The 7 best places to travel in 2016

It’s the end of the year, so we’ve got holiday getaways on the brain, but not just any old boring getaways; we’re looking for something out of the ordinary! Somewhere that will fuel our passion for travel, but hasn’t been affected by mass tourism.

These seven off-the-beaten-path places are at the top of the 2016 travel list.

GREENLAND
Next is going to be all about Greenland, which is so off the grid your cell phone probably won’t even work! If you love the outdoors then this is the place for you, where the locals travel by dogsled and snowmobile, plus the first-ever Arctic Winter Games will be held in Greenland in March.

BAVARIA, GERMANY
Bavaria has a vibe that will remind you of the Sound of Music. The region has breathtaking scenery, an easy-going feel and a charming culture. Tour the world-class galleries in Munich, and then enjoy beer with the locals – this is by far one of Germany’s best states.

RIVIERA NAYARIT, MEXICO
In 2016, visit the part of Mexico that is free of tourists. Riviera Nayarit is the home to the surfer town of Sayulita, which is the perfect snapshot of what many think is authentic Mexico. Along the streets, you’ll find amazing foods, like fish tacos and beaches that have some of the best waves.

BOTSWANA, AFRICA
Awash with national parks, Botswana is great on a high or low budget, in the dry or green season. This destination is suitable for you whether you are an adventurer or not, but be warned: it won’t remain undiscovered for long, so book a flight now!

KAUAU, HAWAII
Looking for beauty and adventure? Add the Hawaiian island of Kauai to your itinerary. Not only is it the oldest of the main Islands, it’s also the greenest because of its lush rain forests and gorgeous vegetation.

KOTOR, MONTENEGRO
This Mediterranean is beautiful from every single angle. Travel in the city walls and sip coffee, munch on warm bread and stroll along the maze of alleys and paved paths. Better still, the cruise ships have yet to overwhelm, so get to Kotor before they drop anchor!

PALAU
This is a prime spot for underwater lovers that enjoy snorkeling, diving or just exploring the deep blue sea. Loads of wreckage from the war still remains scattered throughout the islands, so you can explore while you scuba dive. The coolest spot is Jellyfish Lake, where a subspecies of jellyfish travel across the water in a repeated daily pattern.

From the beautiful Mexican beaches to the undiscovered Palau islands, these seven destinations are the places to be in 2016.

Looking for an place to stay in the beautiful Mother City? Book in at 808 Cartwright Corner, and we can offer the best, most luxurious self-catering apartment for an affordable price!

Packing hacks according to what’s in your bag

Packing everything for your next trip can be a bit scary – what should you take? What shouldn’t you take? However the destination and type of holiday makes it easier to plan and determine the contents to take with. Master the art of packing with these helpful packing hacks!

Beach Bum
All your necessities can be narrowed down to good swimwear, high-quality sunscreen, slip slops, sunglasses, a hat, towels and a waterproof camera. Pack in some baby powder to get rid of sand easily and don’t forget Ziploc bags to protect your valuables.

Camping Enthusiast
Planning to spend a long weekend in the wilderness? Make sure you take the right equipment with you, such as a decent tent and sleeping bag. Enjoy easy, convenient breakfasts amongst the trees with sachets of instant coffee and always keep your eggs in a plastic bottle. Did you know that you can make lamps out of jars by placing candles inside, or use deodorant as an insect repellent? Give it a try!

Urban Explorer
Always avoid anything heavy or restricting, so wear your camera around your neck and keep all your valuables, gadgets and tickets in a small bag. A good way to stay hydrated is to buy a refillable water bottle and always keep it with you.

Happy Hiker
Firstly, consider lining your backpack with bin liners to make it waterproof. You can also reduce the weight of your bag by sticking to dehydrated food and placing anything heavy such as water bottles on top. All your necessary clothing should include; robust footwear, a good jacket and make sure you have plenty of pockets.

Pro Traveler
If you are planning a backpacking trip, it can be difficult to pack your whole life into one suitcase, but it is possible! Write a list of all the necessities you won’t be able to live without, and with some simple tricks you can fit everything in. Save space by rolling your clothes, pack all your socks into your shoes and keep a roll of duct tape on hand – it can be used for literally anything.

Whether you’re a beach bum or an urban explorer, these packing hacks will have you covered!

Cant find accommodation in Cape Town? 808 Cartwright Corner is the perfect self-catering apartment, with amazing views of the Mother City! Contact us today and book your stay!

