27 May 2015

The Zanzibar Archipelago, is located in the Indian Ocean just 15 miles off the coast of Tanzania, and is a breathtaking escape. This is a Wonderful untouched Jem, with soft sand, beautiful weather, friendly people and luxury accommodation what more could anyone ask for? Oh and not to mention amazing food, this is a great holiday destination for the whole family, this Island has so much to offer with great packages available and direct flights on Mango. Turquoise-blue water; shallow sandbars perfect for wading; and many small, nearly deserted islands virtually unvisited by tourists. Explore the World Heritage Site of Stone Town. It's a great choice for a romantic getaway or a honeymoon and is also a lovely choice for weddings on the beach or family beach break it has something for everyone. There are many activities that will allow you to experience the history such as viewing the ruins, touring the famous Stone Town and various spice tours. As there are so many fine beaches, there is a huge variety of watersports offered in Zanzibar.

14 August 2013

Mauritius is a Paradise only 4 hours away with swaying palm trees, tropical blue waters and soft white sand, who wouldn’t want to experience such a magnificent island. I was privileged enough to travel to Mauritius where I visited few resorts from 3 Star basic resorts to 5 Star luxury across the North, South, West and East of the Island, each resort offering its own personal touch and taste. I experienced first-hand what each of these resorts offer their guests from Heritage Le Telfair, Heritage Awali and Heritage Villas as well as the Attitude properties of Coin De Mare, Emeraude, Recif and Marina and last but not least St Regis. Heritage Le Telfair and Awali and Villas are beautiful resorts in the South of Mauritius Le Fair is 5 Star and Awali is a 4 Star resort. Located on the South of the Island you will find Heritage Tel Fair and Heritage Awali they are next door to each other amazing resorts which are great for families and couples. They give you a tropical feel from start to finish and the fabulous spa facilities are guaranteed to leaving you refreshed and stress free. It also boasts the number 1 golf course (9 & 18 holes) in Mauritius offering free green fees. Heritage Resorts offers a few pools one of which is a heated pool at Le Telfair, a safe kids club at each of the resorts for little ones. The rooms are beautifully decorated at both resorts, its spacious and the restaurants have the most delicious food and flavours for every taste, it has a lovely soft sandy and the service throughout is superb. Nothing is too much for the staff at Heritage Villas. These are fabulous for families & couples alike. I loved the space and privacy that each villa has, along with their own splash pool and barbeque area. They offer a 2, 3 or 4 bedroom villas that is self-catering however meals can be arranged. All the villas are beautifully decorated and won’t disappoint, as they offer all the comforts of home. If you are staying in a villa you can still make use of all the hotel facilities. Attitude Coin De Mare is on the West Coast in Flic en Flac, this small 3 Star resort makes you feel right at home it has all the enmities that anyone will need, the beach is situated across the road but it gives you a great Island feel, the food is amazing, the rooms are decorated in a modern Island feel making it great for families to enjoy. It is paradise on a budget, the feel of the resort is relaxed it also offers a pool, a pool bar and a lovely kids club to entertain the kids in a safe environment. Attitude Recif lies North West of the island and is a very charming little 3 Star superior hotel. It’s a small hotel & is ideally suited for families and couples alike, it has a nice splash pool and you are right on the beach making it very comfortable. The restaurant gives you great tastes and out of the box thinking making your dining experience fun for the whole family. It has a modern yet has a rustic paradise with great lounge areas with beautiful views of the ocean for reading or just relaxing the day away. This is a Tropical dream holiday if you are on a budget. They also have a small market next to the main restaurant on Sundays making it very easy to shop. Le Marina is on the North coast and is a beautiful 4 Star resort that offers 2 sections one for adults only and the another for families. This resort has so much to offer. The rooms are very modern and beautifully decorated and the staff go out of their way to make sure that all guests are happy at all times. The restaurants food is amazing. There is a pool situated on each side of the resort and it is located right on the beach offering guest beautiful ocean views. The resort has a diving centre, kids club and spa facilities so this resort will truly give you an amazing tropical holiday. Attitude Emeraude is located in Belle Mare it has a beautiful stretch of beach. The hotel is across the road from the beach and is a perfect 3 Star property for families and couples looking to travel to paradise on a budget, it offers a spa, a kids club, a pool and they have dedicated staff on the beach for anything that you might require. The resort has a great look and Mauritian feel to it and you feel like you are on a tropical holiday from the moment you arrive, this hotel is suited to travellers on a budget holiday. St. Regis is located on the South West of the island. This hotel can be best described as paradise on earth! You will not be disappointed from the moment that you arrive; you will be blown away by the attention to detail. The resort is beautiful and the location is amazing and the views are indescribable. The staff are outstanding and nothing is too much trouble, the butlers will meet your every need. This resort is suited to everyone from couples, to single travellers and families alike. The resort is situated right on the beach and has an elegant feel - the rooms are beautifully decorated. It also offers an amazing kids club and spa facilities, a grand stair case, a floating market restaurant, a Sushi bar - all your meals are out of this world. If you are looking to be wowed this is a must stay resort as the saying goes if you can dream it, they can make it come true. Mauritius a small island paradise just a short distance away, with soft sandy beaches, coconut drinks and it offers fun for everyone from snorkelling to sailing, cultural experiences to shopping and you can do as little or as much as you desire. What are you waiting for the swaying palm trees are waiting for you. If you are thinking about a holiday in Mauritius then please contact you as I would love to share my personal experiences with you.

