Michelle Daneel - Travel Counsellor. Harkerville, South Africa

12/09/2024

23/02/2024

Where has the time gone? 😊 " “Live your life by a compass not a clock.”

"Congratulations Michelle on 16 years in the TC Family!
It's easy to forget that you've reached another milestone when there's so much going on - so we thought we'd remind you!
On the behalf of all the people you've made happy with your personal approach to travel - thank you.
And on a personal note, thank you for your continued hard work, participation and support to others in the TC Family. You're part of what makes this company so unique, and so special.
Congratulations on another TC anniversary - and all the best for Year 17!
From all at Head Office"
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19/09/2023

Iceland Northern Lights & Golden Circle -5 Days from R22,899 per person sharing.

This 5-day small-group adventure takes place against the backdrop of an exquisite winter-wonderland. The return trip from Reykjavik explores Iceland's famed glaciers, hot springs and picturesque waterfalls. Keep your eyes peeled for the dazzling displays of the Northern Lights and meet the famous and photogenic Icelandic horse. G Adventures is a leader in community tourism and small-group travel. https://www.travelcounsellors.co.za/Offers/Iceland-Northern-Lights-Golden-Circle

30/07/2023

Some of my lovely clients spending a few days in Istanbul before starting their custom made trip through Spain & Portugal. The 1st 2 photos are from the terrace of their hotel, The Celal Sultan Hotel 😀What a beautiful & vibrant city! Contact me to tailor make your dream trip.

25/07/2023

Prices from R32,853. Departure date: 23 October 2023.

Join the MSC Splendida on her grand voyage from Istanbul to Durban. Make your way to South Africa while you experience the latest in cruise technology, service and comfort. This incredible voyage departs from Istanbul on the 23rd of October 2023 and arrives in Durban on the 23rd of November 2023. ...

17/09/2020

The news that we have been waiting for! From 1 October 2020 South Africa will reopen for international travel as we move to Level 1! We look forward some of our favorite hotels to lift their shutters and for airlines to announce their plans to restart flights abroad soon. I am ready to make all your travel dreams possible. 👏🥳✈️

28/04/2020

http://www.etnw.co.za/article/199319/SA-airline-launches-social-distancing-seat-option

04/03/2019

Rhodes Memorial & the Canopy Walk at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens - Cape Town

Some photos taken of a visit to Rhodes Memorial & the Canopy Walk at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens - Cape Town. Enjoy! :-)

04/03/2019

UK Visas and Immigration is set to begin the main implementation process of its new online application service, Access UK, later this year.✈️

The new platform replaces the Visa4UK website, which will be discontinued once the transition is complete, and aims to improve the customer experience with new technology and the digitisation of its services.

Digitisation will enable UK Visas and Immigration to make decisions on visa applications using digitally scanned copies of required documentation, rather than waiting for physical versions to arrive in the decision-making hub.

The main phase will also see the roll-out of technology that will allow customers to self-scan their biometrics when attending their visa application centre appointment, providing a quicker, smoother experience.

Some of the other enhancements will allow customers to book their visa application centre appointment, scan and upload their supporting documentation from home, and purchase any additional services that are intended to enhance their experience, in one continuous journey. Customers can continue to upload documents to support their application up until the day of their appointment. This development means that the majority of customers no longer have to submit their original documentation, though customers will still need to provide their passport in order for a vignette to be placed, should they be granted a visa.

Applicants also have the option of scanning their documents at the visa application centre for a fee.

18/02/2019

More on this service to follow .... Bagportr, a boutique baggage collection service in South Africa, will launch during the second quarter of this year. The service will initially be offered in Johannesburg.

The company will collect passengers’ bags at their home, hotel or other point of collection and deliver it to the airport for loading on to the flight. This means that passengers will no longer have to queue to drop their baggage off at the airport check-in counter.

30/11/2018

The Avios Travel Rewards Programme in South Africa is closing down. From the end of May 2019, Avios members will no longer be able to use points collected. The move is in line with Avios’s plan to merge the Avios Travel Rewards Programme with British Airways Executive Club.

Avios customers who do not have British Airways Executive Club membership will need to open one and transfer all remaining Avios by May 31. Customer details on the new BA Executive Club account must match the old Avios account for the transfer to be successful. Avios points will be lost if customers have not transferred between accounts prior to the end of May.

Customers can continue collecting Avios until March 31. If a customer has transferred points themselves before the deadline, all remaining Avios will be automatically transferred once the programme comes to an end.

