OUR SPECIAL GIFT TO YOU...

This Winter we are running  a truly Special Deal -

Give a Gift Voucher to someone you really like, for them to redeem on anything on AdventureBookings.co.za, and we will give this Gift to You...

Surprise someone special with a Monetary Value Gift Voucher and you will receive 5% discount off the Value of that Voucher when you order this as a gift for someone else...

Ask & You Will Receive...

Just ask for the discount when you order your next gift voucher... and you will receive it...

Getaway Show Lourensford Wine Estate 23 – 25 March 2012

Even though the weather was hot and windy, we had a great time. The show was very well marketed as we could see with the amount of people moving through the grounds, much better than last year.

Not even the wind could keep the people away, hiding inside the much bigger marques tent.

The suppliers where happy and friendly all having a great time with the prospect of better future business, and after the Saturday night awards party for the suppliers, when we where informed that the tourism industry has contributed greatly to South Africas job market, the country as a whole and the world's economy the Sunday went off even better, and even busier!

The clients who visited our stand were expecially eager to hear about what we had on offer, especially as we covered  Activities, Accommodation and adventure mini-breaks across the whole of Southern Africa.  They were also thrilled to find out that whatever we dont offer on the website, we can usually find and offer as a customised adventure package... 

This Show is one of many consumer shows that we will be focusing on ove rthe next year, in order to spread the word of our Abundance of Choice!

To the suppliers and clients that we saw during this fantastic weekend a very warm and great thanks!!!

Dear Tamsin
We had an absolute perfect time on the Tigger2 last night...
And she did say YES!!!!!!! 
The weather, setting, cruise and everything was just perfect for what I had in mind, and I did not even had to lift a finger. WOW!!! 
We just want to thank you for all your trouble booking us this wonderful experience and to the Tigger2 staff we just want to say a very big thank you. They we so professional and made our evening and engagement a lifelong memory that we will never forget in our lives!!!!! Thank you so much!!!!
All the best,
Hannes and Lieze

http://www.adventurebookings.co.za/romantic-adventures

Adele Mostert, Gavin’s wife, emailed Thundercity a few weeks ago, via another website, and because Thundercity is no longer open to the public, and because of our long standing relationship with the great people at Thundercity, we decided to get involved.

Here is the letter we received…

To Whom it May Concern:

I would like to put forward a friendly request to you. I have a husband who has a great sincere passion for these incredible powerful machines. His dream is to just sit in a jet, "getting the feeling" would allow him to fulfill a life dream. My husband is Gavin Mostert, 30 years if age, who is suffering from a terminal liver disease. Gavin has been in and out of hospital ever since we came back from honeymoon late March 2011. By the Grace of God, my husband is at home without any infections which is the main issue we are facing right now. 

I would be delighted to be able to give this to Gavin as a gift, not after shave or a nice tie, but a chance to sit in one of your powerful jets. What would your criteria be? & What would the cost be to do this for my hubby?

I would really appreciate you responding to my request as this would just be like putting a cherry on top of a chocolate cake for Gavin!

I trust to hear from you soon. . . .

Yours truly, Adele Mostert

At first, I passed it to our travel desk as I thought it was a normal booking enquiry, a request to fly in one these jets, which can still be done in Cape Town and in Pretoria.  However, ever faithful Naomi, who is head of our Adventure Travel Desk, read the email a little more carefully and alerted me to Gavin’s Plight.  I called Thundercity, got clearance to visit the facility and then I told Adele who was ecstatic, (even more so when she asked how much I was going to charge her, and I said “why nothing, of course!”

 She arranged a day off with her boss, and dashed home to tell Gavin.  The next morning, 30 minutes before they were due to arrive, Adele called me and told me that Gavin had a serious infection during the night and was admitted to hospital.  I felt terrible because I had been the cause of the delay. 

Several weeks later, Adele called me again and told me that Gavin’s condition had deteriorated to a critical condition, but he had recovered and was back home and asked if there was any way we could do this as soon as possible before he had another flare up. 

That day was Yesterday, when we made his dream come true.

We met him  at Thundercity, situated at Cape Town International Airport, and we gave him a full tour of the facility.  The last 3 flying Lightnings, the last 3 Buccanneers and several Hawker Hunter Jets are hangared there, among other aircraft - a Strikemaster, Provost and several Puma Helicopters in various states of maintenance and rebuild.

Gavin is severely Jaundiced and had barely enough strength to climb the ladder to sit in the Buccanneer, but the Ground Crew at Thundercity were amazing and helped with extra ladders and we got him in the pilots seat where he marveled at the complexity of the cockpit.

