10 June 2019

I was fortunate enough to attend our national Travel Counsellors conference 02 – 05 May 2019. After a short, seamless and comfortable flight on Kulula, we arrived at King Shaka Airport where we were met and transferred by private vehicle to the Southern Sun Elangeni Hotel in Durban. We received a warm, friendly and professional welcome on arrival. The refreshing welcome drink went down a treat. Our room was large with 2 double beds and a stunning sea view. A small, but well-appointed bathroom with a shower-in-bath was more than adequate. Housekeeping was timeous and our room was spotlessly clean. Tea and coffee making facilities, a safe, a mini bar and enough wardrobe space for 2 made for a comfortable stay. Head to the poolside restaurant for a breakfast buffet feast before heading to the Mangwanani Spa, hit the gym or find a spot at one of the pool areas. And if you’re feeling more energetic, hire a bike, take a stroll along the promenade or simply do nothing more than find a quiet spot and do some sea gazing. The hotel is within easy reach of local attractions such as Ushaka and Moses Madiba Stadium and within driving distance of the famous Florida Road or Suncoast Casino. Large conference rooms and excellent facilities make this an excellent conference venue. Whether you are a businessman, holding a conference, on a family holiday or a romantic getaway, this is hotel has something for everyone.

17 April 2018

We had our national conference in March and being a cruise--fanatic, I was especially delighted at it being on the cruise ship, MSC Sinfonia and I wasn’t disappointed. I got up on the day of departure way before the birds starting chirping – well I didn’t want to be late for my flight you see. I did my on-line check-in for my flight on Mango, the night before and once safely buckled up in my “window” seat, I promptly dozed off for the duration of the gentle 1 hour, 5-minute flight to King Shaka International Airport in Durban. I don’t know about you, but I always feel that I’ve arrived at some distant exotic location when I land at King Shaka International Airport – me thinks it’s the sultry heat and laid-back vibe that does it! Of course the fabulous welcome from our head office team standing by to meet and greet and point us to the next stop was a highlight you won’t get on every cruise you take but don’t worry, you can be sure you’ll get an equally warm welcome from the ship’s crew, no matter where in the world you’re boarding your cruise. Registration done, it’s off to the coach for a short journey to the ship. Oh, the excitement! I challenge anyone to say they don’t feel a thrill of expectation, a tinge of fear, a bucket load of awe when the sheer majesty of your home for the next 3 nights comes into view. Mysterious, majestic, awe-inspiring. Right, eh? Once on-board and drinks package vouchers were in hand, we headed straight for the top deck with oodles of sunshine, weird and wonderful sounding cocktails and the hum of happy people’s chatter …..ah the life…! It’s not long before everyone is on-board and the ship’s horn blares announcing our departure. The intercom crackles with the announcement about a safety drill – yep, compulsory and if you ask me, I’d rather be safe than sorry! SOOO, let the weekend begin! It’s off to our cabins – yay, it has a porthole! There is nothing wrong with staying in an inner cabin you hear – but you just can’t beat being able to stare at the horizon beyond and wonder what lies yonder. Of course, if budget allows, a balcony cabin is the place to be! Dinner in the main dining room with delicious food and entertaining fellow diners before heading to the theatre for the night’s entertainment. Saturday morning we’re off to Portuguese Island for a “survivor” challenge. A 15-minute ride across the ocean waves on a tender boat that if memory serves me correctly, seats about 100 people at a time. Once on the island, I couldn’t wait to get rid of the foot gear and drag my feet through the soft, clean sand – bliss! Our survivor challenge? Oh, I can’t tell you how much fun we had – I felt like a kid again albeit that the body parts hadn’t got the memo! An exceptional day. Of course, the ship’s kitchen had drinks and snacks and a barbeque lunch organised – what else would you expect! Fabulous! Tried, but happy and not a little sunburnt (I could vividly see my hat propped on the pillow at home- sheesh!), I made my way back to the ship and my cool air-conditioned cabin. Aaah, this is the life! So, I told you were on conference, didn’t I? Sunday rolled around, and we met in the conference centre – well you didn’t think we’d loaf around the whole weekend, did you? Small, compact with a little stage and theatre style seats, it was just small enough to be cozy and big enough to lend some grandeur to the occasion. I felt like a bit of the star on the last evening I tell you – we had the whole theatre to ourselves for the awards – names flashing across the screen, lights, music, flashing cameras – it was magical! Sigh all good things must come to an end, Monday morning arrived too soon, and it was off to the airport to take the flight back to Jo’burg. If you haven’t cruised yet, why not? And if you’ll forgive me for repeating what I’ve previously written on my website home page “how else can you visit more than one country (overseas cruises), eat as much as you like, shop until you drop, gym until you’re slim, relax at the pool, watch a show, mingle or find a quiet spot, have a pedi, climb a rock wall, dress up, dress down…and unpack only once!”

22 September 2017

I never fail to get excited when our national conference comes around and this year was no exception. In fact the excitement was even higher, given that it was a celebration of 10 years of Travel Counsellors in South Africa and we were going to Cape Town and the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, no less! Circling above Cape Town before touch down, the sheer visual beauty of Table Mountain, the blue ocean playfully lapping long sandy shores, white foam softly kissing wherever it touched, the colourful intrigue of Khayalitsha, the picture perfect image of the City Bowl. It’s almost overwhelming. No wonder Cape Town is considered one of the most exceptional cities of the world! Once on the ground, we headed to the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel on Orange Street. Oh my, what a beautiful, grand old lady. Her pale pink exterior immediately invokes a nostalgic feel of a by-gone era when life was slow, carefree and elegant. The feeling of elegance, peace and calm continues through the lobby into the mute shades of the lounge and dining room. Stepping off the huge veranda onto the well-tended lawns bordered by lovely flower beds, you almost forget that you’re in the middle of a bustling city! Closing the door to a well-furnished, spacious and comfortable room with its ample closet space and all of the amenities you’d expect from a top hotel, you just knew, the tone was set for a truly remarkable weekend. Belmond Mount Nelson’s staff from the porter to the receptionist, the dining room waiters to housekeeping, conference staff to management were without a doubt some of the most helpful, friendly and professional people I’ve encountered in my extensive travels. Thinking of visiting Cape Town? Make sure to include a stay at the Belmond Mount Nelson. Ooh and whatever you do, don’t forget to book a high tea – it’s a must!

