Sri Lanka (4-13 March 2024)

We decided to go to SL again as our previous trip back in 2020 was not completed because of Covid. We got quotes for flights and accommodation. The price of flights had almost doubled since 2020😳. The flights back in 2020 was R11 500 pp. It was now R19 000 pp.There were cheaper flights via Qatar but the waiting period was much too long. We decided to go with Emirates and booked our flights with Save Travel. We booked our accommodation with booking.com and Agoda. Our planned itinerary was 3 nights in Bentota then Galle for 2 nights, then Colombo for 4 nights (we were leaving at 3am therefore had to book a fourth night).  Paying for a holiday always fills me with much trepidation, feeling anxious about things happening before the impending holiday (accident, illness, death). I am so paranoid that I will take out travel insurance immediately after I pay for the flights. I am also anxious about booking for holidays via booking.com and Agoda. I will also constantly contact the home stays or hotel to confirm the bookings.

Turkey (29 May-8 June 2023)

This trip was planned to celebrate a special birthday 🎂. It was going to be a do-it-yourself type of holiday with me booking the hotel through booking.com as well as booking the airport shuttle online. So there was a lot of nervousness before the trip. I was also paranoid about us getting sick, as you feel that if a holiday is booked though an agent there is more assurance or security (I could be wrong), and you can liase with the agent if such an issue occurred. We flew with Emirates and booked our flights with Save Travel. The flights were R9 900 pp. 

Cape Town (16-30 December 2022)

Hubby and I never tire of visiting the beautiful city of Cape Town. We have travelled here many a times either for work or leisure. In April 2018, I travelled with my brother and cousin, and saw and experienced Cape Town through their eyes. This was a memorable trip. We stayed at the newly revamped Protea Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Waterfront Breakwater Lodge.

Then hubby and I decided to do a road trip again in 2022 (our second road trip), but with a friend. We were fortunate in that he was going to drive us all the way there. We were going to do a 1 night stopover in Colesberg, then a 9 night stay in Cape Town, and finally a 2 night stay in Riebeeck Kasteel. The hubby and I always travel together, and there was some apprehensions about travelling with a friend. But as you will read on, the trip proved to be most memorable.

Sri Lanka (9-17 March 2020): travelling in the time of coronavirus

Just when we thought terrorism and natural disasters were the only threats preventing us from travelling abroad, here comes another, in the form of coronavirus. South Africa and Sri Lanka (as of 9th March) are not in the grips of the coronavirus scare, but as we come closer to departing for our trip to Sri Lanka, panic sets in. What if we come into contact with passengers who are infected. How safe can we be on the planes or airports without being infected.  Should we postpone our journey. What if either one of us are infected in Sri Lanka. What if we return to work, and then realise that we are infected. These are the questions that are at the back of our minds. Two days before we leave I am in a deep dilemma. To add to this, the day before we leave, one of the owners in our complex had a break-in, in broad daylight. Is this a bad omen for us? What if our house gets broken into while we are away? We managed to pack our bags, with all these thoughts hanging over our heads. The day finally arrived, We secured our home as best we could, and set on our journey.

We flew with Emirates. We went with Save Travel and the package was R21 500 pp.

South Korea (20 May-2 June 2019)

Friendly people, excellent transport system, lots of things to see and do ... this is how we experienced South Korea.

Turkey (28 May-12 June 2018)

Turkey has always been on our bucket list of places to visit. In retrospect it was the best place I have visited. We flew Turkish Airlines. We went with Save Travel and the package was R20 800 pp.

Morocco (5-19 May 2017)

What an unforgettable experience. To think that I was so apprehensive before I left.

My first travel experience (1987)

I remember that day so clearly, way back in 1987. My colleagues dropped me off in front of the Imperial Hotel (in Pietermaritzburg) so that I could take the Cheetah Coaches to the Louis Botha Airport in Durban. This was going to be my first ride on a plane and my first trip to Cape Town.

What to pack

It  can be daunting for a first time traveller, not knowing what to pack or what to include in your carry-on and main luggage.

Bali (9-17 May 2016)

The beautiful gardens, the enchanting music and amazing people will forever be etched in our minds.

Hong Kong (6-9 May 2016)

We decided to do a Hong Kong and Bali combination trip. We flew Cathay Pacific. We went with Pentravel and the costing per person was R14 527.