The other side of Travel

I have worked in Travel for almost 2 years now.  Coming from an academic background, entering the private sector was a shock.  I eased my way into conferencing and it gave me some experience with the travel side of things.  I never wanted to be involved in travel, even though my studies were aimed at the Tourism industry. Let me explain what the difference is:

Conferencing (and events)

Conferencing is pretty straight forward.  You receive an enquiry and you provide a quote accordingly.  You choose a venue, select the equipment and menu, send through the name list and call to hear if everybody arrived ok.  You make a deposit to secure everything and you pay the balance when the conference starts.  It is usually 1 or 2 days of checking if everything is running well.  With an event, it is basically the same drill, with a little more selection and checking.  There is usually an entertainer and corporate gifts involved, in which case you have an assistant to help check the event.  The worst thing is to manage RSVPs.  You get computer programmes to do that for you!  In the worst cases flights and transport have to be organised – then you call a travel agent to handle it!

Travel

With group travel it is a completely different story.  Not only does the client not always know what they want, but they want it free.  You receive an enquiry and you quote accordingly.  No wait, quote again.  No, one last quote please…  Once the quote has been accepted you start to confirm all the elements (overseas ground costs including hotels, transport, excursions and meals).  Then you deal with the changes from receiving deposits to departure date – usually replacements, cancellations and additions.  You beg for them to pay on time, and once the exchange rate affects it all, unhappiness sets in.  Airport tax, travel insurance, extra baggage, sporting equipment… it all just gets too much!

All we want is for you to pay on time, send your passport when requested and use Google for small things such as:  “What currency do we need to get for the UK”…  Don’t over think the trip – yes we realise it is your first time but we give so much information that you only need to meet the guide on the other side and enjoy your trip.  Thank us when you arrive home.  That’s all we want.  Tell us that you enjoyed your trip and that our help was spot on.  And if you do have issues while abroad, talk to the guide, don’t leave it until you get home… they are there to help you deal with it!

Thank goodness for great colleagues!  I can honestly say that I am here because of them.  I am here for the happy, thankful clients.  I am here for the fun trips I get to do along with the groups!  But maybe, just maybe, I might move to the country and raise sheep… or something.

Jordan, Egypt and The United Arab Emirates

Being in the travel business I get the chance to visit the world! One of the most visited attractions is of course the Pyramids of Giza. Travel and Sport gave me the chance to experience Egypt. Along with the Ancient Egyptians, we also visited Petra and Dubai.

Day One

We boarded a flight from Johannesburg to Amman via Abu Dhabi with an 8 hour wait at Abu Dhabi Airport. Make sure you either spend a night in Abu Dhabi or start your tip off with the Dubai leg. The wait at the airport is dreadful. It is noisy and not comfortable at all. AT least the rest rooms are clean! After boarding the second flight – which was not full at all – we arrived at Queen Alia International Airport. Make sure you have somebody to meet you inside the airport. We were greeted by Mr Eshan from the travel agency even before going through customs. The agent thought that we should see the city including the Amman Citadel. I would take an hour at the most to visit this site and have a brunch or early lunch. We however wasted our time and at least the lunch was really good. Jordanian hospitality at its best!  Another short drive through a very busy Amman brought us to the Dead Sea Spa Hotel. I think that one needs to spend at least a half day at the Dead Sea – especially at this very nice resort. The resort has swimming pools and a lovely buffet restaurant. We also purchased Dead Sea products at better prices than at the local souvenir shops. The rooms are huge and very clean. Take your own towel as beach towels cost extra. The local currency is very strong against the South African Rand so everything is really expensive for South Africans. Take a bottle of something with you instead of payment around R70 for a beer.