11 June 2017

Why cruise? Why not? How else can you visit more than one country, eat as much as you like, shop until you drop, gym until you’re slim, relax at the pool, watch a show, mingle or find a quiet spot, have a pedi, climb a rock wall, dress up, dress down….and unpack only once! Cruising is innovative and progressive and a fabulous way to travel, be it your honeymoon, an incentive, an art or book club group or a family holiday with mom, dad, children and grandparents. There are quiet spots, adult’s only spots, happily noisy spots, exercise spots, eating spots, spa spots, even learning spots on some vessels – you name it, they are bound to have it. Eating on a cruise ship is an experience in itself. You may choose to eat in the more traditional dining room with all the pomp and ceremony of being served a number of courses, pop into the informal dining area with its islands of mouth-watering buffets, or pay a small fee and dine like a king and queen in one of the specialty restaurants. Feel like a spa treatment, need your hair styled, want to hit the gym to work off the extra calories, in need of some shopping therapy, feeling lucky and want to hit the casino, or simply relax at the pool. It’s all there, just waiting for you. Oh and if you’re a movie buff, look out for the ships who have movie nights under the stars – can you get more cool than that! And the shows…..oh my word, the shows. Name a famous Broadway show and you’re bound to find a cruise that is featuring it. Celebrity chefs and bakers – no problem, they’re there too. Ports are fascinating and you can opt to pay for an organised tour or explore on your own (just remember the golden rule of don’t be late – the ship won’t wait!). Cruise ships’ organised tours are well planned and have options to suit everyone, be it wheelchair accessible, little walking or extreme – there is something for everyone. Your home from home ranges from an interior cabin to an ocean view with small port hole, a balcony, a suite or even a penthouse with butler service. No matter your need, there will be a state room to suit to suit your requirements. Oh and the best of all, is that cruise ships work on a cashless system whilst on board, so you genuinely can unpack once, stow your money and valuables away and simply enjoy everything that the ship has to offer. What’s not to love! Call me for more information and remember - don’t be late, the ship won’t wait!

22 September 2014

Sometimes the best holidays happen in the most unexpected places! Back in the day when our national carrier was still refuelling long-haul flights on the island of Ilha do Sol, my then boss decided to package the island as a holiday destination. We thought he was crazy. Ilha do where? So where is Ilha do Sol? Well, it’s an island that forms part of the Cabo Verde (pronounced Kabu Verdi) chain of islands, just off the bulge of western Africa in the Atlantic Ocean. Landing in the middle of the night we were shocked and taken aback at the sight of heavily armed guards – it was at a time when the world was a peaceful place. The airport a small forlorn building, its offices and shops firmly closed to late night travellers felt cold and unwelcoming. Tired, thirsty and dusty, we pondered for a moment, what we had gotten ourselves into. Soldiering on, passports checked and baggage collected we gratefully climbed into the waiting mini-bus, happy for the small respite the breeze from the open windows offered from the oppressive heat. Off we trundled down a dark, unlit “highway” flanked by salt pans on either side. Surrounded by pitch black darkness lit only faintly by dripping diamond-like stars and a positively luminescent moon, we drove for what seemed miles in silent trepidation. Too late to do anything but get the kids into bed once we got to the hotel, we stood silently on the balcony of our room and stared out into the darkness. What had let ourselves in for! Nothing could have prepared us for the absolute beauty and wonder we awoke to! The softest blue sky dipping gently into the azure-green-blue sea, dazzled by the bright rays of the fat bulbous yellow sun, its rays skipping lightly over the white powdery soft sand. Local children jumping off the pier, shrieking with delight with each one trying to jump higher and further than the next. The soft hum of locals talking, the smell of freshly baked bread and strong coffee wafting on the air. It was straight out of a movie, I tell you! Have you ever heard of Ladies Fingers? No? Neither had I. Long, skinny, rubbery, alien finger-like looking specimens, native to the island and since we were dinner guests of the hotel owner, we politely kept eating as they kept coming and they kept coming! No, I haven’t had one since if you must know! As I write, I’m transported back to a sublime moment in a hole-in-the-wall “restaurant”. I can smell freshly caught yellowtail sizzling in a pan on an outdoor camping stove, as we sit on up-turned cool drink crates, the air thick with the noise of laughing, chattering locals, the joy of nibbling on freshly baked bread rolls, like candy floss on the inside, thick crunchy crust on the outside. We drove 4-wheelers up and down the endless sand dunes, we watched breathlessly as young locals dove into the sea from the end of the pier over and over again - so what you say? There were big, fat mean looking sharks circling endlessly mere metres away, that's what! Legend has it that Ilha do Sal sharks are too well fed naturally to bother themselves with mere mortals...hmmm! We choked on a sip of 100% Russian vodka, we occasionally lifted our heads off the sun bed long enough to watch crazy windsurfer’s flying up and down the coast at breakneck speeds (world class training area apparently). We read no newspapers, we heard no news, we returned suntanned, relaxed and were happy. We stayed a week and wished we could have stayed for ever. To quote age old words of wisdom, “never judge a book by its cover”. You just never know what fabulous surprises that off-the-wall, off-the- beaten track holidays may bring you!