Customers who are currently members of both schemes will not need to open a new British Airways Executive Club account.

As of March 31, BP, Pick n Pay, Wine-of-the-Month Club and Sotheby’s will no longer partner with Avios. Avios credit card holders will not earn points after March 31 when using their credit card. BA Executive Club members are able to apply for a British Airways credit card issued by Absa.

Members who joined via kulula can continue to collect points until the end of March, and redeem points until the end of May. Members can convert their Avios to kulula’s ‘Travel bank credit’ to use at any point in the future. This credit does not expire, as long as Avios have been converted prior to May 31. In order to do this, members must create a kulula ID.

Any pending Avios collected after closure (May 31) will be transferred to a customer’s BA Executive Club account. This would apply, for example, on car rental via Avis to be used after May 31, but booked prior.

Despite the change, Avios says of BA Executive Club: “You will be able to collect in many of the same ways as you do today, plus there will be some exciting new global partners to collect with.”

22/11/2018

The next available US visa application appointments at the Durban and Cape Town centres are on January 29 and February 4 respectively. The Johannesburg centre has availability from December 4.

This is according to visa processing companies canvassed by eTNW, who have also reported that a number of their clients have had to cancel US trips as a result.

eTNW understands that on Monday (November 19) the next available appointments at the Durban and Cape Town centres were on December 18, however, by Wednesday (November 21) these had jumped to the end of January.

The US Embassy told eTNW: "We have work visa appointments available in Johannesburg from Monday and always encourage applicants to apply at any US consulate if they are not able to get a sooner appointment at their preferred consulate. Given our much smaller staff in Cape Town and Durban, we don’t always have the same appointment scheduling flexibility in those locations."

Visazone advises agents to keep checking appointment availability, as the US Embassy may release additional appointments to address high demand.

US visa application appointments have often required four-week waiting periods in 2018, however, this is the first time this year that they have been delayed by two months.

03/10/2018

US visa application appointments are once again, significantly delayed.

Visazone told eTNW that the next available appointments for Cape Town are November 2 and for Durban are November 1. Visas Unlimited confirmed that Johannesburg is also suffering delays, with the next available appointments starting from October 17.

Priority appointments aren’t available, however Visazone said the appointment system did allow an appointment to be expedited once booked if a compelling reason and a detailed explanation could be provided. “It is important to note that, lack of availability could still prevent you from getting a priority appointment and you can only request expedition once. If you fail to get a priority appointment you could still ask to be considered in the case of a cancellation, however, these appointments get filled really quickly.”

Clients are advised to submit applications 21 working days in advance.

07/09/2018

Scale of British Airways customer data breach 'astounding', security experts say

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/british-airways-hacked-customer-data-breach-astounding-ba-security-experts-a8527071.html

Data breaches of this scale rarely include credit card and other financial details

02/08/2018

From November 24, there will be direct, non-stop flights between South Africa and the Maldives for the first time in 20 years.

01/08/2018

OR Tambo International Airport (Ortia) is cracking down on irregularly shaped baggage in a bid to prevent blockages and, therefore, delays in the baggage handling process.

From November 1, according to Ortia’s estimated date of implementation, the airport will implement its ‘irregular bags solution’, which will prevent travellers from checking in luggage that falls into the following categories:

• Round bags
• Bags without a flat surface
• ‘Irregular’ shaped bags (not a standard suitcase)
• Oversized bags (sizes still to be qualified)
• Bags with long straps
Bags that are considered ‘irregular’ will have to be repacked at the airport’s approved wrapping company. More details regarding this process will be released in the coming weeks.

In its implementation plan the airport gives the following reason for the decision. “Even the most technologically advanced baggage systems can be disrupted by irregularly shaped, or oversized bags. Bags that are round, or do not have a flat surface of any kind are by far the largest source of baggage jams. These jams can shut down sections of our system, delay baggage delivery to the aircraft and inconvenience our customers.”

The airport plans to advertise the news to the public within four to six weeks and display signs that communicate the new baggage rule at check-in counters and wrapping desk areas.

17/07/2018

The UAE Cabinet has approved a decision to exempt dependants of tourists from visa fees from July 15 to September 15 each year.

According to the UAE government, this will apply to all tourists under the age of 18, regardless of country of origin.

The decision follows the exemption of transit tourists from visa fees for the first 48 hours.

