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In Advice

Honeymoon destinations inspired by TV shows

May 17, 2022 No Comments

It’s time to ring in your recent nuptials with a heavenly honeymoon. If you’re a super-fan of a particular show, why not make your getaway an extra special trip by visiting their filming locations? Even if you haven’t seen these shows, these destinations promise memorable moments with your love.

Dubrovnik, Croatia – Game of Thrones

While many Croatian cities doubled up as filming locations for the popular HBO series, Game of Thrones, none are more famous than Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik’s old town is home to the show’s Kings Landing, capital of the mythical Seven Kingdoms. There are multiple locations throughout old town that will be immediately recognisable to GOT fans. Most famously, Queen Cersei did her walk of shame right here at the Jesuit Staircase. Scenes were also filmed on the City Walls and the West Harbour, at the entrance of the old town, where the battle of Blackwater Bay was shot.

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Niagara Falls, Canada – The Office

Considering The Office is one of the most loved TV shows of all time, this is one destination many would be thrilled at. Fan favourites Jim and Pam famously got married under the falls. After growing incredibly stressed, Jim and Pam ditch their wedding plans the day of, instead hopping aboard a ferry and getting hitched in a private ceremony officiated by the ship’s captain.

Retrace their steps by taking a ferry to the falls and visit the Hornblower. Don’t forget to end the evening with a moonlit stroll along the brightly illuminated Falls.

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Paris – Sex and the City

You’ll need little encouragement to visit the city of love and lights, but we’ll give you one anyway. Sex and the City, the iconic early-2000s show detailing the lives of four New York women, is much-loved by fans. While Carrie and the girls call New York home, she found herself glamorously living in Paris in the final season. Channel your inner Carrie and Big with a romantic trip to Paris. Make sure to stop off at the Plaza Athénée where she stayed, and take a romantic stroll on Le Pont Des Arts, the Lovers Bridge, where Carrie and Big famously reunited.

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New York – Gossip Girl / Friends

The Big Apple is full of filming locations open to the public. Fan-favourite Gossip Girl had every viewer wishing they could live in the upper West Side. For most of us, our closest bet to living their glamorous lives is by is visiting the filming locations. From the Palace Hotel where it-girl Serena Van der Woodsen lived to the steps of the Met where the girls of Constance would congregate, you will love living it up in New York. Xoxo, Gossip Girl.

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California – American Horror Story

Take a trip to California for a spooky spin on your honeymoon. Los Angeles is home to an incredibly famous, and incredibly eerie, house. The Alfred Rosenheim Mansion, or Murder House as American Horror Story (AHS) fans know it, is actually a popular filming location, having appeared in Spider-Man and Seabiscuit. Other notable filming locations you can visit include Cecil Hotel, which appeared in season 5, and Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana, home to Briarcliff Asylum in Season Two.

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England – Downton Abbey & The Crown

Fans or Downton Abbey and The Crown will have a royal time in England. Travellers can visit central filming location, Highclere Castle, which viewers will know as Downton manor, as well as a host of other beautiful buildings featured on the show.

Lovers of the British Monarchy-centred show, The Crown, can visit Lancaster House in Westminster, which serves as the filming location for Buckingham Palace’s recreated State Rooms. Or, if you want, you can visit the real place itself and pop down to Buckingham Palace to bask in royalty.

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Image: Unsplash

In Advice

Unique honeymoon stays in South Africa

May 8, 2022 No Comments

A honeymoon is already a romantic trip, but why not make it even more special with an unusual destination? Standard hotel rooms and airbnbs are are fun but they’re also a little bit predictable.

South Africa has a few weird and wonderful locations that you can call ‘home’ for a few days while celebrating your newly wedded bliss. Here are a few of our favourites.

Old Mac Daddy

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Just an hour out of Cape Town and set amongst the apple orchards, Old Mac Daddy offers open spaces, mountain paths, a lakeside beach and plenty of outdoor activities. Part caravan park, part designer farm lodge – this little hotel is truly unique.

They have a sleek collection of 12 themed vintage Airstream Trailer Suites, each uniquely designed by some of Cape Town’s top artists and designers.

