South Africans explore hidden gems
WITH the rand continuing
to strengthen, it seems
that Europe is back on
many travellers’ wishlists and
operators are predicting very
strong demand this year.
Janine Pienaar, sales and
marketing manager of the
Globus Family of Brands,
is very optimistic about
travel to Europe for 2018.
“This can be seen in our
increased passenger numbers
year to date for the 2018
travelling season. We have
specifically seen an increase
in our escorted touring brand,
Cosmos Holidays.”
Europe also continues to
be Trafalgar’s top seller, says
Theresa Szejwallo, md of
Trafalgar South Africa. “I don’t
see this changing for South
African travellers in 2018.
There is so much on offer
– culture, history, incredible
scenery, myriad cuisine
options, stunning architecture
– and lots more. Trafalgar’s
Rand Price Guarantee and
range of early payment
discounts help SA travellers to
budget and plan their travels
to suit their pockets.”
But with Europe being
such a familiar favourite,
where are South Africans
heading to get off the beaten
track? TNW spoke to the
experts to find out.
Russia
According to Annemarie
Lexow, sales and marketing
manager of Travel Vision,
the company is focusing on
promoting Russia ahead of the
2018 Soccer World Cup, which
will be hosted in the country.
These sentiments were
echoed by Janine, who says
the abolition of Russia’s
visa requirement for South
African tourists has resulted
in increased interest in the
destination.
Cosmos Holidays has
introduced a new 10-day
Russia tour for 2018 that
includes sightseeing in
Moscow, where travellers will
see the iconic ‘onion-domed’
St Basil’s Cathedral and Red
Square. They then travel to
Tver, which dates back to the
12th Century and is situated
at the confluence of the
Volga, Tmaka and Tvertsa
rivers. Thereafter they travel
to Novgorod, where they will
discover the Kremlin and St
Sophia Cathedral with its
ancient frescoes.
The tour ends in St
Petersburg with guided
sightseeing of the city’s main
sights including the Peter and
Paul fortress and cathedral,
which served as a high-security
jail for political prisoners. The
tour concludes with a vodka
tasting and dinner at the
Vodka Rooms. Alternatively,
travellers can take a break
with the Globus Holidays’
eight-day tour which includes
four nights in St Petersburg
and three nights in Moscow.
Eastern Europe
Theresa says Eastern
European countries such as
Hungary, the Czech Republic,
Slovakia and Poland are all
fantastic to visit and offer
something a little different for
South African travellers.
“For starters, the culinary
offerings are quite unique
and unlike those dishes we
find in Western Europe,”
she says. “Our guests can
feast on pierogi in Poland,
goulash and kurtos kalacs
(chimney cake) in Hungary,
and bryndzove halushky
(potato dumplings with sheep
cheese and roasted bacon)
in Slovakia.” She says these
countries are also steeped in
history and feature incredible
architecture.
“The Wilanow Palace is
a priceless testimony to
the splendour of Poland’s
past while the impressive
St Vitus Cathedral and the
cobblestoned Old Town
Square, complete with the
14th Century Astronomical
Clock in Prague, add to the
old-world charm of Eastern
Europe.” Theresa adds that
the destinations also tend
to be well priced for South
African travellers.
Book it!
Trafalgar offers a range of travel products in both the original
Trafalgar line-up and the value-driven CostSaver tours. The
15-day Highlights of Bohemia by CostSaver is priced from
R1 434 per person per day. This includes accommodation
in three- or four-star hotels with breakfast daily and five
three-course dinners plus a range of sightseeing options in
the company of a Trafalgar-trained travel director in a luxury
coach. This trip begins and ends in Frankfurt and includes
Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria and the Czech
Republic. Another option is to see these countries while on
a cruise with AmaWaterways on board the Amaviola, which
launched in 2016. The seven-night cruise is priced from
R51 324pps and travels from Vilshofen to Passau in Germany;
Linz and Weissenkirchen, Austria; Bratislava, Slovakia and
Budapest, Hungary. The rate includes accommodation in a
balcony cabin.
Iceland
Another destination that is
growing in popularity is Iceland,
says Janine, who adds that South
Africans like to travel during late
September to early March when
they will have the chance of
witnessing the iconic Northern
Lights on a clear night.
Book it!
Globus offers a six-day Gems of Iceland tour, during which guests will get to
see the glaciers, icebergs, lakes and waterfalls of Iceland. Scenic highlights
include Iceland’s most famous waterfall, Gullfoss; a drive through the national
park at Skaftafell; a stop in Lake Jökulsárlón; a visit to Europe’s largest glacier,
Vatnajökull; and the option of seeing Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls.