Cost of UAE visas:

· 14-day express tourist visa costs Dh497 (R1 787)

· 30-day multi-entry tourist visa costs Dh917 (R3 298)

· 90-day multi-entry tourist visa is priced at Dh945 (R3 398)

28/05/2018

Update: Customs requirements for SA passengers

In the May 23 issue of TNW, it was reported that South African authorities were clamping down on a law that the South African Revenue Service (Sars) introduced in the 1980s but which had not been proactively enforced for decades, thus taking both agents and travellers by surprise.

After this report was published, Sars released a statement on the matter, claiming that there has been confusion in the media about customs requirements for travellers returning to South Africa with personal effects.

The law, which is outlined in the Sars handbook and on its websites, states that travellers need to register their electronic equipment before departing the country if they want to bring it back in, with a DA 65 form stamped and signed by Sars. It applies to all electronics, including mobile phones, laptops, tablets, cameras and even watches.

According to the statement by Sars, in terms of customs requirements, South African residents travelling abroad are not required to declare their personal effects neither when leaving the country nor upon return. ‘Personal effects’ is defined in legislation as including items such as personal mobile phones, laptops, tablets, cameras and other high-value items forming part of the traveller’s personal possessions when leaving the country.

The statement reads: “Based on these provisions, no traveller can be penalised for not declaring or registering their personal effects upon leaving the country. However, upon return to South Africa, the traveller may be challenged by a customs officer to provide proof of local purchase or ownership. It is within the mandate of the customs officer to establish whether the goods fit the description of ‘new or used goods acquired whilst abroad’, which would have a duty implication and, if not declared, also a penalty implication.”

It continues, “The proof referred to above may be in the form of an invoice, an insurance record, in the case of a laptop even the content on the laptop, and any other means through which the officer can use his discretionary powers to satisfy that proof.”

After the statement was released, TNW contacted the Sars desks at both OR Tambo and Cape Town International Airports and was advised by representatives that the DA 65 needs to be completed and stamped in order to avoid paying any kind of duty on electronics on return, even though this goes against Sars’ statement. On Open Jaw, Travelinfo’s collaborative platform, agents say they too have contacted the Sars desks and have been told the same thing. Some agents have even had clients recently incur fines for not being able to present a filled-out DA 65 form for their personal electronics on return.

Below is where travellers can get a DA 65 form at the various airports:

• Cape Town International Airport: Located on the Departures level, if facing the check-in desks and security, turn left at the top of the escalators and walk toward the airline ticketing counters. The customs desk is round the corner from the VAT declaration desks.

• OR Tambo International Airport: Customs is located in Terminal 2 Departures, about half-way along the hallway where all the airline check-in desks are located.

• King Shaka International Airport: Customs is located just behind the check-in counters in the International Departures hall.

11/05/2018

Travel Counsellors South Africa

We have a fantastic holiday deal to Zanzibar that is valid until 31 May 2018. Spend 7 nights at the 5 Star All-inclusive Diamonds Gemme Dell Est from R15,985 pps. Tc'&C's apply. Speak to your Travel Counsellor for more info.

13/02/2018

After the discovery of a WWII bomb in the King George V dock this weekend, London City Airport closed yesterday (Monday, February 12).

Robert Sinclair, ceo of the airport, said: “All flights in and out of London City on Monday are cancelled and an exclusion zone is in place in the immediate area.”

Reservation staff at one of the airlines operating from the airport said they were still awaiting word from the airport and officials as to when it would be reopened, but said alternative

dates and airports, as well as refunds, were being offered for those affected by the closures.

Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport until further notice and to contact their respective airlines if they are booked to travel from London City Airport.

The airport is co-operating fully with the Metropolitan Police, the Royal Navy, and the London Borough of Newham.

31/01/2018

Lounges at Cape Town International Airport have implemented water-saving strategies in light of the water crisis in the city.

The Slow Lounge told eTNW that it had closed all showers in its domestic and international lounges at the airport and water saving is being encouraged through signage in the bathrooms.

They could not confirm when the showers will reopen or if the tap water would be cut off when the fast-approaching Day Zero arrives.

The Bidvest Premier Lounge, which only has showers in the international lounge, has not yet turned off the water. However, they are also encouraging water conservation through signage in the bathrooms.

11/01/2018

Offers

Offers

Experience the Best of the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. On this tour you will have the opportunity to experience the local Vietnamese culture as well as to stop and visit a few of the local places of work where you can see how the locals make use of coconuts and make straw mats, visit the farms, visit a...