Themed holidays lure repeaters
SOUTHEAST Asian itineraries
are often formulaic, combining
a bit of beach, a dash of
culture and a whole lot of shopping.
The region, however, incorporates
multiple strands of interest and
lends itself to themed holidays in
which each country shines in its
own way.
The region enjoys a strong element
of repeat tourists from South Africa,
drawn by value for money and its
warmth of welcome. By tailormaking
holidays to themes, the trade
make it possible to deepen the
South African experience in these
countries, rather than offering the
‘same old’. Here, TNW presents
some ideas offered by experts in
the field.
Calling all foodies!
Lance van der Heever, travel
director of Marmalade Toast
Bespoke Travel & Destination
Management, says the whole of
Southeast Asia is a gastronomic
experience – from Thailand to
Vietnam. “I love exploring the
regional flavours when travelling
through Asia. Thai curries in the
north have little
coconut milk, whereas
on the islands and
coast, they are more
coconut milk-based
because coconut
palms are prevalent
on islands such as
Koh Samui – that’s
why it is referred to
as the island of a
thousand coconuts.
“Vietnam, on the
other hand, has the
coffee and baguettes,
which are used to
make dishes such as
Pho and Bánh xèo.”
Marmalade Toast
Bespoke Travel
& Destination
Management has
put together food
packages throughout
the region, including
the 14-day Food
Glorious Food! Sri
Lanka Discovery,
12-day Myanmar
Foodies Delight, Hanoi Scenic Ride
for Foodies Day Tour and Authentic
Home Dining Experience in Bangkok
with renowned chef
Aoy. The Myanmar
package is one of
Lance’s top picks:
“The people of
Myanmar love eating
and sharing dishes.
Travellers get to
discover traditional
Asian to fusion
with Mediterranean
flavours, and learn
how local specialities
are prepared. They
also get to enjoy food
from the many food
stalls in the city.”
Alet Steyn, gm of
Wendy Wu Tours,
agrees that every
country in the region
offers a unique
foodie experience
due to their different
ingredients, spices
and styles of cooking.
However, her favourite
is Vietnam. Wendy
Wu Tours offers food
excursions for Vietnam, including
cooking classes in Hoi An, tea and
coffee plantations in Dalat, street
food tours in Saigon and a Mekong
Delta Cruise. Alet says: “Every
morning, the market in Hoi An is
packed full of just-picked fruits and
vegetables. Travellers get to learn
the secrets of Vietnamese cuisine
and whip up their feast, which they
then have the joy of devouring!”
Chantelle Brown, senior product
manager of kulula holidays, says
Thailand is ideal for a real adventure
holiday. “There are a variety of
options – kayaking in Phang Nga Bay
(off Phuket), rock climbing in Ton
Sai (near Krabi) and Railay (Krabi),
trekking the jungles of northern
Thailand, surfing in Phuket or trying
out the Flight of the Gibbon – a
zip-line canopy tour in Chiang Mai.
You can even get your Open Water
Scuba Certification in Koh Tao.”
Kulula holidays’ most popular
Thailand package is the Banthai
Beach Resort & Spa package,
which includes return flights from
Johannesburg to Phuket, seven
nights’ accommodation in a superior
room, return airport transfers and
breakfast daily. Value-adds include.
welcome drinks and a Thai set
dinner at the Port Restaurant.
Alet says travellers can’t visit
the region without going on some
sort of adventure. For this reason,
Wendy Wu has introduced Discovery
Tours for the more inquisitive, which
feature authentic cultural and active
experiences to immerse travellers in
the raw charm of the region. Some
of the packages include trekking in
Sapa (Vietnam), kayaking in Vang
Vieng and zip-lining in Champasak
(both in Laos) and quad biking in
Siem Reap (Cambodia).