Visit the website HERE.

Rovos Rail

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Since its establishment in 1989, Rovos Rail has earned an international reputation for its truly world-class travel experiences. In a series of bespoke train journeys lasting from 48 hours to 15 days, Rovos Rail links some of the continent’s greatest destinations with a variety of off-train excursions.

The vintage carriage offers 3 suite types: Royal, Deluxe and Pullman. The suites accommodate one or two passengers with the option of double or twin beds. All have en-suites with shower, toilet, basin and bath (Royal only), tea facilities, safes, air conditioning, linen and amenities and are serviced daily.

Visit the website HERE.

Kagga Kamma Cave Suites

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Go back into nature and live like our forefathers, albeit it in a much more luxurious way. Kagga Kamma in the Swartruggens region of the Cederberg Mountains offers ten unique man-made ‘Cave’ Suites that were skilfully constructed to integrate with the natural Sandstone formations.

The facade of the ‘Cave’ Suites are man-made, while the back interior wall is natural sandstone. Each ‘Cave’ Suite has a small terrace with a view and is simply furnished with comfort in mind. Each ‘Cave’ is equipped with a double bed, air-conditioner, and coffee/tea making facilities, en-suite bathroom, bathrobes, hairdryer and complimentary toiletries.

Visit their website HERE.

Speekhout treehouse, Eastern Cape

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Live out your childhood fantasies by staying in a real-life treehouse. Speekhout offer an adult wooden treehouse built in the boughs of an ancient sprawling red Karee tree (Rhus Lancea). The dwelling is enveloped by the branches of a living tree, with lush vegetation and bush as a private garden
It is free-standing and away from other guest accommodation on the farm, also making it naturally private.

Equipped as a self-catering getaway with gas and electricity, the Tree House also has a newly installed enclosed fireplace making cold karoo winter nights warm inside. There is an outdoor braai area for starry summer nights and mountain views alike.

Visit their website HERE.

Houseboat Myrtle, Knysna Lagoon

Spend the day floating over the Knysna lagoon on the Houseboat Myrtle, a totally self-contained wooden cottage on the water. Myrtle is one of the original Knysna houseboats and has a lovely wood finish inside. With its two decks, it’s perfect for lazy days floating on the lagoon. From the deck, you can enjoy views of the lagoon, the quays and the Knysna Heads, catch fish or just relax…

The boat is moored in a permanent location, yet turns with the changing tides or winds, giving you the variety of the 360 Degrees views of Knysna from both decks. You can even lay in bed and watch as the boat turns and changes your bed view.

Visit their website HERE.

Picture: Instagram / Old Mac Daddy

In Advice

Say ‘I do’ to these top honeymoon tips

February 23, 2021 No Comments

After the stress of planning your big day, the honeymoon is the perfect time to sit back and relax while you enjoy your first days as a newlywed couple.

Your honeymoon is about romance, adventure, and intimate time with your new spouse. Naturally, you don’t want to have a care in the world besides what outfit you’re gonna wear and to remember to wear sunscreen when out and about.

For stress-free honeymoon planning and a trip that’s nothing short of perfect, follow this easy checklist.

Allocate a captain

Consider electing one person to be responsible for the majority of the travel details. While both views are valid and considered, things are more streamlined if one person handles the reigns. This might be the partner who is handling fewer of the wedding details.

Set a budget

Work out what you can afford to pay first, then make plans around it. This will gauge the destinations, hotels, transport and activities you can include in your trip. Although a lavish trip may be exceptional, keep in mind that life goes on after the honeymoon so be wise about funds and make sure you have something to come back to.

Consider the season

You may get married on a hot, South African summer’s day but if you’re heading north to the likes of Europe it’s likely to be significantly cooler (or the other way round). Take note of rainy seasons – you don’t want to get caught in a three-day cyclone in the tropics.

Book early

For tourist hot spots, try to reserve flights and accommodation at least six months prior to departure. Trips closer to home – two months in advance is suitable.