Things we thought we’d be doing in travel by now

We are officially in the future, except there are no flying cars, dehydrated pizza and levitating hover boards. We’re taking a look at the predictions futurists have been making over the years and we’re kind of ashamed that they haven’t lived up to their optimistic standards.

Here are a bunch of travel things we really should’ve sorted out by now:

Hover cars – In 1985, Back to the Future assured us that there would be hover cars as our main form of transport. Well, we don’t and the traffic and potholes are just getting worse. We want our hover cars!

Hover boards – Hover boards are an even bigger let down than the hover car. Are we not just depriving poor children, not to mention adults, from having serious amounts of fun?

Teleportation – Obviously this would completely get rid of all other forms of transport, we’d probably even use it to get from our bedrooms to the kitchen. It’s probably a good things science hasn’t given teleportation to us yet, we’d probably have become an extremely overweight world.

Food in pills – Transporting sufficient food and water on a long journey can be a hassle most of the time, and most of the time when don’t enjoy the food on flights anyway. Why not just supply food in the form of a pill. Even in first class it’ll be a good idea, lobster is a always a real pain to eat.

All cars electric – Optimistic people thought we’d all be driving around in environmentally friendly vehicles by now. Yes, there are a couple around, but majority of us still use petrol.

Space colonies – We’ve been talking about living in space for a very long time now, but we just don’t seem to be getting anywhere with it. Gravity is such a drag!

Mars for holidays – It’s big and it’s just begging us to visit. So, why aren’t we there yet?

Hyper sleep – Why do we have to sit through economy travel? Let’s just sleep through it already. In sci-fi films aliens always negatively affect hyper sleep, but as long as that doesn’t happen it’ll totally be worth it.

Wormholes – These are supposed to provide handy jumps across time and space into areas of the cosmos.

Time travel – The ultimate form of transport is via time. It allows us to create countless timelines and enter parallel universes.

But, if time travel really does exist someday, the only thing that needs to be done is to go back to 2015 and make the rest of the things on this list available today!

Looking for a great self-catering apartment in Cape Town? Look no further than 808 Cartwright Corner, a luxurious spot nestled in the heart of Cape Town's CBD. Contact us today!

12 Packing Problems only a woman will understand

Sometimes they packing problems that women encounter are just about enough to make you want to stay at home! Yes, going places and travelling the world is great and all, but THE PACKING! WHY!?

1. You feel the urge to pack for every conceivable situation. You’ve never worn that long fancy dress before, but what if you want to go to a really nice dinner? What if some millionaire wants to take you dancing on his yacht? It could happen!

2. You have to squeeze your purse into your carry-on tote so you can actually bring three bags on board.

3. You have to fit all your cosmetics into that little toiletries pouch. Insane. Unrealistic. How are you supposed to live?

4. You can't abide by those ridiculous liquid container size restrictions. What? Do they think there is a bomb inside your moisturizer? The airport security jerks are totally just trying to steal your cosmetics!

5. You realise that you need to do laundry before your pack. But also, you realise that is just not going to happen.

6. You have to figure out how to keep your suitcase from weighing more than 50 pounds. The only thing worse than paying the excess baggage fee is paying the excess baggage fee after unpacking your bag in front of the entire airport, a fistful of underwear in your hand, in a vain attempt to transfer those last 4 pounds to your already stuffed carry-on.

7. You have to pick a different outfit for every day. Stress. And you know deep down that you will never stick to any of the choices you've made.

8. You want to leave room for the extra stuff you plan to buy on your trip, but you're completely unable to do so. You have to fill every available inch of suitcase space or else you're just inviting a fashion disaster to happen while you're on vacation.

9. You try to pick a "packing style" in order to get as much stuff into your bags as possible. Are you a roll packer or a vacuum packer? What if you can't re-vacuum your stuff when you come back? Maybe if you sit on your suitcase for a while, it will magically make room for more things.

10. You know your bag is technically too big to be a carry-on, but you also know that you have gotten away with it in the past. What if today is the day they make you check it? And then, what if they lost it? There you’ll be, stranded in some foreign country, naked and alone!

11. Weather denial. You don't care what the forecast says, it's supposed to be warm where you are going and you are packing accordingly. Stupid weathermen are wrong most of the time anyway. You'll dress for the weather you want, not the weather you have.

12. Wrinkles. So. Many. Wrinkles!

No matter how hard women try, they will always have a tough time packing for a trip!

