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Accommodation Suggestions in Franschhoek: One Night at Maison du Cap
Where to stay during your one night in Franschhoek
These are our accommodation suggestions for travellers looking for decent accommodation in Franschhoek that won’t break the bank.
During our recent adventures to Franschhoek, we have visited various properties, and only have amazing things to say. It does get a little tricky on how to choose your accommodation, because there are so many amazing options.
Do you need a one night in Franschhoek? Or perhaps one week? One week sounds a lot better!
Keen to read about our other accommodation suggestions in Franschhoek?
Here are other suggestions on where to stay in Franschhoek.
One Night at Maison Du Cap
Home away From Home.
Need a change of scenery? Maison Du Cap is the perfect little guest house, with doors opening onto the pool deck, a neat garden, with the calming sounds of the water feature in the background. A relaxing setting for an afternoon by the pool, while reading a good book!
We came across this little spot spontaneously for a work event that we had to attend in Franschhoek and Lauren’s fabulous boss booked the night for us at Maison Du Cap.
Maison Du Cap is located on a quiet road, a short walk from Franschhoek Main Road. No need to get into the car and drive when everything is so close by and within walking distance.Accommodation Units
There are 5 rooms at the guest house, accommodating a total of 12 or 13 adults, depending on the sleeping arrangements.1.) Honeymoon Suite
1 x Queen Bed (sleeps 2 x adults)
2.) Cottage
2 x Double Beds (sleeps 4 x adults)
3.) Moonlight
1 x King Bed (sleeps 2 x adults)
4.) Midnight
1 x Double Bed (sleeps 2 x adults)
5.) Chanel
1 x King Bed (sleeps 2 x adults) and
1 x Sleeper Couch (sleeps 1 x adult OR 2 x children)
Location
Heart of Franschhoek: 20 Dirkie Uys Street, Franschhoek 7690We have stayed in the Cottage and Midnight rooms and both are really comfortable. If you prefer more space and a private unit, we would recommend the cottage. The cottage is separate to the main house and has it’s own entrance, making it your own little home away from home.
Are you planning on visiting Franschhoek?
Contact us if you would like to book at any our of accommodation suggestions.
Our thoughts on Maison Du Cap
The staff are so friendly and lovely, especially Millicent! There is a braai area for guests to enjoy a boerie roll with a glass or two of wine. Being a guest house, you will have neighbours who will also have access to the main living areas within the house and backyard.
Just a tip: if you are wanting a more intimate quiet spot, I would recommend hiring out the whole guest house.
Read our full blog on the Franschhoek Boutique Hotel
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6 Simple Steps In What You Need To Know To Safely Change A Car Tyre
For those following our journey on Instagram, you would have seen that we were recently on a road trip from Windhoek to Cape Town. One main takeaway is that as a driver, you should know how to safely change a car tyre. Otherwise you might sit with a few problems. In this blog we mention our 6 simple steps to safely change a car tyre.
The crazy thing is that we have both been driving for over 10 years (giving our age away here), and have never had to change a tyre before. Has it been pure luck? Who knows, but I think it’s time that changed.
Also, why hasn’t no one created a course for females on how to change a car tyre? So that we are not left freaking out if it does happen.
Let’s hit the road
Having never road tripped in other African countries before, it was an exciting but nerve wrecking adventure. One road trip that was rather fun, was our road trip around both north and south islands in New Zealand Another factor that was constantly in the back of our heads, was the virus. This road trip was our first travels outside of South Africa in nearly two years. Naturally there were all kinds of emotions flowing. Our last travel experience was Julia heading back home from Sweden to South Africa during a world pandemic.
One aspect that didn’t cross our minds on this trip was changing a tyre. A topic that if you don’t know much about, you are pretty much screwed. We know these things happen, but I guess you hope for the best and just wing it?
Changing a car tyre shouldn’t be that complicated, but if you have never done it before, it is complicated. But we are going to break it down for you in 6 simple steps on how to safely change a car tyre.
6 Simple Steps to Safely Change Your Car Tyre
For those who have never changed a tyre before, here are our 6 simple steps to safely change a car tyre for you to follow, so that next time you are well prepared.