Day Two

Breakfast at the hotel is great! There are many options and you will not go hungry. We departed to Mount Nebo, which is the mountain where Moses supposedly saw the Holy Land, shown to him by God Himself. After the visit we drove through the valley to Madaba which has the Saint George Church as main attraction. This church has the oldest mosaic in the world and the town itself has many mosaic shops. The visit to the church was not excellent and I would rather skip it, leave later and spend the morning at the Dead Sea. After lunch at a place called Haret Jdoudnah we drove 2 hours to Karak which is home to a famous crusader castle. The lunch was really very good and I would recommend this restaurant highly. The narrow streets of Karak served for some excitement on the way to the entrance to the castle. This is also not very exciting but we needed a break from all the driving. After our visit to the Ottoman style buildings we continued to the town Petra. The drive takes you through the Wadi Musa which if I didn't fall asleep in the car is spectacular. A short stop at a souvenir shop gave my legs a break – drink a coffee but don't buy anything – the same stuff is available all over and much cheaper. There are about 1 million speed bumps on the way and if you get car sick easily – this is not for you. People also don't drive very well as they speed towards the speed bump and then break very hard. In Petra we stayed at Taybet Zaman Hotel which is originally a village. Certain building were added and changed so that the grounds could be used as a hotel. This was a lovely experience and even though staff can be a bit nicer, rooms are clean, the food tastes very good and the location is beautiful. Some would say the beds are too hard but I personally love a hard mattress! We also had a drink at a two star hotel in town – two star because the 4 star hotels charge you even more!

Day Three

After an early breakfast we drove a short way to the entrance of Petra. Here our guide Mohammed greeted us and escorted us on a 3 ½ hour tour of the site. Wear walking/hiking shoes and a pair of gym pants would be wise. Chafing can be uncomfortable. Also, don't take a big back pack full of stuff – you only need your camera and water. I had a few sweets but you can carry those in a shirt pocket. The Nabatean people carved this city out of sand stone and were able to harness the ability to bring water to the desert. The city of Stone was lost for generations and after begin rediscovered has become one of the attractions many people want to tick off their "bucket list". After our tour with Mohammed – who looks very much like Adam Sandler – we enjoyed yet another buffet lunch at the Basin Restaurant. Be aware of children wanting to sell all sorts of rubbish. They are Nubian children who grow up to be gypsies. There is a donkey ride included in your entrance fee to a certain point – locals will tell you that you can go further for extra – don't believe them! A guide is essential for this day trip. There are also night trips which I think would be just as great! Start as early as possible – it becomes very busy and dusty – and I don't even want to know how hot it becomes in summer – as December was already very hot (which is their winter).

After an exhausting walk back we departed towards the Araba Border. Make sure you have somebody to meet you at the border. You have to pay departure fees and you also get your VISA for Israel on arrival. The border is very strict so follow the instructions and smile. We drove through Eilat to Taba Border. I am sure if we had time we could stop to have a coffee in Eilat – unfortunately the borders close at a certain time. Eilat is very much like Durban, with many hotels and beach resorts. The contrast is visibile as soon as you enter the Egyptian side. There are suddenly 100 flies and people smoke just beneath the no smoking sign. Our driver took us to the Red Sea Relax Resort in Dahab. This is a backpacker type hotel with a "cool" vibe and a hippy feel. The rooms were clean but the shower did not work properly. There was also no shower curtain and everything was wet after the shower. The location is wonderful though and walking out of the front door, you can step into the Red Sea. There are many restaurants which seat next to the sea with lovely meals on offer. Our guide helped us to bargain. In Egypt you bargain and tip for everything! So it is a good idea to have a guide with you on your entire trip.

Day Four

After a very early breakfast we took a walk to Aqua Divers in Dahab. On this day I started to feel sick and feverish…The breakfast was terrible – so pack something just in case you come across this during your trip. Provitas and cheese with a snack bar will do the trick. After some orientation and collecting equipment we drove to the Blue Hole diving spot. Only one of us had a SCUBA licence so together with our guide and their instructor, they vanished into the water. My colleague, her husband and I went on a snorkelling excursion. With perfect visibility we could see every detail of the coral reef. You can rent all equipment but I have no idea what it costs – our guide included it in our tour package. It might be a good idea to include it all in your trip. The area has a row of resting spots which are shaded and they all have easy access to the restaurant which serves a variety of meals and drinks. We had 2 dives and then a lunch. It took too long in my opinion – as in Egypt there is no rush – I would have taken less time to have lunch. We only departed after 15:00 to Sharm El Sheikh which meant that we arrived just in time for the sun to set.

After returning all the gear in the late afternoon we drove towards Sharm El Sheikh which, to me, is very much like the Atlantic City of Egypt. There are many hotels and resorts, all busy with tourists from Russia, Germany and other parts of Europe. The city is specifically aimed at tourists and therefore has many services like foreign exchange open until late at night. It is much cleaner than the rest of Egypt and Jordan. There are trees and grass! It also has great night life and we experienced "the hassle" at Neama. Here you get a taste of bargaining and of course the water pipe/shisha/hubbly bubbly. The hotel – which I can't remember the name of – was ok. The room was big and the linen was clean. The bathroom was filthy and the door was full of dirty hand marks. Handy Andy reps will do very well there – if the hotel had staff that would clean! The food was also just ok so for a four star hotel I would say not great. In my opinion the four star hotels in Sharm are almost the same as a three star hotel in South Africa. Even our three star hotels have better food.