Need a place to stay if you are travelling to Cape Town? Book in at 808 Cartwright Corner today, for an affordable, self-catering apartment with amazing views of the Mother City.

10 Questions you should ask before you rent a holiday home

At times, renting a holiday home, instead of booking into a hotel, apartment or guest house, can give you more bang for your buck. Typically, vacation homes can include things like free WiFi, phone calls, laundry services and you can save money on food costs.

Take a look at 808 Cartwright for an affordable, self-catering apartment with amazing views of Cape Town! They have all you need, from a heated indoor pool to a complimentary gym.

But, regardless if you’re looking to rent a holiday home, there are several questions you should ask before agreeing to any short-term rental…

  Ø  How are the reviews about the vacation rental property? Most online vacation rental companies such as Trip Advisor, Flipkey.com and Homeaway.com, provide reviews of the property and owner. Take your research a step further and contact previous renters or even the owner, to find out more information.

  Ø  How reputable is the vacation rental company? Nowadays anyone with a digital camera and Internet access can take beautiful pictures of a home and surrounding areas and upload them to a rental site. So remember, what you see is not always what you get. A simple Google Search can reveal telling information about a company. If you can, try visiting the home or area before submitting payment.

  Ø  What is the minimum stay required? Some apartments require at least a 3-5-night minimum stay or you may be charged an additional fee for short-term stays.

  Ø  What type of apartment building: walk-up or elevator access? If considering a vacation rental in cities like New York City or Paris, some apartments are only accessible by stairs, so make sure you ask about floor level access if you don’t want to climb up 20 flights of stairs.

  Ø  Are property amenities such as access to the gym, washer/dryer, fireplace and Internet included in the fee?

  Ø  Is the property child and/or pet friendly?

  Ø  Are cleaning fees included? Some vacation rental companies charge one fee for your reservation whereas some may charge a fee per day.

  Ø  Do you have access (e.g., telephone number and email address) to a 24-hour emergency contact or maintenance person? What if the electricity or plumbing goes out? How far are they located from the property?

  Ø  How prompt are the owner’s responses to your questions? If they are to slow to respond or impatient at the number of questions you ask, this could be a red flag.

  Ø  What are the cancellation policies? Typically cancellation policies vary. Check with the owner or property manager to learn more about the terms and conditions.

After you assess your rental needs, like size, price and location, ask these questions before you submit your payment to a rental owner or property manager.

Gift the travelers in your life with an Airbnb gift card

The company, Airbnb, now allows customers to buy gift cards for its short-term rentals platforms. The VP of the company, Mike Curtis announced at the company’s conference that you can now give the gift of Airbnb!

It was also revealed that there are new tools for hosts that make it easier for them to set prices and get the exact types of bookings they want.

Gift cards are available on Airbnb’s website and are sent to recipients via email, though you’re able to personalize the looks of the gift cars with a variety of different travel photos. The credits don’t expire and can be used at any of the company’s listings around the world!

The new personalization tools for hosts aim to make it easier for them to get bookings. They include a new price recommendation feature called price tips, which will begin rolling out soon.

The company recently wrote in a blog post, “You’ll be able to get personalized, daily pricing information right in your calendar, so you can see how adjusting your price could increase your chances of getting booked, or take advantage of strong interest in visiting your area.”

Finally, Airbnb is doing more to personalise search results based on the preferences of the host. Some hosts prefer more frequent, but shorter stays, while others prefer less frequent but longer stays.

Airbnb will now take these types of preferences into account when surfacing search results to travelers – so search results for two days in Paris and two weeks in Paris may turn different sets of results.

So, give the traveler in your life a Airbnb gift card and put the world at their doorstep!

For a self-catering apartment with amazing views of the Mother City - book in at 808 Cartwright Corner today!

More bad habits of ineffective hotels

Last week we looked at the bad habits of ineffective hotels, but it seems like there is more to the list that was previously discussed. Cheap hotels shouldn’t get a free ride just because they are considered to be budget accommodation, so here are more habits of ineffective hotels – the budget version.

#1 Mini-bar – Having a fridge in your room is great, but having a mini-bar – not so much! Although some people sneak a snack or two and then put it back before anyone notices, some hotels actually charge you for the item even if you put it back.

#2 Hygiene – Who ever said that a small bathroom doesn’t matter obviously hasn’t seen some hotels where the toilet is literally inside the shower! Yes, it’s great not to share a bathroom, but if you can’t even manage to fit through the bathroom door then the benefit doesn’t really count.