24 July 2014

A client of mine (a mom) called me on Monday morning in a bit of a panic. Her son's flight out of Charles de Gaulle Airport on Sunday had been cancelled, his cell phone had died and she hadn't had any further contact details and was concerned. I tried every avenue that I could think of to find the info for my client. I checked the Air France website – but couldn’t find any info. I couldn’t get any information in my Galileo booking system and of course there weren’t any numbers to call. There was also no information on Flightaware and other apps. I had a momentary flash of brilliance and tweeted Air France and KLM for more information on the cancelled flight and voila! Within minutes they advised me that the flight had been cancelled and that all passengers had been moved to hotels close to the airport. Both airlines followed me on Twitter, so that I could send them direct messages with the passengers booking details. Within an hour I was able to give my client the name of the hotel, its telephone number and the room number where her son and friends were staying. The flight eventually left this past Monday night after even further delays all of which I was able to convey to the passengers by keeping in touch with the Air France and KLM staff on Twitter. And.......I was also able to reconfirm with the Mom when the flight actually took off plus the ETA. I truly felt like I had managed to deliver a "with us it's personal" moment which I would definitely not have been able to do without Air France and KLM twitter staff assistance.

11 June 2014

I boarded a light aircraft in Nairobi high with excitement and just a little trepidation – well it was a really small aircraft! After a faultless take off, our young lady pilot had us happily floating above vast plains on our way to the Masai Mara. Have you ever noticed how close the ground looks when you’re in a small plane? Have you ever noticed how grown men can shriek one minute and instantly assume a deadpan face of supposed calm courage and bravery a second later? Minutes after landing at the Governor's Camp airstrip, luggage safely stowed, we piled onto waiting vehicles overseen by smiling, upbeat staff and racing to the camp in open sided vehicles. Colonial governors sure knew about the good things in life. Set on the banks of the Mara River on one side and the vast plains of the Masai Mara on the other, Governor’s Camp is an unfenced luxury tented camp and just magical. Breakfast and lunch on the sprawling lawn, pre-dinner drinks in the bar overlooking the Mara River and dinner in an open-sided tented dining room with endless views over the plains. Tranquil peace broken only by the noise of the wild. Sheer happiness. What more could anyone ask for? Did I mention that the Governor’s Camp is unfenced? Then you’ll understand when I tell you that it is compulsory to be escorted to your luxury tent and once there you’re briefed on what to do when their resident family of wild elephants come calling. Is there a tent closer to the main area? No? Flash your torch if you need help? Someone is on watch - all night? OK, I can live with that. Scared? Who me? Not at all. So there was I safely ensconced in my luxury tent with all the creature comforts needed for a good night’s sleep. Dusty and tired, a hot shower and warm bed was high priority. Freshly scrubbed and pyjamas on, I hopped into bed. Did I tell you the camp is unfenced? So I start pulling the bed covers back and out of the corner of my eye I see a flash of colour. Simultaneously my foot touches something soft and warm! The Masai in the adjoining village were surely woken by my scream as I jumped three feet backwards. Shaking, heart pounding – what to do? And the flash light is on the bedside cabinet! How am I going to get help? After what seemed like an hour but was no doubt mere minutes, I inched my way cautiously back to the bed and heaven help me, I don’t know what possessed me, but I grabbed the tip of the bed cover and ripped it off, flinging it to the far side of the tent. There, nestled comfortably in the middle of the bed, was a lovely, warm hot water bottle! I can’t imagine what my neighbours thought of the manic mutterings, interspersed with uncontrollable giggles that went on and on. I am not ashamed to confess that I did sleep with the light on all night! Did I mention that the camp is unfenced? So morning eventually arrived and, having slept quite soundly considering, I jumped out of bed and pulled back the curtains. Inches away was a giant eye staring back at me! No jokes - a real live giant's eye! For the second time in 24 hours, my poor body was forced to outdo the best efforts of an Olympian high jumper. And there we were, elephant and I staring each other down, neither moving, neither giving any ground. Well ok, me only because my body had turned to stone! Not until the said elephant got bored and moved on did I dare to let a muscle twitch, to take a breath! Would I do it again? Absolutely. Would I visit Governor’s Camp again? In a heartbeat.

05 June 2014

I had a boss who was totally off-the-wall. Not just off the wall but mad, creative genius off the wall. A fabulous asset when you’re selling incentive travel. After all, the best incentive trips are those where you’re doing things you would never in a lifetime do as an everyday tourist. Occasionally and much to the boss’s delight, he encountered an off the wall client. The result? Magical. For this client, we booked a fantastic Mediterranean cruise and, yes you guessed it, the client and the boss got together to talk about the shore excursions. Oh! No ship organised excursions for this group, thank you very much. I got to jet off to the Med as tour manager, lucky me. A superb ship, lovely group, everything running smoothly and exactly to plan. Then we got to Split in Croatia! This was a tender, meaning the ship weighs anchor off shore and small boats are used to transfer guests to and from the port. Now anyone who has cruised will tell you, never miss the “back on-board time”. Or in this case, last tender. Miss the ship and you make your own way to the next port – at your own cost. Can you imagine standing on the dock watching your ship sail away? Can you imagine 30 of you standing on the dock watching your ship sail away? So our little group travelled by coach to a small monastery turned wine farm outside of Split. Fabulous home-made wine, superb meal, great music and amazing views. Relaxed and happy, the group boarded the coach to travel back to Split, on time and going to plan. Bouncing along merrily, the group was in high spirits; singing, joking and enjoying the ride. And then the coach came to a screeching halt. The main street in the town we were passing through was completely blocked. Why? Road works had popped up after we drove through earlier. That wasn’t there this morning. No worries, plenty of time. The local tour operator had calculated one hour for driving, an extra half hour in case of flat tyre or the likes and arrival at the port one hour before last tender. Plenty of time. Did I mention that the traffic was stopped in both directions of the one-lane street? Time ticked on and no amount of cajoling, Croatian negotiating, Croatian swearing or hysterical tour manager laughter, could move the road workers. Dedication in its purest form I tell you. And we waited. The group got quieter, the tour manager’s whispers on the phone to the ship’s group co-ordinator got more frantic, and the phone calls were more frequent. You don’t want to know what the phone bill was. And then we moved! Would you believe we were still 30 minutes from Split and definitely going to miss the last tender – no doubt about it now! Picture again the sight of 30 people watching the ship sail away! And just as my heart was threatening to jump out of my chest, the call came through that one of the ship’s excursions busses had broken down and would arrive the port around the same time as our coach! I nearly kissed the coach driver’s feet! Talk about divine intervention. Safely back at port, while the group was totally oblivious to the narrow escape and happily boarding the tender, I was jumping up and down and hugging anyone in sight! The moral of the story – the boss isn’t always right. If your Travel Counsellor says take the ship’s excursion – take the ship’s excursion! Don’t be late – the ship won’t wait!