Don’t lose the maiden name (just yet)

If you’ve decided to change your name after marriage, make sure to use your maiden name when booking flights as you won’t actually be able to use your partner’s name until after the wedding. Make sure to book with the same name as what’s on your passport or ID book.

Rather be safe than sorry

Opt for travel insurance to give you both peace of mind. Compare rates and policies online, with sites like Insure My Trip, or go to your nearest Travel Agent to find out more.

Print out proof; keep it charged

Keep online printouts with you – email confirmations, a copy of your ID or passport and any necessary documents you might need. Don’t forget your camera charger (and an electricity converter if necessary). Have fun!

Picture: Unsplash

In Advice

Should you hire a travel agent to plan your honeymoon?

January 11, 2021 No Comments

After the stress of wedding planning, a honeymoon away with your loved one sounds like the perfect remedy. Unfortunately, that requires even more planning.

Travel agents are experts in their field and can turn a getaway into a trip of a lifetime. If you’re still on the fence of deciding on doing it yourself or relinquishing control, here are some pros and cons to help you make your decision:

The Pros:

It’s literally their job to create perfect trips

Travel agents are seasoned professionals at planning trips, and consider every aspect. If you’re a newbie to travelling, there may be some things you don’t even think about that could have a huge impact on your getaway.

They also tend to know a lot more about certain destinations and properties and can recommend restaurants, clubs and sightseeing spots off the beaten track.

They can get deals and discounts not available to the public:

With all their connections in the industry, travel agents are more likely to get discounted rates for hotel stays and experiences. It can sometimes even be slightly more affordable to book a package through them than to book it all separately by yourself.

It saves you time, effort and stress:

Outsourcing a responsibility allows you to focus your energy on something else, which is especially helpful for couples planning a wedding at the same time. All you need to do is pack your bags and hop on your flight to your dream destination.

The cons:

It’s another expense

While travel agents are typically not costly, planning a wedding is already expensive enough and adding another vendor to your list might not be in your budget. If you don’t have the wiggle room or would rather save your money to use on your honeymoon itself, then hiring a travel agent may not be the best idea.

It can be hard to find the right one:

Like with anything in life, you want the right person to handle your business. Travel agents are not all made equal, and some may push you into more costly experiences or not tailor your trip to your personality but instead on what they enjoy.

Picture: Unsplash

In Emotional

Couple change wedding plans, marry hours after lock-down announcement

November 3, 2020 No Comments

On Saturday, October 31 Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that they will be going to another hard lockdown that will last four weeks in preparation for Christmas and to reduce the number of rapidly growing infections.

Couple Jo Loosemore, 33, and Matthew Goffin, 37 were meant to get married on November 14. Instead, they married 24 hours after the announcement.

Matthew said that they already had a set date, venue, and 200 guests as part of their plans for their wedding day. The ceremony was going to take place in Devon but because of the impromptu decision to get married a day after the announcement, they got married at Church of St Martin in Witcham, Cambridgeshire instead.

Initially, the venue in Devon was chosen because of the proximity to Jo’s parents but the change forced them to get married where they lived with their son.

Jo said: “I was having a shower on Saturday morning and I heard about the news coming out so I just thought, ‘Well I’ll see if we can get it done this weekend”

The couple ran around trying to get everything ready for their new wedding date, they posted an appeal on their village’s Facebook page, which led to offers from musicians, with friends and family also helping them and they had a beautiful ceremony.

Picture: Unsplash

In Advice

Now trending: The first honeymoon

October 7, 2020 No Comments

This year has been a tough one for the wedding world. Across the globe, couples are postponing their weddings as the COVID-19 pandemic worsens. A new trend has no emerged from this, in which couples are making the best of a bad situation.

Many couples are opting to still honour their original wedding date by going on honeymoon on a much smaller scale. Called the “first honeymoon”, they have decided that they don’t want to be sad on what would have been their wedding day, so they head out on a trip and celebrate it.

A first honeymoon is a shorter, more affordable, typically domestic and small-scale “honeymoon” on or around the original wedding date.

According to a recent survey by wedding planning website Zola, one-third of engaged couples plan to have a first honeymoon.