1.) Pull over
Slow down and pull over as soon as you can. Try heading into an area that is slightly off the highway. Cars speed past and that’s how accidents happen.
Let someone know
Call a friend or family member to let them know your location, just in case you don’t come right and need further assistance. If you are like us, the first reaction is to freak out a little and call someone who you know will be able to guide you through the process.
Triangle reflector
One of the equipment pieces that you will need – we mention all the equipment needed further in the blog post. Pretty sure you have seen this red triangle reflector on the roads before. If you haven’t, do you even drive? So important when you have a flat tyre. Just gives other drivers on the road a heads up that you are stuck.
2.) Park on a flat
Park your car on a flat, so that your car doesn’t roll. If it’s not you under the car changing the tyre, it will be someone else. The last thing you need is the car rolling into the highway, grass patch or ditch and then you sit with more problems.
Handbreak
Remember to lift your hand break up to avoid rolling. Best bet to leave the car in first gear. When you start the car again, remember that your car is in first gear to avoid that sudden jerk 😉
3.) Flag down
Try flag a car down so that they can assist you in changing the car tyre or just make sure that the environment is safe around you.
Valuable items
Worrying about changing a tyre, one can tend to be completely unaware of who is around you. Just make sure your items in the car are locked up or that someone is able to monitor your valuables for you.
Who to flag down
That is tricky. Because in the moment you are so desperate for anyone’s roadside assistance. I guess as females, we have a natural instinct of being on high alert to watch our surroundings.
We waved down a bakkie and they thought we were waving and carried on driving. Minutes later, we saw the same bakkie coming back in our direction to ask if we were okay! Could have shed a tear in that moment!
While our bakkie driver was under the car, a truck driver saw us holding the spare car tyre. We asked him afterwards what made him stop.
He said: “I saw three females holding a tyre up, and knew something was wrong.”
Luckily we could laugh about this afterwards when our spare tyre was changed and we were ready to hit the road again.
4.) Must have equipment
Totally heading to the shops to make sure we have these items in the boot of our car for incase. Get all your tools out and prepare to get a little dirty.
Tip: travel rookie error, don’t travel in your best clothing!
Bolts and spanners/ Lug wrench
Purchase a tool set that has all the necessary equipment that allows you to remove the bolts from the wheel and safely secure the new tyre.
Use the lug wrench to loosen the nuts in a counter clockwise direction.
Jack
This is the most important, especially when you are travelling in a 4×4 vehicle. A jack is the device used to lift the car off the ground so that you can remove the damaged tyre. Bigger cars require a stronger jack to hold up the vehicle while changing the tyre. You could use a standard car jack, however, it will just take a little longer and more muscle usage.
Replace the jack under the frame, closest to the tyre that you are changing. You will notice the tyre lifting off the ground, which will allow for you to completely remove the tyre.
PS: Keep nuts and bolts close by! Whatever you took off, must go back on….
Spare tyre
Make sure your spare is A for away so that you are not changing your tyre to put another damaged tyre on. After your trip, always replace your damaged tyre right away so that you don’t forget.
Replace the damaged tyre with the new tyre and use the lug wrench to tighten the nuts to secure the new tyre.
Once the new tyre has been replaced, lower the car by using the jack and check that the tyre is on correctly.
Keys for spare tyre
Knowing where the keys are for the spare tyre would help! Keep them separate from the main keys and somewhere you will remember. I tied a little piece of string around the correct key. There is nothing worse than trying every single key 3 times and apparently being incorrect.
Triangle reflector
Place the triangle reflector behind your vehicle so that oncoming traffic are aware that you are there. Also, this could encourage people to stop and assist you.
5.) Listen to your car
It is all fun and games playing the good tunes until your car is trying to let you know someone isn’t right. Turn down the music from time to time during your trip to make sure there are no strange sounds and that the travel is a smooth one.
Especially after changing a tyre, you want to perhaps listen carefully to the car for some time just to make sure you are good!
