Maldives is on the map!
DIRECT flights and
affordable packages
have made the
Maldives more accessible
to the South African market,
and honeymooners are
cashing in.
In March, ATO Tours
announced the signing of
a new charter agreement
with SAA to operate onceweekly non-stop flights
from Johannesburg to the
southern Maldives, landing
at Gan International Airport.
“We have definitely seen
an increase for demand for
the Maldives,” says Vicky
Steinhardt, product manager
of Pentravel. She says this
has happened over the last
six months to a year and is
probably because the pricing
has come down substantially.
“Now you can travel to the
Maldives for a price similar
to what you would pay for a
four-star hotel in Mauritius.
“It is definitely more
accessible and affordable.”
ATO’s direct flights have also
greatly increased interest,
she says.
ATO Tours is packaging
properties in the three-, fourand five-star categories – the
Equator Village, the Canareef
and the Shangri La.
ATO md, Keith Gow, says
the flights take six and a half
hours compared with roughly
16 hours via the Middle
East.
Celeste Muir, marketing
manager of Thompsons
Holidays, says the operator
is seeing a lot of requests
from honeymooners for the
Maldives, which she also
attributes to affordability.
“The Maldives used to
be an expensive bucket-list
destination, whereas now
we have some excellent allinclusive deals.” She says
all-inclusive packages were
not traditionally sold for the
Maldives. “The Maldives is a
very popular product for us.”
She says Thompsons uses
other airlines to fly into the
Maldives, not necessarily
just the direct flights.
Janine Pienaar, sales
and marketing manager of
Perfect Destinations, says
it has seen an increase in
honeymoon requests for the
Maldives specifically but says
this is limited to the resorts
accessible from Malé.
For agents selling
Maldives, Janine says it is
important to consider that
most people envisage their
accommodation being in a
water villa over the ocean.
“It is therefore always
a good idea to ask for
a quote for the lead-in
accommodation on offer – if
they are on a budget – as
well as a water villa so
that they can choose the
option they prefer. This will
certainly help to manage
their expectations before
they arrive.”
Janine adds that, because
the destination is expensive,
agents should try to offer
clients the most inclusive
board basis that they can
afford to avoid any nasty
surprises once they are there
and left with a hefty food and
beverage bill on departure.
Photocap: Book it!
World Leisure Holidays is offering a 35% discount on
seven-night honeymoon packages from May 18-July 12
and August 18-September 7 at Ambre in Mauritius. The
all-inclusive packages start at R22 052 ex-JNB and DUR
and R23 832 ex-CPT. Packages include flights on Air
Mauritius and airport taxes. WLH also offers guests two or
three of the following (depending on the hotel): T-shirts,
pareos, fruit platter, three-course romantic dinners,
sparkling wine or 45-minute massage per adult. Pictured
here are WLH’s Hermina Sennelo, sales executive; and
Marlin Magadani, marketing assistant.
Not just beaches...
PENTRAVEL’S Vicky Steinhardt
says she is seeing an
increase in enquiries to
Bali for honeymooners, with
interest shifting away from
Thailand. She says beach
holidays remain a favourite for
honeymooners.
Brenda Mitchell, director
of sales, World Leisure
Holidays, says there seems
to be an increase in requests
to Zanzibar for honeymoon
packages but not to the
Maldives.
Mel Rebeck, Pentravel
Hillcrest, says while she
has seen a spike in general
interest in the Maldives since
the launch of direct flights,
she too hasn’t seen this in the
honeymoon market.
She has had enquiries for
the Philippines and Sri Lanka
from couples looking for
something different. While
the recent bombings mean
that Sri Lanka isn’t top of
the list, Mel says it has an
exceptional offering and
she would recommend it to
honeymooners.
“Sri Lanka has amazing
food and some of the most
beautiful beaches. It is as
fancy as the Maldives and it is
so cheap to get around.”
She adds that not enough
people go to India, which also
offers gorgeous beaches in
Kerala and Goa, together with
local culture.
The new Club Med in the
Seychelles will open up this
destination significantly for
honeymooners, says Mel.
“South Africans want allinclusive and the Seychelles
didn’t previously offer this.”
Thompsons Holidays’
Celeste Muir says the
Seychelles is a popular Indian
Ocean destination for the
operator when it comes to
honeymoons.
Mauritius still popular
Mauritius remains ever popular
for the honeymoon market but
agents say there’s a lot more
to the island than the picturepostcard beaches that have
made it a firm favourite with
this market.