“We’ve had engagement moons, and mini-moons, but no one ever thought a first moon would be a thing,” said Zola spokesperson Hailey Murphy. “Couples are finding joy in that and still looking forward to these big weddings and big celebrations that we will hopefully be able to get back to sooner rather than later.”

The first honeymoon is the perfect opportunity to relax and take a break from the stress of life, especially welcomed now as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to escalate in many countries.

With so many travel restrictions in place, first honeymoons are best when they remain domestic. It is also important to maintain social distancing and practice good hygiene.

While international travel is open in South Africa, our local travel industry is in great need of financial support. Think local and book a trip to a nearby town or province to help the country get back on its feet.

Picture: Pexels

In Advice

Where to go for your post-lockdown honeymoon

July 1, 2020 No Comments

Keen to get planning on your post-lockdown honeymoon? Now is the time. If you and your loved one are avid travellers, listen up.

The global pandemic has forced most (if not all) countries to shut down worldwide, but some are slowly starting to open up for tourists again. While South Africans aren’t allowed to set foot outside the country yet, authorities say borders will likely open for outbound travel in 2021. That gives you just enough time to save up and look out for the best deals.

Several countries are already allowing tourists, including the European Union, Dubai, some south-east Asian countries and some African countries.

Other parts of the world that might take longer to recover are the United States and far east Asia, so don’t put your hopes on spending your honeymoon there just yet.

Here are our top picks of overseas honeymoon destinations that are welcoming visitors:

Europe

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The EU will be allowing non-Schengen visitors from July, and we couldn’t be more excited. Some EU countries like Italy and Spain were extremely hard hit, so they will be welcoming tourists with open arms. Get ready to sip wine and stroll through cobbled streets.

Dubai

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If you had your heart set on a glamorous shopping expedition, fear not. The United Arab Emirates is reopening its borders to tourists this July. Remember to plan your dates for a mild season, as summer in the middle east can get sweltering.

Read more here.

Mauritius

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If you had more of an island vacation in mind, you’re in luck. Mauritius has been declared coronavirus-free since April, and the country said it is excited to welcome visitors. Pack those sunnies and flip flops, margaritas under palm trees await.

Namibia

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If you’re looking to be immersed in the bushveld, look no further than our neighbours to the north. Namibia is set to reopen borders and will likely have several fantastic special offers. Grab the binoculars and sun hats.

Read more here.

Cambodia

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The country is open for tourists but be warned that travelling there in the near future will require a quite flexible budget. Cambodia asks tourists to put down a significant deposit for COVID-19 related protocols, but for those who don’t mind, the tropical paradise awaits.

Read more here.

Barbados

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This lovely eastern Caribbean island is a dream come true and you’ll be able to hop over soon. The country opens for international visitors in July, so make sure your snorkel gear is ready and your sarong is packed.

Read more here.

Image: Pixabay

In Destination

Arty activities for honeymooners in SA

June 22, 2020 No Comments

If you and your partner are inclined towards arts and crafts activities, honeymooning in SA will be a blast. Those who can’t see themselves going the mainstream tourist route and are looking for something different, keep an eye out for South Africa’s many art studios, creative classes and markets for a fun alternative.

Get your creative juices flowing with these arty activities across the country.

Paint something

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If you’re looking for a delightful day out, paint something together. It might even be something useful like a coffee mug, plate or flower planter that will be a special addition to your home. Many studios offer ready-made items for you to paint, and we adore the Clay Cafe in Cape Town.

Take a ceramic class

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Making something with your hands is always a rewarding experience. If you are looking for a bit of a challenge other than just painting something, go for a ceramics class together! Get down and dirty with pottery, sculpting or any other clay work and make something you’ll cherish forever. We love Kim Sacks School of Ceramics in Johannesburg.

Visit an arts & crafts market

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If you’re feeling less like making and more like buying, visit one of South Africa’s many arts and crafts markets to browse some outstanding local art. Look for unique pieces perfect for your home and keep an eye out, the artist may be right there at the stall! For an all-in-one with delicious food on top, go to the Neighbourgoods market in Johannesburg.