12 May 2014

Have you ever had that horrible, sinking feeling of being the last person at the luggage carousel? Momentarily mesmerised by the snaking carousel as it silently, ominously weaves its way around, out into the unknown, in again, out again, in again, out again, finally grinding to a shaky, noisy halt? Ever been that one who saunters over to that hole in the wall and muscles up a heavy rubber flap to peer out? Calling hellooooo, helloooo to no-one in particular, answered only by a dark heavy silence. Disbelief, annoyance and frustration quickly becoming the order of the moment? Imagine this……. Moi, the intrepid tour leader had successfully led her tired, but excited group through passport control and down to the baggage carousel. Confident and full of beans, Moi trotted officiously up and down collecting trollies and assisting clients taking luggage off the carousel until everyone was gathered in a neat little group and ready to move through customs. Phew. Hang on….. hang on a minute ……. where’s my bag? Empty…..the carousel was empty! Now as every tour leader will tell you, never, never should clients wait for you, so without further ado, I headed off through customs with the troop in tow….. No worries, I would call the airline later ….. no worries ……. all good. Off we trundled in an air-conditioned coach to the lovely Park Royal hotel, home for the next five nights. Guests checked in and comfortable I headed straight to my room and called the airline. Hello, hello, yes, what? What do you mean? No bag at the airport? No bag on the next flight? That can’t be right. Can you check again? Can’t be sure, but I think that high pitched wailing I heard in the distance was coming from me. Why? Well, because everyone knows that there are no 5’7” statuesque women in Malaysia, that’s why. Running off to the nearest boutique was not going to work…..not for me…..nope, not this time. Sooooo………. the only thing left to do was to rush to my room after dinner, wash everything, hang them over the chairs on the balcony and climb into bed in preparation for an early start the next morning. Aaaah, blissful, blessed sleep. Haha….. not just yet…. Just as I was about to fall asleep, the thought leapt into my head ….. what if? What if your clothes fly off the balcony in the night? So up I got, collected everything and hung them over chairs just inside the room, with the door open. Sigh…..sleep at last. Nope not yet…… what if? What if someone comes into the room through the open door? So up I got and closed the door. Sleep, I need sleep. What if? What if they don’t dry by the morning? So up I got again and opened the door and don’t laugh, set booby traps for anyone who might dare to try – I think I was on the second to last top floor….hahaha, come into the room through the balcony door. Oh and it did occur to me … what if there is a fire, what will you run down to reception in – hahaha the thought was enough to send me into hysterical laughter? Funny what a tired brain can come up with. Fortunately, Penang is teeming with fabulous highly professional and efficient tailors and I dashed off the next morning to be measured for a couple of “uniforms” which in keeping with my run of luck were only delivered two days later, a day before we were due to fly back. The moral of the story….never leave home without a spare set of clothes in your hand luggage!

06 April 2014

Remember your first flight? Way back in the 80's I took my first flight and oh boy do I vividly remember the breathless excitement of the moment my boss telling the then young, impressionable, naive, excitable me that I was going to Malawi. An involuntary screech erupted out of my mouth, cascading eventually into a giggling squeak, or squawk if you will! I had never been further than 500 kms by road to Durban. Oh wait I lie, I did once travel by car to Cape Town and that was 1400 kms - that's far you know. Imagine that ……. Malawi....oh my word....I was going to Malawi! I was going on an aeroplane and outside of South Africa……what….me? There wasn’t a person in my phone book that I didn't call, most of whom I later learnt, made no sense of the shrieking on the other end, but gathered they should make appropriate clucking noises of approval every few seconds or so. I remember arriving at the airport. At once excited, feeling somewhat worldly-wise and yet in silent, shy awe of bag toting, very important and oh so sophisticated people scurrying around. Hah not for long …… clever me ……. I was going to document everything in sight! Oh did I mention everything!? From the snaking queue of bored businessmen, to the check in clerk, the baggage weight window, the newspaper man, the sweeper, even my colleague next her luggage, sitting on her luggage, behind her luggage – oh yes and even one of the roof for goodness sakes! I was leaving nothing to chance. The noise, the smells, the hum of activity, people scurrying to and fro, the smell of coffee wafting by, the perfume of new luggage, exciting, exciting, exciting! Bags checked in and ticket in hand my colleague and I made our way through security - even this now laborious and much loathed necessity was exciting then. In fact, I'm almost certain that I sneaked a picture or two in there too. Through passport control – exciting and terrifying at the same time. Passports stamped and handed back by a silent, unsmiling official, we ventured into a whole other world. Long mysterious corridors and closed doors, official looking people scurrying around with seemingly important intent. The bright light of shops. Shops? They have shops at the airport, oh look and a coffee shop too - who would have thought! And then we were on the aeroplane and another brand new adventure! We flipped the tray in front of us, up and down, up and down, bounced the seat back and up, snapped the seat belt buckle open and climbed over each other to peer out of the window, snapped the seat buckle closed, we fiddled in our hand luggage putting away passports, taking out a book – oh the poor souls behind us. We inspected the weeny little ashtray on the armrest – yes you could smoke in those days. We checked out the loo, ooooh…. and we even got free headphones would you believe. Surely these memories and the unforgettable rumbling roar of the engines as the plane taxied down the runway, the gentle, slightly wobbly lifting into the air, the excitement of gazing down at earth and out towards the horizon, clouds so close you could almost touch them, is what started the insatiable wanderlust that I have yet to fully satisfy. I'd love to hear your recollection of your first flight. Be sure to leave your comments on my Facebook page.