6.) Watch and learn
If someone has stopped on the highway and assisted you in changing your tyre, deem yourself as lucky. It doesn’t happen all the time. There might be a next time when you are forced to do it alone, so make sure that you have watched someone do it. You can teach the next person your ways on how to change a car tyre.
Our suggestion, take notes on our 6 steps to safely change a car tyre and save this article for incase.
Besides traveling to Namibia, another African country that we traveled to was Zimbabwe to visit the Victoria Falls. Read more about our Exciting 5 day travel itinerary to the Victoria Falls to find out what we enjoyed the most.
Have you had a crazy experience when changing your car tyre? Let us know your experiences – good or bad!
Vocabulary:
Bakkie: A small van/ truck
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One Night Stay in the Heart of Franschhoek
A day trip to Franschhoek that ended up being one night in Franschhoek.
Our cousin knows that we are always down for an adventure, so we headed out to Franschhoek for the day to join our extended family day outing. We knew what scootouring was, however, we didn’t know what to expect. Also, we always run late and our cousin is always on time. As in on time, on time….
While we were getting ready, Julia shouted are we staying the night? Why not pack a bag? I thought, why not, one night in Franschhoek will be amazing for the soul right now. But then we really had to hurry to get to the venue on time. We hadn’t booked any accommodation, let alone looked into any availability. None the less, we could always head back to Cape Town if we didn’t find anything up our alley, because we had the whole day ahead of us still!
But before arriving, we needed a quick coffee fix at Terbodore just to wake us up a little. So many coffee shops to pop into, but this is one of our favourite coffees we’ve had in and around Cape Town. We are quite particular when it comes to our coffees.
How to get to Franschhoek
Most travellers travel from the heart of Cape Town, especially international tourists, who usually base themselves in Cape Town CBD and surrounds. And I don’t blame them! It is so central and easy to navigate in and out of Cape Town for day trips and sightseeing.
There are two options that I would recommend, either Avis or Budget, for those international travellers who want to head out into the winelands driving their own vehicle, rather than a transfer. These two options are trustworthy and reliable to use – we use either or when we travel outside of the Western Cape.
Directions
Hit the N1 towards Paarl with a travelling time of just over 1 hour. A little longer if you are stopping to look at the views along the way. If you are hiring a car with the above mentioned car hire companies, I would suggest that you opt in for the GPS as well, alternatively you can use your cell phone maps if you have bought a local South African SIM card.
1. Via Val De Vie
Travel on the N1 in the direction of Paarl and take exit 59 onto the R301. Follow the R301 until the road turns into the R45, which will take you into the heart of Franschhoek. Keep a look out for all the beautiful vineyards, your eyes will be buzzing with the scenery!
2. Via Babylonstoren
There are a couple of real wine estate gems on the Babylonstoren route. A few highlights to look out for are Vrede en Lust Wine Estate and Noble Hill Wine Estate. You will still travel on the N1 in the direction of Paarl and take exit 47 to which takes you to the R44.
Pitstop
A little detour to Boschendal Wine Estate is another great suggestion. This wine estate is located on the R310 and we would recommend stopping by if you are making your way to Franschhoek. Also, they have stunning grass spots to eat, a restaurant and deli. We have noticed their accommodation, however, I will have to fight Julia to allow for our budget to stay there for the night 😉 – she is the financial advisor for off two wander. If it wasn’t for her, we would probably be in the Maldives for 3 weeks and in debt!
Find out more about off two wander
It would be ideal to go one direction there and the other option on the way back. Another option would be to stay one night in Franschhoek and head to Stellenbosch the next day to explore this little town. Most people find it quite difficult to choose which little town they prefer over Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, therefore, you would have to visit both towns to make that decision.
You can let us know what your thoughts are on Franschhoek and Stellenbosch in the comment section below.
More about the area
Franschhoek is a small town situated in the Cape Winelands, a short 1 hour drive from Cape Town. Rich in history and Cape Dutch architecture, surrounded by wine farms and plenty cafe’s within walking distance. For all types of travellers, this is a perfect little gem one night in Franschhoek, for a big city escape.