22 May 2012

I had the opportunity to travel to Mauritius, my first impression Paradise. Palm trees, green grass lawn, white sandy beaches, blue seas and to top it all off great weather. With this amazing destination only being a short 4 hour flight from South Africa is a definite must see destination. I had the opportunity to visit 2 hotels and do a full site inspection at Beachcombers Shandrani Hotel and Club Med La Plantation d Albion both amazing hotel in their own right. The Shandrani Hotel is a mere 10 minute transfer from the airport and Albion is approximately 60 minute drives from the airport, both resort have a full list of activities that will keep you and your whole family entertained for days on end. The All Inclusive options that most resorts offer in Mauritius is defiantly worthwhile, each resort offer a few restaurant and bars where you will be served with almost anything your heart desires. The Hotels also gives you a great variety to choose from, from light snacks to buffets to A La Cart menus, they have something for everyone’s taste that also means you won’t be eating the same meal for 7 days or in the same restaurant which gives you a different scenery daily. Both resorts have great kids club facilities to keep your children entertained where they do anything from cooking classes, to arts and crafts, to excursions where they have a full itinerary planned daily so you can be rest assured your kids are well looked after and having a great time, which will give you as parents time to relax, unwind and enjoy Paradise and all it has to offer. The Rooms at the Shandrani Hotel as well as Club Med La Plantation d Albion are quite spacious so if you will be visiting for a day or 2 weeks you will have enough space to comfortably move around, the décor is very modern and clean. The Shandrani Hotel will also be doing a soft revamp on all their rooms and this will be complete by Sep 2012. The service levels at both properties are set very high the concierge will be happy to assist with anything you might need, so rest assured you and your family will be looked after during your stay. On check in at any resort they will advise what is included in their all inclusive package, as all resorts all inclusive package or meals plans differ. At the Shandrani Hotel and La Plantation d Albion your Minibars will be replenished daily, most minibar’s have water, coldrinks, juice etc. anything else you might desire you can get from the bar or restaurants, meals can be taken to your room on request but there will be a tray charge if meals are brought to your rooms instead of eating in the main restaurants. Restaurants also have a dress code, some casual, some smart casual and some smart only so best to find out prior to dinner. Most of the hotels have live entertainment at night for everyone to enjoy, times will be given on arrival so you are aware of what is happening were at the resort, so if you feel like joining in or if you prefer lounging on the beach or doing water sports that fine - you get to choose what you would like to do and the staff are more than willing to assist you. The People in Mauritius are very helpful, friendly and they are waiting to make your dream holiday come true. Mauritius is an all year round destination but like anywhere in the world they do have recommended travel dates: Sub-tropical oceanic climate with fairly high temperatures and humidity all year round. Rain falls at all times of the year with the wettest period from Jan-Mar. At this time of the year, tropical cyclones are an occasional hazard with very high winds and torrential rain. There are 2 main airlines out of South Africa to Mauritius daily: SAA and Air Mauritius SAA: Flight times at present departs Johannesburg 09.40 arrive Mauritius local time 15.40 –approx. 4 hour flight Flight times are present depart Mauritius 16.40 arrive Johannesburg local time 19.15 – approx. 4 hours flight Air Mauritius: Flight times at present departs Johannesburg 13.35 arrive Mauritius local time 19.35 – approx. 4 hour flight Flight times are present depart Mauritius 09.15 arrive Johannesburg local time 11.50 – approx 4 hours flight Some Useful information: In the south west Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa, Mauritius is a small island approximately 900km/560mls East of Madagascar. It is part of the Mascarene Islands. There are 9 districts in Mauritius and 3 dependencies that are separate islands: Agalega Islands, Rodrigues and St.Brandon. Port Louis (in the North West) is the island’s capital and largest city and is Africa’s wealthiest city. Famed for once being the only land of the dodo (back in the 1600s), Mauritius has plenty of natural beauty to offer the tourist, some fabulous beaches and luxury accommodation. Location: Indian Ocean Capital City: Port Louis Population : 1.2 million Area: 720 square miles Language: English, French, Creole and a number of oriental languages Dialling Code: 230 Electricity: 220 AC 50Hz Emergency: Police & Ambulance: 999. Fire: 995 Driving: Driving is on the left. National licence required. International Driving Permit recommended, temporary licence available from local authorities Business/Social Hints: Business is usually conducted in English. Many other languages in use, including French. Visitors should be perceptive to unfamiliar local customs as there are many different religious groups, each with their own customs and conventions. The official drinking age in Mauritius is 18 years Coins: MUR: - Mauritius Rupee, US Dollars and Euro are also accepted and most hotels do except ZAR – Rand as payment Currency Import/Export: Local & foreign: no restrictions Credit Cards/Travellers Cheque: Credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted Health: No vaccinations ore pre-caustions need to be taken but it is always advisable to contact your travel clinic for advice as these things change on a daily basis Visas: No visas are required for SA passport holders; you do however need a valid passport Hope to see you soon in Sunny Mauritius Regards Tracy

