18 January 2018

The MyTC app for Android or Iphone is a must-have for every one of my travelling clients! A while ago we launched the MyTC app for all our customers, both holiday makers and business travellers, and we have received wonderful feedback from them. This app is unique and a fantastic addition to my personal approach as your Travel Counselllor. Here is why: The MyTC app gives you access to all your current and future travel data and offers a convenient way to count down the days until your trip departure. The app is also there for you during your trip. For example, view your itinerary, even if you are offline. Your travel documents are also included, in addition to the itinerary, so in a separate folder you will find the flight tickets, accommodation vouchers, transfer vouchers, excursion vouchers, etc. In short, all important papers for your journey are at your fingertips, offline. It's that easy, you cannot lose your docs and they are available to you anytime, anywhere. The MyTC app is basically a personal extension of your Personal Travel Counsellor to have in your pocket, wherever you are in the world. You are able to contact me as your Personal Travel Counselor at the touch of a button. Share your itinerary with significant others in the MyTC app via email or easily share it to Social Media. If you are satisfied with my service, let your family, friends and acquaintances in on your secret of great travels by sharing my contact details with them through the MyTC app. I mainly build my company on personal recommendations, so this would be a big compliment to me. The MyTC app is also linked to your customer portal with Travel Counsellors. This online portal can be accessed with the same password as that of the app. On the portal you can also view your invoice and pay easily, securely and quickly online in addition to having access to your travel details! MyTC for Business - Besides holiday travel, I am also happy to assist the business traveller. The MyTC app allows me to stay in close contact with my business travellers. He or she can consult their itinerary and travel documents anytime, anywhere and when necessary contact me with the push of one button. Especially for the business traveller who is often on the road, the MyTC app is a godsend, no printouts, no separate e-mails ... just consult the documents in the app. MyTC app for the future - There is more ...... Alongside being able to make bookings and having access to your travel documentation and quotes, you can now be alerted to any changes or delay to your flight as well as having your own holiday wishlist to hand. We are working hard to expand the app even further and thus serve you better as a customer. To get started, once you have made a travel request with me, you can call up the offers I’ve made to you in the MyTC app. Download the MyTC app for free and ask me for your personal log-in code to start enjoying all the above benefits of having your own Personal Travel Counsellor in your pocket! Watch a video clip of all the MyTC app has to offer: http://bit.ly/2mS9Bvg

10 January 2018

Do you want to experience more during your holiday? With a rental car you can discover everything! Flexible and independent, completely at your own pace. The most obvious reasons to rent a car is often completely forgotten: Most people plan their holidays from start to finish. The first day you go to the amusement park, the second day lazing on the beach, the third day you go on safari and the fourth day you go back home. Having a plan is great, but it is usually not carried out as expected. Perhaps the amusement park and the safari are not activities for a full day. What do you do with your newly acquired free time? With your own car you can do what you want. You do not have to make a choice from the list of bus destinations or decide whether an activity is worth the cost of a taxi. You can just find something to do and go there. Because I want you to get the most out of your holiday, here are some tips and considerations: Do you let the car stand? With a rental car you can see more, we are convinced. But you do not always need the car. For example, do you first go to the city for a few days and only then explore the countryside? In this case, it is wasted money to pick up the rental car at the start of the holiday. You are better off starting your car hire a few days later, when you really need it. You can often collect your rental car at a city office instead of at the airport although for most of those busy cities, taking a train to the airport and then leaving from there by car is preferable to navigating the chaotic inner-city traffic. Booking on time. Landlords have a limited number of cars and when the end of the stock comes into view, the price goes up. Also, you have less choice if the stock is shrinking. Do you have a preference for a certain type of car or do you want to purchase special services or extras? Make sure you book on time, because if you wait too long, you run the risk of not getting what you want. It can also happen that you prefer a smaller model, but that there are only expensive SUV’s available. What a waste of your holiday money! And sometimes the cars are completely hired out. So, if you wanted to get the most out of your holiday with best rental car of your choice, booking on time is highly recommended! 24 hour rule. This rule can save you so much money or cost you a whole extra day’s rental! Car rental is calculated in 24 hour blocks. If you collect your car at 08:00, then you need to drop off your car any time before 08:00 the next day. That will cost you a full rental day. Coordinate your collection and return times. Do you land at 2 pm and stay for a week? Then pick up the car around 2.30 pm and return it on day 8, no later than 2:30 pm. You will then pay 7 full rental days. If you only hand it in at 4 pm, you pay an extra day for that hour and a half. Again, what a waste of your holiday money! Do you also want a rental car during your holiday and be sure that everything is well organised and you are not faced with surprises? Through me, your Travel Counsellor you book a car with the all-inclusive rental formula. Contact me for assistance – I’m happy to help.