Where to stay during your one night in Franschhoek
During our recent adventures to Franschhoek, we stayed at these two properties below, and only have amazing things to say about them. It does get a little tricky on how to choose your accommodation, because there are so many amazing options.
Do you need a one night in Franschhoek? We have stayed at the below properties and would recommend it to our followers.
1.) Franschhoek Boutique Hotel
The Franschhoek Boutique Hotel is centrally located just off Main Road. Guests can frequent shops and cafes, and site see the town all within walking distance.
There are 12 rooms, which include luxurious baths, comfortable bedding, air-conditioning and great hospitality from the hostess. We would advise you to choose the rate including breakfast where it is served in the cozy central lounge area.
The hotel is managed by hotel group Lion Roars, who offer accommodation in Plettenberg Bay, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and a safari option at Amakhala Game Reserve, which is in the Eastern Cape.
The Units
12 rooms to choose from. All rooms are uniquely designed and offer mountain views. There are two floors, giving guests an option to stay either upstairs or downstairs.
Location
Heart of Franschhoek
Our thoughts on Franschhoek Boutique Hotel
Cozy and comfortable staycation. They offer really good winter rates and specials that you must keep a look out for. We booked via booking.com as the rates were the most affordable online.
2.) Maison Du Cap
Home away From Home.
Need a change of scenery? Maison Du Cap is the perfect little guest house, with doors opening onto the pool deck, a neat garden, with the calming sounds of the water feature in the background. A relaxing setting for an afternoon by the pool, while reading a good book!
We came across this little spot spontaneously for a work event that we had to attend in Franschhoek and Lauren’s fabulous boss booked the night for us at Maison Du Cap.
Maison Du Cap is located on a quiet road, a short walk from Franschhoek Main Road. No need to get into the car and drive when everything is so close by and within walking distance.Accommodation Units
There are 5 rooms at the guest house, accommodating a total of 12 or 13 adults, depending on the sleeping arrangements.1.) Honeymoon Suite
1 x Queen Bed (sleeps 2 x adults)
2.) Cottage
2 x Double Beds (sleeps 4 x adults)
3.) Moonlight
1 x King Bed (sleeps 2 x adults)
4.) Midnight
1 x Double Bed (sleeps 2 x adults)
5.) Chanel
1 x King Bed (sleeps 2 x adults) and
1 x Sleeper Couch (sleeps 1 x adult OR 2 x children)
Location
Heart of Franschhoek: 20 Dirkie Uys Street, Franschhoek 7690Our thoughts on Maison Du Cap
The staff are so friendly and lovely, especially Millicent! There is a braai area for guests to enjoy a boerie roll with a glass or two of wine. Being a guest house, you will have neighbours who will also have access to the main living areas within the house and backyard.
Just a tip: if you are wanting a more intimate quiet spot, I would recommend hiring out the whole guest house. 3.) One Night at La Fontaine Boutique Hotel
La Fontaine Boutique Hotel is a family owned hotel property group, The Oyster Collection. The hotel group has various properties throughout South Africa, which we look forward to visiting during our travels.
We love green! The garden at La Fontaine Boutique Hotel is so up our alley! There are luscious, neatly kept garden beds which adds to the tranquil environment, giving you complete relaxation. The abundance of plants and trees, creates a relaxing setting for guests to unwind in.
The Units
There are 17 suites on the property, with each unit having a unique design. Something that is quite noticeable when entering the rooms, is the detail and thought put into each of the rooms. There is a warm and cosy feeling when entering the room, making it feel somewhat like its your own home.
A hotel choice for both winter and summer. Some of the rooms have a fireplace, which goes down really well with us in the colder months 🙂 Nothing better than an indoor fire, while listening to the sounds of the rain. For those who aren’t from South Africa, Franschhoek is one of the hottest places to be in summer. On a good summer day, temperatures can reach up to 40 degrees Celsius…. Clever move from the hotels’ side, there are two beautiful pools on the property located apart from each other. Plenty of space for guests to spend the day at the pool relaxing on the pool loungers.
