Looking back at old fare schedules, air travel certainly seems affordable. In the 1960’s British Overseas Airway Corporation offered their tourist class round trip Springbok service from Johannesburg to London for only £273.00.   A steal of a deal considering your in-flight meals were served on plates made of actual china and air hostesses would happily give you a proper steak knife.  However, if you adjust for inflation, the same ticket today would have cost £5324.00 the equivalent of R 74, 366.00!  Certainly for this kind of cash, one could think of more exotic places to go than London.

Airplane | Air Travel

In addition to being price prohibitive, air travel in the so called Golden Age was a drawn out and dangerous business.  A flight from Johannesburg to London could be as long as 38 hours and the piston driven planes were terribly noisy and horrendously bumpy, often having to land to avoid turbulence and crashes were frequent.

It seems we take for granted how far aviation has come since the early days of commercial flight.  Although service levels may have declined drastically, so have prices and flight times.  Today, the average economy round trip ticket from Johannesburg to London costs anywhere from R7000-8000 depending on the airline and modern jet technology means a direct flight will see you safely from OR Tambo to London Heathrow in just 12 hours flat.

With the affordability, safety and timeliness of modern air travel, there has never been a better time to see the world and more people  than ever before can afford to do it.  Although the past will always have a certain allure for travellers, it comes with the caveat of memories.  Despite all their glitz and glamour, the airlines of the 50’s and 60’s would look to our generation and proclaim that it is we who live in the Golden Age of international air travel.

Are you a Twilight fan?  Well here’s the cruise for you!  Check out the week-long vampire themed cruise from Seattle to the beautiful icy waters of Alaska.  Take in all the spectacular northern sights from Polar Bears to icebergs all while enjoying Vampire themed events on-board.  Coffins not included.

Cruise Ship

Sail with Royal Caribbean through stunning turquoise waters, enjoy a barbeque on the private beach of CocoCay and mingle with COUGARS!  That’s right, this cruise is for younger men/older women and offers 3 nights of non-stop fun aboard the Majesty of the Seas through the western Caribbean.  It’s positively predacious.

If you dream of exploring galaxies far away then Norweigan Cruise lines has got you covered.  Unite with fellow Trekkies on this stellar Caribbean cruise and even meet celebrities from your favorite Star Trek series who will sign autographs and watch the show with you!  In the words of Mr. Spock himself, “fascinating…”.

Can’t decide what to wear? Why not wear anything at all!  That’s allowed aboard Star Flyers luxury Best of the Baltic cruise or onboard Paul Ganguin’s Polynesia.  With an itinerary designed for those that enjoy the very finest in life, you can explore Sweden, Russia and French Polynesia.  Formal wear not required in the dining room.

#1 Drink Lots of Water! – Healthcare professionals estimate that anywhere from 50-75% of our body weight is attributable to water.  Avoiding dehydration, especially on planes where humidity can reach levels lower than that of the Sahara desert, is the single most important part of staying healthy while you travel.  So make sure your drinking plenty of water and avoid alcohol before and during your flight.

Healthy Living Whilst Travelling

#2 Sleep! – If you are prone to difficulty sleeping on planes, make a plan to stop in at your doctor before you depart and pick up some sleeping aids.  Studies have shown that sleep deprivation supresses immune system function by increasing cytokine cells in the body.  These cells can make us more susceptible to illnesses and also make it harder to fight illnesses once we come down with them.   So, getting enough shut eye is a key component to staying healthy when you travel.

#3 Vitamins! –Taking a daily multivitamin to help you get some of the vitamins and minerals you might not be getting from diet alone is a great way to avoid getting sick.  Harvard University Medical Journal has published that various micronutrient deficiencies can alter immune responses in the body and make us more prone to illness.   If you’re not taking a multivitamin already, a good time to start is a week before you depart – and keep it up even after you’re back at home!

#4 Exercise – The health and immune system benefits of getting regular exercise cannot be underestimated.  Help your body stay healthy before, during and after your trip by maintaining your exercise routine while you’re away.  Many hotels and resorts have a gym you can use.  If you are without, try going for a jog or walk around where you’re staying or even just do some light exercise in your hotel room.  Staying active is a massive component to overall wellbeing.

#5 Travel Insurance – While exploring different parts of the world is absolutely amazing, unexpected and serious illnesses or injury coupled with a foreign healthcare system can be a recipe for disaster.  Before going anywhere make sure you are properly covered financially for any injury or illness that could occur when you’re away.  Having the correct travel insurance  can not only give you piece of mind and save you thousands of dollars in medical bills, but it could also save your life.    Don’t take a chance, get the right coverage before you depart.

