AGENTS will need to
think out of the box
this Valentine’s Day to
impress potential clients.
Valentine’s Day – much
like other occasions in
the year – has been overcommercialised
and has
lost its unique appeal,
says Alexis Bekker, head
of sales and marketing for
LUX* Resorts & Hotels. She
says these holidays should
be consulted on more and
packaged as something
special to clients.
“Agents should pay
more attention to these
occasions. It’s about selling
the couple an experience
rather than just a holiday
over Valentine’s and this
comes with knowing your
product offering,” says
Alexis, adding that it should
not only be about the
price, and agents should
take a holistic approach by
looking deeper into what
particular resorts offer and
the experience that can be
delivered.
Unconventional activities
are popular romantic
choices for this year, says
Club Travel product manager,
Lucinda Tyler. These
include zip lining, balloon
safari, game drives, cruises,
romantic movies, private
spa treatments and even
cooking lessons. “Some
couples enjoy adventure
and being active, while
other couples would prefer
relaxation and beach or
bush getaways.”
The LUX* Reasons to
Go product offers extras
like star gazing with an
astronomer (Starry Starry
Night), movies screened
on the beach (Cinema
Paradiso), and a range of
other unique activities.
Agents can offer travellers
more than what comes
standard in Valentine’s
getaways by considering
romantic value-adds that
are often overlooked.
Lucinda says these include
turn-down facilities, rose
petals, champagne, a fruit
basket, chocolate and
strawberries, meal vouchers,
room upgrades and private
dinners arranged in dining
areas.
However, when tailoring
a Valentine’s Day package,
agents should consider what
that particular couple enjoy
and research their special
interests, advises Lucinda.
Agents should ask the
right questions to find
out whether couples are
looking for good food and
wine, history or art, agrees
Trafalgar md, Theresa
Szejwallo. “Agents will go
a long way to craft a more
personalised romantic break
by finding out about the
client.”
Theresa adds that
applying a one-size-fits-all
approach won’t work. “Our
experience has been that
couples looking to book a
romantic getaway vary as
much as individual travellers
in what they’re looking for
and it is up to the agent to
provide them with a choice
of interesting options to
choose from.”
World Leisure Holidays
(WLH) national sales
manager, Cathie Bester,
says agents need to
understand their clients’
likes and dislikes and
their preferences in
terms of whether they are
adventurous adrenalin
junkies or prefer to relax in
a resort and enjoy whatever
is on offer.
Selling something extra special
A LESS conventional
destination for a Valentine’s
Day getaway suited to the
more adventurous couple, is
Réunion Island, says LUX*’s
Alexis Bekker. “The island
offers a variety of exclusive
activities, including a walk on
an active volcano, helicopter
flights over the entire island,
walks up scenic routes with
picnics and romantic meals
at the mountain’s edge, as
well as sunset cruises that
seasonally include dolphin
and whale sightings,”
she says.
The LUX* product range
focuses on islands and
offers guided tours to
Réunion. “Réunion is
becoming increasingly
popular with couples,” says
Alexis. “It is a self-drive
destination but with the
option of guided tours.
The tours offer bucket list
experiences, including an
aquatic walk – river rafting
with your body – and jumping
through waterfalls.”
Trafalgar has unique
couple getaways as part of
its Hidden Journeys product
offering. “This style of
travel takes guests to the
less-visited off-the-beatentrack
destinations around
the world, and comprises
smaller groups of no more
than 26 guests,” says
Theresa Szejwallo.
Although Mauritius is
considered a conventional
destination, there is much
more to do and explore
on the island than the
conventional packaged
offerings, according to
Alexis. “The LUX* Le Morne
is situated in the southwest
of the island with Le Morne
mountain (a Unesco World
Heritage Site) directly
behind. Couples can also
take a walk up the mountain
and enjoy a picnic while
enjoying some of the best
views available in Mauritius,”
she notes.
Find romance in guided tours!
MANY couples shy away from
guided tours because they
expect not to have enough
privacy and romance on
their trip when travelling in a
group. However, Club Travel’s
Lucinda Tyler says guided
tours can still be romantic,
depending on what valueadds
are offered. “Some
guided tours offer breakaways
at the end of each day, as
well as romantic dinners
and breakfasts to keep the
experience intimate and
special,” she says. Other
romantic ideas to include
in packaged getaways are
open-air concerts, sundowner
cruises and cocktails on
the beach.