The Bar
This spot caught our eye on arrival. The perfect little spot to have a drink with your travel companion. If you are wanting to watch some sport, have a drink or socialise with other hotel guests, this is the place to be.Location
One main key factor is the location. The hotel is centrally located in Franschhoek, and within a few kilometres to wine estates, cafes, restaurants and activities. If you are interested in exploring Franschhoek by bike, there are bicycles located on the property for a small fee. This is an ideal way to explore Franschhoek, besides walking and plus, get a good work out while you at it.
Our thoughts on La Fontaine Boutique Hotel
The staff go out of their way to make sure your stay is a pleasant one, the rooms are modern and neat and the entire ambiance of the hotel is warm and welcoming.
If you are wanting to explore the wine farms in the Franschhoek area, La Fontaine Boutique Hotel offer shuttle service to and from the hotel. Not many properties offer this service, so this a definitely a bonus. 5 must do activities for your one night in Franschhoek
There are so many activities to do in and around Franshhoek, it sometimes gets a bit overwhelming! Where do you even start? If you are planning your one night in Franschhoek, here are 5 must do activities that we highly recommend you do.
Wine Tasting Franschhoek
The Franschhoek Wine Tram has become a popular weekend activity for locals and tourists, and we totally understand why! There is a variety of Wine Tram routes, which stop at different wine farms along the way. Depending on the wine farms that you would like to visit, will help you select the Wine Tram colour route.
Visit the website to find out which route would best suite you.
An alternative wine tasting option, is for you to visit your favourite wine farms in the area and sit at the tasting rooms for as long as you wish. One of our favourite wine farm spots to visit in Franschhoek is Rickety Bridge Wine Estate.
See Snow in South Africa
Yes, it does snow in South Africa!
This winter has most definitely been a cold one, where we have experienced extreme cold wintery nights over the winter periods.
Many Capetonians flock to the Cederberg mountain range to make their snowmen in the snow and capture snowy images of themselves. However, there is another spot in Franschhoek that was quite a popular snow destination in Franschhoek this year.
Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve is located in Franschhoek with stunning views of the valley below. There are 10 different hiking routes on the reserve, offering a variety for beginners to experienced.
There is a fee to enter the reserve, however, you can prepay for your permit online or purchase your permit on arrival. For more information on routes, safety and payments, visit Mont Rochelle’s website to plan your next trip.
Hiking
If you planning on seeing the snow in South Africa, why not combine it with a hike at Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve. Another hiking route that we would recommend in Franschhoek is the Berg River Dam. This is a nice option for those who aren’t into crazy hikes and just want to explore the outdoors in Franschhoek. There are more difficult routes for those avid hiking enthusiasts, with beautiful views of the Franschhoek area, the fynbos and mountain ranges.
Freedom Market
We didn’t know this little gem existed until our parents (also little adventurers) told us about it. The Freedom Market is located just outside of Paarl, and is a pit stop destination when travelling to Franschhoek. It is approximately 25 minutes from the heart of Franschhoek. If you are traveling from Cape Town to Franschhoek via Paarl, it is 45minute drive from Cape Town to the Freedom Market.
There are a variety of stalls, with live music and plenty of food options too! The options will leave you wanting to support every single stall. The market runs over the weekends on Saturday’s and Sunday’s. On Saturday they are open from 10am – 4pm and Sunday 10am – 3pm.
PS: They are puppy friendly too!
Head over to their Instagram page to get updates on trading days, the stores and the live music.
Scootouring
For those feeling a little adventurous, why not try out Scootouring at Chamonix Wine Farm. The bikes don’t have any gears and rely on the downhill force. There are brakes for those who are afraid to go a little too fast… but you need to know which brakes to use and when, otherwise you might end up with a few cuts and bruises. It is a little bit of a work out on some parts of the route, when there are flats as the bikes rely on momentum.
The booking procedure is so simple. We contacted Scootours on the WhatsApp number (082 776 0557) and they sent the payment link to us via email.
On arrival, keep a look out for the Wildebeest in the parking lot and that is where the guides will meet you.
Recommended: Wear comfortable clothing and closed shoes that you will be okay with getting a little muddy and dirty, especially after rainfall.
