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Planning and Booking a Holiday Cruise from South Africa

August 9, 2012 by

Article by Bobby Buys

When it’s time for a vacation, almost every member in your group will have very strong ideas on what constitutes the perfect holiday. Given the rather mind-boggling range of choices, deciding upon the best destination will be far from easy.

A cruise holiday offers distinct advantages over traditional forms of travel, and allows you to avoid all the stress and hassle of planning a memorable vacation.

Advantages of Cruising

Cruises allow you to visit many ports of call. Depending on your preference, you can visit many different destinations or spend time on-board.

Most cruise ships afford a variety of on-board entertainment facilities, allowing you to interact with people from different cultures and catering to the tastes of each member in your group.

A cruise saves you time. Also, since everything will be taken care of by the cruise-liner, you can spare yourself the agony of having to make travel arrangements, pack suitcases or plan meals.

Most cruise holidays offer great value for money and are inclusive of food and on-board activities. Some services could cost extra, but since you’ll know this beforehand, you’re in control of your budget.

The Biggest Cruise Ships

There are a large number of cruise liners with state-of-the-art facilities. According to the Travel+Lesiure Magazine, the most enviable cruises to be on this year are:

A Mexican Riviera cruise on the Splendor with the Carnival Line.

The Caribbean, Mediterranean, and a journey from Southampton, England to Rome on the Solstice or the Equinox with the Celebrity Line.

Northern Europe, Mediterranean from December, Dubai, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Oman on the Costa Luminosa;

Rome, Savona, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Tunis, Malta and Palermo on the Costa Pacifica, with the Costa Cruises Line; and

The Baltic region, Canada, New England and the Caribbean on the Eurodam with the Holland America Line.

Most Popular Cruise Destinations

Some of the tried and tested cruises include: Caribbean Cruise; South Pacific or Hawaiian Island Cruise; Alaskan Cruise; Polar Cruises; Transatlantic Ocean Cruise; River Cruises (the Danube in Europe, the fjords in Norway, the Mississippi in United States, the Nile in Egypt); Galapagos Island Cruises; European Cruises: Mediterranean, Northern Europe and Baltic, Greek and Canary Islands; Mexican Riviera Cruise.

South African Cruises: Best Times for a Cruise

While the following months offer the most favourable weather conditions, prices could prove to be steep. If you want cheaper options, travel during the off-season months. Peak season itineraries are as follows: Alaskan Cruise: June to August; Bermuda Cruise: April through Mid-November; Caribbean Cruise: Year round; December through April are particularly good; Mediterranean Cruise: April through November; Northern Europe and Baltic cruises: May to October; Greek and Canary Islands: March to December; Hawaiian Islands: November through February; Mexican Cruise: Year round.

Cruises in South Africa

South Africa is becoming a popular cruising destination and is also a departure point for some lovely cruises. Some of the more popular South African cruises are:

The Barra Lodge Cruise: Spend time on one of Mozambique’s most unspoiled beaches. The Indian Ocean offers great bathing possibilities all year round.

The Christmas Cruise: Enjoy delicious seafood, bask on the sun-kissed beaches, bathe in the turquoise blue waters and consort with the seagulls! Barra Lodge, Maputo and Portuguese Island are covered on this exciting cruise.

Island Discovery Cruise: Stops at Durban, Pointe des Galets, Port Louis, Mayotte Is, Nosy Be, Maputo and Portuguese Island.

Other popular ports are Richards Bay, Cape Town and/or Port Elizabeth.

About the Author

bidorbuy.co.za is South Africa’s largest online marketplace. Buyers and sellers come to bidorbuy to buy and sell virtually anything in auction format or at fixed prices. Contact details: bidorbuy Marketing Department; email promotion@bidorbuy.co.za, web site www.bidorbuy.co.za

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Cheap Flights South Africa – How To Find The Cheapest Airfares To South Africa

June 2, 2012 by

Article by Michael R. Giles

Airfares to South Africa are among the highest in the world. But despite this, you can find cheap airfare for flights to South Africa, and save hundreds of dollars. It is not easy but it can be done. Here are some top tips on how it find cheap airfare to Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa’s two big cities with international airports. From either Johannesburg or Cape Town you can get bargain airfares to Kruger National Park, Durban, Port Elizabeth or anywhere else in the rest of the country.

