Travellers are returning
TRAVEL to destinations
around the Med took a
knock at the beginning of
the season – a consequence
of terrorism and publicity
surrounding the influx of
migrants – but sales to a
number of destinations have
started to pick up.
Annemarie Lexow, sales
and marketing manager at
Travel Vision, says for the
most part South Africans are
rather opting for destinations
where they get value for
money without concerns for
their safety.
However, Theresa Szejwallo,
md of Trafalgar, says there
is some rebound in the
Mediterranean. “Initially we
had a slowdown in sales when
the incident in France took
place, however sales are now
back to normal. Greece
is picking up again. Turkey
sales are slow but we
continue to promote it as
it has been a top seller for
Trafalgar and we are confident
sales will pick up again.”
She says guided holidays,
like those Trafalgar markets,
offer the best possible
support on the ground in the
event of any incident. “Our
guests won’t need to think
about what to do next – we
will do that for them.”
Thompsons Holidays also
notes some upturn. “Egypt is
making a comeback but Turkey
has taken a knock, although
we are still receiving calls
for escorted tours and for
destinations beyond Istanbul.
Greece and Aegean cruising
are also making a recovery,”
says pr and media manager,
John Ridler.
Wally Gaynor, md of Club
Travel, feels the Greek Islands
are still a good holiday
option, where evidence of the
country’s economic meltdown
is not as marked as it is
in Athens, and the influx of
migrants is less noticeable.
The country, however, being
part of the Eurozone, is not
as cheap as Turkey. “Egypt
is great value for money and,
as I always say, the best time
to visit a destination is when
everybody else is staying away
– prices are cheap and the
locals are so happy that you
have come.”
Greece has remained a
firm favourite and a value-formoney
option, says Wendy
Goutier, group operations
manager for Dreams. “Airfares
have also been great value,
making the destination more
affordable.”
In Turkey, Dreams has seen
interest in outer areas and
cost-effective gulet trips as
opposed to group or escorted
tours.
Deals going for a steal
There are some great deals
for travel to the Med in an
effort to attract tourists.
Travel Vision’s Classics
of Turkey is a 10-night
trip from R7 550pps with
departures in November,
early December, January,
February and March.
The land-only package
visits Istanbul, Ankara,
Cappadocia, Pamukkale,
Kusadasi, Pergamum, Troy,
Canakkale and Gallipoli,
ending in Istanbul. Fourstar
accommodation on a
half-board basis, luxury
coach travel and
guided sightseeing
are included.
Trafalgar’s 10-day
Greek Island Explorer
is priced from
R22 750pps
(R2 025 per day).
It starts in Athens
and visits Mykonos
and Santorini.
Discounts, such as
past guest savings, triple
room sharing, multiple
trip, young travellers and
solo travellers, may apply,
as does a small-group
discount for groups of
five to 15 people that is
combinable with other
discounts.
From the Robinson Club
come some Portugal
specials for 2017 that
must be booked by the end
of November. A 20% saving
is offered on the four-star
Robinson Club Quinta
da Ria in the Algarve.
Between April 23 and
June 3, seven nights’
accommodation in
an economy double
room costs
R10 660pp (formerly
R13 022) on an allinclusive
basis. From July
9-August 29 the same
package sells for
R13 350pp (previously
R16 422). Excludes flights.
Regent Seven Seas
Cruises is offering
Mediterranean cruises
between June and October,
2017 on the Seven Seas
Voyager – the 10-night
Venice to Monte Carlo;
the seven-night Monte
Carlo to Barcelona; the
seven-night Monte Carlo
to Rome; the seven-night
Barcelona to Rome and
the seven-night Venice
to Athens. Fares, from
US$3 899pp (R54 463),
cover unlimited shore
excursions and a night’s
pre-cruise accommodation
in a luxury hotel, and all
the inclusions one would
expect on a luxury cruise
liner.
News flash
LUX* Resorts and Hotels will open a new five-star boutique hotel,
LUX* Bodrum, Turkey, in May 2017. The hotel’s 66 rooms include
one King suite, eight Deluxe rooms and one Comfort room. It also
features nine Terrace flats and ten four-bedroom Garden duplexes
– eight with a pool and the remaining two without. Facilities
include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, private docking for
yachts, an Equilibria Gym and Wellness centre, a PLAY Kids’ Club,
100m of coastline and 45m of private beach.