18 January 2018

A fellow colleague of mine was very lucky to visit Germany a little while back, and nothing set the scene better than she got the opportunity to hop on the A380 Lufthansa aircraft and try out Premium Economy, a mix between Economy and Business class. In her opinion, to be honest on some airlines, Premium Economy is better than Business Class! During her time, she had the opportunity to visit many Christmas Markets, the Spy museum and exciting places. To just give you a taste of what to expect when you arrive in Germany, there are so many different aspects: culinary offerings as locally prepared dishes, festivals and products that are ‘made in Germany’. During the festive season, you can stroll past the arts and crafts stalls or sample the regional food and drink, you’ll see that traditions and customs are very much alive and well in Germany, eggnog at the Christmas markets being just one classic example… in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The countryside boasts beautiful scenery and fascinating history, deeply rooted in everyday life. You can hike in the Black Forest, chill by Lake Constance, or purchase or listen to the cuckoos. An interesting fact: It also happens to be the birthplace of the automobile. Or lose yourself in Bavaria, in the magical fairy-tale world of Mad King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein Castle – romantic much! However not quite the place to be stranded in either.... Top food options: Pork Knuckle, Giant pretzels, Black Forest Gateau – Germany’s most famous export - round, layered and laced with cherry schnapps. For a beer, of course, you will be spoilt for choice. Then there’s open Berlin. I can’t think of any city in Europe which has a more cutting-edge scene. If fashion or street food is your thing, bars, and no holds barred, raucous nightlife – this city has it all. It’s very laid back, down to earth. Must do's: river cruises on the Rhine, the carnivals, Berlin Film Festival, city of Berlin, Oktoberfest, city of Munich, German food, city of Hamburg, local speed trains (getting you from city to city in no time!). Is Germany worth a second visit? Most definitely! Might even try the Autobahn’s unlimited speed limit!

10 January 2018

Nothing beats the Western Wilderness as much as Tasmania! If you want raw untouched territory, then be sure to make this as a bucket list must do! Hop into a car from Launceston and get exploring! Launceston to Cradle Mountain a 2-hour (144 km) journey en-route to Cradle Mountain. You can take a break at Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm and to view the world-class murals at Sheffield! Take a close look at a Tasmanian devil at Devils at Cradle, then overnight at the breathtakingly beautiful Cradle Mountain. The next day, walk or hike at Dove Lake in the Cradle Mountain, Lake St Clair National Park - one of the best walks in Australia! Drive to Strahan and enjoy the scenery along the way, or better still why not take a scenic flight for an amazing view of the World Heritage Area and watch the sunset on Ocean Beach? Overnight in peaceful Strahan, and while you are at it, why not see Australia’s longest running play - The Ship That Never Was? Cruise on the Gordon River and visit Sarah Island, looking for a platypus on the walk to Hogarth Falls. Then complete your journey from Strahan to Hobart which is a 5.5-hour (289km) journey. On the way, visit the Wall in the Wilderness at Derwent Bridge? It’s amazing! Or enjoy a coffee at Lake St Clair Visitor Information Centre and walk down to the lake! Hobart is a pure foodie’s paradise! The entire island of Tasmania has amongst the world’s best food and produce including the fresh seafood and oysters mainly from GET SHUCKED Oysters on Bruny Island! Why not try a scallop pie? Tasmania boasts the world’s best! Take some time to visit Hobart’s waterfront, Salamanca art galleries and craft shops before heading home, or take a ferry visit to MONA, David Walsh’s controversial museum! **warning** Not for the faint hearted so be prepared to be shocked! Take a nice long drink at the bar, before entering! What can I say it is the Apple Isle! So, go behind the scenery and check out what Tasmania can offer you!

