Ellerman House, Cape Town, South Africa

Bee Kalt Travel General Manager, Renee Weiss, and I recently flew on South African Airways direct to Johannesburg, with an onward flight to Cape Town. The food and service on the plane were excellent and they offer a good variety of in-seat entertainment to help pass the time. Unlike most domestic U.S. carriers, SAA even includes meals on their short haul flights within South Africa!

Upon our arrival in Cape Town, we were met by a representative of the Ellerman House, and driven to our home for the next three nights. The Ellerman House is a charming, boutique hotel perched high on a cliff in the Bantry Bay area of Cape Town. The location affords spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean and one can hear the sounds of the crashing waves below.  This beautiful former residence houses just 11 luxurious rooms and suites. There is also an exclusive Villa which can be reserved for a more private stay. The Ellerman House has a dazzling art collection, showcasing the most important South African artists, past and present.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay, with personal service and unique touches and amenities not usually included in similar fine city hotels. Here, the room rates include airport transfers, fully-stocked in room bar, complimentary laundry service, shuttle to the Waterfront, and delicious made-to-order breakfast. They even offer a pantry where guests can help themselves to a snack during the day. The rooms are beautifully decorated in soothing colors and have elegant marble baths. The Ellerman House was the perfect, tranquil place to return to after a long day of sightseeing or shopping!

Book your next stay at the Ellerman House with us and receive these exclusive amenities: Upgrade upon arrival subject to availability, a personalized Art Tour, and a bottle of French champagne! 

Bee Kalt Travel
Phone: 248-288-9600 or Toll-free 1-800-284-5258
Email: travel@beekalt.com


Stay tuned for more reports from our adventures in South Africa! Coming up: the Winelands

New Non-Stop Service to South Africa

South African Airways is inaugurating new non-stop service, roundtrip from New York to Johannesburg, South Africa! This reduces the previous flying time by 90 minutes and allows for easy connections to over 40 destinations on the African continent.

To celebrate the new service starting May 1, SAA is offering a fare sale from just $1329 plus taxes and fees for travel during the month of May. Take advantage of this great rate and visit the beautiful country of South Africa!

If you caught the last season of The Bachelor, you would have seen gorgeous views of Cape Town and gone on safari with Brad the Bachelor in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. They stayed at Lion Sands, where I was fortunate enough to have stayed too! The accommodations are in individual thatched cottages, comfortably furnished and decorated in beige and white. Fabulous game-viewing, gourmet cuisine, bush walks, massages, wildlife and astronomy lectures all round out the experience. 

Call our safari experts to book your adventure to Africa today!!

Bee Kalt Travel

Telephone: 248-288-9600 or toll free: 1-800-284-5258

email: travel@beekalt.com

An Oasis in the Desert, Cabo

Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Los Cabos, Mexico is aptly named, for it truly is a Window to Paradise! A short drive from the airport through the dry, desert landscape brings you to this beautiful Rosewood resort. You are greeted by name upon arrival, introduced to your personal butler/concierge, and ushered to your spacious suite where a very civilized check-in is performed.

All junior suites have lovely patios, most face the ocean, and some even have private roof top terraces for lounging in the sun. If you stay in a deluxe suite, you will receive a "sheet menu" where you can choose which type of linens you prefer on your bed. I'd go for the silk!

The level of service is incomparable and shows in the well-trained staff. Complimentary cool refreshments, such as house made popsicles or frozen grapes are served by the pool throughout the day. I enjoyed the ice cold water and Evian mist delivered by the beach and pool attendants. The help-yourself jar of jelly-bellys was a hit with the guests as well.

The food is outstanding with a variety of fresh fish and other specialties prepared in a Baja-Mediterranean style. There is an excellent, well-equipped fitness center and fabulous spa to round out the offerings.

Las Ventanas al Paraiso is the perfect spot for a romantic getaway or a laid-back vacation with the family.

Book your next stay with us and receive these VIP amenities: complimentary breakfast daily, an upgrade upon arrival based upon availability and a complimentary margarita and ceviche tasting! 

Contact the travel specialists at Bee Kalt Travel today:
Telephone: 248-288-9600 or 1-800-284-5258
email: travel@beekalt.com

    

Oceania Marina Debut

The latest buzz in the cruise industry is all about the newest ship in the Oceania cruise fleet, the beautiful Oceania Marina. Several Bee Kalt Travel Advisors were among the first to see and tour this elegant ship.

The 1,250 passenger Marina has luxurious suites and all stateroom categories have spacious marble bathrooms. The ship is dedicated to culinary experiences, having the only cooking school at sea with a demonstration kitchen and hands-on instruction. "The dining options are among the best I've seen on any ship", said Lynn Sands, Cruise Department Manager at Bee Kalt Travel. These options include immersing yourself in Asian cuisine at Red Ginger, or delighting in French bistro fare at Jacques, named for the legendary executive chef, Jacques Pepin.

After you've sampled all of the dining venues, you may want to work off a few calories in the Canyon Ranch Spa Club. This award-winning spa brings their healthy lifestyle and fitness experts to the sea on the entire Oceania fleet.

