Big city romance
City trips don’t score very
well with South African
travellers looking for a
honeymoon destination.
TNW’s survey revealed that
only 7% of travel agents sold
honeymoon city trips. For
those who do opt for a more
cultural honeymoon, Italy,
Paris and Cape Town are the
destinations of choice.
“City trips can be a
fantastic honeymoon option
for a cosmopolitan couple
who want to experience the
highlights of a big city.
“In London or New York
couples can catch all
the latest shows, enjoy
fine dining at the best
restaurants and sip cocktails
at the hottest bars,” says
Theresa Szejwallo.
Lorna Burke, spokesperson
for Air France, agrees and
says when travellers think
of romance, they think of
Paris. “With just a stroll
through Montmartre, along
the Seine or under the Eiffel
Tower, travellers can discover
the city of love as soon as
they arrive in Paris. From
its hub in Paris, Charles de
Gaulle, Air France also takes
travellers to some of the
most romantic capital cities
in the world such as Rome
and New York.”
Exclusive beach indulgence
“For honeymooners with
a bigger budget we highly
recommend a Mozambique
island honeymoon because
of the personal attention to
detail that the honeymooners
will receive as well as
privacy and exclusivity,”
says Gail Gilbert.
What makes Mozambique a
great honeymoon destination,
says Gail, is its stunning
beaches, great resorts,
indulgent spa treatments,
romantic private dinners,
romantic turn downs with
candles and the added extras
for honeymooners, such as
free room upgrades.
“South Africans perceive
Maldives and Thailand as
more exotic and upmarket
but they don’t always realise
that we have just as beautiful
and enticing a destination
right at our doorstep in the
form of Mozambique,” says
Michele Abraham. She adds,
however, that, as with any
emerging destination, access
is expensive and these costs
can make Mozambique less
competitive within the South
African market.
According to Michele, beach
weddings are very popular
on Anantara Bazaruto Island.
“You are assured an
exclusive and memorable
experience, as there are
only two hotels on the entire
island. The weather is warm
year round and the water
temperature seldom drops
below 26 degrees.
Intimate safari atmosphere
“A safari honeymoon
not only creates a very
romantic setting with all
its beautiful landscapes
and picturesque wildlife
scenery, but also provides
the perfect atmosphere
for you and your partner
to bond, relax and make
the most of your quality
time together,” says Rina
Cilliers.
There is something
magical about a
honeymoon in the bush,
agrees Alan Campbell.
He says a honeymoon in
the bush offers a unique
intimate and romantic
South African experience.
“In the midst of challenging
economic times and
a weaker rand, South
Africans are exploring
more local options for their
honeymoons.”
Did you know?
Beachcomber offers up to a 50% accommodation saving in
September for honeymooners, and 30% in November, including
a romantic candlelight dinner. The tour operator also has special
gifts included in the package for the bridal couple, from French
champagne and fresh fruits in the room to a boutique gift voucher
and a spa treatment. Beachcomber’s honeymoon packages to
Mauritius include pre-booked seating on flights as well as special
meals on board. Frequent flyer numbers, if applicable, are provided
to the airline and a meet and greet service is waiting once the
clients arrive in Mauritius with their transfer vehicle waiting.
Top deals now on!
Romance in the Mother
City
The One&Only Cape Town
offers exclusive romance in
luxury and style. With worldfamous
restaurants, spa
facilities, and a unique view of
the Mother City, the One&Only
is a safe bet for couples
looking for local romance.
World Leisure Holidays is
offering a three-night stay in
a Marina Harbour Room at
the five-star luxury One&Only,
including breakfast daily for
R19 875 per person sharing
Magic proposal packages
Legend Lodges is offering a
memorable proposal package
with a setting that overlooks
22 000 hectares of natural
beauty for R5 290 per couple
per night. The package for
two includes helicopter flights,
sparkling wine and a romantic
picnic on Hanglip Mountain
in the Entabeni Safari
Conservancy. The offer is valid
until October 31.
Escape to the Seychelles
The Paradise Sun Hotel on
Praslin Island is a four-star
80-room hotel perfect for a
romantic getaway. Couples can
escape to this paradise for
R22 194 per person sharing
(valid between August 25
and November 15). The offer
includes return airfares on
Air Seychelles; airport and
hotel transfers; taxes and
surcharges; seven nights’
accommodation in a superior
room; dinner and breakfast
daily; tea, coffee and cake
every afternoon at the hotel
pool; a sunset cruise every
Wednesday; and a cooking
demo every Friday. Flights
and accommodation are
subject to availability.
Discounted airfares for
Mauritius
Air Mauritius is offering
honeymoon couples an
additional discount of up to
20% on the bride’s fare during
the Travelsmart season, which
runs throughout the year,
excluding school holidays.
