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Newsletter 52  |  January 2006

P.O. Box 13600, NOORDSTAD, 9302          E-mail: info@etniquetravel.co.za
Tel: (051) 406 2500                    Fax: (051) 436 3793

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AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER:  083 461 2561

As you may have noticed, we recently joined the Sure Travel group, the country’s largest independent travel agency group, and we have thus changed our name to Sure Etnique Travel. We are the only Sure Agency in the central Free State Region.

The good news is that the team at Sure Etnique Travel, the ownership, and the management of the agency have not changed - so you can still look forward to the same dedicated personal service and efficiency that we have always prided ourselves on delivering to our customers.

Better news is that by joining Sure Travel we will bring some new elements to the mix that will enable us to provide you with an even more efficient service and even better deals. These Sure Travel benefits include:

• Industry-leading technology tools, allowing us to work smarter and faster for you

• Sure’s bulk-buying power, giving us access to even better deals

• Advanced corporate travel management tools, allowing us to make a real difference to your bottom line

• Exclusive leisure travel packages unique to the Sure Travel group, giving you access to superb leisure travel options available nowhere else

• Innovative marketing tools that will enable us to communicate special deals more effectively with you

We are excited to have joined what we believe to be South Africa’s premier travel agency group - Sure Travel. We look forward to many more years working with you as your travel providers of choice.

Yours in travel and the team at Sure Etnique Travel
Johann & Monique, Nerina, Tessa, Christa, Manie, Maquida, Marié, Persi, Tiana & David.

 - Johann Beukes

Letters from our Customers:

Big Brag

• “We recently returned from the most magical holiday in Greece and Turkey. The whole trip was fantastic. Thank you, Tessa, for your very efficient bookings which ensured that we made all our connections without a hitch, and your seemingly inexhaustible patience while we were making all the plans”.
  Casey van der Leek & Ruth Ullyat - Bloemfontein

• “Tiana, I say thank you for always being on the ball with your queries - your account is great, everything is totally perfect from you.  I have no complaints. I have a wonderful working relationship with you - thanks for that!!”
  Denise Hayward - MDS Visapak, Johannesburg

• “Hi Tessa, back safe and sound, everything went extremely well, had aisle seats all the way, enjoyed every minute with my daughter, cried all the way to Tampa after saying goodbye. Tampa was great fun ( 6 colleagues in one apartment!!!!!). Thank you very much Tessa for the meticulous and precise way you organised my travelling. Thank you also for the individual attention that you gave to all my problems. May 2006 bring you everything that you wish for.  You are a darling !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
  Alta Sharp - Bloemfontein

EUROPEAN AIRLINES MUST PAY FOR DELAYS
THE EU’S HIGHEST COURT HAS UPHELD NEW RULES REQUIRING COMPENSATION FOR AIR PASSENGERS STRANDED BY DELAYS, CANCELLED FLIGHTS OR OVERBOOKING. EUROPEAN AIRLINES WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY PASSENGERS UP TO EURO600 (R4 430) IF THEY ARE DENIED A SEAT BECAUSE OF OVERBOOKING, AS WELL AS PROVIDE THEM WITH FOOD AND LODGING. IATA HAS RESPONDED TO THE RULING IN A STATEMENT SAYING:  “IATA IS DISAPPOINTED BY THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE TO STRIKE DOWN DEEPLY FLAWED EUROPEAN REGULATIONS ON PASSENGER COMPENSATION FOR DENIED BOARDING, DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS.” IATA ESTIMATED THE RULING WILL ADD $700M (R4.2BN) IN COSTS TO ALREADY STRUGGLING AIRLINES.