We took lots of pictures of him with the jets and he got to appreciate the rebuilt puma helicopter that was being prepared for flight later that day, and he even watched and heard the awesome power of the Hawker Hunter as the engines were being put through a test run.

Despite his condition, his face was beaming with delight, but one moment brought a tear to my eye when he asked me “…why are you being so good to me?”

I could barely answer the question…

It was a truly humbling experience and I am even more thankful that I have been given what I’ve been given.  Gavin, on the other hand  has not been so lucky, battling a liver disease since he was born, one that is steadily getting worse, while he desperately waits for the right liver to be found for his pending transplant.

The answer to your question Gavin… “because it’s what we do, we make dreams come true, however big or small”

We have invited Gavin and Adele to a day out at the Race track later this month so he can watch a Single Seat Racing car event taking place.  Hopefully its days like this that will add a bit more cheer to his life.

Well Done Gavin, we are all rooting for you at AdventureBookings!

Russ

MD 

Last year’s high season was particularly affected by the in-flux of tourists over the World Cup, however predictions for this high season are better than last year, with 5 star clients starting to travel again.  The weakening of the Rand is also positive for the Tourism Industry, however this is not an opportunity to hike prices again.  South Africa was once considered an affordable destination, however year-on-year inflation, a stronger rand and greedy suppliers have all added to escalating prices, and with the Euro/Dollar crunch happening, international tourists are much more price sensitive than in previous years.  Long haul destinations such as South Africa are at a much higher risk of losing out to cheaper destinations like Thailand and South America and short-haul destinations in Europe, if visitors perceive South Africa to be over-priced.

Having Table Mountain listed as a New 7 Wonder will certainly put Cape Town back in the Global Spotlight again, so at AdventureBookings.co.za we are going to strive to find much more affordable holiday variations for our clients that will suit the pockets of South African and International Cliente alike.  Our Holiday Theme is Action & Adventure Holidays, drawing from our knowledge of the various activity suppliers around Southern Africa, and tailoring these packages to suit each individual clients needs…

Iconic Table Mountain has officially been recognised as one of the new 7 wonders of the world, a title that will be worth about R1bn a year in tourist revenues.  After an incredibly successful Soccer World Cup in 2010, and Cape Town picking up the World Design Capital 2014 Award, we are now proud of another fantastic achievement, with the worlds eyes cast again at South Africa, and particularly our home in Cape Town.  Table Mountain appears alongside other world wonders such as the Amazon in South Aamerica, Halong Bay in Vietnam, Iguazu Falss in Argentina, Jeju Island in South Korea, Komodo in Indonesia and Puerto Princesa Underground River in the Phillipines.

Fun Facts:

• Table Mountain Plateau is 1,000m above the city
• The Table Mountain National Park is one of only a few conservation areas that is entirely surrounded by a city.
• Table Mountain is part of the Cape Floral Region, and the 25,000 ha park itself is home to more plant species than the whole of the British Isles or New Zealand
• Table Mountain offers all sorts of adventures... hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, abseiling and paragliding

The Cape Outdoor Expo was a fun consumer event this weekend that attracted a number of visitors and families.  Formally in Franschoek, the expo used the Lookout site next to the V&A Waterfront, and was a great venue overlooking the harbour.  We had a stand in the main pavillion and met up with new friends and suppliers and unveiled our brand new look and Feel Brand Logo, designed by Thyon Design.

Our R500 Gift Voucher Competition draw will be taking place shortly for all the entrants from the show, and the winner will be announced here and on Facebook...

Look out for more exciting changes coming soon... 

http://www.adventurebookings.co.za/product-detail/helicopter-flips

The 4-5* Leriba Hotel & Spa is offering an incredible rate of R950 per ROOM for weekend stays until Dec 31st 2011.  This centrally located Hotel set in 12 hectares of indigenous forest on the banks of the Hennops Rivers is easily accessible from Jo'burg and Pretoria and is only 1km away from the Gautrain Station.  With 5 Golf courses set amongst the green belt, guests also have the choice of 2 full a la carte restaurants and a Spa & Wellness center.  Aimed at the busy conference professionals in the week, Leriba is offering this weekend getaway at a fantastically discounted rate... to read more and see what Adventures are available in the vicinity of Leriba, follow this link http://www.adventurebookings.co.za/product-detail/leriba-hotel-and-spa

Visit us at the Cape Outdoor Expo, V&A Waterfront in Cape Town this weekend 14-16 October.