Elzeth Van Schoor, a
travel expert at Flight Centre
Tygervalley, says many hotels
and resorts in Mauritius offer
great honeymoon discounts,
and therefore dominate this
market.
“A lot of people are so used
to seeing Mauritius as just a
resort destination, but over
the last few years, travellers
are seeing that there are
other ways to do Mauritius,”
says Travel Counsellor Nicci
Hayden. “You can do it as
self-catering, or in a big
villa, sharing with a group of
friends. You can spend nights
in different parts of the island
or you can stay in boutique
hotels instead of massive
resorts.”
“When we sell and advertise
Mauritius, clients have the
impression that it is just
beautiful beaches, cocktails
and chilling at a resort,” says
Elzeth. She says, depending
on what clients are after,
Mauritius has a lot to offer.
“For active honeymooners, the
island offers water-skiing and
hiking, kite surfing and golf.
There are lakes, waterfalls,
wildlife parks and other things
to explore outside your resort.”
Elzeth says some couples
may not want an all-inclusive
package because they are
active and will spend more
time off the property.
Elzeth highlights the kite
schools (Beachcomber’s
Dinarobin Beachcomber Golf
Resort & Spa and Paradis
Beachcomber Golf Resort &
Spa’s kitesurfing schools). “A
lot of kitesurfing competitions
happen there.”
Nicci says honeymooners
looking for shopping, nightlife
and restaurants should
head to the north of the
island, while the south offers
something for surfers, hikers,
bike riders and adventurous
honeymooners. “The east
coast is the aquatic side,
where guests will do more
snorkelling, deep-sea diving
and dolphin swims.”
Mel Rebeck from Pentravel
Hillcrest recommends a mix
of Mauritius and Réunion.
She describes Réunion as a
European city in the middle
of the Indian Ocean because
of the infrastructure, food
and vibe on the island.
“Until recently, South African
passport holders needed a
French visa to go there,” but
adds that the destination
has since opened up. “It is
quite expensive, but it is so
different.”
Rodrigues Island can also
be paired with Mauritius, says
Mel. She describes the island,
which is about an hour away,
as “Mauritius 50 years ago”.
“You literally go back in time.
It is so beautiful, with stunning
hikes, gorgeous beaches and
hardly any tourists.
Honeymooners are good repeat clients
CANVASSED agents
report a good repeat rate
on honeymoon couples.
Elzeth Van Schoor from
Flight Centre Tygervalley
says while many couples
may take a couple of
years to recover from the
expense of a honeymoon,
she says she gets repeat
and referral business
from these clients.
“If you get something
right, like a honeymoon,
then the door opens up
for many other kinds of
trips,” says Elzeth.
Travel Counsellor Nicci
Hayden says most of her
honeymooners are repeat
travellers.
“A lot of my clients
started travelling with
me when they had
teenagers and lot of
these children have grown
up and started booking
their honeymoons with
me. I have started doing
babymoons and from
there, family holidays,”
she says.
Book it!
Thompsons Holidays has a seven-night honeymoon offer at the fivestar deluxe LUX* Le Morne Mauritius in a superior room, for travel between July 13 and September 20. The package includes return direct flights from Johannesburg to Mauritius on Air Mauritius (incl. taxes), breakfast and dinner. Value-adds include a bottle of sparkling wine and a honeymoon cake, water-skiing and a glass-bottom boat excursion. Pricing starts from R30 183pps and bookings must be made by May 31.
Four fresh ideas for honeymoons
1 Debbie Knezovich, md of
Croatia a-la Carte, says
Croatia and its many
islands offer something
for honeymooners,
whether they are looking
for an active holiday or
a remote, secluded stay.
Those looking for an
active stay should head
to Hvar or Brac and those
looking for a remote
getaway should head to
Vis, Šolta or Mali Losinj.
“All are easily accessible
by ferry from different
parts of Croatia,” says
Debbie. She adds that
an inland stay also gives
easy access to activities
like popular bicycle trips.
2 “We’ve noticed more
people looking for
unusual honeymoon
options and not really the
traditional ‘fly and flop’
beach holidays,” says
Jane Davidson, director of
Development Promotions.
“How about a cruise
along the Norwegian
coast in search of the
Northern Lights.” The
Northern Lights offer a
more experiential trip for
honeymooners compared
with a beach holiday,
says Pentravel’s Vicky
Steinhardt.
3 Elzeth Van Schoor of
Flight Centre Tygervalley
suggests a river cruise
for something unique.