27 May 2012

Shush ……..don’t wake me – I’m living the most exquisite dream right here in the plush, but elegantly understated Beachcomber Dinarobin Hotel Golf and Spa located in South West Mauritius. Backed by the majestic Le Morne Mountain, fronted by azure blue Indian Ocean and cradled in lush, tropical gardens, my junior suite is spacious, cool and airy and oh so comfortable. What bliss to relax in the cool of the evening on my very own secluded, furnished veranda to watch the sunset. Tranquillity and impeccable service are the order of the day whether you’re ordering room service, visiting the Clarins Spa, lazing on the beach or at the pool or simply sitting in the lobby and enjoying the beauty and stillness of the giant Zen water feature. I didn’t get to use the high tech gym – sigh - but it is equipped with everything you need to keep fit and toned. Golfers have a stunning 18-hole golf course on the doorstep, a club cabbie to pick you up on schedule for your tee-off. Tennis and water-sport fans, you’re well catered for too. Dinarobin’s cuisine is a story all of its own and it would take another whole chapter to describe the delicious options on offer! With four restaurants and 2 bars and the option to eat at the Paradis restaurants, you will never be bored. All Beachcomber hotels feature a free mini-club and the one at Dinarobin Hotel Golf and Spa is no exception. 3 – 12 Year olds are treated to a special welcome, entertainment, shows, indoor and outdoor games, all supervised by trained professionals and lots of fun meeting and building friendships with other children visiting the hotel. Last but not least, I have to mention The Club at Dinarobin Hotel Golf and Spa – a private club for anyone staying in Club Junior Suites, Club Junior Suites Beach Front and Club Senior Suites Beach Front. The Club offers a private executive lounge called Le Martello where you have a dedicated check in and concierge, newspapers, coffee machines, DVD players, I-Pod docking station, something light to eat for most of the day and drinks from 08am to 08pm (whisky, gin, vodka, rum, cocktails, tea and coffee) – conditions apply. Certainly something to consider if you that little extra privacy during your stay. Now excuse me while I get back to enjoying this little corner of heaven on earth before heading back to South Africa. Are you tired of the rush and are itching to get away and do nothing more than soak up the sun in tranquil and elegant surroundings backed by 5 Star service, then please contact me for a quotation. Regards Helen

03 July 2011

I recently had the good fortune of joining a group of fellow travel agents on a tour of Naiade Holidays properties on Mauritius. From 3 Star to 5 Star hotels, from one end of the island to the other, we tested their facilities, dined on their cuisine, walked their beaches, enjoyed their entertainment, got first hand opinions from the little people using the kiddies clubs, rated the resorts entertainment and observed the staff going about their business. In short we left no stone unturned and I hope I have managed to adequately capture the essence of my time at these properties in my travel journals on the Merville Beach, the Les Pavillons, Tamassa, the Legends, the Beau Rivage and last but by no means least, the island of Ile des deux Cocos. Our flights were on Air Mauritius. Following a quick, easy check-in we boarded our flight to comfortable seating and friendly and efficient on-board staff. After a gentle, smooth flight of 3 hours, 50 minutes we had a near perfect landing on Mauritius and we had the same faultless experience on the return flight. A truly wonderful experience! Beau Rivage – 5 Star: And I thought it couldn’t get better. How wrong was I! Located on the east coast of Mauritius, this all suite hotel is the real-life version of those pictures one usually only sees in magazines and on TV ! Elegant, yet relaxed, luxurious, yet simple, this resort is the modern version of a bygone era of classical luxurious, relaxed island holidays and must surely be an all-time favourite for upmarket clients. Lush green gardens edged by a broad stretch of soft white beach sand fronts the exquisite aquamarine Belle Mare Lagoon. Entry level rooms are junior suites with balcony and colonial style wooden shutters, spacious well appointed bedroom and large bathroom with double basin, big bath tub and separate rain shower. The private villas are ideal for families, honeymooners or those just wanting privacy and exclusivity. A butler is on call 24/7 and what with the heated plunge pool, gazebo with table and chairs, lounge, dining room, exquisitely appointed bathrooms and free access to everything on offer at the hotel what more could you ask for. The resort has a number of boutiques on site and if that’s not enough you can always walk to the nearby village not even a 10 minute walk away. There is also a library and hairdresser on the premises. The hotel has a spa with 9 treatment rooms, hamman, sauna, whirlpool and plunge pool and a treatment during your stay is an absolutely non-negotiable must! Kiddies are kept busy by trained staff while teens are supervised on a programme of on-site activities. A number of watersports and land activities are available for the whole family. Durng the week there is a barbeque on the beach with sega dancing and every night there is entertainment in the spacious bar area facing the enormous floodlit pool. Attention to detail is the order of the day at this resort with staff magically appearing to discreetly attend to your every need. A magnificent venue for weddings with everything on site to cater for the wedding including a variety of exquisite settings for photo opportunities. A superbly luxurious but relaxed upmarket resort for families, young and old, honeymooners and bridal parties alike. By upgrading to a PURE DISCOVERY all-inclusive package you need not worry about anything on holiday other than exploring, enjoying the beach, relaxing at the pool, doing some watersports or land activities and sipping on a cool drink. See separate journals for Merville Beach, Les Pavillons, Tamassa, Legends and Ile des deux Cocos. I'd love to chat to you further about this magificent property. Please don't hesitate to contact me.

