Summer newsletter – February 2009
Posted by Jason | Filed under Newsletters
SUMMER NEWSLETTER – FEBRUARY 2009
How time flies, I can hardly believe the end of February is upon us – so soon. I have hardly got over the Festive Season. The weather here is hot,33°C yesterday, but the downside is that the Western Cape, being a winter rainfall area is experiencing bush fires everywhere and often more than a dozen at one time, stretching our fire fighters to their limits. Recently the newspaper headlines read – 90 fires in one day. So our sympathy goes out to those who have lost family, friends animals and their properties, especially in OZ. I know I have family there that I have never met, as my great grandfather Robert Stephens went to Oz as a child from the UK and ended up in SA many years later, when the captain of the ship they were travelling on, put him and his family off in Cape Town due to illness on board the ship. So they never went back and my grandfather Sydney Stephens was born here the youngest of 7 children back in 1904. So we are what I call international people, with family connections in UK & OZ. So if you know any people with the surname Stephens (like the Ink) let me know. I want to start a family tree. From fires to family trees Oh! today Friday the 13th, my mind wonders…. Hope none of you are tridecaphobic!
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ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
During this world recession, how can we think out of the box? As everyone is in the same box, we need to be ahead of the pack and therefore, being pioneers in our field in South Africa, just gone 14 years in business, we have always strived to do things differently and have our customer care our very top priority. We therefore do not have scheduled tours and also do not have printed brochures with set dates, so our guests always have the freedom to choose their time of travel and destination and design their own tour, which is all part of the excitement around going on holiday, the anticipation leading up to the journey is always very exciting and everyone is eager and wonder what it will be like. So for the guests who are anticipating a holiday this year or early next year, plan now for your land travel. I went on cruise with family to Luderitz Namibia last week and the ship was half full, must tell you that with cruise ships, wait until the last moment to book, if you have the freedom to take a break at will, as we paid more for an inner cabin booking early, than my family – brother-in-law and cousin and their spouses, whom I booked late did and they had outer cabins with large portholes, also I did not receive any comm from their bookings!!! I asked for an upgrade, the ship being half full and an agent and was told by their management in Johannesburg, that I could not get the upgrade I wanted, so my advise about cruises is – if you are thinking of going on one – wait for the specials, as they have schedules to keep, you will save a good R1000+. This was not very good managerial skills in my book, but then I think laterally and not like most tour operators or agents, as I feel my type of service does not fall within the mainstream thinking of the general theme of travel. So, in this time of having to be different to stay ahead, I will remain schedule(less) and brochures (less) and keep my private personalised itineraries to suit my guests and their interests and “ability”. We will overcome this if we all work together and have the guests interests at heart and not the $$$ in mind.
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2010 SOCCER WORLD CUP – SOUTH AFRICA 11 JUNE – 11 JULY 2010
I would please like some feedback from anyone who receives this newsletter on your feelings regarding this “show” next year and if you have any interest in watching any games, being part of a tour just being here during this “excitement” or are you wanting to keep well away from the madding crowd and travel at another time. Let’s hear from you!
Why I am asking this is that accommodation is already at a premium and ticket sales for matches have opened. For this one I think it is get in sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment.
I also need to know if I should take FLAMINGO TOURS & DISABLED VENTURES on holiday, in other words close for a month or wait around in case there is a demand for our unique services.
There is the Lions Rugby this June – so for any Rugby fans – contact me NOW!
Well, from Jeff and myself we wish you all a very Happy Valentine’s Day tomorrow and for those who are unhappy that we going to have another Friday 13th next month and in November – chill – tomorrow the 14th comes all too soon!
BIG HUGS, PEACE & LOVE from a stunning day in Cape Town – the most beautiful city in the world and on the new World Monopoly!
PAM
PS! For our cruise pics go to my FACEBOOK site!
Tags: Cape Town, custom tours, Flamingo Tours, newsletter, Pam Taylor, private tours, soccer world cup, South Africa