She says that while river
cruises aren’t top of
mind for honeymooners,
they offer a relaxing stay
that is at the same time
active. Describing her
recent Uniworld trip from
Bordeaux, she says:
“Everything is already
taken care of including
excursions.” She says
river cruises offer a
different experience to
sea cruises, which are on
much larger ships.
4 Yacht charters give a
unique experience, says
Julie Botha, owner of
Yacht Charter Options.
She says many people
don’t know that if they
aren’t sailors they can
sail with a skipper. “A
yacht charter holiday
would be the dream
honeymoon option.” She
says the couple can hop
off the boat to swim or
snorkel and go ashore
at different places to
browse at a local market
or have lunch or dinner.
“The skipper can take
them anywhere they
would like to go within
the island regions or he
will recommend places,
depending on their
interests.
Far-flung families fuel destination weddings
PENTRAVEL’S Mel Rebeck
says because a lot of South
Africans have emigrated,
most locals have family
overseas. “A lot of families
are split up,” she says
adding that because many
people have to travel
anyway, it makes sense to
meet up. “A lot of people’s
kids live in the UK or
Australia.” She says in this
context, it makes sense to
get everyone together for
an all-inclusive one-week
holiday in Mauritius.
She says new flights are
making it easier to reach
anywhere in the world.
“Emirates, for example, is
releasing a new destination
just about every month.”
She says it is very easy for
anyone to get to Mauritius
on Emirates, Qatar or
Turkish. “Just about every
major airline flies in.
Emirates has two A380s
flying in to Mauritius daily.”
Air Mauritius has
connections to London,
Perth, Paris, Geneva,
Amsterdam, Delhi, Mumbai,
Bangalore, Chennai,
Singapore, Kuala Lumpur,
Hong Kong, Shanghai,
Nairobi, and Dar es Salaam
as well as Antananarivo,
Réunion (St Denis and
Pierrefonds) and Rodrigues.
Destination weddings
also offer couples smaller
more intimate weddings,
as opposed to having 100
guests a home.
Zanzibar, Bali and Thailand
are also popular picks,
says Mel.
Book it!
Thompsons Holidays is selling all-inclusive seven-night packages
from R25 291pps at the three-star Innahura Maldives Resort for
travel between June 1 and October 31. The price includes return
flights from Johannesburg as well as seaplane transfers with
bookings paid by June 30. Airport taxes, fuel levies and surcharges
are approximate and subject to change.
Mauritius corners the weddings market
MAURITIUS’S proximity to
South Africa, competitive pricing
and all-inclusive packages
together with on-site wedding
co-ordinators, ensure that it is
an ever popular choice for tying
the knot.
After her own wedding in
Mauritius, Pentravel’s Mel
Rebeck has carved out a
niche for arranging weddings
on the island. “It’s a lot easier
arranging it having done it
myself.
“You need to have experience
and know that you are selling
the right resort to the right
person.” She adds that it’s also
necessary to know the rules
and regulations.
Joanne Visagie, sales
and marketing director of
Beachcomber Tours, says
Mauritius’s continued success
in the weddings segment is
a result of the island offering
excellent value for money for
South Africans. “The value is
incredible compared with the
cost of something similar at a
local venue in South Africa.”
Joanne adds that it is also a
year-round destination, roughly
four hours flying time from
South Africa, with no jetlag, and
SA passport holders do not
require visas.
Part of the island’s value
proposition is that it caters for
all budgets, while it is also well
equipped to host any wedding
party, says Carla da Silva,
Air Mauritius regional manager
for Southern Africa and Latin
America. “Dedicated wedding
planners are available at most
leading resorts and all wedding
arrangements can be made
locally through our Air Mauritius
partners.”
Joanne says an added
benefit is that if couples
choose a destination wedding
in Mauritius, they don’t have
to plan a separate trip for the
honeymoon, with the island
also being a top choice for
South Africans.
“Mauritius has excellent
infrastructure and offers a wide
range of activities and pristine
beaches – perfect for any
honeymoon,” Carla adds.
Deals for saying ‘I do’ on Mauritius
OPERATORS in Mauritius
offer a host of discounts
and value-adds for couples
saying their nuptials on
the island. TNW rounds up
some of the offerings.
Outside peak season
Air Mauritius offers
group rates for weddings
taking place on the
island. On-board valueadds include branded
head-rests; and cake or
champagne on board. The
low season for this year is
April 2 to June 13; July 9
to September 19; and
October 1 to December 3.
Beachcomber offers bridal
couples and wedding
guests staying with them
a 25-30% discount on the
land portion of their stay.