03 July 2011

I recently had the good fortune of joining a group of fellow travel agents on a tour of Naiade Holidays properties on Mauritius. From 3 Star to 5 Star hotels, from one end of the island to the other, we tested their facilities, dined on their cuisine, walked their beaches, enjoyed their entertainment, got first hand opinions from the little people using the kiddies clubs, rated the resorts entertainment and observed the staff going about their business. In short we left no stone unturned and I hope I have managed to adequately capture the essence of my time at these properties in my travel journals on the Merville Beach, the Les Pavillons, the Tamassa, the Legends, the Beau Rivage and last but by no means least, the island of Ile des deux Cocos. Our flights were on Air Mauritius. Following a quick, easy check-in we boarded our flight to comfortable seating and friendly and efficient on-board staff. After a gentle, smooth flight of 3 hours, 50 minutes we had a near perfect landing on Mauritius and we had the same faultless experience on the return flight. A truly wonderful experience! Legends – 4 Star Dexluxe: The last time I visited the hotel it was still the Grand Gaube and I am positively blown away by the changes - what a transformation. The only thing I remotely recognised was the location! Situated in Grand Gaube in the north of the island and 10 minutes from Grand Baie, the hotel is superbly located. Rooms have been added, Feng Shui has been embraced throughout the property from the rounding of walls to incorporation of the five elements of wood, water, metal, earth and fire. No stone has been left unturned to make your stay one of tranquility, balance, harmony and grace. Every room has a view of water and lucky me who had a deluxe room could almost touch the lagoon from my balcony! Walking into the deluxe room is like walking into your very own spa. Step down into a spacious room, petals strewn all over your bed, a basket of fresh fruit and a chilled bottle of champagne setting the scene. Step up into the bathroom and ponder whether to wash the day’s grime off under the rain shower, or fill the oversized bath to the brim, drop in some bath salts and soak your cares away. One of my co-travellers’ put it into perspective this way : “I lay in my bath, sipping champagne, eating grapes and watching Wimbledon on the TV !” Having it’s own cinema, six restaurants and three bars, the Legends could be a perfect venue for a small conference group or product launch. We had a rum tasting session – what an experience. Who would have thought there could be so many flavours and who would have guessed how bad we would be at recognising the different tastes! Jokes aside, a great team building exercise that was topped only by a very talented band and two exceptional singers. I was lucky enough to have a treatment in the legendary Legends spa……hmmmm…….pure bliss! One of the rooms has a hot tub, there is a very tranquil relaxation area and it has a hamman and a sauna. Although the beach is quite narrow, it is long and “private” and there are enough sunbeds for everyone. There are lots of “spots” dotted around the hotel where guests can get in touch with nature, unwind and find an inner peace. Legends has a variety of watersports and land activities available as well as entertainment every evening. And……the mediterranean style restaurant overlooking the beach and the lagoon is a spot I guarantee you will want to make your restaurant of choice for at least one meal every day not only for it’s good food, but it’s incredible location, superb views, and relaxing atmosphere! The Legends is a very popular venue for weddings and is loved by honeymooners and families alike. You can upgrade your package to PURE DISCOVERY all-inclusive so when you leave South Africa you have nothing to worry about other than dining, drinking, soaking up the sun, enjoying the resorts facilities and simply relaxing and rejuvenating to your hearts content! See separate journals for Merville Beach, Les Pavillons, Tamassa, Beau Rivage and Ile des deux Cocos. Don't hesitate to contact me for more information on these properties.

03 July 2011

I recently had the good fortune of joining a group of fellow travel agents on a tour of Naiade Holidays properties in Mauritius. From 3 Star to 5 Star hotels, from one end of the island to the other, we tested their facilities, dined on their cuisine, walked their beaches, enjoyed their entertainment, got first hand opinions from the little people using the kiddies clubs, rated the resorts entertainment and observed the staff going about their business. In short we left no stone unturned and I hope I have managed to adequately capture the essence of my time at these properties in my travel journals on the Merville Beach, the Les Pavillons, Tamassa, the Legends, the Beau Rivage and last but by no means least, the island of Ile des deux Cocos. Our flights were on Air Mauritius. Following a quick, easy check-in we boarded our flight to comfortable seating and friendly and efficient on-board staff. After a gentle, smooth flight of 3 hours, 50 minutes we had a near perfect landing on Mauritius and we had the same faultless experience on the return flight. A truly wonderful experience! Tamassa – 4 Star All Inclusive: Tamassa means “party” in Creole and this resort screams fun, sun, beach, sand, relaxation and entertainment. Located in one of the most unspoilt parts of Mauritius, Bel Ombre on the south-west coast, Tamassa is a trendy, comtemporary hotel that both families and young couples will enjoy. The rooms are built on three crescents with either a pool or the beach at its centre. Kiddies will love the light, airy and colourful amphitheatre, miniature tables and chairs, little people’s kitchen and the activities and games on offer. Teens can choose to play pool, arcade games and take part in the daily programme run by dynamic young staff members ……..oh and they will love the disco open three nights a week too. Tamassa has a well equipped gym and a variety of waterspots and land activites as well as excursions that the whole family can take part in. Rock pools in the lagoon surrounded by a reef make this one of the best snorkelling areas on the island. And if you’re a golfer, there is a course right next door! Pampering is the order of the day at Tamassa’s spa with its 16 treatment rooms, hamman, sauna, pool, hairdresser and beauty salon and should definitely be ticked off your to-do list at least once during your stay at the hotel. Likewise, bridal parties have everthing on site to make their day a truly memorable one. The staff go out of their way to make your stay a memorable one. Just how far they will go to do so was evident when pizza – yes pizza – was among the superb offerings at our breakfast on the beach one morning because the general manager had heard that one of our party enjoyed pizza for breakfast! The Tamassa is an all-inclusive hotel and you have nothing more to worry about when you get there, than where you will spend your day, how much you want to eat or drink, what watersports and land activities you will take part in, whether you want to dance the night away or relax in your comfortable room. What a pleasure! A remarkably trendy and hip hotel in an exquisite setting, Tamassa is perfect for families, bridal parties, honeymooners, the young and the young at heart. See separate journals for Merville Beach, Les Pavillons, Beau Rivage, Ile des deux Cocos. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you would like to have more information in this property.