Spiritual trips
Theresa Szejwallo, md of Trafalgar,
recommends Myanmar, India and
Japan to travellers looking for a
spiritual experience. Trafalgar’s
Spiritual Burma takes guests
through a land of sacred stupas,
ancient traditions and spiritual
reverence. “Some of the world’s
holiest Buddhist sanctuaries
are found here,” Theresa says.
Trafalgar’s India’s Golden Triangle
with Varanasi, which is new for
2018, features a scenic sunrise
boat trip in Varanasi to the holy
River Ganges.
On the Spiritual Japan trips,
travellers experience rituals
performed through the millennia.
“The Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage
Route is a Unesco World Heritage
Site dotted with shrines, temples
and the impressive Nachi waterfall.
Hayatama Taisha is one of
Kumano’s most important shrines
and holds an important place in
Japanese mythology,” Theresa says.
Vietnam a cultural, natural and culinary delight
VIETNAM continues to grow in
popularity among leisure travellers. It
is easy to see why – the country offers
an astonishing mix of natural highlights
and cultural diversity, with dramatic
scenery that ranges from jagged peaks,
winding mountain passes and fields in
every shade of green. While rural areas
hold antiquity and charm, the big cities
pulse with contemporary life.
A travel agent’s experience
Lance van der Heever of Marmalade
Toast Bespoke Travel & Destination
Management, shares his Vietnam
experience:
“My partner, David, and I have been
fortunate enough to spend a fair
amount of time in Vietnam. Our last
trip in 2016 was a bucket-list-style
adventure that saw us spend a month
travelling from the Mekong Delta to
Hanoi in the north using as many
modes of transport as we could find –
everything from horse-drawn carts
to scooters, taxis, trains, planes,
long-tail boats and open-top ‘war-era’
Jeep Willys.
“We started in the south and cruised
along the back canals, exploring daily
Vietnamese life in the Mekong in
rickety boats – as a large Westerner I
was always dispatched to the front of
the boat to ensure that it didn’t capsize
– and horse-drawn carts.
“We then headed up to Saigon by taxi
to explore some of the food culture.
We indulged in authentic street food at
a restaurant called bánh mì and Pho,
exploding rice at Anthony Bourdain’s
favourite restaurant Com Nieu Sai
Gon – the other exotic items on the
menu here, such as sheep’s womb
and river toad, left us in hysterics –
and fine food at Cuc Gach Quán. The
latter is on the outskirts of an urban
neighbourhood known as District One
and is widely believed to be one of the
best restaurants in Saigon. The meal
was exceptional!
“Next, we caught the Reunification
Express from Saigon to Da Nang. This
train ride was an incredible experience
thanks to the Vietnamese family that
we shared a cabin with. The rural views
on this journey were also something
special – to watch a sunrise over rice
paddies in Vietnam is a somewhat
spiritual experience. Plus, the train
was one of the cleanest we had ever
experienced in Southeast Asia.
“From Da Nang, we moved to Hoi An,
where we quickly learned to navigate
chaotic traffic on a scooter, ate all sorts
of interesting foods, sipped copious
cocktails on the beach and took in the
rich history of the city. We also drove
the Hai Vân Pass, known as the Ocean
Cloud Pass, which has been voted
one of best scenic drives in the world.
It was a glorious experience. We had
music from the ’50s and ’60s – think
Good Vibrations by the Beach Boys –
while we drove up the pass and got
to learn about the Vietnam War from
a Viet Cong war vet who now makes
sampans on China Beach.
“Our trip ended in Hanoi, where we
spent our days in the French Quarter
drinking cà phê dá – Vietnamese
iced coffee served strong with lots
of condensed milk – on the edge
of Ho Hoàn Kiem Lake, the Lake of
the Restored Sword, where legend
abounds.
We spent the evenings on Ta Hiên
Street sitting on kiddies’ stools listening
to live music, feasting on street food
and drinking beers.
“Vietnam is a truly magic country that
offers something for everyone, and
every pocket. I find it humbling how the
Vietnamese have endured so much yet
harbour no grudges – they are generous
spirits and wonderfully hospitable, which
makes their beautiful country all the
more enjoyable! It is hands down one of
my favourite destinations in the world.”
