Immersion is the new trend
EMERGING strongly in
family holidays is the trend
towards immersive travel.
The desire for engagement
and meaningful experiences
runs alongside the multigenerational
pattern, which has
characterised family travel for
some time now.
Theresa Szejwallo, Trafalgar
md, says: “Families want
to return home from their
holidays having learnt
something or having had
the chance to immerse
themselves in cultures that are
not their own.”
According to Lesley Simpson,
marketing representative
for the Tourism Authority of
Thailand, the recent surge
in numbers to Thailand has
revealed a new trend, where
parents who are unable to
travel during peak school
holidays due to business
commitments, plan holidays
out of season.
“This is an interesting
development, as it generally
includes families with older
teenage children, who
may have visited Phuket
previously, and want to explore
alternatives such as Chiang
Mai, Chiang Rai and the
Golden Triangle,” says Lesley.
South Africans are
also visiting Thailand for
experiences that may include
local festivities such as
Songkran – the traditional
Thai New Year in April.
They are getting involved in
environmental activities such
as elephant retreats like
Elephant Hills in Khao Sok
National Park or releasing baby
turtles into the sea at Nakhon
Si Thammarat in southern
Thailand.
Families are also seeking
value-for-money holidays
that include adventure, art,
food and museums, and
destinations where children
can enjoy activities on their
own and parents can do their
own thing, says Lucinda Tyler,
Club Travel’s product manager.
“Popular destinations are
Mauritius and European ski
resorts.”
Ramesh Jeenarain, World
Leisure Holidays md, says
Mauritius continues to top
the family destination list,
thanks to the fact that visas
and vaccines are not required,
it’s a short flight away and
offers loads of excursions and
activities to engage in.
Cruising is another firm
favourite of families. Thaybz
Khan, Cruises International’s
contempory brand manager,
says multigenerational family
travel, big groups, and families
travelling together to celebrate
special events are current
trends. The value, convenience
and inclusions are the factors
that draw families to cruising.
Ross Volk, md of MSC
Cruises, adds that locally,
South Africans love the short
three- and four-night cruises
from Durban to Mozambique.
Also very popular, says
Annemarie Lexow, Travel
Vision’s sales and marketing
manager, are Disney cruises in
the Caribbean and Walt Disney
World in Orlando. Disney offers
options to pre-book dining
plans and Magic Your Way
passes to its parks, enabling
upfront payment and budget
planning. Teenagers can thus
explore parks on their own,
swiping their MagicBand for
meals.
In the United Arab Emirates,
Dubai Parks, the Dubai
Aquarium and Underwater Zoo,
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
and Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi
appeal to family groups, says
Annemarie.
Rolene Kirkel, Rennies
Travel’s VIP commercial
aviation specialist, says
South African families love
cruising and island holidays to
Mauritius and Zanzibar.
“Most families want
beach holidays and to visit
famous sights, stay in places
that are not overcrowded
and immerse themselves
in different cultures and
experiences around the world.
I would recommend a cruise
holiday for the best value, as
everything is included and
you get to experience five
or six different cultures and
countries on one trip.”
Rolene says agents should
consider recommending an
overseas holiday for families
on a budget, as deals that
don’t cost much more than a
family holiday in South Africa
are available.
“One can find amazing
specials to Bali, Thailand,
Vietnam and Cambodia.” She
adds that, for high-budget
clients, she would recommend
Bora Bora in the South Pacific
or a cruise on Cunard’s Queen
Mary 2.
All-inclusive is the way to go
SOME of the best family
holiday value, agree agents
and operators, is the allinclusive
package.
For Lucinda Tyler of Club
Travel, Club Med is the
all-inclusive family holiday
winner. Club Med’s guest
officers ensure that guests
have a great time, she
says, and with all food and
beverages included in the
price, they can eat and
drink as much as they like.
Creative workshops, teen
clubs and activities, land
and water sports, cooking
classes, trapeze and
nightclubs are all included
in the package price.
Genine De Witt, a Club
Travel ITC, puts Mauritius
and Zanzibar as top choices
for families. “Mauritius
is still one of the most
popular all-inclusive familyfriendly
holiday destinations,
with most resorts offering
kids’ clubs and loads of
children’s entertainment,
allowing parents to relax
while kids are having an
active, fun-filled holiday.
