Travel destinations for this summer

Now that winter in the Southern Hemisphere is winding down, those among us who prefer the sunlight will be looking to quickly get away from our lives that have been cooped up in front of heaters for the last few months. While South Africa doesn't usually get as cold as much of the rest of the world, some of the more popular destinations, especially those that fill up during the summer months, will now slowly start to see people flocking in again. This is also the perfect time to get in your last trip abroad before every Northern Hemisphere country starts to slide into their well known winter chill.

 

Locally, Cape Town is one of the most obvious choices for a summer vacation destination. Even though it can get a little windy at times, the pristine beaches and world class nightlife will make it well worth your time if you decide to make the trip. Durban is also a great choice for anyone looking to get a bit of surfing in (since the Cape beaches tend to be a lot colder than those in the Indian Ocean), and the year round tropical weather in Durban means that you will be quite unlikely to face much cold weather even if you go a little before summer officially starts. 

 

A little further north, the Kruger National Park is a great destination for anyone looking to experience some wildlife, whether you’re a tourist or not, its ax experience not to be missed. Sun City is also one of the most popular destinations for summertime parties and relaxation, and being just a couple of hours away from Johannesburg, you can easily get there in good time and spend your weekend partying on the artificial beach.

 

Now that the FIFA World Cup has left Brazil, and summer is officially coming back to the country (though it is difficult to see how it ever left), a trip to Brazil, which is widely recognized as one of the best summer party destinations, may be a great choice, because you will be able to relax and experience the country as it truly is now that all the football fanatics have packed up and gone back home.

 

For anyone feeling a little more adventurous, a trip to the Far East countries like Taiwan, Thailand and Japan may be exactly what you need. However, you will want to make sure to plan your trip early, because if you find yourself there at the wrong time of the year, you may face some gigantic typhoons, and in Japan, snowy weather to rival even the very heart of the Russian empire.

Safety Tips When Traveling Alone

No travel companion nagging you! If you would like to take the day and sign up for an art class you are free to do so without someone sitting on the side line bored out of their minds. The ultimate self-indulgence; you can go see what you want; when you want and by any means you want! Another benefit is that your mistakes are your own, and with this your triumphs are all the more exciting! 

Sound like something you would love? Great, now let’s get to the safety part:

 

Be Alert! 

 

Before getting out of a vehicle, do a quick scan up and down the street to ensure no unsavoury characters are trailing you. Don’t make yourself a target by walking down the street talking on your mobile. The more alert you are the less chance you have of being the victim of a snatch and grab.

 

Keep others informed of your daily itinerary

 

Let people know where you are going and what time you are expected to be back on a regular basis; this includes friends and family at home as well as your innkeeper. 

 

Keep your credit cards and passport in separate places

 

When sightseeing, make sure to only carry a copy of your passport’s data page whilst 

keeping your passport locked in your hotel safe. Keep some of your money in your wallet and some in a money pouch, preferably leave the majority of your cash in the hotel safe and work on a daily budget. 

 

Plan ahead

 

Inquire about the open and close times of your destination to avoid sleeping in your car or worse! Nobody likes sleeping in the streets.

 

Trust your gut

 

You are your own best counsel, if something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it! Keep to open and public places, especially at night. Exude confidence and walk purposefully. Avoid appearing like a tourist. Don’t walk around with your face in a guidebook as you make yourself look like a target.

 

No jewellery

 

Don’t draw attention to yourself by wearing flashy clothes or jewellery. Keep it locked up safely at your hotel room.  

There you have it. Follow these tips and your chances of becoming a victim of crime will decrease dramatically. If you have any more travel safety tips let us know in the comment section. 

Things to consider when taking the bus

Things to consider: 

 

Comfort

 

Some bus rides take place during night time and temperatures tend to drop. It’s wise to wear warmer clothes just before boarding as to cut out the chill factor. Packing a small blanket will bring you much needed warmth when the temperature starts to drop. 

 

Keeping yourself busy

 

If you are going to spend several hours on a bus you will need something to keep you busy. Bring your favourite book along or charge your mp3 player to listen to some tunes. Smart phones come with thousands of app that are bound to keep you busy so make sure to charge your device before your trip. 