Look at street art

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Getting out and about is the best way to explore a city and many of SA’s cities are known for spectacular street art. Look up some places with street art and research the history and meaning behind it. Then go browse and of course, persuade your partner to execute an elaborate photoshoot for the ‘Gram. Woodstock in Cape Town has some amazing street art.

Visit an art gallery

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For a more sophisticated art experience, visit one of the top notch art galleries in the country. You and your partner might have favourite artists, styles or eras of art history. Look up the galleries in your destination, pack your best dress and heels and observe the splendour. We love State of the ART gallery in Cape Town.

Image: Pixabay

In Destination

Sporty activities for honeymooners in SA

May 22, 2020 No Comments

Some power couples are keeping fit wherever they go, and we salute you. If fitness is your passion, why not include it in your honeymoon? That way you won’t feel guilty about indulging in that decadent dessert!

Wherever you go, it’s easy to find other like-minded souls who love sport as much as you do. Take a look at these activities you can do almost anywhere if you’re keen to break a sweat.

1. Hike

Hiking is a great couple activity as it allows for chatting all the way and taking time to appreciate the surroundings. Pack your favourite snacks and get laced up. You’ll never be disappointed hiking in South Africa. Take a look at Hike Cape Town.

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2. Run

Runners are lucky in the sense that you can do it anywhere on earth. If you’re a casual runner or just want to keep a basic fitness routine while on honeymoon, look up a Park Run near you. If you’re a more serious runner, maybe enter a race in your honeymoon destination together and battle it out on the road.

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3. Kayak

For those who love water sports, kayaking is the perfect combination of exercise and fun. Grab the sunscreen and head out! Your arms might feel it the next day, but it’ll be so worth it. We love Untouched Adventures.

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4. Cycle

Cyclists are so in love with their sport, they don’t even see it as exercise. Take to the open road with your love for the ultimate honeymoon adventure while burning some calories. Head over to Cape Cycle Routes.

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5. Ultimate frisbee

Some would say, the ultimate sport. Wherever you go, there’s bound to be casual games happening on a beach or a park that anyone can join, regardless of skill. Cape Town has the most ultimate frisbee action, but there are active teams in Pietermaritzburg, Joburg, Potchefstroom and Bloemfontein too. Take a look at the Cape Town Flying Disc Association.

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Image: Pexels

In Destination

Romantic activities for honeymooners in SA

May 20, 2020 No Comments

If you’ve recently tied the knot, we bet you only have eyes for your partner. Your honeymoon should be a special time filled with romance and love. Forget about the stress and worries of real life, this is all about quality bonding time.

South Africa has no shortage of romantic ventures and secluded little spots. Take a look at these couple-focused activities for head-over-heels lovebirds.

1. Hot air balloon

Nothing says ‘romance’ like a hot air balloon ride. Many a proposal has been carried out mid-air, but it’s even more thrilling to take in the view with your new spouse. We like Mankwe Gametrackers in Pilanesberg.

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2. Picnic

You’ve done it a thousand times, but it never gets old. Picnics are the universal go-to romantic date and it’s easy to see why. Food, beautiful surroundings and your loved one. What more could you want? Find a secluded beach, park or nature spot for the perfect picnic.

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3. Wine tasting

Ah, the original love potion. Wine farms are notoriously beautiful and create the perfect setting. Do a tasting, a pairing or full out dinner date, but include wine. You’ll thank us later. Take a look at Haskell Vineyards in Stellenbosch.

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4. Couple’s massage

Massages plus romance? Win-win! Massages are not only relaxing and reviving, it’s great for your muscles and blood circulation. You’ll both leave feeling revived and pampered from head to toe! We recommend Vusalela Day Spa in Pretoria.

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5. Sunset boat cruise

Imagine it: The wind through your hair, the sun’s last golden rays and the gentle waves of the sea. Boat rides are an escape from reality and will make you fall in love all over again! We like Waterfront Charters in Cape Town.

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6. Dance lesson

Learn a new skill or practice an old hobby! Dance lessons from tango to salsa and everything in between are fun and you get to hold your love in your arms. Give it a try! We love Salsa Cape Town.

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Image: Pexels