a bad idea- this is the new millennium and ATMs are everywhere. Travel cheques are a safe option as well, as it doesnt really matter too much if they get nicked. Just be aware of whats going on around you- keep an eye out at all times, and if an area is notoriously high risk then try and avoid it.

The fastest ticket to a wrecked holiday is you or someone in your family getting sick. Diarrhoea afflicts huge portions of travellers keen to try out foreign culinary delights, unaware that their constitution just cant handle them. Young travellers are the most prone as they are the adventurous ones, but everyone gets their share of the holiday runs. Try to avoid desperately dodgy looking restaurants, and especially in third world countries stay away from water not served in a bottle. Ask for your soft drinks to be served without ice, as ice can still harbour the germs that was in the water. Do your homework on wherever you are visiting and find out what the common illnesses there are, and what preventative medicine to take. Prevention is better than cure, especially if you are in remote regions.

Just a bit of care and caution and a lot of planning can go a long way to ensuring your holiday doesnt devolve into a complete nightmare. Lets face it, you deserve to enjoy a successful break and so should do everything in your power to make sure you get one. A gadget like the Travel Planner can help give you peace of mind when you travel, and peace of mind can go a long way to easing travel tensions. If factors out of your control ruin your holiday, dont be too despondent… chances are they wont happen twice in a row, so gear up and get ready for your next one!/pbr
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