03 July 2011

I recently had the good fortune of joining a group of fellow travel agents on a tour of Naiade Holidays properties in Mauritius. From 3 Star to 5 Star hotels, from one end of the island to the other, we tested their facilities, dined on their cuisine, walked their beaches, enjoyed their entertainment, got first hand opinions from the little people using the kiddies clubs, rated the resorts entertainment and observed the staff going about their business. In short we left no stone unturned and I hope I have managed to adequately capture the essence of my time at these properties in my travel journals on the Merville Beach, the Les Pavillons, Tamassa, the Legends, the Beau Rivage and last but by no means least, the island of Ile des deux Cocos. Our flights were on Air Mauritius. Following a quick, easy check-in we boarded our flight to comfortable seating and friendly and efficient on-board staff. After a gentle, smooth flight of 3 hours, 50 minutes we had a near perfect landing on Mauritius and we had the same faultless experience on the return flight. A truly wonderful experience! Les Pavillons – 5 Star: Oh my word! Step out of the lobby to the sight of an almost blindingly exquisite turquoise blue sea, backed by the majestic grandeur of the Le Morne and topped by a perfectly cloudless, azure blue sky and you’ll truly wonder if you’ve landed in heaven. Well almost – Les Pavillons has surely one of, if not, the most breathtakingly beautiful settings on Mauritius island! Strong management and attention to detail at this hotel is evident all the way from the perfection of the grass edges to the exquisitely appointed and superbly decorated rooms each with a gorgeous bathroom and private outside shower. The feeling of sophisticated tranquillity starts at the entrance of the hotel and continues through superbly appointed rooms to the four outdoor pools, through the Zen-like gardens and treatment rooms of the world-class spa to the soft silky sand of the beach leading on to the lagoon where guests can snorkel in the comfort and safety of the calm sea water within the reef. A walled off kiddies club offers a safe haven of fun activities for the little ones, while teens will have a blast trying out the variety of musical instruments in their club. Fun activites make both kiddies and teens keen supporters of the Les Pavillons clubs. That leaves Mom and Dad free to relax at one of the four pools, have a spa treatment or get the whole family involved in one of the variety of watersports and land activities offered by the hotel. Les Pavillons has top class entertainment every night. At Les Pavilions guests can upgrade to their PURE DISCOVERY all-inclusive package which includes fullboard, a selection of beverages, a cooking class with the hotel chef and a spa treatment. Great to have nothing to worry about on your holiday besides relaxing, eating and having fun! Bridal parties and honeymoon couples will be hard pressed to find a more beautiful setting or a resort that pays as much attention to detail and your wedding or honeymoon is sure to be a romantic, pampered, remarkable and a very memorable event. In short, busy professionals looking for a relaxed, tranquil, yet sophisticated romantic getaway, honeymoon or family holiday a million light years away from the stress of everyday life will love Les Pavillons. See separate journal for Merville Beach, Tamassa, Legends, Beau Rivage, Ile des deux Cocos. Please don't hesitate to contact me for more information on this lovely property.

03 July 2011

I recently had the good fortune of joining a group of fellow travel agents on a tour of Naiade Holidays properties on Mauritius. From 3 Star to 5 Star hotels, from one end of the island to the other, we tested their facilities, dined on their cuisine, walked their beaches, enjoyed their entertainment, got first hand opinions from the little people using the kiddies clubs, rated the resorts entertainment and observed the staff going about their business. In short we left no stone unturned and I hope I have managed to adequately capture the essence of my time at these properties in my travel journals on the Merville Beach, the Les Pavillons, Tamassa, the Legends, the Beau Rivage and last but by no means least, the island of Ile des deux Cocos. Our flights were on Air Mauritius. Following a quick, easy check-in we boarded our flight to comfortable seating and friendly and efficient on-board staff. After a gentle, smooth flight of 3 hours, 50 minutes we had a near perfect landing on Mauritius and we had the same faultless experience on the return flight. A truly wonderful experience! Merville Beach - 3 Star Superior: It’s about 10 years since I last saw the Merville Beach and quite frankly I had forgotten just what a gem this hotel is! A superb 3 Star Superior hotel, with one of the best locations on the island. A well-run hotel which shows in the staff attitude, the service levels, the cleanliness and general ambience of the property. The food is top class, the beach is one of the best and of course the close proximity to Grand Baie is a huge advantage. The spa at Merville Beach is superb and the splash pool and relaxation area has a view to die for. It would be worth staying at the Merville Beach just for the spa experience! Guests can swim in the fresh water swimming pool, windsurf, waterski, snorkel, take a trip in a glass bottom boat, work out in the gym, laser, kayak, scuba dive, do some deep sea fishing, hone their tennis skills, take an excursion – something for everyone. (Some activities are payable). Merville Beach specialises in weddings (no more than one a day) and there are endless spots on the property for superb photo sessions. The hotel is well known for its nightly entertainment and we were treated to a flamboyant welcome by a talented team of sega dancers and musicians and a delicious barbeque on the beach. Picture the scene: cloaked by a gentle night sky, stars twinkling in the distance, water gently lapping the edge of the beach, flickering light of candles dotted around and on an elegantly laid dinner table, soft live music in the background, the smell of meat and fish braaing on the sizzling fire. And one of the hotel’s staff members had personally hand-made a grass hat for each and every one of us – attention to detail ! Delightful experience. Besides not having a children’s club the Merville Beach offers almost every service you can expect from a 4 Star or 5 Star hotel and is great value for anyone on a limited budget. Clients have an option to upgrade from half board to all inclusive – nice not to have to worry about anything but having a fantastic holiday. Merville Beach could be a great venue for groups or a wedding party on a budget too! See separate journal for Les Pavillons, Tamassa, Legends, Beau Rivage and Ile des deux Cocos. I'd love to chat to you about this fantastic property so please don't hesitate to contact me.