#3 Outlets – Perhaps the only thing that is possibly worse than a lack of electrical outlets in the room, is electrical outlets that look like they could kill you if you touch them.

#4 Plastic – Plastic wrap on the head board of the bed? Plastic wrap on the couches or chairs? Well, that’s one way to make you feel cheap when you book in at a hotel that costs barely anything.

#5 Mattresses – It would be nice to know how many hoteliers have actually slept in their own beds. Many are completely worn out or damaged. The worst thing is arriving in your room and having to flip your own mattress because budget hotels rarely do it.

#6 WiFi – A lot of budget hotels advertise free WiFi, which is great compared to the luxurious hotels that make you pay extra. The thing they don’t tell you is that you will probably have to stick your laptop out of the window just to get a connection.

#7 Storage – Some hotels aim to make you pay extra for every little thing. And this includes storage. Charging extra for leaving your bags with them for those few hours before your flight seems to be the trend with budget hotels these days.

It seems like with budget hotels these days, simply having a roll of toilet paper and free WiFi is a luxury. What other bad hotel habits have you noticed in your travels? 

For an affordable, self-catering apartment with none of these bad habits - book in at 808 Cartwight Corner!

The bad habits of ineffective hotels

If you travel a lot you have obviously noticed that there are many exceptional hotels, self-catering apartments, B&B’s etc. BUT you have probably also noticed that some are just plain weird, and their bad habits are odd as well.

Here are the worst hotel habits that you may have encountered as a traveler…

#1 Telephones – You would be shocked at the amount of hotels that can’t get their own phone systems right. There’s nothing worse than pressing the “Wake Up Call” button and then getting directed to the reservations call centre instead. And then still getting charged for the call! Let’s not forget about when you wait on the line listening to the busy signal for 20 minutes, maybe next time it would be better to rather send out a carrier pigeon!

#2 Internet – Everyone enjoys lying in bed, watching TV and surfing the net. But, all this is pretty hard to do if there is no wireless connection. Having to run a LAN connection to the other side of the room is just not cool at all.

#3 Hidden Charges – Hotel tax, convenience charge, gratuity, local tax, room service, mini-bar, hospitality fee, tourist tax, internet access fees, charges for phone calls – it all adds up, and its super annoying! It’s not great when you find a decent hotel or accommodation and then all the extras kill the vibe.

#4 Temperature – The water is too hot, and the room is too cold, or the water is too cold and the room is too hot! There are always issues with temperatures in the shower; the goal here is that you just want to wash your body – it doesn’t have to be as complicated as sterilizing medical equipment!

#5 Laundry – When you stay in a hotel, guest house or self-catering apartment you need to do laundry! It’s just one of those things and hotel laundry prices are out of control. Imagine having to pay more to get your socks cleaned then you did to buy them.

#6 Photos – Choosing your hotel is a lot like internet dating. It’s extremely rare that what you get in real life actually looks like what was on the internet. Sometimes, on a rare occasion you may be pleasantly surprised, but that doesn’t happen often. Trip Advisor is a great place to find real photos from real photos.

#7 Signs – Isn’t it the worst when you have to work overnight to mirror business hours, or you just simply do not want to be disturbed and then the staff members insist on bothering you. Surely Do Not Disturb means what it says; you’d think it was a no brainer.

Have you ever experienced any of these truly annoying hotel habits? What are you hotel pet peeves?

Book in at 808 Cartwright Corner for an amazing self-catering apartment in Cape Town with Table Mountain in full view. 

What to do in Cape Town (6th – 8th March)

Stand-up comedy, yummy food and an overload of art is all on the agenda for this weekend in Cape Town. So, work your way through this week and some great activities lie ahead in the Mother City.

Nik Rabinowitz’s Stand-up Comedy Show – 6 March
Come have a good ol’ laugh at this new one-man act! Homegrown talent Nik Rabinowitz is no stranger to throwing his spin on the political antics in South Africa, so he is back with his new one-man show “What the EFF?” This fresh out the kitchen stand-up routine is set to tackle some of the most outrageous moments in Mzansi’s resent past and get those belly laughs going! Gather up your mates and gear up for a laugh with one of Cape Town’s finest comedians.