Only a four-hour flight from
Johannesburg, Mauritius is
really ideal when it comes
to family travel,” she says.
Genine adds that Zanzibar
is also a great choice for
families, but that agents
should check which resorts
offer kids’ clubs.
Locally, Genine
recommends Sun City,
Umngazi River Bungalows
and Spa in Port St
Johns, the Beacon Isle in
Plettenberg Bay, Umhlanga,
or Club Mykonos in
Langebaan – all suited for
holidays with children.
For long-haul destinations,
any Club Med resort,
Disneyland Paris or Hong
Kong, Walt Disney World
in Orlando, or a family
cruise could be options
to consider. “Club Med
Phuket is a resort we would
recommend, with endless
fun for kids and adults.”
While Thailand is not
that strong on all-inclusive
packages, it does offer
great value. Says ITC, Keith
van Heerden, owner of
Travelbuddy.travel: “Hotels
in Thailand generally don’t
offer all-inclusive hotel
stays. One or two properties
do, but you pay a lot of
money for all-inclusive and
unless your client is a wine
drinker, there is no point
paying for all-inclusive when
food, alcohol and soft drinks
in restaurants and on the
street are so cheap.”
TAT’s Lesley Simpson
says half the fun of visiting
Thailand is exploring
the streets and tasting
street food. This year has
been named the Year of
Gastronomy in Thailand and
the country has launched
a new Michelin guide
covering 98 Thai, Asian and
international restaurants.
World Leisure Holidays’
Ramesh Jeenarain says
the eating habits of
children and teenagers
do not necessarily follow
the norm of three meals
a day. “There can be lots
of additional snacking and
ordering of drinks that can
add considerably to a bill for
extras on check-out. That’s
why all-inclusive holidays are
ideal for families.”
He recommends the fivestar
Long Beach resort in
Mauritius for teenagers,
which offers activities such
as archery, mini golf and
bicycles and has classes
for aspiring DJs, run by
professional DJs, for adults,
teens and younger children.
With five restaurants,
teenagers can dine with
friends in a different
location to their parents, yet
stay connected with WiFi.
Top tips for family cruising
Khan.
She says Celebrity
Cruises is hard to
beat when it comes to
on-board experiences
and activities for older
children. “They have
access to Go Pro and
Xbox and can enjoy art
activities among many
other adventures.”
She offers these tips for
families setting sail:
Ensure the on-board
activities offered by
the cruise line match
the type of lifestyle or
holiday the family would
enjoy.
Advise clients about
stateroom configurations
to ensure they’re
comfortable, along with
times for family dining
and babysitting options.
While there are always
medical facilities on
board, clients should
bring along any
medication their children
might need.
Take time to
understand client
preferences, budget and
expectations, to be able
to make more informed
decisions on which
cruise brand or product
to suggest.
Don’t be afraid to
upsell, upgrade or offer
add-ons, as this can
add value for clients
and help them enjoy a
hassle-free holiday.
Good advice from the experts
“ROYAL Caribbean and
Celebrity Cruises are
the ideal family-friendly
cruise lines, with on-board
experiences catering
for multigenerational
families. European
and Caribbean cruises
are definitely the most
popular destinations
for South African
families,” says Cruises
International’s Thaybz
If families are travelling longhaul
with small children,
suggest a stopover en-route
for a night or two, says
Lucinda Tyler of Club Travel.
Look out for resorts or
cruise options where
children can stay free, says
Genine De Witt, Club Travel
ITC. “It works out more costeffective
to quote on rooms
where kids can share with
adults, rather than booking
separate inter-leading
rooms. Also, research the
kids’ clubs on offer so they
are age appropriate.”
Offer a variety of rooming
options. For example,
Trafalgar offers twin, triple
and quad sharing options on
some of its family holidays.
Also see which discounts
might apply, such as
Trafalgar’s Early Payment
Discount and Young Traveller
Discount, or Beachcomber’s
Early Booking offer.
“Take flight times into
consideration when travelling
with young children,” says
Beachcomber sales and
marketing manager, Joanne
Visagie, “and preferably
don’t cross more than
two time zones, as flying
with children can be a
nightmare.”