After relaxing with a coffee at Naema, we departed to see a belly dancing show. The show included not only the usual belly dancers, but the only male belly dancer in Egypt. The show also boasts with the so called Sufi Dancers who are able to spin for 30 minutes and still stay on their feet. I enjoyed the show very much – but it was very late – so be prepared – and if you are there in December, dress warmly at night.

Day Five

We made our way to the Sharm El Sheikh airport for our flight to Cairo. I was feeling even sicker on this day. Cairo smells like a diesel engine. As soon as you have landed you smell it and wonder if the plane is going to do an emergency landing – then you realise it is the pollution! Luggage is not treated very well but at least they don't rip it open and steal your clothes. After retrieving our luggage we enjoyed a lunch at a charming restaurant at the Khan Al Khalili bazaar. 

Afterwards we spent an hour in the maize of shops and people. The market seemed to be very busy with more locals than tourists so here you really get the feel of the day to day life in Cairo. A tip is to wear long pants or a skirt if you are a lady – we had a few friendly stares from mostly children as we were wearing shorts. I asked to see the doctor as I was not getting any better. The doctor had one look at me, asked me what was wrong and listened to my lungs. He took my temperature and told me that there was nothing wrong and that I should take something like Panado for the fever – which he said I did not have – and he also gave me something with more Paracetamol for my cough! After a quick stop at a cotton shop we checked into the Horizon Pyramid Hotel. It is situated in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Cairo.

The noise is never ending. Don't even try to sleep with the window open. You will either be awake from the fumes or from the noise. We went to see the sound and light show at The Giza Pyramids. I would not recommend it for anybody who has seen a live show. It is only nice to look at for 10 minutes and then it becomes very boring. Rather go to a café or hotel where you can see the lights and have a nice drink with friends. After the show we made our way back to the hotel. There are many take away restaurants close to the hotel and guests do not have to enjoy dinner in the dining room. You also feel very safe to walk the streets of Cairo.


Day Six

After check out we travelled to the Giza Pyramids. Here I felt like death and the sun made me feel like I had a hangover. The medicine from the Egyptian Hospital made me feel even worse. My tip – take your own antibiotics with you!!! Even if you never get sick – take something. The doctors in Egypt are worthless. Our guide advised to visit the Pyramids in the afternoon as the light is much nicer for pictures. We had to fit in the Egyptian Museum as well so the Pyramids would have to be done in the morning. It is a good idea to wear comfortable walking shoes and definitely a good pair of sunglasses. There are various spots to enjoy a camel ride and if you have always wanted to go inside a pyramid you can buy an extra ticket at the entrance.



After seeing the Great Pyramids we took a short drive to the Sphinx and the Valley Temple. Here one sees the intelligence which the Ancient Egyptians used to build these great monuments. Many historians believe that the Sphinx once had a different appearance and that a powerful King or Queen probably changed the appearance as the head is much smaller than the body – it indicates that the head was carved from the previous head. Here you can have some fun with pictures and poses. We had a quick lunch and headed for the Egyptian Museum. It houses about 120 000 items with some of these in storage. The most recent addition is The Royal Mummy Room. This is not included in your normal entrance fee and is an extra. The museum itself needs a little help as far as interior looks go. There is dust on everything and all the walls are damaged as statutes are moved around. But I think it is a must if you are in Cairo. The most famous of course is the King Tutankhamun exhibit. Most people think the tomb was found in the original condition but there were at least two robberies that may have taken place soon after the king's death. The tomb housed 3500 items of which included weapons and other items from daily life. Here you will need some time as there are many other impressive statues, some huge and others miniature in size. It is a good idea to have an Egyptologist as a guide.

The next phase of our journey was to begin. We boarded an overnight train to Aswan from the Giza Rail Station. Aswan is about 870km from Cairo and the railway runs along the Nile River. The first class cabins have linen, dinner and breakfast included. The toilet is communal and due to the shaking of the train, the toilet was filthy! But the rest was really great and there was even toilet paper! The service on board was good and I had a better nights rest on the train than on the flight from Johannesburg.