Date: 6 March
Time: 20:00 – 21:10
Venue: Baxter Theatre
Price: R120 – R165

Burger and Milkshake Special at Truffle Restaurant – 7 March
Truffle Restaurant is one of the only upmarket halaal eateries in Cape Town, and they are adding a touch of sweet and savoury to Saturday afternoons with they’re Slider Special! You can get a trio of delicious mini burgers paired with a gourmet milkshake for only R99. The special runs from 12pm – 5pm and you get to much down on mini versions of the Truffle’s signature buns from a beef burger with gherkins, rocket, caramelized onions and cheddar cheese to the lamb option with minted tzatziki and babaganoush. Don’t forget your gourmet milkshake, some of the favourites being Banoffee (banana and toffee), Apple Pie (apple with cinnamon) and the Gingerbread Man (its topped with an actual gingerbread man!)

Date: 7 March
Time: 12:00 – 17:00
Venue: Truffle Restaurant
Price: R99

Woordfees Festival in Stellenbosch – 8 March
The sleepy town of Stellenbosch comes alive with creativity and plenty of activities when the annual Woordfees comes into town with poetry, stories, live music and art exhibitions. Woordfees, which means word festival, is packed with activities and entertainment – Antjie Krog is doing a reading from her new poetry collection, Chris Chameleon presents his first picture book and Deon Meyer talks about his latest book. There will also be plenty of live music to enjoy, kids’ activities to keep the little ones entertained and you can look forward to a series of shorts and documentaries.

Date: 8 March
Time: 09:00 until late
Venue: Stellenbosch
Price: Various

This weekend you don’t want to miss out on these amazing activities, with everything from tummy aching laughter with Nik Rabinowitz and burgers and milkshakes to art, music and entertainment!

Contact 808 Cartwright today for an affordable, self-catering apartment with amazing views. For a reliable shuttle service to and from Cape Town international Airport, contact Airport Shuttle today!

Written By: Christine Romans

What to do in Cape Town this weekend (20th – 22nd February)

It’s going to be another long week, but it’s never too early to start planning your activities for the weekend. Dinner theatre, festivals and competitions, are you ready for the weekend?

“Kaapse Stories” at Richard’s Supper Stage – 20 February
Get ready for dinner theatre at its best! “Kaapse Stories from the Mother City” is a quirky mix of songs and stories that speaks to the heart of every Capetonian and everyone else who has fallen in love with the Mother City. The buffet is also packed with local and international flavours, plus the dinner and theatre mix allows you time to chat and share a meal as well as enjoy your entertainment.

Date: 20 Feb
Time: 19:30 – 22:00
Venue: Richard’s Supper Stage & Bistro
Price: R435

Cape Town Prawn Festival – 21 February
This could be one of the most anticipated events of the horse racing season. The 2015 Cape Town Prawn Festival is back at the Kenilworth Racecourse to fill your tummy with delicious, fresh seafood and of course, to see some fine equine specimens galloping down the green. If you have never had the pleasure of enjoying the best of both worlds (land and sea) then hurry down to the track this Saturday.

Date: 21 Feb
Time: 11:00 – 19:00
Venue: Kenilworth Racecourse
Price: FREE

RVCA Rolling Retro Surfing Competition – 22 February

Surf’s up and it’s time to take it back to the very start of surfing as we know it! The guys at RVCA present the Rolling Retro annual competition that gives surfers the chance to hit the waves on retro surf boards and give spectators the chance to watch the action and enjoy the cool vibes. RVCA’s main goal is to invoke the easy-going spirit of the early surfing days and channel that retro feel, if you want to compete and show off your skills there are a number of different categories.

Date: 22 Feb
Time: 09:00 – 22:00
Venue: Llandudno Beach
Price: FREE – R100

Yes, your 72 hours of non-stop fun awaits in the Mother City this weekend and there is plenty to do and plenty to see, so come and enjoy these fine summer events.

For a reliable shuttle service, make sure to contact Airport Shuttle in Cape Town. Need a luxurious, affordable, self-catering apartment? Book in at 808 Cartwright Corner today.

Written By: Christine Romans

Uber’s new “Panic Button” in India

Uber has introduced two new safety features for riders in India in response to concerns about safety after a passenger reported that she had been attacked by a driver.

The San Francisco-based taxi firm’s app will now have a “panic button” that allows riders to notify the police in case of an emergency and a “safety net” feature that will allow users to share their trip details and location with as many as five other people.

Uber has also said that it is creating a local team that will respond to reports by riders and will get a notification when the panic button is pressed. The new features came out on Wednesday, but Uber did not say if the new features will be available in other countries other than India.