CITIEXPRESS TO BE RELAUNCHED
THE REGIONAL SUBSIDIARY OF BRITISH AIRWAYS, CITIEXPRESS, IS BEING RELAUNC HED. THE AIRLINE WILL BE RENAMED BA CONNECT AND IT HAS SAID THAT IT WILL BE CUTTING PRICES BY OVER 40%. THE RELAUNCHED AIRLINE WILL OFFER A SINGLE CLASS CABIN ON ALL AIRCRAFT, BUY ON BOARD CATERING, AND CHANGEABLE TICKETS. THERE WILL BE A NEW OFFERING FOR BUSINESS AND FREQUENT FLYERS CALLED BA CONNECT PLUS. BA CONNECT WILL TAKE TO THE AIR ON MARCH 26 BUT BOOKINGS CAN BE MADE FROM FEBRUARY 1.

The Trossachs (meaning ‘the rough country’) in Scotland must count as one of the most beautiful and interesting regions in the whole of the UK. It has fired the imagination of writers and artists for centuries, becoming a top tourist attraction since Sir Walter Scott wrote ‘Rob Roy’ and ‘The Lady of the Lake’ (set by Loch Katrine) in the early nineteenth century. The area is full of places of interest, man made and natural, whilst breathtaking scenery abounds. It embraces the deep waters of numerous lakes, wild glens, high mountains, virgin forests and sheltered sea lochs, undoubtedly the place to visit in Scotland.

A good starting point for a visit to the Trossachs is Balloch, on the shores of Loch Lomond. It is perhaps not the most beautiful place, but here you will find the National Park Gateway information centre, as well as a large marina catering for water sports and boat trips on the loch.

From Aberfoyle take the A821, which will lead you for 14 miles through the steep climb and sharp bends of Dukes Pass to Loch Katrine. Descending from Dukes Pass to Loch Katrine spectacular views are obtained over Lochs Achray, Venachar and Drunkie. Also to be seen are Bens Venue and A’an.

A highlight of our visit and an essential part of a day in the Trossachs was a cruise up Loch Katrine on the Steamship Sir Walter Scott. This 106 years old steamer still has the original 3-cylinder engine, and is the only surviving screw steamer in regular passenger service in Scotland. She leaves from the quaintly rustic Trossachs pier and sails to Stronaclacher twelve miles away at the other end of the loch in the mornings, and provides two circular cruises (without stopping at Stronachlacher) in the afternoons.  
 

During our trip we literally experienced the unpredictable Scottish weather: we boarded in sunshine, but within half an hour we experienced rain, followed by ice-cold sleet. However, when returning to the pier the sun was shining again and we had to get rid of our warm clothing and raincoats! Hereafter we returned to Loch Achray via the pier road and continued via a twisting road to the village of Brig o’Turk. The Tea Room here is well known as a pitstop. The  Byre Inn just past the bridge is also a favourite spot for refreshments. We continued on this road and after about 10 miles and a few sharpish bends, we turned right at the A84 T-junction, and after another mile entered the tourist resort of Callander, eastern gateway to the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.

Callander has a nice range of shops selling Scottish woolens and souvenirs. But most importantly, this is where you will find here the Rob Roy Tourist Information Centre. As every visitor to this region will soon find out, the Trossachs is Rob Roy country. Rob Roy’s real name was Robert MacGregor (1671 - 1734), variously known as clan leader, brigand and cattle trader. Today he might perhaps be seen as a revolutionary, but when his lands were confiscated in 1712 and he was imprisoned by the English in 1720, he rose to fame. Sir Walter Scott’s popular novel depicted him as a national hero, defying the English. A hugely successful film ‘Rob Roy’ was based on his life.

Hotels, guest houses, B&B’s and restaurants are to be found everywhere in the Trossachs. No visitor will experience any trouble in finding suitable accommodation, such as those in which we stayed: The Coast House Inn, in Aberfoyle, or the Lenymede B&B, in Callander, a Victorian house built on a small rise overlooking the River Leny providing extensive views of forests and hills stretching to the horizon.

If I were asked which region I would again like to visit, the Trossachs will undoubtedly be high on my list!

- Manie Wolvaardt