This three day Exhibition will bring a full range of experiences to the public - from Adventures, Activities, Travel and Destinations, Outdoor Products and Accessories. AdventureBookings.co.za will be there alongside other exhibitors showcasing accommodation, destinations from Namibia to India and many more countires  There is camping and outdoor gear, 4x4 vehicles, trailers and accessories plus a wide range of outdoor activities and experiences. Wildlife, weekend getaways, hikes and trails...  literally something for everyone.

A Big Screen TV in the Tavern will be screening the game for Rugby Enthusiasts enjoy the Semi-Finals while the rest of the family enjoy the activities and the expo! Make sure to be in by 9 am for the 10 am Kick Off!

Lots of easy parking at the V & A Waterfront opposite the venue.

MSC Starlight Cruises are offering a Cruise to Namibia in February 2012 to a lucky winner : all you need to do is listen to Heart 104.9 FM and your ticket to the Expo is your entry to the Competition! 

The Cape Outdoor Expo is open from Friday 14 at 10 am to 7 pm, Saturday 15 from 9 am to 7 pm and Sunday 16 from 9 am to 5 30 pm.

Entry for Adults R50,00, Pensioners and Students R30,00, 7 - 16 R15,00 and under 7 Free.
SPCA and SA Guide Dogs welcome you to bring your Social Dog on a lead to the expo!

Make sure you come by AdventureBookings.co.za stand and see what we have on offer this year... See you there!

Cape Town now offers white-knuckle flyers the opportunity to fly in an Extra 300, a high powered aerobatic sports plane that is designed to fly with the same performance inverted as flying right side up.  30 mins or 60 mins flights are available, and this makes an awesome Gift for someone special. read more http://www.adventurebookings.co.za/product-detail/extra300-aerobatic-flight-cape-town

With only 15.5 weeks left until Christmas...very soon our end of year function season is going to kick off... so we are going to fill our next newsletters and Facebook posts with all sorts of ideas and special deals for Corporate Teambuilding, Incentives, Rewards and Experience Gifts for the coming Festive Season.

Its time to think and plan and book your dates so you dont miss out, and our Friendly Travel Desk Consultants can help you choose.  Also Look out for our Gift Voucher Special Deal Launching soon.  If you are not sure what to get that special somebody, why not buy them an Open Gift Voucher and they can choose themselves?

contact info@adventurebookings.co.za for more details

20 July 2011

The South African Department of Health (DoH) informed tsi that there is no change to the current policy regarding yellow fever vaccination requirements for travel between RSA and Zambia. The Department of Health would like to make it very clear that proof of yellow fever vaccination is not a requirement for travel at RSA ports of entry or exit for passengers from Zambia.

If there are any changes to the policy, tsi (Tourism Safety Initiative) will also inform all relevant stakeholders accordingly.

Flamelily Guest House is the latest establishment to join our site, and we were fortunate enough to experience it first hand!  From the moment you arrive you realise you have found somewhere really special and full of surprises.  This understated place is as warm and welcoming as staying at home, and the staff were extremely attentive ensuring we had the best of stays.  As a base for exploring the area, a relaxing return on your business trip or a stop off point for entry or exit to the airport, Flamelily guest house is conveniently located in Johannesburg and offers a wealth of creature comforts normally associated with higher grade properties, a stunning swimming pool, Jacuzzi, spa baths, fully equipped gym, bar, water features and even a conference center, this affordable comfortable Guest House is definitely one that we can highly recommend.

The sign when you arrives states "4 star Accommodation with 5 star Service"  and they really mean it!

A big thumbs up to all at Flamelily!

One of the great things about travelling with AdventureBookings is we get to stay in some awesome places, and we can experience first-hand where we are sending our guests.  10 on 2^nd Avenue in Houghton, Johannesburg is one such treat.   From the moment we arrived we relaxed.  The staff were incredibly attentive, taking us straight through to a roaring fire where we gratefully received a whiskey and a sherry to warm us up on a bitterly cold night.  The hotel is beautifully appointed and laid out, and the rooms are very warm and comfortable.   We enjoyed a delicious dinner in the dining room on our first night from the A la Carte menu, there is absolutely no need to drive out and find a restaurant when fins dining is available right here.

The second night I felt very spoilt when the staff, finding out I was not feeling too well ensured there was a hot beanbag in my bed when I returned from my days business.