Day Seven

After breakfast on the train, we disembarked and travelled to the hotel via a few sites in Aswan. The unfinished obelisk is another symbol of the majesty of the Ancient Egyptians. Aswan is rich in granite and in one of the many granite sites an unfinished obelisk was found. By making small grooves in the rock, the Egyptians inserted wood into these grooves and filled them with water. The wood expanded when soaking up the water and created pressure which broke the obelisk free. Unfortunately a crack formed in the obelisk and the project was abandoned. I was feeling very ill this morning and probably due to the medicine. I did not pay attention to much and yearned for a bed.

The High Dam was created to control the annual flood of the river Nile. Later, hydroelectricity also became a product of the dam and the storage of water provides assistance to agriculture in the country. In my opinion the flooding of the river Nile is part of the natural processes in Egypt and is there for a reason. I don't think it should be regulated. But as with the human race we try to control nature, and mostly we gain some benefits from it for a short time. This also prevented the natural movement of crocodiles in the area.

As we received our welcome drinks at the Sarah hotel, I felt very nauseous… after getting rid of all the toxic medicine, I really felt better and could check in with no problem. The hotel is situated far out of the main town and has a nice view. The rooms are ok, they need some cleaning and the linen was clean. The view of the Nile was beautiful but just to the right of the Nile was an unfinished house. After settling we went on a felucca ride. A felucca is a sail boat very common in Egypt. Originally used by fisherman but now it is a major tourist attraction. We enjoyed a traditional lunch at the Nubian Restaurant which is on an island in the river. From here we sailed to Kitchener's Island. This used to be the home of Lord Kitchener and he transformed the island to a paradise of exotic trees and plants. Now it is a botanical garden and is visited by many locals and tourists alike. It is not as well kept as botanical gardens in South Africa. There are no real grassy spots and the one coffee shop can be crowded. It is a nice green break from the desert! From here we took yet another felucca ride to a traditional Nubian village. Here visitors can experience life in the desert. Villagers sell souvenirs and offer henna tattoos and pictures with crocodiles. From here the felucca took us ashore and after a visit to the local bazaar we retired.

Day Eight

After a late breakfast at the hotel we checked into the Nile Cruise. The breakfast was the worst I have tasted ever. The croissants were rock hard. The coffee tasted like mud and there was no tea. There were one or two cheeses and I think eggs. A nice piece of toast and butter with juice would have been nice but there was nothing like that. The cruise liner is a five star luxury cruise with all meals included. The cruise takes you from Aswan to Luxor or the other way around, whichever you prefer. We had a quick lunch on board and sailed to yet another Nubian village. Here we enjoyed traditional Arabian Coffee prepared by the locals. Ask that they make it with bottled water. The locals drink water from the Nile and tourists will have serious problem if they drink Nile water. The owner of the house invited us for dinner and we enjoyed the company of their hospitality. The felucca took us back to the cruise ship where we had coffee and retired.

Day Nine

After an early breakfast we disembarked at the temple of Kom Ombo. Here you can see hieroglyphs of medical instruments, a calendar and Cleopatra VII. Also found at Kom Ombo is a nilometer. This was used to measure the levels of the river and resembles a water pit. After about 1 hour we arrived at Edfu where we took a horse carriage to the temple. The temple walls tell the story of Horus and Hathor and the many festivals held in honour of them. After lunch we enjoyed a free afternoon on board our cruise ship. Dinner was themed and we could dress up in local attire. After dinner we enjoyed a belly dancing show. During the first days of your trip, look for cheap dress up gear before the cruise. The markets and bazaars have many options. Also, do get off at all the sites – many people who cruise the Nile prefer to lay in the sun. You can lay in the sun at home – and with a much nicer view – so do see the temples if you are there.

Day Ten

The Valley of the Kings is very impressive and you need a lot of time. It can become very busy so get up early. Travelling by felucca to the west bank instead of taking a taxi we arrived at the site where – Egyptologists say – many tombs are still hidden below ground. Here photography is not allowed but as with the Egyptian Museum there are post cards and books for sale. Our entrance ticket included 3 tombs of our choice. We went inside the tomb of Rameses III, IV and VIII. All are decorated with wonderful colours and stories from each life. For an extra fee you can enter the tomb of Tutankhamun, which was discovered by accident and housed most of his treasures. There are long rows of people, all wanting to see the inside of a tomb. From here we travelled by bus to the Temple of Hatshepsut. She was the only female pharaoh that we know of. She ruled Egypt with passion and was murdered by her nephew who demanded his crown back from her. Her marvellous temple still stands but with most of the statues of her damaged. The new King Thutmose III destroyed his aunt's images as far as he could. A short ride took us to The Colossi of Memmon. These are two stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. Though badly damaged this is still a site to see.



