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Tourism Month: Travel SA safely and smartly

Tourism Month: Travel SA safely and smartly

September is Tourism Month: A time to discover and celebrate our country’s world-class destinations. From coastlines and game reserves to vibrant cities and quirky small towns, there’s never been a better time to hit the road and see the sights.

But, while the excitement of an adventure is real, it’s just as important to plan for your personal safety, protect your car and belongings, and make sure your home is secure while you’re away. “No matter where you’re headed, travelling safely and responsibly means more than just buckling your seatbelt. It means having the right support in place for your journey, and your home while you’re away,” says Wynand van Vuuren, client experience partner at King Price Insurance.

Here are a few simple steps you can take before and during your trip to make sure you’re protected:

Be aware of your surroundings: Whether you’re in a buzzing city or off the beaten track, keep your valuables close, avoid isolated areas after dark, and trust your instincts.

Stay in touch: Let someone know your travel plans and check in with them regularly, especially if you’re heading to remote areas with limited reception.

Book smart: Only use reputable websites or platforms when booking accommodation or excursions.

Save important info: Keep digital copies of your ID, driver’s licence, medical aid card, and emergency contact numbers (including your insurer) in your phone and cloud storage.

Know what to do after an accident: If you’re involved in an accident, here’s what you need to do. Also remember to call your insurer as soon as possible. And, don’t allow just anyone to tow your car. If you don’t use your insurer’s approved towing service, you could end up paying out of your own pocket. It’s also a good idea to make sure you have access to roadside, accident, and medical assist. This benefit is often included with your comprehensive car insurance, but it’s best to confirm before you travel.

Ensure your insurance is up to date: Make sure your premium isn’t in arrears, and ensure that the insured value for your portable possessions is enough to cover all the valuables that leave your property when you do. Make sure items like phones, laptops, and cameras are properly specified, and don’t leave them visible in your car because you’re likely only covered if they’re locked away and out of sight. And remember, if you’re towing a caravan, trailer, or boat, it should be insured as well.

Cover for racks and gear: Roof racks, carriers, and bike racks should be insured and securely fastened to your car. Any luggage and sports equipment need to be specified as well and also be securely fastened to be covered.

Tyre and rim cover: Potholes don’t take holidays. Insurance for your tyres and rims is worth considering.

While you’re making memories on the road, your home still needs protection. Make sure your home contents insurance is up to date and reflects the value of the items in your home. Check your policy doc for ‘unoccupied home’ conditions: Many insurers have limits on how long your home can stand empty before it affects your cover.

“We live in one of the most beautiful and diverse countries in the world. And, with the right precautions in place, there’s nothing stopping you from playing tourist securely and confidently,” says Van Vuuren.

For more articles like this click here.  

If you enjoyed this website then check out our other sites: Wedding and FunctionKids ConnectionThirsty TravelerBoat Trips for Africa, Bargain BuysBusiness Link.  

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About us

Actually, Home Food and Travel offers a lot more than just reviews of accommodation, restaurants, spas and adventure activities.  We also visit great destinations, receive advice from interior designers and stop to smell the roses and taste the coffee.

Our team of journalists are seasoned travels and love visiting the myriad of exciting places around South Africa.  Whether it is off the beaten track or in the heart of the top attractions of the country, we’ll be there,

Home Food and Travel advice on finding the right accommodation

So what is the right accommodation?  Well more often than not, it’s your travel budget that dictates the type of accommodation that you choose. 

Expensive is not always better.  Our team at Home Food and Travel will tell you that they have camped in areas with limited ablutions and had a wonderful holiday.  They have also spent a night in a five star hotel only to be disappointed because their expectations exceeded the experience.

The reason for your travels will also affect your choice.  A business trip requires different amenities to a beach holiday. 

Our articles, reviews and experiences can certainly help you make your decision.

Restaurants with a good mix of service, food and ambiance

To my mind a great restaurant offers three things – excellent service, great food and a wonderful ambiance.  Of these, service is the most important. 

No matter that the food is delicious and the setting delightful, poor service can ruin the occasion.  However, great service combined with mediocre meal and a plane jane restaurant can still be a pleasant night out.

We’ve eaten in restaurants that are really dirty but with incredible food and couldn’t help but give a rave review.  We’ve also hardly noticed what we ate because the setting was just amazing.

However, the best restaurants come with the best of service, food and ambiance.

Spas are the ultimate relaxation aid

How do you know when you have had a great spa experience?  The answer, of course, is when you doze off on the treatment table. 

Well that’s our theory anyway.  It also doesn’t take a grand location with enormous facilities for a spa to be really good

A small, personal spa that is owner run can result in the best massage you have ever experienced.  However, the grand spas in five star hotels offer unsurpassed facilities in an environment that just makes the stress in your shoulders and neck melt away before you even finish checking in.

Adventure!

You don’t have to be an adrenaline junky to enjoy an exciting experience.  In fact, what are commonly termed adventure activities usually have incredibly high safety standards and unblemished safety records.

Ziplining, bungy jumping and shark cage diving are all very safe.  It’s just that our mind tells us we are craaazzzzyyyy to be doing this.

On the road to great places of accommodation, restaurants, spas and adventure activities

If you’re driving, be safe and make use of all the wonderful farm stalls that populate South Africa’s open roads.

If you overhear somebody asking a lot of questions or see someone taking photos of empty bedrooms chances are it’s one of our Home Food and Travel team members.

We’re out looking or those great places of accommodation, restaurants, spas and adventure activities.

See you on the road!

 

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