Conveniently located, the ambience of the hotel exudes a relaxed atmosphere, and I felt I was anywhere but the centre of Johannesburg.  So as a business base or a start or end to your South African Trip, I can honestly say I have been made to feel very welcome, comfortable and would recommend this Fine 5* Boutique Hotel to anyone used to the finer things in life.

And the winner of our Getaway March 2011 Cape Union Mart Gift Card Competition is Thobeka Maphumulo from Durban - Thobeka you have one a R500 Gift Card redeemable on any adventure on our website... we will be contacting you for more details. There are more competitions coming up with Cape Union Mart and Facebook, so send to a friend!

Leriba Hotel and Spa is a 4 and 5 Star (TGCSA) hotel nestled on 12 hectares of indigenous forest on the banks of the Hennops River. It’s strategically located and easy accessible from Pretoria and Johannesburg. The hotel boasts 73 luxury en suite rooms which include fifteen 5 star business suites, 16 fully equipped conference venues, 2 full a la carte restaurants & wine cellar [Platinum Diners Club Winelist of the year award] and a Spa and Wellness Centre. Hemingway’s Restaurant & Wine Cellar at Leriba Hotel and Spa was also awarded Best Restaurant in South Africa.

 Now in its eighteenth year, this prestigious consumer-based programme is the only established mechanism for consumers to voice their opinion about the quality of tourist accommodation in South Africa.

More than 41 000 consumers commented on approximately 1 100 AA Quality Assured and star-graded establishments across the country, either electronically or by completing quest critique forms.  Guests commented on aspects such as service levels, ambience, food and the quality of facilities.

Convenor Vanessa Sand says the awards programme grows in popularity each year and the honour of emerging a winner or a finalist is fiercely sought after by contestants, as this gives a very definite marketing edge to their establishments.

“Of course the programme is also hugely beneficial to consumers as it enables them to choose a winning establishment when wanting to stay over.  We are proud that our programme is a very effective tool to respond to the needs of consumers,” she says. High-scoring establishments were examined carefully and were visited by qualified and experienced assessors to verify that high scores were justified.

Leriba Hotel and Spa is part of the Leriba Hotel Group which boasts various 5 star hotels and lodges throughout South Africa.

Along with our brand new look and feel website, we have some new faces Bronwen & Charelle and new technology the IPad 2 demonstrating AdventureBookings at the Travel Indaba in Durban this year!

Enjoying an incredible boost after an awesome World Cup in 2010, Cape Town is Officially the most popular destination in the world for millions of TripAdvisor travellers. Living and working in Cape Town, we at AdventurBookings are hardly surprised by the result, however for the rest of the world, this growing and not quite established city does come as a surprise, but presumably, there's a big attraction with exploring a city that isn't quite so well known.

For us here, Cape Town offers just about everything.  Its a cosmopolitan european-feel, clean, safe city with great weather, fantastic beaches, loads to do, the Gateway to the rest of Africa, and of course Table Mountain, nominated as one of the New 7 Wonders of the Natural World.  Every African Holiday, should start in Cape Town, and AdventureBookings is right here ready to greet you when you arrive and show you around...  So if you haven't already been here... you should simply be asking yourself... Why?

This year's Indaba was the busiest ever for us, with huge response to our new Website and the commitment of loads of new suppliers and new products which which will be joining the platform soon...

Check out our brand new website. A fresh new look, with tons of new integrated functionality. Give it a spin.

From the new banner, horizontal sliders and then new detailed slick accordion category menu on the right, to the new way we block content and visually raise the bar on every page. The new site is a complete make-over.

We also upgraded the supplier login area, and also now for the first time, we are launching timeslot availability management.

We are Exhibiting at the Indaba Travel Show in Durban again this year from 7th - 10th May, with a brand new site and tonnes of cool features - come visit and see what's new...

We have improved the site layout for easier navigation, we have improved our search features, with keyword and Town based search fields

We have improved the exposure across the website, with more ways for products to be linked to each other and be displayed on each others pages...  Now there is literally 100's of ways for a product to be found on our site which means that our products are going to become ever more popular!

We have Improved the Categorization of the products and performed extensive SEO on the site to increase our Google Rankings...

We have added an entirely new Holiday Section with an amazing selection of Action Holidays and Adventure Vacations...literally something for everyone...

We have added an Availability Calendar so now users can find out if their chosen date is available or not...  One more way to make the whole AdventureBookings Experience even better!

Keep your eye open for the next round of changes and improvements, including On-line Payment, Facebook Integration and Live Booking Capability.... all coming soon...