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While the Dubai Mall offers shoppers a chance to purchase goods from a dizzying array of stores, a trip to one of the local markets called a Souk  is a once in a lifetime experience.  If you have ever wanted to buy gold, the Gold Souk is not only a fantastic place to get a great price (haggling is a necessity) but also to buy some beautifully crafted and original jewellery.

The Burj | Dubai

Marvel at the endless rows of stalls, glittering with gems and metals but make sure to bring plenty of cash with you for purchases.  Also worth a visit is the nearby Spice Souk.  Here you can buy everything from gelato to saffron.

Visit the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve.  This natural desert ecosystem is home to many wildlife and plant species.  Tour companies offer packages allowing visitors to ride camels through the sand dunes and enjoy an authentic Arabian dinner after sundown complete with belly dancing.  This is a must do for anyone wanting to experience the desert first hand.

After a day in the desert, you can escape indoors with a visit to the Dubai Museum.  Although small, the museum uses life size displays to depict what life in the Emirate was like before the discovery of oil.  Spend a few hours here and then head out to the Marina for a relaxing walk and have some dinner at the Dubai Creek Yacht Club.   Here, you can enjoy panoramic city views from an open air terrace and watch the sun set.

No trip to Seattle would be complete without first going to the top of the famed Space Needle.   Located in the heart of downtown, the observation deck allows visitors to enjoy spectacular views of the city from a 605ft in the air.  While here you can also enjoy a lovely dinner.

Space Needle | Seattle

After you’ve checked out the Needle, head down to historic Pike Place Market.  Home of the very first Starbucks, this stunning community market on the shores of Puget Sound is a great place to shop for everything from fresh caught seafood to kitchen supplies.  Make sure you stop in at the ever popular Chowders restaurant for some of the best clam chowder you’ve ever had.

If you enjoy art, then a visit to the Chihuly gardens is a must.  Also in close proximity to the Space Needle, this amazing gallery features beautiful and intricate glassworks which flow throughout a massive conservatory.  Chihuly is both a feast for the eyes and senses.

After a long day of sightseeing, the city’s famed restaurant and wine bar, Purple, is a great place to relax.  With beautiful vaulted ceilings and hundreds bottles from vineyards all over the world, this award winning restaurant allows you to pair delicious hors d’oeuvres with great wines.   If you’re looking for comfort food with a great atmosphere, than Barrio Mexican restaurant is another fantastic place to dine out.  With dishes ranging from crab chile relleno to fresh made guacamole, your tastebuds will love you for it!

Walk off a great meal in Discovery Park.  With lots of walking trails, beaches, bluffs and grassy fields, the park is a good place to get some fresh air and enjoy the natural scenery that Washington has to offer.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

After you’ve checked in, head down to Hollywood Boulevard and visit the ultra-famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  Check out the handprints of Hollywood royalty before heading in for a drink at the Roosevelt Hotel.

This iconic Los Angeles landmark was recently renovated to include a chic wine bar and even includes one of the city’s most popular nightclubs: Teddy’s. By day, cruise down Rodeo Drive and admire some of the world’s most amazing (and expensive) designer stores.

This street, located in the heart of LA’s ultra ritzy Beverly Hills neighbourhood, is where the city’s elite come to spend their hard earned money. If shopping is not your thing, drive up through the Hollywood Hills and marvel at where the stars live.  Once here, you can also go for a scenic hike at Runyon Canyon Park, located just off Mulholland Drive right in the heart of the hills.  This laid back hiking spot offers visitors a chance to get unparalleled views of the city.

For those looking to check out some of the state’s famous surf culture, make your way to the cool neighbourhood of Santa Monica.  Boasting an awesome pier complete with theme park rides and an oceanfront restaurant, Santa Monica is a great place to hang out for the day.  Make sure you pack your costume!  Visitors can relax on the long stretch of beach or even try surfing those famous California waves.

Coachella (USA) – Party with the stars in sunny Indio California for a 3 day weekend music and art festival held in mid-April.  Having gained so much popularity in recent years, the festival has had to expand to an additional weekend later in the month.  Featuring a wide range of artists from the Wu Tang Clan to Yeasayer, this festival is so fabulous it brings some of Hollywood’s big names, like Peirce Brosnan and Diane Kruger out of the hills and into the desert.

Big Day Out – (Australia) If you have ever wanted to party it up down under than Big Day Out is the ticket for you.  Held in 5 major cities across the country, this killer 2 day party is held in late January and has attracted the musical genius of such bands as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Vampire Weekend and Animal Collective.  Aside from the amazing music, you can also check out some of the festivals outrageous entertainment which has included Mexican wrestling and an MTV hosted house party.