A round-up of top Vietnam travel tips from agents
Go south
The Mekong Delta region is worth
the trip. Not only is there a relaxed
atmosphere but some of the very
best food that Vietnam has to offer
– the kind that makes you want to
slurp every last mouthful of broth
from your noodle soup!
Learn the war history
It is impossible to put Vietnam into
context without knowing something
about it – and there are lots of
opportunities to get in touch with
its war past. A tour of the Cu Chi
tunnels on the outskirts of Ho Chi
Minh City gives visitors a momentary
sense of what the conditions must
have been like during conflict.
Catch a bus into town
Most bus companies run free
shuttle services from bus stations
to hotels. They are usually
unmarked and unpublicised to
foreigners, so tell your clients to
watch the locals and follow their
lead. It can save a likely inflated taxi
trip into town!
Go on a walking tour
A free walking tour in Hanoi is
the best way to experience the
capital from a local’s perspective
and make new friends. A studentrun
organisation, Hanoi Free Tour
Guides, provides free English guiding
services around the city. However,
visitors need to cover any admission
fees, lunch and tips for the student
guides.
Visit Sapa
Sapa is home to terraced fields and
breath-taking views. Here a true
homestay experience with the locals
can be organised in homes of a
good standard.
Dynamic packaging versus tour operators
WHEN it comes to
putting together
multi-country trips,
what is the better
choice – dynamic
packaging or going
through a tour
operator? Travel
agents have mixed
opinions.
Lance van der
Heever of Marmalade
Toast Bespoke
Travel & Destination
Management,
believes dynamic
packaging is the way
to go. “This is mainly
because my partner,
David, and I spent
three years living in Southeast Asia
and have existing relationships
and direct contracts with some
of the region’s most dynamic
ground handlers and travel service
providers from hotels to tour guides.
These relationships, combined with
our first-hand experience of hotels
and excursions, give us the ability
to create bespoke and often unique
itineraries that are not on offer on
the market.”
Sarah O’Mahoney, global purpose
specialist of G Adventures, agrees
that dynamic
packaging offers
clients flexible, tailormade
itineraries and
is ideal for those
who do not enjoy
travelling in groups.
Shirley Watson,
destination owner
for the Far East of
Flight Centre Travel
Group, says dynamic
packaging allows
clients to decide how
much time they want
to spend in each
country.
However, Sarah
points out that
dynamic packaging
may not necessarily offer the
benefits of experienced ground
handlers in the area. “Using a tour
operator limits flexibility, but tour
operators are knowledgeable and
experienced in providing the most
authentic experience,” she explains.
Alet Steyn, of Wendy Wu Tours,
adds that it can be time consuming
to contact different ground
handlers.
Having visited Southeast Asia
numerous times herself, Ros
Chimes of Ros-4-Travel, says that
tour operators are great for firsttime
travellers, but not repeat
travellers. “After the first trip, I
believe a travel agent needs to
tailor-make the client’s trip so that
it speaks to their interests and
passions. This can’t be found in
conventional packages,” she says.
According to Taryn Agliotti of
Sure Travel 24-7, tour operators
are the best way to go for travellers
who are on a budget, as packages
are more affordable than tailormade
itineraries. “From a reliability
perspective, using only one tour
operator is the best. This will also
allow travellers to take advantage
of tour operators’ relationships with
ground handlers,” she advises.
Alet says using a tour operator is
also much less stressful for travel
agents. “If you’re tailor-making a
package and something goes wrong,
it could be a nightmare to make
changes to other components. It is
best to let one reputable operator
handle all the components of the
trip.” Annemarie Lexow, sales and
marketing manager of Travel Vision,
adds that it can be especially
problematic for travel agents to
assist clients with problems when
they are in a country where English
isn’t spoken freely.