A visit to Luxor is not complete without a visit to Karnak Temple. This is more of a temple complex than a single temple. The focus of an annual festival – where a statue of Amun was carried from Karnak Temple to Luxor Temple – was to commemorate fertility. On the columns the name of Amun-Re was said to be inlaid with gold.

After lunch on board we met again for a visit to the Luxor Temple. Here a section was said to be built by Alexander the Great. After an earthquake the damaged plaster of this wall revealed yet more hieroglyphs. Sections of the temple were built by Hatshepsut, Tuthmosis III, Ramases II as well as Alexander the Great. One of the obelisks stands in Paris at the Place de la Concorde. A mosque also features in the main arena with the door at a seemingly odd place. This is because the mosque was built on ruins of the temple and it only became clear later. The mosque is still used today.

Day Eleven

After an early flight to Cairo we said our goodbyes at Cairo International Airport. From here we boarded a short flight to Abu Dhabi. Etihad Airways offers a complimentary bus service from Abu Dhabi to Dubai. All you have to do is keep your boarding pass, walk out of the terminal, through the tunnel across the road. The bus has a schedule and allows enough time after each flight. It takes about 1 ½ hours and the staff hand out water and mints. The bus drops you off at Emirates Towers. We did not ask around at the drop off point and just boarded a taxi to our hotel in Al Rigga. AT Emirates Towers there is a Metro station which will take you to many areas for very little money. Unfortunately the trains only run until 22:00. We reached our hotel, Ibis Al Rigga, which I pre booked online. The hotel is new and modern. The staff was overwhelmed and probably tired as we only checked in late. The breakfast was not included. The lifts (elevators) only work when you press your room card on the keypad – we only realised that after riding up and down a few times. The room itself was spacious, very clean and modern. I would have liked to open the window but it seems as if countries in the Middle East prefer aircon to fresh air.

Day Twelve

Fridays are slow in Dubai and the shopping malls open at 10:00. Souqs and other markets only open in the afternoon. After a breakfast at the hotel restaurant – which you can charge to your room – we took a taxi to Al Karama. The Metro only opens at 14:00 on a Friday – so we had to take the taxi. Al Karama is the area in Dubai where you can purchase good quality copy watches, bags and shoes. Be aware of pricing and don't be fooled by the shop owners. I bought a very expensive copy handbag – which I probably could have gotten for cheaper. From here we took a taxi to The Mall of the Emirates where the world's tallest tower stands. There is also a musical fountain which plays at 13:00 and at 22:00, 22:30 and 23:00 at night. There are many upmarket shops so don't wear too casual clothing. The Dubai culture has accepted the Western culture and they are used to Western dress – do however respect them by wearing t-shirts rather than spaghetti strap tops and knee length shorts rather than hot pants. There are many fast food points and you will find something to your taste. Super markets offer very cheap products and I would rather shop for fresh bread and cold meats at the local Carrefour than order take aways. The malls are open until late over weekends.

Day Thirteen

Saturday felt like a more normal day. Everything opens at 09:00 so have a late morning. We used the train to various souqs and also took a water taxi across the creek. This was my second time in Dubai so I knew what I wanted to see. If this is your first time, do take a Big Bus Tour. It is a hop on hop off bus which has 2 options. You also receive free water on the bus. After a long day we picked up our luggage – which the hotel was kind enough to store for us – and made our way back to Emirates Towers for the bus pickup. The flight to Johannesburg was very full and not the most pleasant I have experienced. We landed on time and received our luggage in a good condition – seeing that we wrapped it at Abu Dhabi airport.

TIPS

Alcohol – Take a bottle of something with you – in the Middle East and Egypt alcohol is very expensive and not easy to come by. Take Vodka or even Brandy and buy mix at the supermarket.

Cash – Cash is better than Credit in Egypt and Jordan, but on the cruise and at hotel credit cards are accepted. Credit cards are accepted all over Dubai, even at some of the stalls at the souqs.