The bride’s saving can
increase to 50% should
the wedding party total
20 guests. The bridal
couple will also receive
a bottle of bubbly on
arrival and complimentary
lunch daily as well as a
complimentary experience
at the resort valued at up
to R5 200.
The Beachcomber Wedding
Package includes legal
costs, transfer to the Civil
Status Office, the services
of a dedicated wedding
co-ordinator, a separate
room for the bride to
dress, a celebration
breakfast in bed the
morning after the wedding,
a bouquet for the bride
and buttonhole for the
groom, cake and music.
The Beachcomber Glamour
Wedding Package offers
everything in its standard
wedding package and
also covers hair and make
up for the bride, spa
treatments for the couple,
champagne and canapés
after the ceremony and a
four-course wedding dinner.
In addition the couple get
a romantic room set-up on
the wedding night and a
gift from the resort.
World Leisure Holidays
has a wedding specialist
who can take care of
details such as colour
schemes, flowers,
bouquets, buttonholes,
music, photography, videos
and décor. The operator
also provides information
pertaining to the legal
and logistical aspects of
a Mauritius wedding, such
as arranging the ceremony,
the paperwork and the
formalities.
Setting sail
CRUISING is another
attractive option for
honeymooners.
“Cruising is always
a winner,” says Jane
Davidson, of Development
Promotions.
“It’s the perfect blend
of a relaxing holiday with
different destinations and
activities in one itinerary.
The best part of a cruise
is the great value as all
your meals and sometimes
drinks, like NCL’s Free at
Sea, are included.
“There is nothing more
romantic than sailing away
with your loved one into
a golden sunset,” says
Ross Volk, md of MSC
Cruises South Africa. For
international trips, he says,
MSC Cruises offers a wide
choice of itineraries, from
sunny Mediterranean cities
to unspoilt Caribbean
beaches. “You’ll get to fill
your honeymoon album with
photos of many destinations
rather than just one,”
he says.
Did you know?
For honeymooners travelling outside of peak season, Air Mauritius
offers free flights for the bride (only applicable taxes apply) as well as
complimentary business-class lounge access in South Africa.
Book it!
AfricaStay is offering Zanzibar deals for the low and high seasons
including a seven-night all-inclusive package in a suite at Reef and
Beach Resort on a bed and breakfast basis. It is from R8 995 in low
season (May 25-Jun 8) and R10 995 for high season (June 8-July13).
Pricing is per person sharing and includes return flights from Lanseria
and approximate airport taxes.
Photocap: New look Paradis villas
Earlier this year, Beachcomber revealed revamped
villas at Paradis Beachcomber. At the launch, Gilbert
Espitalier-Noël, ceo of Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels,
said the group had spent €50 million (R802m) on
renovations over the past three years, €20 million
(R321m) of which was spent on Paradis Beachcomber.
The villas, each of which can accommodate up to six
guests, have been redecorated with a nature theme,
reflecting tropical island-style living with warmtoned wood and shades of beige and white. Guests at
Paradis Beachcomber and Dinarobin Beachcomber Golf
Resort & Spa can also enjoy access to ATOL airport’s
departure lounge as well as premium arrival services.
Tying the knot at sea
WITH legal marriages often
taken care of before the
wedding ceremony, weddings
at sea are an attractive option,
with many cruise lines catering
for on-board ceremonies.
Ross Volk says MSC
Cruises’ ships can offer small,
intimate ceremonies as well as
big and festive celebrations.
The operator has a wedding
planner and offers packages
that include priority boarding,
wedding planning, a bridal
bouquet, a wedding cake,
photography, and more.
“Weddings can be arranged
on board as per the couple’s
requirements,” says Thaybz
Khan, contemporary
brand manager at Cruises
International. She says Royal
Caribbean has a wedding
department that oversees this.
Croatia a-la Carte offers
seven-night wedding cruises
on a ship with 17 cabins
that are booked exclusively,
ensuring a small and intimate
wedding experience, says
Debbie Knezovich of Croatia
a-la Carte. The operator
takes care of all the wedding
arrangements, including
arranging an officiator.
Debbie says couples either
choose to marry at the start
of the cruise, enjoying the rest
of their cruise with friends and
family, or at the end of the
cruise, in which case
the operator can arrange
bachelor and bachelorette
parties on one of the islands
a night or two before the
wedding. The cruise is
completely flexible, with the
couple deciding which ports
they want to visit and for how
long.
Book it!