Unusual experiences include meeting the chef of Geysir restaurant for a walk
through the geothermal areas where guests will taste bread freshly baked
using heat from the hot springs, and a glass of geyser schnapps. Four of these
departures also give guests the opportunity to witness the Northern Lights.
The Baltic
Elisna Bergset, key account sales
for Development Promotions,
says The Baltic is also becoming
increasingly popular. “The Baltic
nations of Estonia, Latvia and
Lithuania occupy a compact space
with gargoyle castles, dense
forests, plus a multitude of lakes
and beaches,” she says. “These
were the last pagan nations in
Europe, and travellers are relishing
the towns and cities that are still
frozen in time. It is essentially a
portal back to medieval Europe, but
with the added benefits of WiFi and
human rights!”
Book it!
Travellers can see the area while cruising onboard the MSC Preziosa, with a sevennight
cruise starting from R14 054pps. This includes accommodation in an inside
cabin on a full-board basis, daily entertainment and a range of activities. The
cruise departs from Kiel in Germany and travels to Denmark, Sweden, Estonia and
the Russian Federation.
Keeping the old favourites interesting
EUROPE experts agree
that Italy remains the firm
favourite when it comes
to South African travellers,
but that other traditionally
popular destinations are
also seeing a resurgence
in interest.
Theresa Szejwallo of
Trafalgar SA says this is
particularly true for France,
while “Spain and Portugal
are evergreen in the
popularity stakes and, of
course, the Scandinavian
countries are unbelievably
in demand – so much so
that we sell out on these
itineraries every year”.
Keeping these
destinations interesting,
though, can require some
creativity, and one of the
ways agents can achieve
this is by recommending
these countries in different
seasons rather than in the
traditionally busy summer
months. Theresa says
the Christmas markets
and autumn and spring
offerings are very popular,
as they offer South African
travellers something a little
different.
“And who doesn’t want
to enjoy a snowy, white
Christmas and all the
trimmings that go with it?”
Escaping the cities
Another way agents are
keeping Europe fresh for
repeat travellers is by
suggesting that travellers
skip the big cities and
instead visit smaller towns
and more rural areas.
Elisna Bergset of
Development Promotions
says: “Small-town Europe
is especially attractive
because of its slower
pace and more authentic
interactions with locals.
Let’s face it, a coffee shop
in Paris is great, but finding
a hidden gem in a small
town in Burgundy adds a
sense of raw discovery you
wouldn’t otherwise be able
to experience.”
Special-interest travel
Janine Pienaar of Globus
Family of Brands says it’s
worth finding out more
about travellers’ specific
interests when it comes
to recommending tours.
For example, Cosmos
Holidays has introduced a
new eight-day Italian tour
called Gourmet Tuscany.
“The beauty of this tour
is that travellers will be
based in Montecatini for
the full duration of their
tour. Each day they will
take an excursion through
the beautiful Tuscan
countryside to a new
location to experience all
that Tuscany has to offer.”
A few of these highlights
include an excursion to
the Chianti Valley, cradled
between Florence and
Siena in the heart of
Tuscany, famous for its
wine-making, which dates
back to the 13th century.
Here they will enjoy a lunch
at a charming wine shop.
Another must-see in
Tuscany is Bolgheri, with
its red-brick castle and
atmospheric Old Town. No
tour to Tuscany would be
complete without a cooking
class where they can try
their hand at creating
incredible cakes and
desserts in Montecatini,
adds Janine.
Out-of-the-ordinary ways to explore
EUROPE is the ‘old faithful’
continent for the travel
industry – which means
agents and operators
have to be creative in
finding new ways clients
can see its more familiar
destinations.
This is according to Elisna
Bergset of Development
Promotions. “There are
always a consistent
number of travellers going
to Europe, and our 2018
forecast is positive with
an expected increase of
people travelling there. This
increase can be attributed
to the variety of ways the
public can travel through
Europe,” she says.
“For example, coach
touring is no longer the
only way to travel – in
fact, options like barging,
cruising, and small-group
tours have given South
African travellers more
cost-effective and culturally
immersive options.”
By bike
An alternative to
combustion-engine road
travel is cycling, says
Elisna, who says cycling
tours are becoming more
prevalent with South
Africans.
“We have seen a steady
increase in our cycling
trips with G Adventures.”
G Adventures offers
a seven-day Cycling
in Tuscany tour where
guests can explore
hill towns, lakes and
even soak in thermal
hot springs from Rome
to Chianciano Terme.