If you aren't clear on what Uber is, it is an app that lets passengers summon cars through an app in more than 250 cities around the world! Unfortunately since they have been expanding, they now face multiple legal and regulatory challenges.

An Uber passenger said she was attacked by a driver in New Delhi in December last year and then sued the company in January. The lawsuit alleges that Uber isn't doing enough to keep their passengers safe, and the company may also face charges if Indian Prosecutors believe it misrepresented the safety of its services.

Uber has actually been banned in New Delhi, India. It has also been banned in the southern technology hub of Hyderabad and the entire southern state of Karnataka. However, the company says it plans to improve its safety programmes this year and is looking for new ways to screen drivers.

Uber recently wrote on their blog that the idea of a physical panic button wasn't possible because they don’t actually own the cabs. They added that buttons would be vulnerable to wear and tear and said that if it and other operators were forced to put buttons in cars, passengers might get confused in an emergency.

So, for now the app will just have to do, unless the owner of the vehicle took responsibility of installing the panic button and if the button called the police directly!

Book in at 808 Cartwright for a luxurious, affordable, self-catering apartment. Do you need a speedy shuttle service to and from Cape Town International Airport? Contact Airport Shuttle.

Written By: Christine Romans

5 Lies Your Hotel tells you

Have you ever been tricked by a hotel? Maybe you booked that beautiful room with the stunning décor and amazing location – only to arrive and realise that your room is actually the size of a closet and “walking distance” to the beach actually means a 25km hike.

To be fair hotels don’t actually tell outright lies, instead they tell you the truth (more or less) with clever phrasing and purposely vague camera angles. If you are looking to book yourself into a hotel this weekend, beware these five common ways that hotels may mislead you.

     -          Breakfast Included

Nothing misleads us more than the promise of a quality breakfast. Sure, it’s great to get the most important meal of the day for free, but not when it’s nothing more than old coffee and stale, pre-wrapped Danishes. When you book a hotel and see the words “continental breakfast”, is it too much to ask for a few pieces of fresh fruit and some yoghurt!

     -          Location

If you’re a traveler you’ve probably lost track of how many times a hotel has promised that the beach is just a few steps away from your room, or that the most popular attraction in town is in close walking distance. The problem with this is that the vague wording could mean almost anything, maybe you’ll open your door and step right onto the sand or maybe you’ll have to carry your beach chair about 5km through busy streets.

     -          Ocean View

Is there anything better than watching the sun set over the ocean from the balcony of your hotel room? Don’t count on this experience if you’re booking an oceanview room. There is a big difference between an oceanview and an oceanfront room, an ocean front room looks directly into the ocean and an ocean view room only guarantees that you’ll get a quick glimpse of the sea.  

     -          Free WiFi

A lot of hotels offer free WiFi, which you’d think would be a great thing, after all it’s what you want most. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean the WiFi will actually work properly. At some hotels the connection is so slow it’s almost impossible to load one page, at others the WiFi might only be available in public areas – who wants to walk all the way down to the lobby every time you want to check your email.

     -          Amenities Included

Don’t you just love the feeling of settling into your hotel and knowing that you’re paying a reasonable price for a wealth of free, awesome amenities? But wait, what’s that extra charge on your bill for? That would be the resort fee! A clever way for hotels to charge you for extra things that you thought you were getting for free – like WiFi, cocktails, toiletries and use of the pool. Resort fees are kind of a lie of omission, as they’re often not revealed until you've selected your hotel and gone through a couple of booking screens.

For a reliable, affordable, self-catering apartment that promises to tell no white lies, contact 808 Cartwright today! Or if you are in need of a speedy shuttle service to and from Cape Town International Airport, contact Airport Shuttle.

Written By: Christine Romans

New ACSA hand baggage rules

When it comes to what you carry on to a plane, it looks like things are getting a lot stricter. As of Monday the 2^nd of February, the ACSA have enforced new hand luggage restrictions at airports across South Africa. 

The new baggage laws will allow for:

  -  One bag plus one slimline laptop bag per economy class passenger

  -  Two bags plus slimline laptop bag per business/first class passenger

  -  No bag should exceed these dimensions: 56cm x 36cm x 23cm (total dimensions of 115cm including handles and wheels)

  -  Weight limit per bag: 7kg

All hand luggage exceeding this would have to be checked in and multiple hand luggage bags are no longer allowed. ACSA warned that if any passengers exceed the hand baggage limits they will have to deal with the specific airline’s excess baggage rules.