Trafalgar’s Theresa
Szejwallo says, in her
experience, couples want
to spend hassle-free quality
time together and they enjoy
being treated like VIPs with
a few surprises along the
way. “Trafalgar’s At Leisure
travel style is the perfect way
for couples to spend some
quality time together. Whether
they are honeymooners, longstanding
couples, or couples
intent on celebrating a special
anniversary, these holidays
will tick all the right boxes.”
She says they offer late
starts each morning, longer
stays at each destination and
more flexibility to explore in
their own time.
Great romantic deals
1.Great romantic deals
Club Travel is offering
a romantic four-night
getaway to Prince Island and
a Hamman in Istanbul. The
package starts at
R18 050pps and includes
return flights to Istanbul,
airport taxes, return
transfers, four nights’
accommodation at the
Dossi Dossi Hotel Old City,
breakfast daily, two lunches
and two dinners, a Turkish
show, an Istanbul city tour,
tour to Prince Island, a
Hamman experience and a
guide. Valid for travel until
March 24.
2.Trafalgar’s seven-day
Secrets of Italy is a
Hidden Journey package that
enables couples to enjoy
the scenery and gastronomy
of the Piedmont region.
Couples will enjoy Insider
Moments like a trip to the
Barale Fratelli winery to learn
about the region’s wines,
and enjoy local treats such
as biscotti and ‘bicerin’ hot
chocolate in Turin. Priced
from R24 750pps, the
package includes six nights’
accommodation with hot
buffet breakfast daily, a Be
My Guest lunch, two dinners,
featured sightseeing, Insider
Moments, transport and
transfers. Bookings made
and paid for March 25 will
save up to 7,5%. This offer is
valid for travel on April 2 and
April 16, July 9 and July 23,
and August 6 and August 20.
3.Club Travel is also
offering the more
romantic couple a fourday
getaway to Vienna for
the ball at Kursalon Wien,
with dinner and a midnight
show, from R13 750pps.
This offer includes return
flights to Vienna, airport
taxes, return airport-hotel
transfers, three nights’
accommodation in Vienna,
breakfast daily and an
entrance ticket to the ball.
The offer is valid for set
departure on February 11.
4.LUX* is also offering the
‘Love Again’ package
at Tamassa in Mauritius,
where the couple are treated
to an exclusive evening
in the spa that includes a
60-minute massage; chilled
champagne; a Jacuzzi with
delectable canapés at the
water’s edge; a choice of
old-time romantic movies to
watch while being served
dinner; a four-poster day
bed with a seven-course
meal served while watching
a movie on a big screen,
and the full use of the spa
and the relaxation pool. This
package is valid for travel
between January 23 and
March 18.
5.Avoca Travels is
offering Valentine’s
specials that are valid
until March 15. Couples
can stay for eight days in
the Maldives and
Abu Dhabi from
R17 597pps, or visit
Benota and Sri Lanka
from R18 597pps.
Both packages include
return flights from
Johannesburg, airport
taxes and shared twin
accommodation with
breakfast daily.
6.Trafalgar is offering
a 10-day ‘At Leisure’
guided holiday through Prague,
Vienna and Budapest. The
offer includes three nights in
each city; Insider Experiences,
including visiting Vienna’s
Museum of Fine Arts, and
an exclusive private visit
to admire works by the Old
Masters without any crowds.
This package offers later
starts each day and free time
for couples to explore on their
own. Priced from R20 200pps,
it includes accommodation
with a daily hot buffet
breakfast, three dinners,
featured sightseeing, Insider
Experiences, transport and
transfers. If booked and paid
before March 25, clients can
save up to 7,5%. This offer is
valid for travel until April 7.
7.For couples who enjoy
nature, and specifically
bird watching, Club Travel
is offering a ‘Something
for the Birds’ package to
Botswana for R14 530pps.
The package includes return
flights to Kasane; airport
taxes; return airport and
river transfers; three nights
on board the Pangolin
Voyager houseboat; all
meals, including soft drinks,
local beers, wines and
spirits; daily birding and
photographic activities; walks
on Impalila Island; cultural
visits to local communities;
and fishing equipment and
licence. The package is valid
for travel until February 29.
8.World Leisure Holidays
is offering Valentine’s
Day packages to Mauritius
between February 1 and
29 in conjunction with the
launch of a new movie, Vir
Altyd, which was filmed
in Mauritius. Couples
can enjoy seven nights’
accommodation at the fivestar
Long Beach Golf and
Spa Resort in a standard
garden-view room on a halfboard
basis from
R15 620pps. The offer
includes a bottle of
sparkling wine and a fruit
platter in the room on
arrival. Guests will also
receive unlimited green
fees for Ile Aux Cerfs golf
course, including a golf
cart and transfers to the
golf course. Practice balls
and equipment hire are
excluded. Also included is a
choice of either a romantic
picnic on the estate or a
30-minute massage taken
any time between 09h00
and 14h00. A free night and
10% early booking discount
are included for a limited
time only. This offer is valid
for travel until the end of
February.