We love the natural beauty in Franschhoek and all the activities available in the area. Not only is it an international hotspot for overseas travellers, it has the heart of South Africans too!
Read more about our three main pillars that we focus on in our blog
Let us know which one of our activities above you will be participating in the next time you visit Franschhoek?
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Travelling From Sweden To South Africa During A World Pandemic
My daunting travel experience getting back to Cape Town during the covid-19 pandemic
In this blog, I talk about my life in Sweden pre covid-19 and how I managed to get home travelling during a pandemic, with all the emotions involved. The good, the bad, the ugly and everything in between.
Travelling internationally before Covid-19 was quite something, especially being South African. We need visas for many countries and the process is rather intense. In December 2017 we travelled to New Zealand for a friend’s wedding, and I remember completing visa forms and gathering all the documentation. It felt like I was giving them an open entry into my life – and this applies to other countries where you need visas too.
If you are thinking of planning a trip to New Zealand, read about our Top 5 places to visit in New Zealand to find out a few of our favourite spots in New Zealand.
The good, the bad and the ugly
Find out what went down by reading my blog, in which I talk about my daunting experience travelling from Sweden to South Africa during a world pandemic. Something I don’t want to have to go through ever again.
Life in Sweden
Life in Sweden is so simple, laid back and stress free. My job was good (parts of it), I lived in cute apartments in Vallentuna/ Täby and Danderyd. Yes, I had to move to three different apartments during my time in Sweden. Shortage of accommodation is a real issue in Stockholm. If you are planning on moving to Stockholm, your main priority is to find a decent sized apartment, which doesn’t cost half your salary. Might be a little tricky and stressful.
The small towns that I lived in were +-40 min from the capital Stockholm and very convenient to commute to and from work.
I mainly travelled via bus and train, which was amazing! Always on time and transport frequent, so if you missed one mode of transport, no biggie, there was another on its way.
Sweden has a small population of 10 160 169 according to the UN and has thousands of coastal islands and inland lakes.
Earning a decent salary, I was able to explore more of Sweden, by taking weekend bus trips to sightsee small towns. I loved the fact that I could travel frequently to our brother in Norway and travel back home for our South African summer break.
A world pandemic? The unknown of this virus
During my time in Sweden, the wearing of masks was not compulsory and we all continued with our lives. What is a lockdown? Some of you may not be aware that in Sweden, we weren’t in a lockdown.
Schools didn’t close, and we were advised to “follow the government’s guidelines”. People were encouraged to work from home, use their own mode of transport and social distance.
How do you social distance when you have 30 children in a class, all wanting your attention and the only mode of transport, was public transport.
“If you are booking with these two reputable travel companies, you’ve made a good choice.”
I did try to keep my distance where possible and drank orange juice like it was water to get my vitamin C in. Another thing that really worried me, was that I went to a couple of shops to purchase face masks, but none sold any… I will never forget the way the staff looked at me confusedly, as if I was the only weirdo citizen wanting a face mask!
At the early stages of the virus, I didn’t know how crazy things were and how things would end up. None of us did. Not once did it cross my mind about the struggles of me travelling home during a pandemic. I had my flight booked, so I will be sorted. That is what went through my mind, but what made it worse is that I’d call home every couple of days and my parents would stress me out. They would worry because I wasn’t wearing a mask, couldn’t social distance, nor sanitise my hands. The three things I now find myself doing automatically being back in South Africa one year later.
What now? Travelling home during a pandemic
It was June 2020, my flight was already booked for me to return home and it was summer break in Europe. Just a heads up, summer break in Europe is everything! Having long dark winters with very cold weather and hardly any sunshine for 8 months of the year, summer is the time where everyone comes alive.
Summer break, that’s cool. However, I wanted to get back home to South Africa and this virus was causing me major anxiety. My contract was up and so was my rental agreement. Luckily, my landlord was amazing and understood the challenges I was facing. There were days that I had to consider staying on another year contract, only because there was no definite of me getting home.