Honeymoon couples will
receive free business-class
lounge entry in South Africa
when travelling in economy
class. Couples can also treat
themselves to a last-minute
airport upgrade for R1 850,
where they can experience the
full luxury of the airline’s lie-flat
seats.
Rekindle the romance
Beachcomber Tours is offering
value-for-money September
packages that cater for
couples looking to rekindle
their romance in Mauritius
Couples can enjoy five nights’
accommodation at the fourstar
Le Canonnier for R9 250
per person sharing, with an
option of adding ‘all-inclusive’
for an added R375 per person
per night. Couples can opt for
a five-night stay at the five-star
Shandrani for R10 800 per
person sharing with the option
of an ‘all-inclusive’ add in at
R565 per person per night.
Couples have another option
of staying at the five-star
superior Trou Aux Biches, with
daily complimentary lunch, at
R14 980 per person with the
option of adding a lunch and
drinks package from R650
per person per night. Rates
include return Air Mauritius
airfares from Johannesburg,
breakfast and dinner daily,
and free land and motorised
water sports. Travel is valid
for the month of September
and is subject to availability.
Exclusive safari escape
Premier Hotels is offering
a romantic escape at the
Mpongo Private Game
Reserve for R1 500 per
person sharing. The fivestar
experience includes
accommodation in the
exclusive river lodge, dinner
including local drinks, full
breakfast, and a guided game
drive with snacks and drinks
provided. The offer is valid
until September 30.
Honeymoon with Lux*
Lux* Hotels and Resorts has
various romantic packages on
offer, including the Lux* Belle
Mare in Mauritius, from
R22 505 per person sharing.
The special includes return
flights departing Johannesburg
on Air Mauritius, airport taxes
and transfers, seven nights’
accommodation, breakfast
and dinner daily. Valid for
the month of November.
Honeymoon inclusions are
a romantic dinner, bottle
of sparkling wine, a cake
and a cooking class. Lux*
is also offering specials
to Saint Gilles on Réunion
Island, for R24 330 per
person. The package includes
return flights, departing
Johannesburg on Air Austral,
taxes and transfers, seven
nights’ accommodation and
breakfast daily.
Romantic bush bliss
Kulula holidays is offering
a package to Springbok
Lodge for R3 669 per person
sharing. The special is valid
from August 1 to December
11, and includes two nights
in a tented room, all meals
(breakfast, lunch, dinner) daily,
and two game drives per day.
A bonus offer for couples is
a romantic turn down (bubble
bath, candles, and rose
petals) along with a bottle of
champagne for the last night.
Sunset at Vic Falls
Africa Stay is offering a threenight
package to The Elephant
Hills four-star hotel for
R5 640pp sharing. The
package includes return flights
from Johannesburg to Victoria
Falls on FlyAfrica, airport
taxes, return airport and hotel
transfers, accommodation in a
standard room and breakfast
daily. As a bonus offer, this
romantic package includes a
sunset cruise.
Tour the city of love
Priced from R38 350 per
person twin share. Couples
can enjoy a slow-paced and
scenic trip from Paris to the
South of France where the
proverbial playground of the
glitterati on the French Riviera
awaits. With three nights in
Paris and six nights in the
Provence region, couples will
enjoy Insider Experiences
such as the Be My Guest
lunch at the Olive Oil Mill
in Luberon. They will also
join a local specialist in
Arles and visit the Roman
Amphitheatre, Monaco and
Monte Carlo. This 11-day
trip includes accommodation
with breakfast daily, three
dinners, transport from Paris
to Aix-en-Provence on board
the TGV Express, and Insider
Experiences.
South coast scenic
escape
Dream Hotels and Resorts is
enticing couples to explore
the beautiful KwaZulu Natal
South Coast by staying at
the Blue Marlin Hotel in
Scottburgh, from R550 per
person per night including
breakfast and a ‘mystery
gift’. A firm favourite among
generations of South African
families, the Blue Marlin has
received a multimillion-rand
upgrade that will ensure firstclass
accommodation while
maintaining its family-friendly
ambience and providing the
personal service for which it
is renowned. The offer is valid
until the end of August.
Tranquil retreats at Tala
AHA is offering special rates
of R1 575 per room per
night for the Aloe Lodge at
the Three Cities Tala Private
Game Reserve in KwaZulu
Natal. Rates include bed and
breakfast, one game drive as
well as gate entry. There is a
minimum stay of two nights
but guests who stay for three
nights will only pay for two.
Tala is a romantic and tranquil
destination suitable for
weddings, short retreats or a
weekend getaway. The reserve
spans over 3 000 hectares
and has a diverse array of
natural environments.