Rock In Rio - (Brazil) – The big daddy of all festivals, Rock in Rio originated in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro in 1985 and has been the biggest music festival in the world attracting 1.5 million people.  Since the 1980’s the festival has since expanded to Lisbon, Portugal and Madrid Spain to host of the biggest names in rock and pop.  2012’s lineup included Linkin Park, Maroon 5 and Metallica to name a few.

While these are some of the biggest festivals in terms of attendance, there are loads of other amazing, bizarre and fun festivals ranging in size and style held all over the world at various times of year.  So, the next time you’re planning an overseas trip, do a little research beforehand and see if you can’t catch one of these great festivals.

Copenhagen

Trivoli Gardens opened in 1843 and is one of Europe’s oldest amusement parks.  A great place to dine out and people watch, Trivoli features roller coasters  a perfectly manicured 21 acre park, a concert hall and numerous restaurants.  By day enjoy the excitement of the park with its many rides and activities or explore the gardens with its stunning display of flora and fauna. Come nightfall find yourself marvelling at the thousands of lights sparkling in the trees and enjoy a quite dinner at one of the parks café’s or restaurants. This magnificent and imaginative park is a must see.

Next, check out postcard perfect Nyhavn with its colourful canal front houses.  This 17^th century waterfront district was originally a busy commercial port.  Today, it is known for its nightlife and historic wooden ships at the Veteran Ship and Museum Harbour.   Stop in for a drink and enjoy the canal from the patio of a pub or take a canal tour and experience the city from the water.  If you’re on a budget, buy a beer from one of the local stores and relax at the quayside.

From Nyhavn get a real feel for the city with a stroll along the world’s longest pedestrian street: Stroget.  Located in the heart of the city, visitors can admire stunning architecture and window shop at hundreds of stores from Versace to Lego.  On a clear day stop at the Round Tower.

Cophenhage, Denmark, Round Tower, Europe, Museum Harbour, Trivoli Gardens.  As Europe’s oldest functioning observatory, the tower allows for panoramic views of the old part of the city from an outdoor platform. From beautiful architecture rich with history to unique neighbourhoods and bustling streets, Denmark’s Copenhagen is a must visit for all European vacationers.

FLIGHT CENTRE is once again gearing up for its 3rd annual Travel Expo.  Held at Johannesburg’s Coca-Cola Dome on February 16^th and 17^th, the show offers attendees a chance to save big with exclusive travel deals. This year, Flight Centre is planning an even bigger and better event which promises to deliver fantastic value to those looking for great getaway deals.

Flight Centre Travel Expo

“We have added even better packages with greater savings so our customers can get incredible deals on a wider variety of travel.”  says Eric Sakawsky, GM Marketing for Flight Centre. The show, which hosts over 70 exhibitions by some of the world’s leading airlines, tour companies, cruise lines, and hotels, also gives travellers a chance to win travel prizes and get insider advice on destinations from industry experts.

 
“We have over R250,000 of incredible travel prizes to be won and free entry for those that register online at www.travelexpo.co.za before hand.” adds Sakawsky.  He also notes that in addition to the exhibitors and prizes, the show will feature lots of great entertainment so the whole family can come out and have fun.

“There will be a golf challenge, rock climbing wall, scuba tank, kid’s fun zone including face painters, balloon artists as well as child minders and entertainment throughout each day.   Although he mentions a celebrity guest, Sakawsky stays tight lipped about who it will be, adding, “We are very excited to have one of South Africa’s very own celebrities be part of this year’s Expo, it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

For more information on South Africa’s #1 travel show visit www.travelexpo.co.za.

For many, travelling with the whole family includes bringing along your furry four-legged friends.  But, with so many regulations and rules especially for air travel, taking your pet away on your next holiday may seem daunting.  At Flight Centre, we love animals and understand how important your pets are, that’s why we have compiled our top tips for travelling with paws!

If you are planning on vacationing domestically by car, one of the most important parts of planning your journey is considering your pet.  For starters, make sure they have a comfortable place in the vehicle with familiar items from home (perhaps their favourite toy) to make them feel safe.

Household Pets

If you are travelling domestically by air, check with the airline first regarding particular regulations for travelling with pets.  With the exception of guide dogs, most airlines require all animals to be checked as manifested cargo in an IATA approved carrier crate specific to your pet’s size and weight (see www.iata.org or your airlines website for more information).  Be sure to check these sources well in advance of your departure and before purchasing a crate to avoid buying the wrong size as regulations can be very specific.

For those hoping to take their animals on an international adventure, check with the receiving country before making any concrete plans.  If you are just going for a visit, sometimes regulations, vaccinations and paperwork can be so arduous that it may be less complicated and more cost effective to leave your furry friend safe at home.  For those planning a permanent relocation to another country, or simply must have their pet along, it is well worthwhile to contact an agency specializing in pet relocation to help you through the process as regulations vary from country to country.