Change – Have small change on you for tipping in Egypt.

Internet – Internet is available almost everywhere except in smaller towns. Most hotels have internet access and you can buy a voucher if you have your own laptop.

Tipping – You have to tip everybody in Egypt. 10% to 15% is the norm. Tip 1EP (Egyptian Pound) each time you use a public loo – they are filthy I know but that's what they expect. In Jordan you are expected to tip restaurants and you are free to tip other staff if you feel like it. In Dubai tips are included but always check first.

Toilet paper – We were warned to bring toilet paper with us and it was a waste. I carried a roll with me and did not even use it once. Rather have a pack of tissues – it's much easier to schlep across the world.

Services

Chartis Travel Insurance

Enjoy Jordan

Etihad Airways

Hatfield Travel

Ibis Hotels

Saif Tours (Hello Egypt Tours)

Travel and Sport

2010 FIFA World Cup

And so after only hearing of the hype surrounding football, the time has arrived! It’s official. South Africans are ready for the Beautiful Game. All around the country, stadia are being opened officially, vuvuzelas are being sold and football Friday has become the norm instead of casual Friday.

But what will we do after the month is over? What will we wear on Fridays and how will we use our new vuvuzelas?

At least we have the pleasure of hosting an international spectacle and teaching the world about the REAL South Africa. They get to experience our famous friendliness. They get to eat pap en vleis. They see how you really have a barbeque. They take home a plastic trumpet which is not easy to use.

Pretoria Zoo Night Walk

The Pretoria Zoo offers a fun experience in the form of an overnight stay. For only R100 per person, you get to go on a two hour guided walk, enjoy overnight camping facilities and all day access to the Zoo the next day. There is secure parking and the camp site is well equipped with a lapa, ablution facilities and even a play area (if the kids can't fall asleep). You need to be a group of minimum 8 people, but the facility can handle 120 people.

http://www.zoo.ac.za/

The walk itself is interesting in the sense that you get to see animals which are normally active at night. Bring your own torch though, because the guide won't necessarily point at something you want to see. It is also a good idea to wear good walking shoes. Flash photography is allowed but it is very difficult if you don't have an external light source. So if you are a keen photographer, bring your own spot light.

Euphoria Golf Estate & Hydro

The team from Euphoria Golf Estate & Hydro invited us to visit the estate and join in the golfing fun. We took the R101 - the old Warmbaths road - which spared us a lot of toll gate money and which also cared for a lovely scenic drive. Once you are through Hammanskraal - which is an informal settlement - you drive a short distance to Warmbaths. The new name is Bela Bela. Here you will find a few restaurants; curio shops and supermarkets. There are also many accommodation option in and around Bela Bela. It was however the hottest part of our journey.

Travelling through Bela Bela we head for Nylstroom - the new name is Modimole. The road is single and has a dodgy shoulder - but there are also fruit stands on the side of the road and a few fruit farms. When you reach Nylstroom, head straight through the town towards Naboomspruit or Mookgopong. Follow the signs towards this town and look out for the Euphoria entrance on your left.

http://www.euphoriaestate.co.za/

The estate has been open for just one year but it seems settled and roads are well maintained and suitable for even the smallest car. Be sure to bring you golf clubs as this has a course designed by Annika Sorenstam - a ladies golf champion.

http://www.annikasorenstam.com/home.htm

The estate boasts a cable car of which it is second of its kind in South Africa - after the cable car in Cape Town. It is a beautiful ride to the top where one can enjoy meals.

Conferencing and weddings are made special with views of the golf course and natural lighting in the conference venues.

Euphoria also has a unique golfing academy, aimed at children from 8 years old.

The name is said to come from the word euphorbia, which is a tree called the Naboom. Hence the next town Naboomspruit which directly translated means Naboom River.

There are also 4 spa villas which in essence are 4 separate treatment rooms, watch with a plunge pool, outside shower, treatment room overlooking the bush, changing room and bathroom. The therapists are very professional and a wide range of treatments are available at a good price. While hubby is on the golf course, luvvy can enjoy a massage and manicure.

For any bookings please contact info@hftmce.co.za and label your email with Euphoria.

August in Dubai

When planning a trip to Dubai, try to go in January. We went in August and the temperature was between 43 and 47 degrees Celsius!!!