ATO Tours offers five-night all-inclusive packages to the Maldives,
with economy-class flights from Johannesburg starting from R12 990.
Business-class, which offers flatbed seats, is an additional R9 900.
Proposal picks
1 The engagement
celebration package at
The Michelangelo includes
a one-night stay in a
deluxe room; canapés and
wine on arrival; a plated
three-course dinner; full
English breakfast; and a
30-minute hot stone or
candlewax back and neck
massage. The package
is R3 999 for a double,
on Fridays, Saturdays and
public holidays, subject to
availability.
2 Celeste Schroder, aha
national sales manager,
suggests proposing while
being splashed by the
waters of the Victoria Falls.
“Aha David Livingstone
Safari Lodge & Spa in
Zambia offers guests the
perfect luxurious five-star
experience, complemented
by unforgettable wildlife
and surroundings like the
spectacular Victoria Falls.”
Did you know?
Beachcomber has a ‘one wedding per day’ policy, which ensures that all staff, facilities and attention are
focused solely on one bridal couple on their special day.
Honeymooning in the ‘berg
THE aha Alpine Heath
Resort in the Drakensberg,
has been refurbished,
with upgrades to the
Gruyères Restaurant and
the coffee shop, and the
addition of a gym area.
Promotional packages are
available from May 1 to
September 15, for R2 200
per chalet per night and
are subject to availability.
The package also includes
daily breakfast, a 50%
discount on horse rides,
a 20% discount on all
spa treatments and free
mountain bike hire.
Book it!
Air Mauritius is offering discounted fares to Mauritius, Hong Kong and Perth, valid for
sales until the end of May. The sale applies to selected departure dates until the end of
July. Fares to Mauritius from Johannesburg and Cape Town are R6 400 and R11 500 for
economy and business class respectively, and R6 900 and R14 000 for flights ex-Durban.
All flights to Hong Kong are R7 900 and R25 500 and to Perth R11 530 and R27 300 for
economy and business class respectively. Taxes are included.
Babymoons, bachelors and bachelorettes trips
TRAVELLERS are increasingly
booking holidays before tying
the knot or becoming parents.
Together with her business
partner, Graham Tannings,
Kerri-lin van der Berg has
carved out a niche in the
babymoon market and has
focused on this market for
about a year.
Mauritius is a top seller
for the babymoon market
and Kerri-lin says the hotels
cater really well for this niche.
“They have massages for
the mom to be,” she says,
and many also throw in a
photoshoot. “So there you
have a big baby bump, with
a beautiful beach as the
background.”
Kerry says after the
babymoon, the happy couple
are more likely to come back
for their first family holiday.
“We try and keep the client
for more family holidays.”
Mel Rebeck of Pentravel
Hillcrest, says in general she
sees a lot more requests
for groups – big groups
of friends or family gettogethers.
Mel has also started selling
babymoons and also cites
Mauritius as a top pick for
couples who want to relax on
the beach and enjoy a chilled
holiday before baby comes.
She says local travel is also
popular for this market.
In addition to Mauritius,
Travel Counsellor Nicci
Hayden says Zanzibar,
Mozambique, Victoria Falls
and within South Africa are
proving popular with this
market, who naturally don’t
want to travel too far while
pregnant.
When it comes to bachelors
and bachelorettes holidays,
cruising is a natural fit
thanks to all-inclusive drinks
packages and endless
entertainment. “More and
more South Africans are
realising that cruising is not
just for the older generation
or couples,” says MSC’s Ross
Volk.
“There are many group
activities to choose from day
and night, a range of bars
with live music, a casino,
and even a nightclub where
partygoers can dance the
night away.” He adds that
because everything is in one
venue, guests don’t have
to worry about travelling
between different places or
possible safety issues.
Teresa Richardson, md
of The Travel Corporation,
says bachelorette trips
are becoming more and
more popular, and says the
operator’s City Explorer travel
style is an exciting way to
cover a lot of bases. “We
have these trips on offer in
Rome, London, Paris and
Amsterdam.
“What could be more
exciting than getting away with
your besties before you tie
the knot in one of the most
magical cities in the world?
With all accommodation,
daily breakfast and some
additional meals included,
plus great sightseeing and
lots of fabulous free time
it is an incredible way to
spend eight days together.
Bachelorettes can catch
the latest West End show,
shop up a storm along the
Champs-Elysées or enjoy a
private tour with dinner inside
Vatican City.”
To the point
MSC Orchestra will be sailing in southern African waters for the first
time this year, visiting Pomene and Portuguese Island from November
2019 to April 2020