9.LUX* is offering
Réunion Island
specials that include four
nights’ accommodation
on a bed and breakfast
basis, return flights
departing Johannesburg
on Air Austral, including
taxes, and return airport
transfers. The package,
with accommodation at the
Hotel Le Recif, starts at
R13 880pps. Guests can
also stay at the Saint Gilles
for R17 210pps. These
packages are valid for travel
between February 1 and
May 6.
10.Couples can experience
unique natural beauty
– including indigenous
plant and wildlife such as
lemurs, baobabs, rainforests,
and deserts – trekking
and diving as part of Club
Travel’s unique romantic
experience in Madagascar.
From R17 940pps, couples
will receive return flights
to Antananarivo, return
airport-hotel transfers, two
nights’ accommodation
at La Ribaudière Hotel in
Antananarivo, road transfers,
five nights’ accommodation
at La Pirogue Hotel in
Mahambo, and breakfast
and dinner daily. This offer is
valid until June 30.
11.
Thompsons Holidays:
Couples can save R285
this Valentine’s Day by staying
at the African Pride Mount
Grace Country House and Spa
in Magaliesburg, Gauteng,
before March 31. On a selfdrive
basis, the offer will cost
just R1 965pp for a two-night
stay and daily breakfast. Those
flying in from Cape Town will
be charged R3 770pp and
from Durban, R3 780pp. This
also includes two days’ car
rental and airline levies.
12.Avoca Travels is offering
a special package
for couples looking to visit
Thailand for a Valentine’s
getaway. Spend nine days
exploring Thailand with
five days in Phuket and
three days on Phi Phi island
from just R12 160pp.
The price includes
airfares (incl. taxes) from
Johannesburg, breakfast
daily, airport transfers and a
free city tour of Phuket. The
offer is valid until March 31.
13.Kulula holidays is
offering couples the
opportunity to explore
the Greek Islands
from R13 175pps. The
package includes hotel
accommodation and guided
tours, three nights in
Athens, two nights in Paros,
two nights in Santorini
(pictured right), nine
breakfasts, two dinners
and transfers between the
ports, hotels and ferries
between the islands. The
offer is valid for specific set
departures from May 19 to
June 9.
14.Thompsons Holidays
has an array of specials
to celebrate the month of
love. Couples can take a
self-drive trip to the Free
State and stay at the fourstar
Protea Hotel Clarens
from R1 345pp. The offer
includes two nights’ stay with
breakfast daily and is valid
until March 31 for midweek
stays only. A supplement of
R255 per person per night
applies for weekend stays.
The hotel is close to the
Golden Gate National Park
and is surrounded by the
Maluti Mountains
15.Lovebirds can visit
Mauritius or the
Seychelles on Valentine’s Day
with South African Airways’
latest promotional fare. It
is valid for travel on/before
March 18, on/after April 5 and
on/before April 30. Travellers
departing Johannesburg or
Durban can travel to Mauritius
for R2 050 return! The rate
excludes taxes.
16.Travellers can spend
Valentine’s Day in
the Western Cape with
Thompsons Holidays’ special
rate of R1 595pp (self-drive)
at the four-star Arniston
Spa Hotel. Valid until March
28, this special includes
two nights’ accommodation
and breakfast daily. Those
wishing to fly-in from
Johannesburg or Durban
can enjoy the package,
including two days’ car
rental, for just R3 465pp,
including airline levies.
A different Valentine’s
package from LUX*
includes six nights’
accommodation, with
dinner and breakfast, in
Mauritius; return flights
departing Johannesburg on
Air Mauritius (incl. taxes);
and return island hotel
transfers. Prices start at
R29 765pps at the LUX*
Belle Mare or the LUX* Le
Morne; R21 320pps at the
LUX* Grand Gaube;
R21 585pps at the
Tamassa; and R17 005pps
at the Merville Beach.
These packages are valid
for travel between January
23 and March 18.
18.Travellers can spend
Valentine’s Day in Cape
Town’s Century City and save
R207! Thompsons Holidays is
offering a special package for
couples staying at the African
Pride Crystal Towers Hotel
and Spa. Valid until March 31,
those driving themselves can
pay just R2 055pp for a twonight
stay and breakfast daily.
Passengers departing from
Johannesburg or Durban will
be charged R4 375pp. This
rate includes airline levies and
two days’ car rental.