02 June 2010

I have travelled to a few destinations, and I must say Vic Falls was amazing! It is an adventure of a life time and a must see destination. If you are looking for a relaxing holiday with fun activities then Vic Falls is the place to be. It is only a 2 hour flight from Johannesburg and it feels like you are on another planet, as soon as you land you are one with nature, with no fences nor gates just open spaces where the animals roam free in the plains of Africa. There is nothing like a real African sunset which will mesmerise you for hours on end – a true beauty. From the moment you arrive to the day you depart, you are treated like royalty, the accommodation is fantastic , the food and the passion the people have is just amazing and the staff are only too willing to help with anything you might need. I had the privilege of staying at the Vic Falls Safari Lodge which is a beautiful hotel with one of the best locations situated right in the bush. It has a fantastic waterhole where wild elephants come and drink at the end of the day and they also throw out old carcasses for the vultures & the wild hyenas that come at night to finish what is left and they have spotlights on so that you can see the wild animals. They have some great activities to suit almost everyone, I had a great experience and did The walk with the lions, the elephant back safari, a game drive, a helicopter flip over the falls (Flight of Angels) and of course the sundowner cruise to round off the trip, Wow some of these activities cannot be done anywhere else and it is a fantastic opportunity for you to interact with wild animals on a different level. All the tour guides are very knowledgeable and they teach you so much and are also very willing to answer any questions that you might have. This is a romantic destination as you are in a peaceful place with beautiful scenery and there is no hustle and bustle. If you are travelling with small children please keep in mind it is a malaria area and precautions need to be taken. If you are looking for a sunny destination with a difference then Vic Falls is the place to go. So what are you waiting for, call me today to start your African Adventure! Kind Regards Tracy Wiid