Accommodation is in
comfortable touristclass
accommodation.
Participants will need to
be cycling fit and over
the age of 12. Rates
start from R18 299pps,
excluding flights.
By water
Elisna says: “H2O is the
way to go! Cruising is very
affordable and a convenient
way to see Europe, especially
the Mediterranean. Barging
is essentially self-catering on
water, and your chances of
seeing the Northern Lights
are statistically much higher
on an ice breaker ship.”
She says South Africans
love the freedom of
movement, independence
and affordability that barging
offers. “It also grants access
to smaller towns and allows
them to be a part of their
destination, instead of just
passing through.”
Other modes of water travel
are also popular and range
from sailing to river cruising.
Travel Vision, through
G Adventures, is offering a
seven-night Croatia sailing
tour with rates starting from
R27 396pps. This includes
return airfares ex-JNB,
airport taxes, twin cabins
on a shared basis, fully
licensed skipper, and
snorkelling equipment.
The yacht sails from Split
to Dubrovnik along the
Dalmatian Coast. Valid from
April 28 to June 14.
Avalon Waterways offers
a 20-day cruise from the
Danube Delta to Prague.
The journey starts in
Bucharest, Romania, and
sails to the mouth of the
River Danube, where it flows
into the Black Sea. Guests
will also be able to explore
the Danube Delta, visit the
cities along the river and
end with three overnights
in Prague in the Czech
Republic.
The Norwegian Fjord
Explorer is an 11-day
Cosmos Holidays tour
starting and ending in Oslo,
which includes a cruise
across Norway’s Sognefjord.
Travellers will also ride on
the renowned Flam Train
and see some of the world’s
most impressive scenery.
By Rail
Travelling by train is a novelty
for many South Africans and
enables a stress-free form
of travel where passengers
get to enjoy the scenery as
it goes by.
Travel Vision’s sevennight
Italy by Train tour
starts from R33 381pps
and includes flights from
Johannesburg and airport
taxes, second-class train
tickets Rome-FlorenceVenice
a high-speed train,
a Tuscany wine and
olive oil tasting tour with
escorted guide and lunch,
private water taxi in Venice,
meet and greet and
porterage to hotels and a
walking tour of Venice and
the Doge’s Palace. Valid
until March 15.
Alpine Adventure, Bernina
and Glacier Express is a
13-day Cosmos Holidays
tour from Munich to Zurich.
Guests will experience a
memorable trip aboard the
Bernina Express where
they will cross the Alps to
Tirano in Italy and travel to
altitudes of up to 6 560
feet.
Scenic Switzerland is
a nine-day round-trip
tour from Zurich with
transportation on various
first-class trains. Some
examples are the LucerneInterlaken
Express, BLS
Regio Express train to
Zweisimmen, MontreuxOberland
Bernois
Panoramic Train, as well as
the Glacier Express.
Trafalgar expands offering for 2018
TRAFALGAR has
announced a
number of new
additions to its
offering for 2018.
Theresa
Szejwallo of
Trafalgar SA,
says: “We have
bolstered our
dining options by
partnering with
VizEat. Guests can
now connect with
home cooks who
provide immersive
food experiences.
This option is
offered on our City
Explorers and can
be booked through
the travel director.”
The tour operator has also
added two new City Explorers
to complement its existing
range. The Madrid Explorer
invites guests to ‘live la vida
loca’ in Spain, while guests on
the Berlin Explorer will discover
life beyond the
Brandenburg
Gate as they
hear about the
recent history of
the reunification
of east and west
Germany.
“We have
also added four
new after-hours
experiences
within the Vatican
and two new
guided holidays.
The Best of
Norway seeks
to offer more
availability in the
Scandinavian
region. Italy is
the perennial favourite, so we
now have a new trip here called
Wonders of Italy,” she adds.
CostSaver has two new trips
for 2018 – the Highlights of St
Petersburg and Moscow and
the Highlights of Greece with a
three-day Aegean cruise.
Air France opens new lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle
AIR France has opened a
redesigned and larger businessclass
lounge at Paris-Charles de
Gaulle. The lounge is used by its
business-class and Flying Blue Elite
Plus cardholders and is located in
Hall 1 in Terminal 2.
The lounge will open in two
stages – with the first part unveiled
in January and second in July.
Features include an area
designed for ‘well being’, which
includes a detox bar with a
selection of teas, an area for facial
treatments, two private saunas and
showers.
The dining area will include La
Table Gourmet, designed in the
style of a Parisian brasserie with
an open kitchen, as well as a selfservice
counter with casseroles,
salads and pastries.