So many people were giving me different stories from Stockholm and South Africa, and that was the most frustrating part. No one had answers and no one had the answers that I wanted to hear! It was tough. Tough, because you feel absolutely hopeless being stuck in another country and you just want to travel home. At the time, I read articles about so many people being stranded at airports, with flights being cancelled last minute. So many people trying to travel home during the pandemic sometimes felt impossible. Having nowhere to go, and most importantly they were running out of funds to support themselves. Some even cut into their savings just to get by until the next flight. Was that worth risking? Many thoughts went through my mind
Find out what our “3 reasons to book with a travel consultant” are
Travelling from Stockholm to Schiphol
I was eventually able to get a repatriation flight from Stockholm to Schiphol in Amsterdam, but the main issue was getting from Schiphol to Cape Town. Did I really want to be stuck in Amsterdam? I even reached out to old school friends out of desperation and as a backup plan, in case I wasn’t able to depart Schipol.
After many days of communicating back and forth with a travel company that were in charge of repatriation flights, I secured a flight from Schiphol to Johannesburg. There were no available flights directly to Cape Town that worked with my connecting flight from Stockholm to Schiphol.
This meant that I had to have a compulsory quarantine in Johannesburg for two whole weeks and then make my way to Cape Town with 3 x 24kg bags & 1 x hand luggage…. nightmare. In my defence, the one big bag was Lauren’s and one had amazing IKEA bedding, which I refused to leave behind.
Departure day
My bags were packed and ready to get home! They were probably packed two weeks prior to my departure, just in case there were any chances of getting an earlier flight or some miracle was going to happen.
Luckily I had my mom and Lauren on standby if anything went wrong. What more could go wrong? Welllll…. It was a long three weeks ahead of me.
The night before my departure date, I decided to check in a the Good Morning Arlanda Hotel which is located near to the airport and had complementary shuttles. I didn’t have the energy to deal with airport transfers, nor struggle with my bags so early in the morning with already too much anxiety about the trip home.
Firstly, I had Lauren on a call, so that she could hear me go through the gates and if anything went down, she was able to assist. Secondly, being in the travel industry, Lauren knew the ins and outs and constantly communicated with the travel company based in South Africa for me. This made my life easier and took a little inch of stress off my shoulders.
“The airport was like a ghost town and I had my 3 x 24kg bags…”
One flight down, on to the next
Arriving in Schiphol Amsterdam, I was so excited to be one step closer to home! But I knew that I had to get over the biggest hurdle yet.
I had to overnight in Schiphol Airport because of the timing of my flights. Luckily I was able to secure the last spot & book myself into the Yotelair Hotel for one night, just to get some rest. There were plenty of South Africans everywhere, desperate to get home. Some having slept in the airport chairs/ floor for days, waiting to board this flight.
Standing in the line to board, I overheard others talking about having an embassy letter in order to board the plane and I didn’t have this letter.
This really stressed me out, however, the South African Embassy in Amsterdam reassured me via Whatsapp that everything was going to be fine.
Another thing that freaked me out was that the first time I purchased a decent mask, was in Schiphol Airport. Having not had to wear a mask at all, to now having to wear one for 15 hours on my journey home…
Flying in the plane during a world pandemic, was most definitely an unusual one.
- The food was all pre packed on the seats and we didn’t get served by the air hostess like usual. It was tough rationing meals over the 15 hours of travelling.
- Spacing on plane – I could get used to that… the closest I will get to business class spacious seats. I was the last few people to board the plane and was really hoping to have open seats next to me – my luck was granted! Three open seats = sleep!
From Sweden to South Africa during a world pandemic
My flight landed in Johannesburg at 11pm and I was so excited to be on South African soil, even though I wasn’t in Cape Town. Our bags were neatly placed next to the plane where we had to collect and place into our allocated trailer. We were police escorted in convoy to various quarantine hotels. The hotel that I was scheduled to quarantine in for two weeks, was The Capital Melrose. Usually I get excited when checking in at hotels, but this time was very much different.
Quarantine is not easy. It’s challenging. You are in your room alone for 14 days straight, with no human interaction. The only people that you see are the hotel staff that deliver your food 3 times a day and morning temperature checks by the nurses. Yes, there is Netflix and you can camp out in bed all day, but that gets boring after day 2.
