What’s trending this year
WITH less
than
three
months to go
before the
December
holiday season
kicks off, clients
who haven’t
done so already,
are likely to
start cementing
their plans.
Those who don’t
wait for the last
minute can still
take advantage
of some great
deals.
Indian Ocean islands
According to Ramesh
Jeenarain, md of World
Leisure Holidays, Mauritius
remains popular with the
South African market. “It still
offers great value for couple
and family
getaways,
despite
the rand
fluctuations.”
Maldives
is a popular
choice for
this upcoming
December,
especially in
light of the
recent signing
of the charter
agreement
between Air
Tour Operators,
SAA and the
Ministry of
Tourism in the Maldives.
Starlight Holidays is the sole
GSA for Air Tour Operators
and will be offering Maldives
packages inclusive of direct
flights for eight set round-trip
flights between November
18, 2018 and January 12,
2019. Packages start from
R18 990pps and include
flights, accommodation,
transfers and taxes. Clients
can choose from a range of
resorts, each offering bed
and breakfast, full-board and
all-inclusive options.
Ramesh agrees, and says
Maldives is gaining interest
due to the competitive
pricing coming through from
various hotels.
Local travel
Ruzandri Stoltz, aha
Hotels & Lodges marketing
manager, says Cape Town
and Durban coastal holidays
are always popular at this
time of year. When it comes
to selecting aha properties,
she advises that agents
enquire about special
activities that each may be
hosting to celebrate the
festive season. “Each offers
custom Christmas and New
Year event celebrations,”
she says.
When to book
As the festive season is
always a peak travel period,
with most people taking
leave to spend time with
family and friends, Ruzandri
says travellers should
consider booking as early
as six months in advance
to “avoid peak season
prices and secure the ideal
space”.
Ramesh agrees and says
it’s important to remember
that December isn’t just
a popular time for South
Africans to travel but also
for the rest of the world.
“Tropical islands are very
popular at this time of the
year, so to ensure South
Africans get the best
possible packages at the
best price, they should
start booking now.”
He adds that currency
fluctuations and the weak
rand are another reason
to book early. “With
the current rand-dollar
fluctuation, its best to book
now, as clients are securing
their booking at the current
rate and do not have to
worry about sudden and
steep price increases later
in the year.
Eight affordable December deals
World Leisure Holidays is
offering 50% off selected
packages for Mauritius
this December, with rates
starting from R37 100pps
(Ambre). Resorts included
in the specials are Long
Beach, Sugar Beach, Ambre
and La Pirogue. Valid for set
dates from December 21 to
December 28. Terms and
conditions apply.
Pure Skiing’s Austria special
seven-night ski packages
start from R22 860pps.
Rates include return coach
transfers, seven nights’
accommodation on a bedand-breakfast
basis at
three-star accommodation
in Zell am See, resort guide,
six-day ski pass, six days’ ski
hire, Christmas dinner, three
dinners at different venues
and 10 days’ Bryte travel
insurance. It excludes ski
lessons, flights, and meals
and drinks not specified.
Valid for set dates from
December 22-29.
Aha Simon’s Town Quayside
Hotel is offering an early-bird
special with rates starting
from R1 530 per room per
night for a single and
R1 690pps (in a mountain
room). The booking period
ends on November 30,
2018 for stays between
December 1 and January 31.
Kulula holidays has
introduced packages for the
Victoria Falls Carnival, for
four nights, starting from
R10 799pps. The package
includes return flights to
Livingstone, airport taxes,
accommodation at Elephant
Hills Resort or The Kingdom
Hotel, airport transfers,
breakfast daily, one sunset
cruise per person, 10%
off selected pre-booked
activities and a three-day
carnival pass. Valid for set
dates from December 8 to
January 1.
Thompsons Holidays is
offering December packages
at the three-star, adults-only
Recif Attitude in Mauritius
for seven nights from
R22 230pps. Valid for set
dates from December 18-25.
The package includes flights
from Johannesburg and
return airport-resort transfers
(seat in coach), daily
breakfast and dinner,
entertainment three nights
a week, WiFi throughout the
dates from December 18-25.
The package includes flights
from Johannesburg and
return airport-resort transfers
(seat in coach), daily
breakfast and dinner,
entertainment three nights
a week, WiFi throughout the
hotel, glass-bottomed boat
excursion, snorkelling, kayaks
and pedal boats.
The Holiday Factory
is offering seven-night
discounted stays at the
four-star Filao Beach
Zanzibar from R13 990pps.
Packages include return
flights from Johannesburg,
return transfers, breakfast,
lunch and dinner, as well as
selected drinks daily. Valid
until December 23, but a
supplement may apply for
travel in peak season.
Thompsons Holidays’
three-night Kruger selfdrive
package starts from
R5 206pps. It includes three
nights’ accommodation at
the four-star Protea Hotel
by Marriott Kruger Gate,
breakfast and dinner daily,
welcome drink and daily
bottled water. Children under
12 stay free when sharing
with two adults. Valid until
December 31.
Topdeck is offering a nineday
Egypt Express special
starting from R14 900. The
tour features the pyramids
and Sphinx in Giza, a trip
along the Nile in a traditional
felucca, shopping in Luxor’s
gold markets and the
opportunity to explore the
Valley of the Kings with a
qualified Egyptologist. The
package includes eight
breakfasts, two lunches,
two dinners, three nights in
three-star hotels, one night
in a tourist-class hotel, two
nights aboard a felucca
sailboat and two nights on
an overnight coach. Arrival
and departure transfers are
included, as well as transport
in an air-conditioned vehicle,
and an English-speaking
trip leader. Valid for set
dates from December 29 to
January 6.
Additional airlift
IN ORDER to cope with
peak season demand, a
number of airlines that
operate busy routes have
upped frequencies to cope
with the anticipated spike in
bookings.
Air Seychelles will
increase frequencies
between Johannesburg and
Seychelles, with additional
services operated by the
Airbus A320 on Mondays
and Fridays from December
10 until January 12. On
Mondays, from December
10 until January 7,
flight HM061 will depart
Seychelles at 09h50,
arriving in Johannesburg
at 12h55. The return
flight, HM060 will depart
Johannesburg at 14h15,
arriving in Seychelles
at 21h10. On Fridays,
from December 14 until
January 12, flight HM063
will depart Seychelles at
18h25 on Fridays, arriving
in Johannesburg at 21h30.
Return flight HM062,
departs Johannesburg
at 14h15, and arrives in
Seychelles at 21h10.
During December, Air
Mauritius will operate
the A330-900NEO on its
Mauritius-Johannesburg
route on Mondays and
Tuesdays, which will mean
a 161-seat increase in
capacity. The A330-900NEO
has 28 lie-flat businessclass
seats and 263 seats
in economy class. In Cape
Town, Air Mauritius will
operate its A300-900NEO
on Fridays between
November 2, 2018 and
January 11, 2019.