Joon links Europe and the Cape year-round
APRIL 1 marks the start of
Joon’s commencement of
services between Paris and
Cape Town.
The flight will operate three
times a week, year-round,
using an A340.
Joon is a subsidiary of
Air France, and the service
replaces AF’s operation on the
route.
AF864 will depart ParisCharles
De Gaulle (CDG) on
Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays
at 09h30 to arrive in Cape
Town the same day at 21h15.
AF871 departs Cape Town at
23h15 and arrives in Paris the
following day at 11h15.
The airline offers three
cabins. On the Paris-Cape
Town route it will offer 30 lieflat
business-class seats, 21
seats in premium economy
and 227 economy class seats.
All amenities expected of a
full-service airline are included.
Joon first took to the skies
in December last year, serving
short- and medium-haul routes
within Europe. Points served
on the continent include Berlin,
Naples, Rome, Oslo, Lisbon,
Porto and Barcelona.
Over and above Cape Town,
long-haul destinations to be
added to its network this
European summer will
include Istanbul, Turkey;
Mahé, Seychelles; Cairo,
Egypt; Forteleza, Brazil and
Tehran, Iran.
Europe specials from Travelinfo
Greek Isles Hopping (kulula holidays)
Valid: May 1-31
Price from: R11 469pps
Includes:
2 nights in a three-star
hotel in Athens
3 nights in a three-star
hotel in Mykonos
3 nights in a three-star
hotel in Santorini
High-speed ferry AthensMykonos-Santorini-Athens
Breakfast daily
Italy by Train (kulula holidays)
Valid: April 1-30
Price from: R8 469pps
Includes:
2 nights in a three-star
hotel in Rome
2 nights in a three-star
hotel in Florence
2 nights in a three-star
hotel in Venice
2nd class train ticket
Rome-Florence-Venice
Breakfast daily
Seven-night cruises (Norwegian Cruise Lines)
Greek Isles from Venice:
Eastern Mediterranean on
board NCL Star from
R13 977pps mid ship
– inside cabin. Set
departure: September 2.
Western Mediterranean
from Rome on NCL Epic
from R14 423pps – inside
cabin. Set departure:
September 26.
Mediterranean Cruise on
board the NCL Star from
R12 516pps – inside
cabin. Set departure:
October 21.
Western Mediterranean
Cruise from Barcelona on
board the NCL Epic from
R14 670pps – inside
cabin. Set departure:
May 13.
All inclusive of taxes and
port charges.
Flavours of Tuscany: The Enchanting Cinque Terre
& Sorrentine Peninsula (Thompsons Holidays)
Valid: April 8-Oct 21
Price from: R31 362pps
Includes:
Return flights from
Johannesburg to Rome
including airline levy;
return airport to hotel
transfers; four nights’
accommodation in four-star
hotels; breakfast daily;
five dinners (excluding
drinks); two lunches
(excluding drinks); three
wine tastings with local
products; full-day excursion
to Pompeii and Capri; visit
to the Blue Grotto (weather
permitting); boat trip along
the Cinque Terre coastline;
train from Monterosso to
La Spezia; multilingual tour
guide; entrance fees.
Package is valid for
Sunday departures only.
High-season airfare
supplement applies:
June 21-30.
Club Med Gregolimano, Greece
Depart: May 11
ex-Johannesburg
Price from: R21 991pps
Includes:
Return transfers from
airport to resort (if flights
are booked with Club Med)
Seven nights in premium
accommodation based on
a Club room
Unlimited gourmet cuisine
for breakfast, lunch, dinner
and scheduled snacks
Unlimited drinks and
refreshments (dinner and
scheduled snacks)
Choice of land and water
sports and academies with
expert tutors
Choice of evening
entertainment and
relaxation
Basic travel insurance (69
years and under)
Topdeck 14 Day European Wonder
Visiting: Switzerland,
France, Italy, Vatican City,
Germany, Netherlands.
London to London.
Maximum group size 48.
Dates: October 11-24
Priced from: R23 400pps
Includes:
Walking tours of Munich,
Amsterdam, Venice,
Florence and Rome
Driving tour of Berlin
Canal dinner cruise in
Amsterdam
Leaning Tower of Pisa
Vaporetto ride in Venice
Driving tour of Paris and
gourmet picnic by the
Eiffel Tower
13 breakfasts, four
lunches, seven dinners
Eight nights in hostels;
five nights in bungalows
at campsites
English Channel crossing
Modern air-conditioned
coach with free WiFi