Sail aboard the Marina on many exciting itineraries in Europe this summer and fall!

Call the Cruise Specialists at Bee Kalt Travel to book your next cruise today!

Bee Kalt Travel phone: 248-288-9600

email: Lynn@beekalt.com

Silversea Sale!

Here's your chance to sail on the World's Best Small Ship cruise line while enjoying generous savings. Book any Silversea sailing for 2011/2012 and automatically receive a $100 per person discount. This is in addition to fare reductions of up to 60%!

And there's more: FREE economy airfare from 22 gateways on most sailings, specially priced business class air from $999 on certain European sailings, complimentary one category upgrades on selected cruises sailing by May 3, 2011, Onboard credits of up to $1000.00 on selected sailings, and complimentary Virtuoso Voyager club membership.

Silversea ships are intimate, holding only 296 to 540 guests in all-suite accommodations. Enjoy complimentary fine wines and spirits, gourmet dining and butler service all included in your cruise fare. Asia, Europe, the Caribbean - fabulous itineraries await!

You must book and deposit by February 20, 2011 to take advantage of the savings! Call us today to confirm your suite. You can't afford not to!

Call the Cruise Specialists at Bee Kalt Travel at 248-288-9600
email: travel@beekalt.com

Shop the World!

Regarding the previous post, all trips to Cairo are on hold until further notice! Things happen which are out of our control. A traveler needs to be flexible and it is important to remember this when traveling. (Reminder: always buy trip insurance!)

Even when not traveling, we find things out of our control...such as a snow day! We get stuck inside for a day or two and have to think of ways to occupy our time. I was thinking that one of the great joys of traveling is shopping for local art, crafts or goods made in the country that you are visiting. These items make wonderful memories which can transport you back to the particular time and place where you bought them. They also make great gifts for family and friends.

I have found a fantastic website where you can go shopping around the world without leaving your home. The creators of The Traveler's Collection support communities around the world by working with local artisans. You can find one of a kind items in apparel, jewelry or beautiful accessories for your home at www.thetravelerscollection.com. Did you ever regret not purchasing that wooden bowl in Thailand or beaded bracelet in East Africa? You may be able to find it here! It's fun to browse, and dream about where your travels will take you to next....

To plan your next adventure, call the travel specialists at Bee Kalt Travel!
Tel: 248-288-9600
www.beekalt.com
email: travel@beekalt.com

Egypt

Cairo
The sights, the sounds, the smells. This city of 1,000 minarets is also known affectionately as the city of "beep beep". I've never visited a city with traffic quite like this. The drivers make their own lanes as they weave in and out, between other cars and pedestrians. If there was a sound to the city, this one would have to be beep beep!

Once you look past the pollution and grit of the city there is much beauty to be found. Sailing on a felucca, a single-masted wooden boat, is a charming way to enjoy an afternoon on the Nile river. When the sun goes down Cairo looks beautiful with the colorful lights of the city reflecting off the water. There is much to see and do in Cairo and the surrounding areas. Of course, a visit to the famous Pyramids of Giza is a must. While there, take a camel ride! About an hour drive from Cairo will take you to the ancient cities of Memphis and Sakkara, where you can view the oldest, step pyramid. It is fascinating to see these structures in person and realize that these huge wonders were all built by hand. Take time to visit the Egyptian museum where the Treasures of King Tut are on display. A new state-of-the art museum is under construction and is slated to open in 2012.

There are so many Temples and Tombs to visit all throughout the country. My trip with my family was arranged with our local partner, Egyptian Express. They helped craft a perfect itinerary, which allowed us to see as much as we could in the time we had. We flew to the city of Aswan in Upper Egypt, our starting point for a cruise on the River Nile. I was surprised to find that this city has a population of close to one million people. We enjoyed the Nubian museum and the shopping in the Spice Market. We also had a chance to fly down to Abu Simbel and visit the great Temple of Ramses II.

Our Nile cruise ship was the Amarco II, one of the most luxurious ships on the river. The rooms and baths are very spacious, and free internet was a plus. This is a relaxing and interesting way to explore the area. You can visit a few sights each day while the ship moves slowly northward to Luxor. Once at Luxor, we visited the famous Temples of Karnak. This is the best preserved complex in all of Egypt. We also visited the Valley of the Kings, and actually went down into the tomb of King Tut where all of his treasures were discovered. His mummy lies on display there. During the trip, we were escorted by our Egyptologist guide, Ossama. He took care of every travel detail in addition to sharing as much information and history we could handle. This was a wonderful way to explore Egypt!



Tip: Entry requirements for U.S. citizens are a valid passport and a visa. The visa is easily purchased upon arrival at the Cairo airport for $15.00.
Best time weather-wise to travel is September - April, when it isn't unbearably hot. Do bring a sun hat whenever you go, because there is not much shade when visiting the monuments.

Thinking about traveling to Egypt? Give us a call to plan your next travel adventure!
Bee Kalt Travel 248-288-9600
email: travel@beekalt.com