Mango Airlines said it will not be penalizing travelers for additional bags that have to be checked in as a consequence of the new regulation as it does not charge per piece of baggage within its 20kg allowance. However, if you are using a low cost airline like Kulula or FlySafair, you will need to be aware of the additional costs you might have to pay.

Kulula said that they will be allowing one free checked bag weighing up to 20kg and one piece of hand luggage weighing up to 7kg, and other bags require you to pay between R245 (Online) or R350 (at the airport). While FlySafair tickets include a hand luggage limit, any checked in baggage fees start at R150 for the first bag and R250 for the second bag.

SAA and SACAA customers are the exception and may take cabin baggage into the plane weighing up to 8kg, however the number of pieces and sizes must be adhered to.

If you are a traveler be warned that there may be potential delays at the check-in and security processes at all airports due to congestion during the initial implementation period in the coming weeks.

For a speedy, reliable shuttle service to and from Cape Town International Airport, contact Airport Shuttle. And a self-catering apartment? Just contact 808 Cartwright, and you will have comfy accommodation for the weekend.

Written By: Christine Romans

What to do in Cape Town this weekend (6th – 8th February)

It’s the start of the month of February, and that means a new month to fit in some amazing Cape Town activities. Don’t think because it’s Monday that you can’t start planning your weekend now, it’ll just give you something exciting to look forward too!

Santa’s Story at the Theatre on the Bay – 6 February
Aviva Pelham is a multi-award-winning and internationally acclaimed singer and she is returning to the stage to perform her one-woman show, Santa’s Story. The show will take place at the Theatre on the Bay and it will be directed by Janice Honeyman. The play tells the story of Aviva’s mother (Santa) as she flees from Germany to Spain and tries to navigate her life under Nazi oppression, the performance addresses themes that still relate to life today like racism, xenophobia, lost years and broken dreams. Make sure to watch this magical performance that tells of Holocaust survival through song.

Date: 6 February
Time: 20:00 – 21:20
Venue: Theatre on Bay
Price: R95 – R315

Lose It! Magazine’s Banting Bazaar in Cape Town– 7 February

If you are following the popular Tim Noakes Banting eating plan, then this is the chance to socialise with fellow devotees and shop for free LCHF(Less Carbohydrates and Higher Fat) fare and products at the Lose It! Magazine’s monthly Banting Bazaar. After a very successful launch in 2014, the event has returned to change the way people think about what they eat and to encourage Banting as a lifestyle. This is a great place to meet up and talk about experiences, cooking secrets and tips, not to mention some of the vendors include Cold Gold Artisan Ice Cream and Sorbet and Richard Bosman a master butcher. This pop-up bazaar is also a brilliant place for devoted dieters to relax and grab some brekkie or lunch.

Date: 7 February
Time: 09:00 – 14:00
Venue: City Bowl Hall
Price: FREE

The Art of the Lego Exhibition – 8 February
Don’t miss this world famous expo at the V&A Waterfront that transforms a common children’s toy into a work of art! Lego has delighted kids of all ages for decades, now the amazing Art of the Brick exhibition will captivate South African adults too, with 76 colourful, large-scale figures and portraits made ENTIRELY from tiny Lego pieces. The walk-through display takes up 1000m2 of the new Watershed building at the V&A Waterfront and it includes everything from a 6metre long Tyrannosaurus Rex Skeleton that is made up of 80,000 bricks and a wide variety of different , realistic human forms. Don’t miss this phenomenal, must-see display!

Date: 12 Dec 2014 – 28 Feb 2015
Time: 09:00 – 19:00
Venue: Watershed, V&A Waterfront
Price: R95 – R395

Food, theatre and amazing exhibitions, it’s all happening it Cape Town this weekend, so make sure you gather your family and friends and don’t miss a thing!

Contact 808 Cartwright Corner for a luxurious, affordable, self-catering apartment. do you need a shuttle service to and from Cape Town International Airport? Contact Airport Shuttle for a speedy, reliable ride.

Written By: Christine Romans

What to do in Cape Town this weekend (23rd – 25th January 2015)

Do you want to experience Cape Town this weekend? Don’t hide indoors because of the intense summer heat, enjoy the sunshine and make the most out of it this weekend in the Mother City.

Oude Libertas Summer Season Festival – 23 January

If live music in a beautiful setting seems like just what the doctor ordered then this series of wonderful outdoor concerts, showcasing the finest musical talent around will definitely tickle your fancy. The music concerts highlight a variety of different music from Viennese waltz, local pop-rock to sultry salsa music and even a local take on a timeless opera. There’s bound to be something for your taste and with the Oude Liberatas Amphitheatre as a venue, you can look forward to a concert surrounded by the beautiful Stellenbosch.

