THE WINE EXPRESS IS BACK FROM 01 JUNE 2011

 THE WINE EXPRESS 

Starting Wed 1 June 2011, The Wine Express will be operating from the V&A Waterfront again.  The service was put on hold for logistical reasons, which have now been resolved.

The Wine Express is a service offered by Wine Desk, a tour broker specializing in wine tourism, based in the V&A Waterfront Information Centre in the V&A Waterfront.

The aim of these wine trips is to give visitors an opportunity for a ‘no frills no fuss’ trip that will get them to the Winelands and back.

Based in the V&A Waterfront for 9 years, the Wine Desk offers visitors to Cape Town advice on visiting the Winelands, as well as small group pre-scheduled or private day and overnight tours guided by wine specialist guides.  During this time, Wine Desk has developed products based on visitors’ requests.  One of the key issues is transport.  Not all visitors want to join a tour and may not be keen to hire a car.  To get to the wine regions, they would then have to use a taxi or shuttle service, which unfortunately is not ideal with regards to cost.  The answer was therefore to provide a service which would get them to the Winelands and back at minimal cost.  The trips depart a little later in the mornings than most scheduled tours, and the reason for this is to accommodate those visitors whose activities have been cancelled for the day due to inclement weather.  The trips end at 16h00. 

The itineraries followed vary on a daily basis, but always include visits to 3 wineries, as well as 1 hour free time to explore the historic town of Stellenbosch.  Tastings are optional.

The price for these trips is R395pp.  Departure is from V&A Waterfront bus terminal and tickets can be bought at the Wine Desk in the V&A Waterfront Information Centre (open daily from 09h00 – 18h00). 

For further enquiries, please contact Wine Desk on 021 418 0108 or waterfront@winedesk.co.za

TRIP #1: SUNDAY (Durbanville/Stellenbosch)

Hillcrest

1 hour free time in Stellenbosch

Peter Falke

Avontuur

TRIP #2: MONDAY (Franschhoek)

Backsberg

La Motte

Rickety Bridge

1 hour free time in Franschhoek

TRIP #3: TUESDAY (Stellenbosch)

Dornier

Clos Malverne

Jordan

1 hour free time in Stellenbosch

TRIP #4: WEDNESDAY (Paarl/Stellenbosch)

Backsberg

Delaire Graff

Amares

1 hour free time in Stellenbosch

TRIP #5: THURSDAY (Stellenbosch)

Uva Mira

Peter Falke

Bilton

1 hour free time in Stellenbosch

TRIP #6: FRIDAY (Stellenbosch)

Avontuur

Uva Mira

Peter Falke

1 hour free time in Stellenbosch

Trip #7: SATURDAY (Paarl/Stellenbosch)

Dornier

Clos Malverne

Jordan

1 hour free time in Stellenbosch

The Wine Deck Contact Information

Ligia de Coito
Tel: 021-418 0108
Fax: 086 607 2980
Email: ligia@winedesk.co.za
Website: www.winedesk.co.za
Facebook: www.facebook.com/winedesk
Twitter: @Wine.Desk
Skype: Wine Desk

Five-star hotel rates dive

Five-star hotels in Cape Town have experienced the biggest drop of 11,3% in average daily room rates (ADR) in the industry this year despite an 8,9% increase in occupancy to 63,4. They are followed by five-star hotels in Sandton, which dropped their rates by 8,8%, while occupancies there stayed fairly stable at around 52%.

The statistics are for the period January to March compared with the same period last year. They are contained in the authoritative Star Report of STR Global, the international hotel data tracking company that provides market share analysis to all major international hotel chains and brands.

The ADR for Cape Town’s five-star hotels dropped to R1 867, compared with R1 407 among Sandton’s five-star establishments. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) in Cape Town’s five-star hotels dropped by 3,4% to R1 185 but in Sandton’s five-star hotels by 9,4% to R735.

In KwaZulu Natal, Umhlanga hotels suffered the biggest drop of 4,3% in occupancies to 49,6%; with a 5,8% decline in ADR to R925 and a 9,8% drop in RevPAR to R459. 

Occupancies of five-star hotels in South Africa in general rose slightly to 54,8%, but ADR dropped by 9,1% to R1 629 and RevPAR dropped by 6,1% to R893.

Ref: http://www.tourismupdate.co.za/NewsDetails.aspx?newsId=59236

2 NIGHT SPECIAL AT EXCELSIOR MANOR GUESTHOUSE & WINE ESTATE IN ROBERTSON

ONLY R 1600.00 PER PERSON FOR 2 NIGHTS

On arrival, you will be met with a welcome drink and checked in to your room.  Relax with a Wine tasting and blending of your own bottle of wine until dinner is served.

The following day, after a hearty breakfast, drive to Montagu for a Tractor Trip (Wed & Sat only) at the Protea Farm followed by a Potjiekos lunch or make your way to Viljoensdrift for a River Cruise (weather permitting).  Dinner will be served back at Excelsior Manor Guesthouse.

The final morning enjoy breakfast followed by a Golf Cart Ride including fruit picking (Seasonal) or a Donkey Cart Ride around the Vineyards.

BOOK NOW!!!!

Tel: 023 6152050 / Fax: 023 615 2019

Email: cellar@excelsior.co.za

http://www.excelsiormanor.co.za

Regret no children under 12 years permitted

 

 

Winter Special at Abalone House

Abalone House is offering a special winter package of R1 200 per person sharing, which includes an overnight stay, afternoon tea, dinner and breakfast.  This rate is available 1 May 2011 – end July 2011 and is subject to availability.

For more information and reservations call Abalone House Boutique Guesthouse at (27) (022) 752 2044

email: info@abalonehouse.co.za or visit www.abalonehouse.co.za

Signature Special at 221 Waterfront

Cruise & Dine Package

Please support this wonderful cause.

Umlani Bush Camp - Timbavati

Web:               www.umlani.com

Email:              info@umlani.com

Tel:                  021 785 5547

Bush camp with no electricity

 Umlani's traditional African reed and thatch huts will not only provide you with all the comforts you need, but will also provide you with an authentic experience of local tribal (Shangaan) architecture and style, which blends in naturally with the environment.

 

Each hut has en-suite facilities including an open-air bush shower fuelled by wood fires. The hut is comfortably fitted with white mosquito nets, crisp white linen and towels as well as with standard bathroom amenities, bottled water (although the tap water is perfectly safe to drink) and insect repellent. Umlani's philosophy of simplistic luxury and 'getting back to nature' is enhanced by the romance of operating without electricity, so each hut and the entire camp is lit by candlelight and oil lamps, providing a warm and romantic atmosphere.

The camp can accommodate a total of 16 guests. There are four double huts, three huts that sleep four people, and one hut that sleeps three people. This allows us to be flexible with friends and families that would like to share accommodation.