Turkey offers good value for money
TURKEY’s
security concerns
should be kept
in perspective,
suggest industry
stakeholders.
Club Travel md,
Wally Gaynor,
when asked for
his opinion on
Turkey and its
current problems,
speculated
on whether,
statistically, South
Africans were
more likely to be maimed or
killed in Turkey or in violent
crime-ridden South Africa.
“Personally, I would rather
take my chances in Turkey or
anywhere in the
Mediterranean.”
On the upside
for those
considering travel
to Turkey, is that
the value of the
lira has fallen as
much as the rand.
“It’s a wonderful
destination,
offering amazing
value for money,
and it’s got
everything that
South Africans
look for – shopping, culture,
beaches, interesting
ancient sites, cruising
and more,” Wally said. He
said the tourism industry
had recovered slowly
after the recent bombing
incidents and attempted
coup, and tourist spots like
Sultanahmet and Taksim in
Istanbul were full of tourists.
And if travellers are
concerned about popular
tourist spots being targeted,
there are other spots they
can visit. “There are lots
of spots less frequented
by mainstream tourists
like Princes’ Islands, a
short ferry ride away,” he
commented.
Kenan Ince, Turkish
Airlines gm based in Cape
Town, said there had been a
notable increase in security
measures in Istanbul to
ensure the safety of citizens
and visitors. Thompsons
Holidays’ John Ridler said:
“Travellers seem to regard
Turkey as quite safe after
the coup attempt, with
heightened security around
the country.”
Kenan said resorts on
the Mediterranean coast,
where most holidaymakers
were found, had been only
slightly affected due to their
distance from the main
cities. Beyond Istanbul, he
said coastal resorts like
Bodrum, Antalya and Fethiye
were operating with no
disruption. Bodrum, he said,
was considered one of the
most spectacular stops on
the Aegean shoreline, with
many cultural attractions and
pristine beaches. The cuisine
in the old town is a mix of
cosmopolitan and authentic
restaurants, catering for all
palates.
“Antalya is a destination
you don’t want to skip. The
ancient city lays claim to
arguably one of the most
scenic marinas in the
world, as well as some
of the finest beaches in
the Mediterranean region.
Boat trips come highly
recommended, to take in the
natural beauty from another
angle,” said Kenan.
Wally highlighted
Cappadocia, in central
Turkey, and Izmir and other
destinations on the coast
as places to include in a
holiday. “There is even skiing
in Turkey in winter; it’s an allyear
destination.”
Trafalgar’s Turkey
programme includes:
Highlights of Turkey, priced
at R17 950pps for eight
days, explores Istanbul,
Gallipoli, Canakkale, Troy,
Pergamon, Izmir, Ephesus,
Pamukkale, Hierapolis
and Bursa. It includes
accommodation with buffet
breakfast daily, a Be My
Guest lunch and the usual
Trafalgar inclusions.
Best of Turkey, priced at
R26 850pps for 14 days,
visits Istanbul, Gallipoli,
Canakkale, Troy, Pergamon,
Izmir, Ephesus, Pamukkale,
Antalya, Konya, Cappadocia
and Ankara. It includes
a stay in the Dilek Kaya
Hotel, which is crafted out
of rock formations, a Be
My Guest lunch, breakfast
daily and 10 dinners.
Secrets of Turkey, from
R37 200pps, includes
a four-day cruise along
the Turquoise Coast, and
visits Istanbul, Gallipoli,
Canakkale, Troy, Pergamon,
Kusadasi, Ephesus,
Marmaris, Kalkan, Antalya,
Konya and Cappadocia.
Accommodation with
breakfast daily, five lunches
(including a Be My Guest
lunch) and eight dinners
are included.
Wonders of Turkey by
CostSaver at R15 050pps
(or R1 368 per day) for
an 11-day trip that takes
in Istanbul, Ankara,
Cappadocia, Konya,
Pamukkale, Izmir and
Canakkale. This includes
accommodation with
breakfast daily and five
dinners, sightseeing and
the CostSaver inclusions.
