A few years ago it was virtually impossible to plan a trip without the expert advice of a well-travelled and experienced travel agent. Not only do they take the effort out of planning a vacation, they also use their industry magic to score the best deals for you. But times are changing, and these days you can plan everything at the click of a mouse, from flights to accommodation and activities. So which one is better – the good, old fashioned travel agent, or the modern online travel sites? More importantly, which option will save you time and money? [Read more…] about Travel agents versus online travel sites – Which is better for your trip?
Travel & Leisure
Top holiday destinations for 2010
2010 is already off to a good start now that the economy is starting to recover. More people are starting to dust off their passports and getting ready to travel, travel, travel. Whether they travel to foreign places or more familiar shores, they all want to experience the best that the world has to offer. And this is especially true after the last two years – more people want enriching experiences and would prefer these over more stuff. Give us memories of mountains, lions, and sandy beaches instead of the barrage of gadgets.
So where are we going in 2010? There are some gorgeous places that we just need to discover.
Cape Town, South Africa
Not only is Cape Town a wonderful destination, it is also one of the host cities of the Fifa World Cup in 2010. The beaches alone make it a popular choice for locals and visitors alike. And the mountain manages to brighten up even the dullest day. Besides the obvious tourist attractions, you can also find a great night life in this modern city.
Mexico City, Mexico
Try to forget about some of the bad press Mexico’s had over the last couple of years. Mexico City offers visitors so much more than tapas and tequilas: more than 150 museums, various types of cultural activities, and plenty of historic buildings. André Breton called Mexico the surrealist country and Mexico City is no exception. It’s a bit strange but we think you’d like it.
Malaga, Spain
Malaga is positioning itself as Spain’s ‘Silicon Valley’. It has other claims to fame, too: it is Costa del Sol’s capital, the coast’s cultural capital and Andalusia’s largest coastal city. Bullfights, spectacular churches, historic buildings such as the Roman Theatre and suggestions of Spain’s Arabic past make this a wonderful holiday spot for discerning travellers.
Istanbul, Turkey
This city of seeming contradictions gives you the visitor a healthy dose of 2000 years of history that’s mixed with modernity. Istanbul isn’t your normal holiday destination; Istanbul’s architecture, culture, colourful events and narrow streets will surely enlighten you in ways you hadn’t thought possible.
Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne is wonderfully laid-back but it also sparkles in the cultural department. There are tons of galleries, shops, restaurants and Melbourne’s nightlife could rival some of the best in the northern hemisphere.
Author bio:
Flightsite is the author of this post about the wonderful holiday destinations such as Australia that are out there, just waiting to be explored.
Thailand
Thailand is giving some more established countries such as France and Italy competition in the tourism stakes: the country that promotes itself as the ‘Land of Smiles’ is becoming the destination for people who are looking to find sun, sea and sand. [Read more…] about Thailand
How to get car hire bliss in 5 easy steps
You’ve booked the holiday of your dreams. It has taken you years to do this and you want things to run smoothly. The traveller’s insurance is taken care of, the accommodation is booked, and you know where you’re going to spend the majority of your time – the beach, of course. [Read more…] about How to get car hire bliss in 5 easy steps
Top performing airlines for 2009
The South African airline that reported the biggest profit is SAA, which made a hefty R398 million profit for the year ending March 2009.
This is a big upturn from 2008 when the company posted a loss of R1.08 billion in 2008.
2009 was a tumultuous year for many industries, and especially for the local airline industry. There were some good spots and then there were some bad spots.
One of the bad spots was SA Airline, whose airplanes got grounded at the end of 2009 and had to cancel three of their routes. However, one airline’s loss is another airline’s gain – no matter how small – and low-cost airlines such as iTime and Kulula could gain in this instance. South African Express Airways has rebranded to SA Express in an effort to become a bigger player in the South African airline market.
Another airline that posted a profit is 1Time: the company posted a R50.9 million in the financial year ending June 2009. This is a big improvement on their 2008 R6.3 million loss. Comair, which operates British Airways and kulula.com, has posted a R73 million profit for the financial year ending June 2009 and Mango is keeping mum on their results.
South Africa’s 7 domestic airlines are 1Time Airways, SA Express, kulula.com, British Airways, Mango Airlines, Nationwide Air and South African Airways.
Autor Bio:
FlightSite wrote this article on British Airways1Time and Kulula.com to give their readers the most up-to-date information on the travelling industry.