Various carriers fly to Dubai but we decided on Emirates. They will wrap your baggage free of charge so don’t make the same mistake we did by wrapping the baggage by the Airport company before checking in. It is advisable to make sure of this before any flight. There are so many movies, music and series to choose from so leave books and magazines at home! After the 8 hour flight we arrived at the airport. Make sure you ask the attendant at the passport control whether you are at the correct spot – there is one step before the long queue – you don’t want to stand in the wrong queue in the middle of the night.

After stamping hour passports and getting our luggage we moved towards the exit. It got increasingly warmer up to the point where hot was the operative word. Catching a taxi is very easy. Just look out for the standard cream coloured taxi. They have different coloured roofs. The cost depends on where you are going but our destination was quite far west of the airport, but it was about AED 180 (AED 1 = R2.20). I cannot describe the heat in the middle of the night. Reading glasses fog up, camera lenses fog up and sweat gathers in the small of your back. Pack cotton clothes! The average temperature during the day in August is 43 degrees Celsius. I have never experienced something like that in my life!

We stayed with friends on the Palm Jumeirah but there are so many affordable hotels in the Deira side. Look for hotel apartments if you are more than 2. The Golden Sands Hotel Apartments have specials from time to time. For bigger budgets do try to stay at the Atlantis hotel resort. It has a fabulous water park which is not only enjoyed by kids but adults alike!

Our sightseeing started with the Big Bus Tour. It is well worth it to purchase the 48hour ticket. Unfortunately the bus does its last run at 17:00, so do the red route on your first day and the blue rout the next day. They have free water on board – as much as you can drink – and they hand out earphones for your convenience.
http://www.bigbustours.com/eng/dubai/default.aspx

You can find bargains at the Old Souq if you are looking for pashminas, clothes, traditional dress and souvenirs. The rule of thumb is, ask if the price is the bargaining price. The shop owners do not always feel like bargaining. We found a stunning Indian Vegetarian Restaurant not far from the Old Souq entrance. Walk away from the souq past the Big Bus stop and keep to the right side of the road. The Restaurant is just there – I wish I wrote down the name though.

Also included in you Big Bus Ticket is a Dhow cruise. We battled to find the boat though, so take my advice: the boat is directly across from the Radisson Hotel building.

The other thing you have to do is a Desert Safari. There are various trips you can take. We opted for the dinner Safari. Take your camera and some cash. You can buy a dvd of the whole day at the desert braai (barbeque). http://www.opdubai.com/tours.htm

A trip to Dubai is not complete without visiting the shopping malls. The Mall of the Emirates was my favourite, with its ski slope and many shops. They often have sales and you will find something to eat in the amazing food court. The Mall of Dubai is the biggest shopping mall I have ever seen. It has 5 levels and a 2 level food court. There is also an ice rink in the middle of the mall. The Burj Dubai is the tallest tower in the world and stands next to the Mall of Dubai. They host a spectacular fountain show every evening. City Centre Mall is on the Big Bus Tour route and is also worth having a look. Electronics are especially good value for money. In the Karama district you will find loads of fake name brands. Look for quality as there are different quality fakes. The Bur Juman Mall is also close to the Karama district and although it is an older shopping mall it also has lots to offer. The Dubai Metro will be up and running by the end of 2009 and will make your sightseeing experience much easier. There is a station next to every mall!

The Atlantis Hotel and Aqua park is one of Sol Kerzner’s projects and is situated on the Palm Jumeirah. This beats any water park you have ever seen. It has various rides from very scary to child friendly. Do take a full day to enjoy this site. They also have fireworks every Thursday night!

Tips
* The sun is not as strong as it is in South Africa. You can get away with a mild sun screen on your face. If you are from the Northern hemisphere use a stronger sun screen.
* Make your visa arrangements through the Dubai Visa Processing Centre. http://www.dubaivisa.net/southafrica/index.aspx
* Try not to look like a tourist – however, Emirates are very tourist orientated and always friendly.
* You can use the bus – you purchase an e-card on an e-bus. This will entitle you to use the bus 10 times for AED 18. Keep in mind some busses are not e-busses and you will have to pay AED 2 per trip.
* Emirates dress very smart when going for dinner or drinks. Pack a smart outfit if you plan to go out!
* Alcohol is freely available at any hotel and most restaurants. Be prepared to pay AED 35 for a small glass of white wine!
* A can of Pepsi costs about AED 1 when you buy it in the supermarket and they also have a fabulous yogurt for the same price!

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