Book it
Global has a number of
Cosmos packages to Southeast
Asia, including the Thailand
Experience (from R16 500),
Simply Vietnam (from R32 300)
and Mysteries of Myanmar (from
R28 900) – all prices per person
sharing.
Wendy Wu Tours is running
specials on 2018 tours,
including Vietnam at a Glance
(from R31 730), Burma Explorer
(from R44 285) and Indochina
Delights (from R48 995, all
per person twin share). All
tours include international
flights from Johannesburg,
airport taxes, accommodation,
meals, transportation on tour,
comprehensive touring, national
escorts for group escorting and
local guides.
Globus is offering a 13-day
Exploring Vietnam & Cambodia
tour from R50 300 per person
sharing. Highlights of the allinclusive
tour are Ho Chi Minh
City, Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi, Siem
Reap and a Ha Long Bay cruise.
Multi-country trips – what you need to know
Challenges
Theresa Szejwallo says
perhaps the biggest challenge
for travel agents is finding a
company with reliable ground
handlers to deliver quality
experiences in each Southeast
Asian country on the itinerary.
“Language barriers and being
able to negotiate the cultural
nuances are both challenges
for travellers,” she explains.
Theresa suggests that travel
agents should use companies
that have on-the-ground local
experts and travel directors
who will help travellers
navigate cultural taboos with
grace and diplomacy.
Flights: Shirley Watson,
destination owner for the Far
East of Flight Centre Travel
Group, points out that there
are limited direct flights out
of South Africa to Southeast
Asian countries. Deborah
Beckett, owner of Can
Discover Travel, adds that
connecting flights in the region
can be a headache because
some of the best airlines are
not bookable on the GDS.
“Air Asia is one example.
Still, they aren’t the most
reliable, and because it is an
online booking, making flight
changes is difficult.” Chantelle
Brown of kulula holidays, says
backtracking is also difficult to
avoid as onward connections
often tend to be from the
same hub cities.
Hotels: Ros Chimes,
owner of Ros-4-Travel, says
travel agents must do very
thorough research on hotels
they haven’t experienced
themselves before making
recommendations. “Our
knowledge of a three-star hotel
is very different to a threestar
hotel in some towns and
cities in Southeast Asia,” she
explains. “You will end up with
very disgruntled clients if they
do not get what they have
come to expect!
Opportunities
Upselling: Chantelle
says upselling is a major
opportunity because clients
are more likely to opt for a
higher standard, quality tour
when booking Southeast
Asia travel due to price.
Shirley, agrees: “Clients will
be keen to travel to multiple
countries as Southeast
Asia is a reasonably priced
destination.”
Return clients: Taryn
Agliotti, consulting director
of Sure Travel 24-7, says
if you are able to pull off a
seamless multi-country trip
and provide your client with
a fulfilling holiday, they are
likely to return. To do this,
David van der Heever of
Marmalade Toast Bespoke
Travel & Destination
Management, suggests
including extraordinary
activities in the client’s
itinerary, such as local
transport, dinner with
locals, local delicacies,
trekking in jungles or even
something simple such as a
private blessing by a monk.
“These are special
experiences that the
client will remember for
the rest of their life. But
if you do not do your
research or profile your
client properly, they can be
bad experiences that they
remember for the rest of
their life!” he says.
Visa requirements
Jaendre Terblanche, owner
of Visas Zone, gives an
update on the latest visa
requirements for SA travellers
for countries that fall under
the Southeast Asia region.
COUNTRY VISA REQUIREMENT
Vietnam Visa required
Laos Visa on arrival
Cambodia E-visa prior to arrival
Thailand No visa required
Myanmar (Burma) Visa required
Malaysia No visa required
Indonesia No visa required
Singapore No visa required
Philippines No visa required
Brunei Visa on arrival
Book it!
Wendy Wu Tours is running its 2018 Asia sale, which gives discounts
of up to R7 000 across Southeast Asia, China, Japan and India
Tours. To qualify for these discounts, travellers must book and pay
the tour deposit of R2 500 per person by September 29.