Know which destinations
offer breakfast with
accommodation, says
Annemarie Lexow of Travel
Vision. “Also find out up
to what age children can
stay free, which hotels
have ramps for easy pram
access, which hotels hire
out prams and what the
conditions are for room
allocations. For example, a
family of five would need two
hotel rooms. Some hotels
will not allow parents to stay
in one room and children in
the other; there has to be
an adult with the children at
all times. Also enquire about
babysitters for parents who
want a date night.”
Check on kids’ clubs
and baby-sitting facilities,
advises Ramesh Jeenarain
of World Leisure Holidays.
“The majority of our hotels
have kids’ clubs. Sugar
Beach and La Pirogue
are both family friendly
and their facilities can be
used interchangeably.” He
suggests booking rooms
with easy access to the
beach, so when parents are
relaxing in their rooms they
can still keep an eye on
their children.
Costa Rica for teens
TRAFALGAR’S Theresa
Szejwallo took her two
teenage daughters
to Costa Rica and
recommends this ecofriendly
destination as
the perfect holiday for
teenagers and parents
alike.
“Often teenagers are
the most difficult to cater
for on holiday. They’re
no longer amused by the
kiddies’ club but not yet
old enough to venture off
independently. My family
holiday to Costa Rica was
the perfect balance of
interests for adults and
teenagers. The ‘Monkeys,
Jungles and Volcanoes’
guided holiday was ideal
for teenagers. We zip-lined
through the jungle, watched
turtles hatching on the
beaches of Tortuguero,
took exciting boat rides,
visited the Snake Garden
Wildlife Centre, walked over
the Arenal Hanging Bridges
and loved the guided trek
through the Arenal National
Park, where we sought out
lava trails and took a dip in
thermal springs.”
At the Monteverde Forest,
with its variety of ecosystems,
Theresa and her
daughters learned about
thousands of plants and
animal species, many
endemic to the area.
“There are more than
400 bird species and
30 species of humming
birds in the forest. We
saw howler monkeys,
sloths, toucans and the
resplendent Quetzal bird.”
This trip is priced from
R24 605pps. The Young
Travellers’ Discount and
Early Payment Discount
apply.
The ‘Costa Rica
Adventure with Tortuguero
Extension’ is priced
from R17 300pps for
10 days. The Young
Travellers’ Discount (up
to 10%) applies. A threeday
optional post-tour
experience to Guanacaste
Beach can also be added.
Family value specials
Book with Cruises
International by February
28 and get 35% off
standard cruise fares on
Royal Caribbean for all
guests in a stateroom
for all sailings, excluding
China. There’s also a
50% reduced cruise fare
on Celebrity Cruises for
additional third, fourth
and fifth guests in triple,
quad and family state
rooms (ocean view or
higher).
Trafalgar’s ‘Gladiators,
Gondolas and Gold
Family Experiences’
guided holiday is great
for families and takes
in Rome, Florence
and Venice. Highlights
include a gladiator
school; pizza-making
in Rome; the Leaning
Tower of Pisa; Piazza
del Duomo – a Unesco
World Heritage site in
Florence; and cruising
Venice’s canals. Priced
from R36 900pps for nine
nights’ accommodation
with breakfast daily, the
package also includes
four dinners (including a
Be My Guest event) and
a farewell lunch. Quad
room share applies, as
does the Young Travellers
Discount of up to 10% for
children aged five to 17.
Also great for families is
Trafalgar’s ‘Greek Island
Hopper Family Holiday’
filled with myths and
legends, trips to the
Parthenon and Acropolis
in Athens, the islands of
Mykonos and Santorini,
and a volcanic adventure
at Nea Kameni. Priced
from R37 700pps for
10 days, the package
includes accommodation,
breakfast daily and three
dinners. Quad room share
and the Young Travellers’
Discount apply.
Combine Beachcomber’s
year-round Early Booking
Offer of 20% discount
with its ‘Free Kids’
offer between May 1
and October 8. On this
offer, kids stay and eat
free when sharing with
parents. The offer is
applicable to children
under 18 at all hotels
except Royal Palm
Beachcomber. Children
also stay free on allinclusive
packages when
sharing with parents. The
special is not applicable
to family units.