25 May 2011

I had the good fortune of attending the Travel Counsellors 2011 Gold Counsellors Conference in Dubai this past weekend and was reminded again just how far this "fishing village" has come on it's journey to super stardom! I remember first visiting Dubai many, many years ago when there was one main road and a few hotels. It was amazing then......you should see it today! My senses are at once assailed, soothed and stimulated by the glitz and glamour of shopping malls the size of small villages; the feel of white silky soft beaches under my feet; glimpses of emerald green patches as we speed past the world class champion golf course; a 60 second elevator ride up to the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa - heart racing as we step out on to the viewing platform; stand in awe as the as watery dancers of the musical fountains cut swathes of glistening gyrating, swaying movement culminating in a crescendo of frothing jets of water hurtling skyward to a crescendo of majestic music; laze around on a catamaran; take a spin around the ice rink or ........wait for it.......speed down the snow ski slopes! Still think there won't be anything for you to do? Need something to do in the evenings? They've got that covered too! Drive to the edge of the desert and climb aboard a 4 x 4 for a bit of dune bashing followed by cocktails at sunset on top of a dune. Continue to a desert camp for a traditional meal, plump cushions, henna lady, palm reader, traditional music and of course the inevitable belly dancer! Oh and there are night clubs, bars and restaurants everywhere - you will be spoilt for choice! We were lucky enough to be hosted by the Westin Dubai, Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina. Oh my word......where to start! As your vehicle sweeps up the drive to the entrance you just know you're going to be in for a treat! Spacious rooms, well appointed bathrooms with separate bath and shower, hair dryer, a 14 layer heavenly bed with mounds of pillows - sheer bliss, giant TV, IDD, mini bar, tea/coffee making facilities, iron and ironing board, wi-fi, radio clock, in-room safe. Other facilities include a first class spa, various bars and restaurants, outdoor swimming pools, boutiques, business centre. The service is impeccable. Got a peek at one of the rooms at the Amani Hotel - sleek, chic, sophisticated and distinctly Amani ! Royal Mirage is another resort style hotel with lush gardens, beautiful pool area, mediterranean style rooms and attentive staff. We had our gala dinner at the Atlantis.........wow, wow and wow again! A meal fit for a king or Top Chef for that matter. With a couple of dozen waiters in attendance, dinner was a slick, smooth operation with cuisine delicious to the palate and exceptionally pleasing on the eye! What an experience. A word of caution if you're looking for a beach holiday, consider going during their winter being October to May when it's slightly cooler and you can walk on the beach and enjoy the outdoors. No matter the time of year, however, Dubai has something for everyone so whether its shopping, business, family holiday, honeymoon or just a quick break you're looking for - do consider Dubai for your next trip!

24 May 2011

Not in my wildest dream could I have imagined the incredible essence and beauty of Havana, capital of Cuba. A mere speck in the Caribbean Ocean this grand old lady has a larger than life personality, her derelict narrow streets and wide avenues vibrantly alive with the bustle of people spilling out of dilapidated yet intrinsically refined buildings, washing hanging out to dry on crumbling balcony's, tourists perching behind the wheel of 1950's Chevy's and Russian Ladas, artists setting up their easels, strains of salsa music wafting out from every open door. Ah......the magic of Cuba! Havana Vieja, or old Havana, an UNESCO heritage site is surely sighing a huge sigh of relief as her grubby plazas, exquisite colonial Spanish style buildings, bars and restaurants slowly undergo a restoring facelift to their former glory. Centro Havana is home to the National Capital and the Museum of the Revolution. A short distance away is the newer, trendier suburb of Vedado with theatres, cafes, art galleries and more modern buildings. Other attractions include the Ernest Hemingway Museum on the outskirts of town, a cigar factory, a rum distilling factory, Plaza de Revolucion, the list goes on and on. Of course no visit to Havana would be complete without a Mojito or Daiquiri (which according to locals originated in Cuba in the Bay of Daiquiri - pronounced dye-key-ree) and La Bodeguita del Medio is definitely the place to sip your first Mojito and pen your message on the wall. When the sun goes down the nightclubs come alive and whether you fancy, salsa, samba or jazz, whether you want to be seen or just enjoy a quiet evening, there is a club, open air disco, roof top bar or refined restaurant, jazz band, symphony orchestra or national ballet troupe just waiting for you to show up! And the beaches......oh my......the beaches! Take a day excursion to Cayo Largo, a hop and a skip by flight to a paradise where sky meets water, sun rays skip over sandy white beaches and the tantalising smell of a crayfish lunch before interacting with a couple of dolphins ensure a sensory overload that you will never forget! Not to be missed either is Varadero, a more commercialised seaside resort about 2 hours drive from Havana and a must for a few days of rest and relaxation, sun, sea and sand complemented by good shopping, myriad bars and restaurants, catamaran excursions - just one of many optional excursions, dolphin interaction and a very vibrant nightlife. I stayed in the Parque Central Hotel in Havana Viega a short walking distance from main tourist attractions, Plaza de la Catedral, Gran Teatro de La Habana, Museum of the Revolution and a magnificent art gallery, the seaside malecon and Havana harbour, not to mention the myriad restaurants, bars and plazas. The view from the hotel's rooftop and pool deck is magnificent! A Hop-On-Hop-Off bus stop is located just one block away and on Saturdays and Sundays local Cubans, musicians and artists congregate on the walkway adjoining the hotel - not to be missed! The hotel itself is a pleasant surprise with it's artful blend of Spanish colonial elegance and modern services and facilities. The original section offers large rooms, pleasant decor, decent size bathroom, in-room safe, internet access (payable), while the new section offers smaller but still comfortable sized rooms with a more modern decor. An exchange bureau is conveniently placed in the the reception area and there are a couple of stores around the hotel where you can buy bottled water, cigarettes, etc. One has only to step out of the front door to hail a Coco taxi, tricycle or a 1950's Chevy - oh and there are horse and carriages too! Author Ernest Hemingway spent many years of his life in Havana, was happily adopted by the Cuban nation and obviously knew a good thing when he saw it! Do you have Cuba on your wish list yet? Helen Shelver