A cost-effective, safe option for SA travellers
ONE of the attractions
of Eastern Europe,
says Inge Dobihal,
owner of Austria
Connection, is the wide
use of English in hotels,
shops and restaurants,
especially by the younger
generation. The region
is generally less pricey
for food, drink and
accommodation than
Western Europe, and
hospitality standards are
good; one can confidently
recommend three-star
properties for quality
accommodation. In
addition, the countries are
relatively safe with very
little crime, she says.
Sussing out the interests
of travellers is vital for
offering good guidance,
however. “Every agent
should be looking at their
clients objectively, finding
out what they’re looking
for in a holiday and making
sure that they offer a
product that fits all their
criteria,” says Theresa
Szejwallo, md of Trafalgar.
A suggestion to
consultants from Shaun
McCarthy, managing
director of White Star
Cruises, is not to shy
away from destinations
you are not familiar
with. “We assist with a
multitude of information
to give consultants the
edge when it comes to
recommending a certain
destination. Sometimes a
gentle push of enthusiasm
to a possible client is all
it takes to sell a new and
exciting destination.”
Luxury travellers
“Eastern European countries
cater very well for the
luxury traveller, with superb
luxury hotels, high-class
restaurants and excellent
service,” notes Inge.
Luxury travellers are also
well catered for through
Trafalgar’s Hidden Journeys
and At Leisure travel styles.
Hidden Journeys head off
the beaten track in smaller,
more intimate groups of
up to 26, while At Leisure
guests enjoy city stays of
up to three nights, with later
starts and generous free
time.
Singles
While Inge finds pricing
for single accommodation
to be quite high in the
region, good news is
the growing number of
products and services
that no longer enforce
single supplements
on their guests and
passengers.
Trafalgar, for example,
along with its CostSaver
brand, offers limited
single supplement waivers
on certain trips and
dates, with solo travellers
enjoying their own rooms
at no additional expense.
Another alternative for
singles is to share with
a fellow traveller of the
same gender.
For cruising, Shaun
points out that Cunard
ships have a number
of single staterooms.
The cruise line has also
designed activities not
only to include, but to
“positively involve” single
guests. This is done by
providing larger dinner
tables, gentlemen hosts
for ballroom dancing, and
sporting events where
any number of people
can take part.
Families
Travelling through Eastern
Europe is primarily a
cultural experience,
says Inge, and thus may
not suit every type of
family. “The exception
is, of course, Croatia,
which is a perfect family
holiday destination with
various possibilities
from beach holidays that
can be combined with
a bit of sightseeing, to
island-hopping cruises,
plenty of water sports
possibilities and walking
in some of the national
parks.”
Families with older
children, however, may
relish the educational
aspects of an Eastern
European trip. Trafalgar
discounts are applicable
to those aged five to 17
years; there’s an option
for triple-share rooms
and, if the family group
numbers between five
and nine members or
even more, they can take
advantage of a special
group discount. This
makes the possibility of
multi-generational travel
all the more appealing.
St Petersburg back in the spotlight
THE imminent dropping of the
visa requirement for South
Africans is expected to boost
Russia as a destination.
Last month, the South
African Department of Home
Affairs and Russian Embassy
officials confirmed that a
reciprocal visa waiver for
stays of up to 90 days would
be in force by the end of
March.
St Petersburg, famed for its
imperial splendour, elegant
architecture, high art and
intriguing history, has long
been viewed the highlight of a
Russian visit. Having recently
spent five nights there, Riaan
Goosen, owner and manager
of Club Travel Zoo Lake, is
a convert to the city’s large
club of aficionados. “I was
blown away by its grandeur,”
he enthuses, “its wide
boulevards, palaces and
museums that rival those
of Paris.”
Must-see attractions
St Petersburg can confidently
be pitched to clients with an
interest in culture, history
and art. Its unmissable
landmarks include The
Hermitage and its Winter
Palace collection for the great
names in art; Peterhof – the
Russian Versailles; the Peter
and Paul Fortress; the Church
of Spilled Blood; and the
buildings of Nevsky Prospekt.
In the evenings there’s ballet,
theatre, concerts and opera
to enjoy.
It’s also a romantic city, with
parks, waterways and canal
walks, and boat trips on the
Neva River, says Riaan.
Prices, he reports, are
affordable for South Africans
during off-season periods.
“Out of season there are
incredible hotel deals that
are discounted up to 75%.”
There are plenty of options
with good European-type
standards and service levels.
“For a spoil, try the Four
Seasons for location and
luxury. Rates are reduced by
50% to 75% in winter.”
Riaan found local
restaurants, with the
exception of those in
upmarket hotels, to be
reasonable, although the
cost of wine was steep.
He recommends the
Russian Vodka Room for
traditional dishes and a
wide variety of vodkas. “It’s
friendly, unpretentious and
non-touristy.”
Entrance fees to attractions
are also affordable, he says,
and some facilities are free
on certain days of the week.
To get around, there’s the
subway with its splendidly
ornate stations that resemble
museums and art galleries.
Taxi fares are negotiable, but
drivers speak little English,
warns Riaan. However, he
found Uber services made
city transport a breeze at
reasonable cost. In the city
centre, the best means of
getting around is on foot.
“I was surprised at how
friendly and stylish people in
St Petersburg are, and how
European in character it is,”
says Riaan. “I was told that I
should have included Moscow
for an interesting contrast.
As soon as the Russian visa
requirement is dropped, I will
be off again.
Book it!
Trafalgar’s budget brand, CostSaver, is offering a number of Eastern
Europe specials. CostSaver’s Imperial Highlights package is priced
from R18 200pps (or R1 820 per day) for 10 days, including
accommodation with breakfast daily, four three-course dinners and
various CostSaver features. Countries visited are Germany, the Czech
Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria. The Highlights of Bohemia
package is priced from R24 500pps (or R1 634 per day) for 15 days,
and explores Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria and the
Czech Republic”
Five exiting specials
1. Trafalgar’s 10-day Prague,
Vienna and Budapest
package is priced from
R21 900pps. This
includes accommodation,
breakfast daily, and three
additional meals including
an ‘Insider Experience Be
My Guest’ dinner.
2.Cunard is offering a
14-night voyage on the
Queen Elizabeth (Q724),
selling from £1 599pps
(R26 037). Combining
Eastern European ports
on the Baltic Sea with
Scandinavian stops, it
departs Southampton
on July 14, heading for
Rotterdam, Copenhagen
and Stockholm before
a stop in the charming,
medieval port of Tallinn
in Estonia. The highlight
is two nights in St
Petersburg in Russia.
The ship then heads
back to Southampton via
Warnemunde in Germany
and Skagen in Denmark.
3.Austria Connection is
offering a nine-night
Poland by Train package
priced from €878pps
(R12 382), including
accommodation in threestar
hotels, breakfast
daily, and train tickets
with seat reservations for
the route Warsaw-TorunGdansk-Poznan-WroclawKrakow.
4. Trafalgar is offering a
17-day Highlights of
Eastern Europe special
priced from R44 300. It
includes travel to eight
countries: Germany,
Czech Republic, Slovakia,
Hungary, Poland,
Slovenia, Croatia and
Austria.
5.Austria Connection’s
three-night Ljubljana
City Package is priced
from €132pps (R1 862),
including accommodation
in a three-star hotel with
breakfast and a walking
tour and funicular ride
to Ljubljana Castle. The
package can be extended
to the four-night Slovenia
Experience from €479pps
(R6 757), including a
full-day excursion to
Lake Bled and Bohinj
at the foot of the Julian
Alps, and a half-day trip
the Postojna Caves and
Predjama Castle.