Travel Vision is offering
a five-night package to
the Disney All Star
Resorts, valid for travel
from April 8 to May 24,
weekdays only, from
R31 235pps. It includes
return flights and taxes
ex-JNB, five nights’
accommodation, return
airport/hotel transfers on
Disney’s Magical Express,
a five-day Magic-Your-Way
base ticket, transport on
boats, buses and monorail
between hotel and theme/
water parks; extra Magic
Hours at the theme
parks before and after
closure, complimentary
MagicBand, and free WiFi.
Travel Vision’s sevennight
Western Caribbean
High Seas on Disney
Fantasy cruise, from
R35 806pps, valid for
departures on September
29 and October 13
includes return flights
and taxes ex-JNB, port
charges, seven nights’
full board in a deluxe
inside stateroom, all
on-board entertainment,
including Disney character
experiences and return
airport/port transfers.
Guests staying at World
Leisure Holidays’ Long
Beach Resort in Mauritius
can, until the end of April,
take advantage of the
Feast on East special,
which includes a discount
on the Long Beach drinksonly
package, and a
complimentary half-day
chauffeur-drive to explore
Mauritian sights.
Car rental: book special requirements in advance
BIDVEST Car Rental now
offers bike racks for rent
at all major airports in
Johannesburg, Cape Town,
Durban and Port Elizabeth.
Gaynor Von Loggenburg,
executive: sales and
marketing, says agents
must ensure the correct
vehicle size is reserved.
“It’s important to ensure
that there are enough
seats for all passengers
and enough boot space for
the luggage. All additional
requirements such as
GPS, baby seats and bike
racks must be reserved at
the time of booking. Our
extensive product range and
fleet of 13 500 economy,
luxury and speciality
vehicles can cater for all
family holiday needs.
Beachcomber’s all-inclusive offering hard to beat
Visagie.
Both hotels have kids’
clubs for children from three
to 12 years old.
The four-star superior
Victoria Beachcomber is
the ultimate family resort
in Mauritius, says Joanne,
with large rooms, a beachbased
Kids’ Club and a wide
range of free watersports
– including waterskiing
and wakeboarding tuition.
Teenagers have their own
lounge and can make use
of the TAM TAM app to keep
abreast of in-resort activities.
“But the pièce de
résistance of all-inclusive
packages in Mauritius is
the five-star Shandrani
Beachcomber’s Serenity Plus
premium package, with both
adults and children spoilt for
choice,” she says.
“Parents can enjoy quality
imported wines, spirits,
French Champagne by the
glass and a wide choice
of cocktails, while children
have a selection of alcoholfree
mocktails, soft drinks
and milkshakes. Snacks
and room service are also
included – a small tray
charge applies.”
The five-star Trou aux
Biches Beachcomber
and four-star Canonnier
Beachcomber also have teen
clubs available for their 13-
to 17-year-old guests.
Children cruise free with MSC
BEACHCOMBER’S all-inclusive
offerings at its Mauritius
resorts are firm South African
family favourites.
“The entry-level fourstar
resorts, Mauricia
Beachcomber and Canonnier
Beachcomber, are excellent
choices for those who want
to relax with their children
in a laid-back environment,”
says Beachcomber’s Joanne
AN ATTRACTION
of cruising with
MSC Cruises
is that children
under 18 sharing
a cabin with
adults, cruise
free, only paying
service charges
and port duties.
“Combine that
with good-value
drinks packages
that can be
purchased in advance,
and cruising becomes
an attractive and costeffective
family holiday
choice,” says Ross Volk,
MSC Cruises SA md.
The MSC Sinfonia and
MSC Musica, which will
be gracing South Africa’s
shores for the 2018/19
cruise season, are
destinations
in themselves,
with kids’ clubs
catering for
babies through
to teens. “There
is so much
to keep kids
entertained on
both ships, from
the Aqua Park,
swimming pools
and water slides
to top game
consoles such as PS3,
Xbox and Wii and high-tech
gaming attractions like
our Virtual World and 4D
cinema,” says Ross.
A varied programme
and supervised activities,
entertainment and social
events are tailored to four
different age groups.
Fun activities such
as Fun Time Dinner
(entertainment staff
entertain little ones while
adults have time on their
own), Happy Dinners
(young children dine
with the family during
the starter and are then
escorted to the mini-club),
and Kids Around the Clock
(supervised late-night play
and napping) give everyone
in the family space.