 

Safety first

 

Always keep a loved one or friend updated on your location. Don’t make yourself a target by wearing jewellery or flaunting your new iPhone. Keep your cash and credit cards in an inconspicuous location like a money pouch. 

 

Take your fellow travellers into consideration

 

Nobody likes the loud obnoxious guy in the front of the bus who complains about everything. Don’t be that person! If you have a complaint, kindly let the cabin crew know and they will most probably be able to sort out your problem. Remember to pack earphones as not everybody likes to hear every song on your playlist that consists of only 4 songs on a loop. 

 

Make new friends! 

 

Bus travel is one of the best places to meet and make new friends! Try speaking to some of the passengers and you are bound to find someone with the same likes and interests. Maybe they wouldn't mind your playlist with only 4 songs on it. 

 

Stretch your legs

 

Long bus trips almost always have bathroom breaks, use the opportunity to stretch your legs and use the restroom! Nothing makes a bus trip more unpleasant than a full bladder. Stretching your legs and taking in some fresh air also helps with the fatigue factor. 

Have anything to add? Let us know in the comment section. 

The history of tourism

The rise of tourism can be traced back to Ancient Greece, much like many of the most important aspects of our modern society. In those days, traveling was limited to the most affluent in society, since they were the only ones with the means to take time away from their work without the risk of putting their livelihoods in danger. During this time, most trips were taken by young men, and were used as educational, and those men usually returned and were afforded higher positions in society, since they were then seen as more educated.

 

A resurgence of tourism was seen after the Middle Ages in the Renaissance era, when affluence became a more stable status after the feudal era that had existed for hundreds of years before. During this time, many Europeans travelled around to the East, to other parts of Europe and to the ‘New World’ in order to spread the teachings of the Enlightenment, rationality and skepticism, and to learn the ways of the people they were to encounter. Much of what was learnt during this time was used to integrate new technologies and ideas into European societies, and this is why there are, to this day, many different cultural influences to be found in the writings and artworks of the Enlightenment.

 

The 19th century saw the rise of the railroads, and the forward thinking Thomas Cook, one of the pioneers of what has come to be known as the modern tourism industry. Wider access to railroads and long distance travel meant that more people were able to travel, and pioneers like Cook helped to set up systems and packages that people paid for in order to experience certain parts of the world.

 

While modern tourism takes on many faces, from leisure tourism, to educational, cultural, religious and even health related tourism, much of what we have come to know as tourism remains the same as it was before. Tourists aim to broaden their horizons and to experience the world in new ways. Perhaps the reasons for traveling will change in the future, but for now, we all remain quite transfixed on the idea of learning all there is to know about the world.

How to choose a good bus company to travel with

 

In the 21st century, we have been completely inundated with choice. Everything we do or own gives us some kind of choice, and as a result, we sometimes feel overwhelmed when it comes to making a decision. When choosing a bus company to take you from point A to point B all the way across the country, you don’t want to get stuck having made the wrong choice, so you should take your time before making the decision to weigh up the pros and cons of each company, and try to decide which one will be a good fit for your needs. Here are a few tips on how to evaluate each company, and what to look out for in the process:

 

1.  Find testimonials

 

A good or superb recommendation from a an ex-client having used a particular charter bus rental company in the past will provide information that is extremely valuable to the consumer.  There is nothing better than hearing from someone who has experienced the service offered by the company and seeing how their experience was. In the completely social world we live in, finding testimonials like this is as simple as visiting Facebook or Twitter and seeing if anyone mentions the company in question.

 

2. Visit the Company

 

A personal visit to a bus company for a short tour will provide first-hand knowledge of what the company's service will belike should you choose to make your trip with them. Viewing the busses in the depot would be a bonus, but even just being able to talk to the drivers, or watch the busses get prepped for a trip will surely give you an idea of how safe the drive will be. How clean the vehicles appear, how polite and personable the employees are, is a good indication of how the business is operated. Checking the safety credentials can be done on or off company property.

 

3.  Create a comparison chart of services offered

 

When comparing bus rental companies for service jobs, understanding the needs of the group compared to the services offered can sometimes be a daunting task.  Creating a simple chart with comparable services, prices and time frames foe when you are planning on taking your trip will give a clear understanding of the amenities and expectations offered by each company being considered. Even if you don’t have a lot of time to plan, you can always open the company websites next to each other and do a quick comparison that way.