27 May 2012

Once again I was given the opportunity to go to the beautiful island of Mauritius, this time (my 5th time!) for our Annual Travel Counsellors Conference which was held at the 5 Star Shandrani Beach Resort & Spa. The Shandrani Resort and Spa is only 10 minutes from the airport and is a 5 Star All-Inclusive resort. With its 110 superior rooms, 69 superior beach front rooms, 108 deluxe rooms, 36 family apartments, 2 senior suites and 2 family suites, it has something for everyone. It is my 3rd visit to this resort, yet it felt brand new with the warmth of returning to a home away from home. The lobby opens up to the beautiful lagoon and Marine Reserve on which the resort is built. The second beach, where the deluxe rooms are situated, is towards the open sea and those guests are greeted with the waves crashing every morning. Our superior beachfront room was beautiful and had a view from our balcony over the lagoon. With free ADSL connection in the room I was able to keep in touch with my little ones and husband at home. The conference facilities are world class, with seating for up to 180 delegates. With a choice of 5 restaurants any events can be catered for. We had our White Gala Awards and Pirate of the Indian Ocean Island parties at the Le Sirius Restaurant which from its unique position looks out over both the lagoon and the ocean. Being so close to the airport does mean that every 2 hours or so an airplane thunders overhead, drowning out all conversation… but it didn’t bother me… although I suppose it would for some people… A great place for a fun family holiday with a bit of an island vibe, good service and amazing people! I also had the opportunity to visit two other properties – Astroea Beach Hotel and Preskil Beach Resort situation on the east coast. First Astroea: What a little gem! Previously a B&B which has been converted and only been operational since January 2012, the management of Astroea have seen a gap in the market for small families and couples who want to get away from it all, but still enjoy the luxury and comfort of a resort. There are only 16 rooms with a maximum capacity of 35 guests, catering for families (2 bedroom family apartments), couples and honeymooners (beautiful honeymoon suite with uninterrupted view of the sea). The chef has experience in 5 Star resorts and offers a fantastic menu, but will cater to any special request guests may have…. they proudly proclaim to have been able to fulfil every special request since opening in January! Although there is no swimming pool, a beautiful private beach is at your doorstep with a boathouse supplying snorkelling equipment and kayaks free of charge. Astroea guests make use of Preskil Beach Resort & Spa’s facilities (1km down the road) at a nominal charge. The 4 Star Preskil Beach Resort – is a great family resort! A mere 15 minutes from the airport, Preskil has 114 lagoon rooms, 28 prestige cottages and 14 deluxe penthouse rooms. With two swimming pools and three restaurants, I found the vibe here to very lively, with activities taking place in all the entertainment areas. Waterskiing, windsurfing, glass bottom boats, canoes, snorkelling outings, and more… these activities are free of charge. At a charge you can also experience scuba diving, undersea walks, and catamaran trips to L’Ile aux C’erfs. Preskil Beach Resort owns its own catamaran which they chartered for our group to go out snorkelling in the lagoon for the afternoon. There is a deserted, untouched island in the middle of the lagoon, called Pink Pigeon Island (I can’t remember the French name) and we moored there for the afternoon. The crew kept us entertained with drink, snacks and music making – a great afternoon was had and the sea was so calm that even I, with my ever present motion sickness had not even a hint of nausea! Once again I was reminded that Mauritius has something for everyone. Whether you are a family with little ones, a family with teens (so hard to keep entertained!), a young couple, an older couple or a bunch of friends – Mauritius has an option for each one of you – I have seen it myself! So don’t hesitate – call me now if you think you deserve a break from the city life, work life, and yes, stay-at-home-moms needs a break once in a while too!