The food was good, but all I wanted was a hearty home cooked meal. That is all I wanted. Some days we were able to order food for delivery, the next day the rules were changed. Everything was all up in the air.
Post Isolation
After isolating for 14 days in Johannesburg, I was ready to get back to Cape Town. But there was one more mountain to climb, actually two – I just didn’t know of the one just then. The one was getting my 3 x 24kg bags back to Cape Town, with no assistance. Just a heads up, I did a lot of research and it works out cheaper to check in extra baggage than using third party baggage companies.
The second hurdle was that one day prior to my departure, my mom was tested positive for covid-19. This was devastating. I just wanted to be back home. I remember calling home and sobbing on the phone to the family after hearing moms results. The nurses at the hotel advised me not to go home, as I had just spent two weeks isolating, it would simply be silly. Arriving in Cape Town was weird. The airport was like a ghost town and I had to somehow manage with my 3 x 24kg bags on the trolley, alone. Driving from the airport back home was strange too and I couldn’t hug my family! Thankfully we have amazing neighbours that allowed me to stay in their flat across the road to be able to quarantine.
Should you travel now? What to do?
If you have experienced trying to travel home during a world pandemic, I feel for you. And if you are planning on travelling, perhaps you might want to be aware of the circumstances of being stuck in a foreign country, before booking anything.
Should you postpone, cancel, or wait it out? Who knows how much longer this pandemic will continue for. I totally feel for those who just want to book a trip to escape, because I feel the same and I am sure many feel the same way too.
For those that are really craving a getaway, why not consider travelling to one of our neighbouring African countries? Just as much as South African tourism needs support, they need support too. Tourism is a huge factor in countries such as Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Namibia, Kenya and Uganda and is a main source of income for many families. We highly recommend the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe or Zambia. Both sides of the falls are unique and I would say equally magnificent. Have a look at our exciting 5 day travel itinerary to the Victoria Falls if you are looking for some travel inspiration.
Why you should support your local travel consultant?
The uncertainty for those in the travel industry is really heartbreaking. For those who aren’t aware, most travel companies work on a basic and commission structure. Read more about Lauren’s experience as a travel consultant in our blog about why these three pillars are our main focus in our blog.
There are times when you can 100% book your own itinerary, but there are also times when you should consider booking with the professionals. If you are planning on travelling, I would highly recommend booking your travel plans with a reputable travel consultant. Now, more than ever, is the time to support the travel industry and especially because there is so much uncertainty when travelling during a world pandemic.
3 reasons to book with a travel consultant
- Keep up to date with the latest flight changes:
- Receiving 5 notifications can sometimes be rather annoying, but when it’s got to do with your time, they mean everything! Especially when you have a busy schedule where being in the air eliminates you from being as productive.
- Tourism companies use programs like Amadeus that are linked with airlines, which communicate any flight changes to the travel consultants. The travel consultants can relay messages onto the clients and are trained to make alternative arrangements on the spot if it is required.
- Delays and cancellations:
- Nothing worse than waking up for those early morning flights, or as a matter of fact, any time of the day, to only get to the airport and find out that you have to sit around and wait for your flight to depart.
- Lockdown changes:
- With the way things are currently going, changes can be made at any moment, sometimes leaving you feeling panicked about how to get home and the changes to your flight ticket. Luckily most airlines are allowing free of charge flight changes when there are lockdown level changes.
- Lift airlines are a new player in the game and are definitely on the ball. Perhaps consider them on your next flight between Cape Town and Johannesburg (when we are allowed to fly to and from Gauteng again).
Research your travel company
Always do a little homework if you do decide to book with a travel agent. There are some scary stories out there and some pop up out of nowhere.
Don’t worry, if you are booking with these two reputable travel companies, you’ve made a good choice.
If you need to get in contact with either of these two companies, you will find their contact details on their website, or pop us a message and we will put you in contact with the best in the business.
Have you been stranded in a foreign country? Let us know if you are planning on travelling during a world pandemic.
Julia
xxx
