January 25, 2012


15 Best travel tips ever !

1.   Travelling in off- season can be a great way to save, as many hotels and restaurants offer specials.

2.   Last- minute bookings can also yield great savings if a traveler is prepared to take the gamble.

3.   Use taxis, tours and other transportation services with official markings. Only select transportation from official pick- up points.

4.   Always make a list when packing – this will help you pack fewer unnecessary things. Remember, items such as toiletries can be bought in most destinations, so don’t over pack ‘just in case’.

5.   If you’re going on a skiing holiday, remember to take sunscreen and sunglasses because the glare from the snow can cause sunburn. Also consider a pre- holiday exercise routine to avoid stiffness on the trip.

6.   Bear in mind that SPF is not consistent around the world, so the level of protection a sun block bought in another country offers may be different to what you’re used to.

7.  Check the terms and conditions of international roaming with your cell phone service provider beforehand- data charges can make for a particularly nasty surprise. SMS roaming is a good option for cost- conscious travelers.

8.   Research any religious or cultural festivities taking place at your destination as they may affect your travel plans. For example, during Ramadaan it’s often difficult to find a restaurant or store open during the day in Muslim countries such as Egypt.

9.   Refrain from drinking alcohol on long- distance flights as it causes dehydration and can hamper sleep. Instead, drink plenty of water.

10.       If you have children, take some sweets for them to suck or a bottle of juice to drink during take- off and landing. This will help ease the pressure in their ears. Also keep babies upright to keep fluid out of their ear passages.

 

 

11.      A cash passport is the best option for accessing forex while travelling- it offers all the benefits of travellers’ cheques with the convenience and security of a debit card.

12.       Invest in good luggage brand.

13.       Don’t rely purely on GPS when driving in a foreign country- chat to the locals. Ask the car- hire desk for advice on which areas to avoid. GPS units may not legally advise someone against going into a dodgy area, so it’ll always choose the most direct route.

14.       Research the tipping customs in your destination country beforehand and be sure to get small denominations of cash at the airport so you are prepared.

15.      Always take out travel insurance and tell your broker what kind of activities you’re going to be participating in to ensure you’re sufficiently covered.

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January 18, 2012


Unbeatable 5* special to Phuket

Phuket 5* Diamond Cliff Resort & Spa

R8725 per person sharing

Includes

* return flights

* return transfers

* 7 nights at the 5* Diamond Cliff and spa resort

* breakfast daily

* Thompsons travel bag

BONUS :

- Welcome drink upon arrival

- Complimentary 1kg fruit shopping at the hotels fruit shop

- Round trip schedule shuttle bus transfer to Phuket town

- One way scheduled shuttle us transfer to Patong shopping centre in the evening

- Complimentary use of sun loungers at private paradise beach

- Unlimited wi - fi at hotels main lobby and grand wing lobby

Excludes

* airport taxes R3743 per person

* all items of personal nature

* passport costs

VALID 01 APRIL 2012 - 31 OCT 2012

Contact us today to enquire about this excellent special!

samt.etravel@galileosa.co.za

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July 12, 2011


PASSENGER TAX INCREASE

 

PASSENGERS will be paying close to 70 percent more in airport taxes from October 1, when ACSA’s new tariff hike comes into play, as the airport operator seeks to recover revenue lost since April 1, when the increase was initially planned to come into effect.

That is the real impact of the approved increase of 34.8 percent, until the backlog is recovered.
 
ACSA said the tariff adjustments were intended to “not unduly burden airlines and passengers” and added that it “recognised the increase will have an impact on customers but reiterates that they are unavoidable but necessary for the industry”.
 
As of October 1, the new tariffs will be adjusted to R96.49 excluding tax for domestic fares, R199.12 for regional fares and R262.28 for International fares, also excluding tax.
 
Airlines Association of Southern Africa Chief Executive, Chris Zweigenthal, said the tariffs reflect the go-ahead for ACSA to remain revenue neutral this year, the decision that in effect now allows ACSA to recover the unclaimed revenue.
 
“ACSA did not take the 34.8 percent increase on April 1, 2011 because it was not yet approved by the regulator, but it was entitled to it. Recovering full revenue for the year will effectively double [charges] over the next six months,” he explained. “I suppose [if not claimed now] in all likelihood it would have been lumped into the third year, which would then have been a massive increase,” he added, but warned the impact on airlines and fares would be significant, especially with South Africa’s Air Passenger Duty scheduled to rise in October and a 50 percent increase on a current safety fee charged by the Civil Aviation Authority slated for implementation in August.
 
“The question is what do airlines do? It is still too high for the industry, which is private and has to deal with market forces. They don’t have the luxury to be regulated and get guaranteed returns,” he added.
 
Chief Executive Officer of the Association of South African Travel Agents, Robyn Christie, added: “We must admit that ACSA has done outstanding work in improving our infrastructure – but such infrastructure comes at a cost. Unfortunately, it is South Africa’s inbound and outbound travellers who will have to bear the costs.”
 
As to the Department of Transport’s announcement it would review ACSA’s regulatory framework, Mr. Zweigenthal echoed sentiments that the move was a positive step forward.
 
“We are hopeful that with the steering committee that is being formed, hopefully we get to some point of some understanding of where to move in future. We cannot start agreeing on future developments until we know how much it”s going to cost and how ACSA will fund it,” he added.

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AIRPORT TAX

June 13, 2011


Escape the cold and head for beautiful Bali

R12 355 per person sharing

Includes

* return flights to Bali on Malaysian Airlines

* return transfers

* 7 nights at 4 * Aston Bali Resort & Spa

* breakfast, lunch , dinner & selected drinks daily

* nightly entertainment

* land & watersport activities

* usage of the steam and fitness rooms

* 25% discount on spa, laundry and internet

Valid 01 July - 31 August 2011

Contact Travel Emporium to book! samt.etravel@galileosa.co.za

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May 26, 2011


Normal Air services resume

Eurocontrol confirmed that no significant impact is expected over European airspace today May 26, as a result of the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland.

According to the Volcanic ash advisory centre in London, the areas of ash concentration over the north of Germany yesterday resulted in approximately 450 flight cancellations , mainly affecting the airports in Bremen, Hamburg and Berlin.

On a normal day , these airports would expect around 120, 480 and 530 flights respectively . The German airports are currently fully accesible again.

However, the Irish Aviation authority warned that a small number of European destinations may still be affected

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