“It leaves children to
explore a social life of
their own on the ship,
and meet new friends in
a safe environment, giving
adults some much-needed
free time to relax,” adds
Ross.
MSC Cruises’ local cruise
season runs from end October
to April.
Maldives made memorable
“MALDIVES is undoubtedly
one of the world’s most
beautiful destinations,
and it is easy to see
why many pick it for their
family holiday,” says Lize
du Plessis, sales and
marketing manager for
Perfect Destinations.
She rates the group of
Indian Ocean islands as
well suited to children,
and says there are many
resorts in the destination
that cater for families.
One in particular is
the four-star Adaaran
Select Meedhupparu,
which offers all-inclusive
packages for family
convenience. Here
families can enjoy
a variety of sporting
activities, including
tennis, beach volleyball,
badminton or table tennis.
For the more adventurous
the resort has a full water
sports centre offering
jetskis, wakeboards and
tube rides, among other
aquatic pursuits.
Thailand – good value, great for family holidays
THAILAND is hard to beat
when it comes to great value
and is very child friendly,
says Tourvest Travel Services
ITC, Keith van Heerden, who
lives in Bangkok.
He says while fantastic
packages to Phuket and Koh
Samui are often advertised
in South African newspapers,
these are not always child
friendly, and agents must
do further research. “For
example, Patong in Phuket is
a great party destination, but
not right for little ones.”
For young children, Keith
recommends the beaches
of Hua Hin and Koh Chang.
“Hua Hin has shallow calm
seas and is just 199km
from Bangkok. Teenagers
will enjoy monkey spotting
and cave exploring. It is an
ideal destination for families
who have a little more to
splurge.”
In Koh Chang, which is
more budget friendly, bathers
can wade in shallow waters,
explore the jungles, and
enjoy kayaking and elephant
interactions. “The best way
to get to Hua Hin and Koh
Chang is to self-drive or
take a chauffeur-driven
taxi. The highways are
easy to travel and one can
ferry one’s car across to
Koh Chang. Flights from
Bangkok to Koh Chang are
very expensive, so a road
transfer is definitely the way
to go,” says Keith.
Lesley Simpson of TAT
says Phuket will always
remain a popular family
destination but suggests
that families explore less
popular beaches such as
Kamala Beach and Surin.
“There are lovely luxury
hotels at Bangtao Bay,
between the two beaches.”
Keith says Phuket and
the Andaman Coast offer
adventure for the whole
family, if a hotel in a familyfriendly
area is selected.
In Phuket, he recommends
the Kata and Karon Beach
areas for families with small
children and Hat Chaweng in
Koh Samui for families with
teenagers.
Chiang Mai and
Chiang Rai are the other
recommendations for
families with children.
“Chiang Mai is renowned
for its great adventure
activities such as river
rafting, mountain climbing
and hiking. And being in a
mountainous region, it is
also cooler than Bangkok.
One can even hire a selfdrive
tuk-tuk to move
around.”
Lesley further suggests
a local train ride to
Kanchanaburi to the Bridge
over the River Kwai, about
two hours from Bangkok.
Bangkok
Lesley also highly
recommends Bangkok for
families, regardless of age.
“There is just so much to
do, from visiting places
like Madame Tussaud’s
and Bangkok’s famous
water parks to shopping in
markets.
A new tour takes tourists
on a boat ride on the Chao
Phraya River before biking
through China Town or
taking a tuk-tuk through
busy streets. The Bangkok
Skytrain also stops off at
Bangkok’s main tourist
attractions.
Keith suggests booking
a resort hotel in Bangkok
with a big pool for children
to cool off in and a large
compound to play in, so
that they don’t have to be
watched 24/7 or experience
sensory overload from the
bustling day and nightlife.
Great places for kids in
Bangkok are:
The Snake Farm at the
Queen Saovabha
Memorial Institute where
children can watch
live snake-handling
demonstrations and
venom extraction.
Dinosaur Planet in the
heart of Bangkok, which
offers a large dinosaur
exhibition and giant Ferris
wheel.
Lumphini Park, Bangkok’s
answer to New York’s
Central Park, which has
paddle boats, jogging
tracks, outdoor aerobics,
play areas and giant
monitor lizards.
While the food in Thailand
is spicy, there are suitable
options for children. Most
hotels also offer a Western
menu with options such as
burgers and chips.