 

4.  Prepare some questions for consultants

 

By preparing a list of questions and asking them to the service consultant you will speak to when calling in, the chance of a miscommunication will be small or even eliminated altogether.If you would like access to certain amenities or services on the bus, the best way to make sure you get that, or to find out if its even available is by phoning in and speaking to someone directly.

 

5.  Examine the Experience Level and History

 

A company in business with a lengthy record is bound to have plenty of historical data to examine.  The new kid on the block can certainly be reputable and sincere with the promise of expert, safe and reliable service, but nothing can replace the length of service and history of a well established company. Chances are, the more experienced the company is, the better they will be able to handle adverse situations, and the better equipped they will be to

Why do we travel?

 

Many of us have never traveled out of our home country, or even our own city, in our lives. Yet we still all (for the most part) have an undeniable urge to get out and see more of the world. All of the reasons people give for their wanting to travel all bio down to the same thing: learning, and the very human need to explore. Hundreds of years ago when Christopher Columbus set out to explore the world, this is the urge that drove him (yes, he was ordered by the Queen of England to find new land to colonize, but he would never have been successful if the explorer within him hadn't wanted to push through).

 

When we travel, there is no denying that the experiences we have will change us for the rest of our lives. Not many people can say that exploring an entirely new continent, meeting new people, eating new foods and learning about new ways of dealing with the things life throws at us, will leave them with exactly the same ideas and views of the world as they had before. Not only do we learn from the people we meet and the places we go, but those we encounter also take us to be a part of their lives, making the change a two way experience.

 

When we travel for all the different reasons we have, we somehow find ways to make our problems go away, and this, for some, is one of the most important reasons for why we do what we do. Because we live such busy lives, sooner or later we will all become overwhelmed. One of the easiest, and perhaps most rewarding ways to overcome this is to get out there, reset your clocks and see what life is like in a different part of the world. Not only does this usually give us a chance to relax, get our heads back on track and relieve ourselves of all the pent up stress we accumulate over time, but we will more often than not end up learning something about ourselves and recognizing our strengths and weaknesses, a huge step towards understanding who we are.

 

Along with all of these reasons, we, as humans, have an unmistakable child-like curiosity that persists throughout our lives. We want to know more about the world, and we have no problem asking questions. When encountering people in a new culture, it is only natural for us to ask where their traditions come from, how they fit into their daily lives, and how these cultural traditions affect other parts of their lives. We also hold nature to a very high regard when it comes to travel, and many of us are incredibly curious and willing to explore.

 

So why is it that we travel? Well, its quite simple really. We travel because it is the only way we are able to make sense of the world, ourselves, the relationships we hold, and the things we think are important.

Travelling in comfort with Greyhound

 

When going on long journeys, we would love to be as comfortable as possible, having everything that we’re used to having in our homes at our disposal, all the way to our destination. In a car, however, this is not possible, and most of the time, we barely even have enough leg room. While many people think that bus travel is more tedious, because the journey tends to be longer, and there are people around you that you don’t know - but bus travel has evolved over the last few years, and has taken on a life of its own, bringing luxury travel you’d expect from a first class flight, straight to the road.

 

Greyhound, one of the most widely recognized and popular luxury bus liner services in the world, offers world-class service all over South Africa on some of the most advanced luxury liners on the market. When traveling with Greyhound, you will be able to take advantage of services such as: DVD viewing, reclining seats, hostesses on selected services, free onboard coffee & tea serving on selected services, spacious restrooms, refreshment may be purchase from the hostess on selected services. specific seat bookings (allowing you to choose between the aisle or window seat), and complimentary earphones on selected routes.

 

Greyhound has set the standard of excellence for bus travel in South Africa, and over the years has won multiple awards, proving that it is able to step up each and every time it is put to the test. Some of the awards it has won over the years include 1st place Overall - City of Johannesburg Survey Leaders and Achievers Sliver Arrows Award, 1st place Overall - Pretoria municipal District Survey Leaders and Achievers Golden Arrows Award, and many more.

 

When it comes to quality service you can count on Greyhound sets the bar as high as it can, and meets those standards wherever it goes. Whether you’re making a short trip from Johannesburg to Pretoria, or going the distance from Pretoria to Cape Town, you can rest assured knowing that you will arrive in style, rested and entertained all the way.