NEWSFLASH – DECEMBER 2016

Download Newsflash – DECEMBER

Grayston Travel’s management & staff would like to wish our valued and loyal clients a Merry Christmas.

Grayston Travel

Grayston Travel would like to thank all our valued clients for the support though out 2016. Grayston travel will be closing at 12H00 on the 23rd of December 2016 and although we will not be in the offices between Christmas and New Year, we will have a full team working on laptops making reservations as usual during that week.

BA Comair Intoduces Seat Selection Fee

Passengers on BA Comair flights will now need to pay a fee to preselect their seat at the time of the booking. The cost varies according to the route for flights shorter than 90 minutes the fee starts at R64.00 for flights longer than 90 minutes the charge is between R80.00 and R144.00. This new facility is currently live on the airline’s website. Passengers who have already booked and paid for their flight and wish to select their seat before check-in can do so by visiting the Manage My Booking portal on the website.

SA Express Flights from Cape Town and Pilanesberg

Due to a high demand in the market SA Express is introducing additional scheduled flights from Cape Town to Pilanesberg on Wednesdays in December and January, operating a CRJ-200.

Fastjet Suspends Three Routes

Fastjet has suspended three of its services from the 5th of December. They are Johannesburg-Victoria Falls, Dar es Salaam-Entebbe and Dar es Salaam-Nairobi. The airline will issue full refunds to passengers who have already booked and paid for seats on the affected flights. Those on flights from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls will be offered an alternative routing via Harare.

RwandAir Cuts JNB-LUN Route

RwandAir will no longer operate its Johannesburg-Lusaka route effective of the 15th of January 2017.

Birth Certificate Changes to Ease Travel with Minors

The Department of Home Affairs has streamlined birth certificates to help ease travelling with minors. The Department has scrapped the requirement of having two versions of the birth certificate an abridged and an unabridged birth certificate. New-borns in South Africa will be issued only a single document stating both their maternal and paternal birth details. This new document will be known only as a ‘birth certificate’. Birth certificates issued after the 14th of March 2013 will be valid as is. However, any minor born before that and those from countries who do not automatically issue unabridged certificates must apply for the document well before their travel date. The validity of the parental consent affidavit has also been extended to six months.

Canadian ETA Now a Requirement

The leniency period for travellers to Canada from visa-exempt countries to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) ended. The eTA entry requirement became mandatory for visa-exempt. Passengers flying to or transiting through Canada are required to apply for an eTA before their flight. The eTA allows Canadian officials to screen these travelers before they board their flight. Travelers can apply for their eTA online and are advised to do so before booking their flight. Applicants will receive an eTA approval by email. In most cases this approval process takes minutes but could take several days.

Self-Service Plan for OR Tambo

The Department of Home Affairs is planning self-service counters for domestic South African travellers. The department is considering introducing self-service counters at OR Tambo International Airport’s E-gate for South Africans. Travellers are already able to use self-service counters to check in their luggage.

12 Nights – From R17 999.00 per person

THE MIDDLE EAST & THAILAND

Dubai, Bangkok & Phuket | January 2017 – September 2017

Your Holiday Includes:

Return flights & taxes	3-night Dubai – Ibis Styles Dubai Jumeirah
2-night Bangkok – Salil Hotel Sukhumvit	7-night Phuket – Eastin Yama Hotel

Dubai is a bright and bold clash of modern and traditional, where you can shop for gold and frankincense in a centuries-old souk in the morning and shop till you drop in an air-conditioned megamall in the afternoon. This is a city that ensures that all possibilities are endless, so on your three night city break you could soak up the sun on the beach or at one of the fantastic water parks, ski in the only fully-operational ski experience in the desert, take a trip up the tallest building in the world or sip a chilled cocktail on a piece of reclaimed land shaped like a palm frond.

Following Dubai you¡¦ll fly to Bangkok, Thailand¡¦s crazy and colorful capital. You¡¦ll be staying in a cool boutique hotel in the heart of the city for two nights, meaning you¡¦re ideally placed to go out and explore at your own pace. Take a boat trip along the klongs (a network of canals) and watch as local farmers hawk their wares on the floating markets. Take the chance to sample some exotic fruit as you glide along.

Your final stop is the island paradise of Phuket. Thailand¡¦s largest island is an idyllic province of soft sandy beaches and swaying palm trees. You could simply lie back and relax, but Phuket offers plenty for those who like their beach time a little less horizontal. There are a multitude of restaurants, bars and watersports on offer, as well as tours into the less-visited parts of the island. The snorkeling here is excellent, so why not take a dip into the deep blue to see what you can spot? If it¡¦s culture you¡¦re after, explore serene incense-wreathed Buddhist temples or simply trek through the jungle scenery to spot elusive wildlife.

JANUARY 2017	From R19,999 pp	APRIL 2017	From R18,999 pp
FEBRUARY 2017	From R20,999 pp	MAY 2017	From R17,999 pp
MARCH 2017	From R21,999 pp

5 The Oyster Box – A Royal Affair

3 Nights from only R6075 per person sharing

What’s Included:

Self-Drive Package Includes:

3 Nights accommodation at the 5 The Oyster Box in a classic sea-facing room
Breakfast daily

Bonus:

Macaroons and sparkling wine at in room at 17h00 on day of arrival
Gift shop voucher of R500 per person
A crayfish and lango dinner in The Grill Room
Romantic turndown on your first night
Complimentary access to the hotels gym
Complimentary newspaper daily
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Complimentary scheduled transfer to and from The Gateway Theatre of Shopping between 08h00 and 20h00