Date: 23 Jan 2015 - 08 Mar 2015
Time: 20:15 until late
Venue: Oude Libertas Amphitheatre
Price: R120 – R180

Saturday Pool Party at Shimmy Beach Club – 24 January

This summer there will be a series of weekend Pool Parties at the lavish Shimmy Beach Club, so get ready for some fun in the sun. Invite your friends and family to wind down for the evening around the beautiful glistening pools, amazing sea views, all while soaking up some top tunes. Unlike the smart Friday night jols, the Saturday affair is quite toned down, with bikinis, board shorts and bare feet being the dress code for the day. In between the top-notch DJ's (Dan Healy, Byron Soulful, Gareth Kenward, Branny B) there will also be a wide variety of entertainment from break dancing, acrobatics, and a foam machine to snacks and delicious cocktails.

Date: 24 Jan 2015
Time: 15:00 until late
Venue: Shimmy Beach Club
Price: R100 – R500

ERF 81 Food Market – 25 January
Grab your friends and family and head out to the ERF 81 Food Market in Tamboerskloof this Sunday. If you want to make a difference then this is the ideal place to spend the day, as the market focuses on promoting food security and a sustainable livelihood. All the food crops are grown organically and on the slopes of Signal Hill and then sold at the market for everyone to enjoy. If you attend you can look forward to a wide array of tasty baked treats, home-brewed coffee and delicious fresh produce.
 
Date: 25 Jan 2015
Time: 09:00 – 14:00
Venue: ERF 81
Price: FREE

This weekend, Cape Town is alive with activities and interesting events, whether it be a festival or a pool party or just a organic food market that makes a difference. Take your pick and enjoy your time away from the office.

For an affordable, comfy, self-catering apartment contact 808 Cartwright for great weekend accommodation. Do you need a reliable shuttle service to get you to and from Cape Town International Airport? Give Airport Shuttle a call now!

Written By: Christine Romans

Perfect padkos gear for your travels

When you travel it can be difficult to keep you snacks and drinks simple and easy to access, from leaky juice bottles to meals turning stale – sometimes it’s just such a hassle! On your next road trip, make sure you snack in style and add these clever gadgets to your padkos travel pack.

Collapsible water bottle – R18 from Silver Lining
When you travel it’s important for you to stay hydrated, this 740ml water bottle is perfect for travel hydration. Even better, when the bottle is empty you can fold it neatly and stick it under the car seat or in your bag. Make a note not to squeeze the bottle too tightly when you’re sipping otherwise you’ll spill.

Seal Sticks – R43 for six from Pick ‘n Pay or Plasticland
You won’t ever have to worry about keeping your food fresh with these nifty little Seal Sticks,  Simply fold the packet closed and slide over a seal stick and it keeps the air and moisture out of your snacks. They also come in all different sizes for different packet lengths.

Sistema “sauce-to-go” bottles – R79 Plasticland
None of us like eating dry food, whether its hot dogs or leftover meatballs, you need to add sauce or it’s just not complete! Luckily these tiny Sistema “sauce-to-go” bottles are tiny and convenient; just fill them up with tomato sauce, mayonnaise, mustard or whatever your favourite sauce may be.

Compleat Foodskin – R139 from Superbalist
Empty Tupperwares can take up a lot of space in your car or bag when they’re empty, never fear the Compleat Foodskin is here! The bottom tray makes up a solid base for your sarmie and the soft silicone lid stretches around your bread, keeping it together and fresh. Not only that but when it is empty it’s completely flat meaning you can store it anywhere.

The Lunch Pot – R220 from I Love Stuff
This is a trendy set of containers perfect for padkos, you can store your cereal in one container and your milk in the other so it doesn't go soggy. It also includes a spork and a carry strap for good measure! The Lunch Pot comes in three different colours and the smaller pot fits in the bigger pot for easy storing.

When you go on a road trip, whether it’s with family or friend padkos is an essential, so instead of your perfectly prepared snacks falling all over the place and taking up valuable space, keep them in order with this cool padkos gear.

Need a great, self-catering apartment after your long roadtrip? Contact 808 Cartwright and book now. For an affordable, reliable airport shuttle service - Airport Shuttle in Cape Town is your solution.

Written By: Christine Romans