Cheap Flights South Africa Insider Secrets

Avoid Flying Directly Into Cape Town In Peak Season, Consider a Cheap Flight to Johannesburg, Then ConnectEspecially from December through March, everybody from overseas wants cheap airfares to Cape Town. Cape Town is the tourism capital of South Africa. So during peak season (December through March) you have a much better chance of finding cheap airfare to South Africa if you opt to fly into Johannesburg. Then you can get a cheap airfare from there to Cape Town. There are lots of flights, they take two hours, and are on big jets – Boeing 737s and Airbus planes.Get a Cheap Flight to Cape Town – Cape Town is Beautiful In Off SeasonSouth Africa is huge, the size of Texas and California combined. So during the same time of year, there are several different climates in South Africa. What does that mean for getting cheap flights to South Africa? Well it means that if you fly to Cape Town from London or New York in May for example, you will get a low season fare. May in Cape Town may have rainy days but lots of sunny days as well. Plus May is a great time to take an African safari in the northern part of South Africa. So once in Cape Town, just get a cheap flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, then continue onto a great safari!Don’t Fly In or Out of Johannesburg Early in the Morning or In the Early EveningsThe point here is to avoid traveling when the business people travel. This tip applies to those taking domestic flights in South Africa. Johannesburg is the business capital of South Africa. And it is where all the domestic and international airlines fly into and out of. This makes it the most competitive airfare market in South Africa. So it is the most likely place in South Africa to have great airfares. Now, once you get your cheap flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, try to fly out of Johannesburg during mid day. Why? That’s when most of the seats are available from all the airlines. The business travelers travel in the mornings and early evenings, so on most days the prices for those flights are higher.

High and increasing airline ticket prices for flights to South Africa appear to be here to stay. Using these insider secrets will always help you get cheap or discounted flights to and within South Africa.

About the Author

Michael R. Giles, J.D. is a lawyer. He’s been in the travel business since 1998. Click cheap flights to South Africa to find the same great airfares he does. Visit Michael’s African Safari website for more on cheap airfares to Africa.

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bit.ly The tricks to getting the cheapest airfare deals are knowing when to call and what to say to get the best deal. A former travel industry insider spills all of his secrets to help you save big on your next airline trip or vacation. For the cheapest airfare & travel deals visit: bit.ly The producer of this video may receive a commission for any purchases made by the viewer.

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Renting a Car in South Africa

February 11, 2012 by

Article by First Car Rental

Where simplicity and world-class luxury meet, South Africa exists as a growing hub for both business and pleasure, for any and all wanting to visit.

First Car Rental offers choice in all aspects of travel in South Africa; from personal South African car hire, to chauffeur-driven services, we make sure transport is not an issue as you explore our beautiful country.

As in Europe, however, rules and regulations exist and need to be taken in to account when renting a car in South Africa. First Car Rental’s simplified guide to car rental requirements South Africa provides clarity in this process.

South African Car Hire – Visa Requirements

The first step to quick and easy transport solutions when you arrive is a valid travel visa. Without one, we cannot process your rental request. Visa requirements vary depending on criteria that need to be met by individuals. Simply put, though, a valid visa is crucial if you need to hire a car in South Africa.

South African Car Hire – Foreign Driving Licences

To make all parts of your journey legal, First Car Rental recommends that before travelling, all drivers obtain an international driver’s licence. This means that legal requirements are met and will go the distance in ensuring requests can be processed quickly, and with minimal paperwork or identity issues, when you arrive.

South African Car Hire – Rental Payment and Deposits

Common practice when hiring a car in Europe is to have an imprint of your credit card taken, and the rental amount charged on return of the vehicle. No deposit is implemented at any time during the rental agreement.

In South Africa, however, procedure differs slightly.

When collecting your vehicle, both the deposit amount and the daily hire amount for the rental are ‘held’ by your credit card issuer or bank. This is to ensure that the amount is always available to you during your rental period, and that, should an accident occur, that deposit amount is accessible.

On return of the vehicle, the daily hire amount is put through and your deposit amount is released back to you.*

*Note: The deposit amount is not removed from your account; it is blocked, and then released by the credit card issuer – not First Car Rental – on return of the vehicle. This releasing of funds can, however, take up to 48 hours.

South African Car Hire – Renting a Vehicle

Our renting procedure is quick and simple.

Request a booking or quote today by simply filling out the applicable online form. Your transport can be ready and waiting as you arrive.

First Car Rental makes renting a car in South Africa a pleasure, and whether for individual, chauffeur or larger party needs, we make you mobile as you set out to explore the wonders South Africa has on offer.

About the Author

First Car Rental has more than 6 000 vehicles in use in South Africa and has over 44 car rental branches, including branches at all major South African airports, business and tourist destinations.

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