SAA has announced a couple of new flight routes - from the 17th January 2012 it'll be flying from Johannesburg to Kigali and onwards to Bujumbura (Burundi).

Cruising during UN Climate Convention

If you are planning to go down to Durban anytime between the 28th of November to the 9th of December 2011, especially for those going for the MSC Sinfonia cruises (SI 008, SI 009 & SI 010) please be advised that due to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change due to be held in Durban you are likely to face some delays owing to security checks as such we advise you to adjust your travelling itinerary.

If you haven’t booked your cruise for the MSC Sinfonia check these cheapest prices for 2 adults sharing:

NOTE: Prices include mandatory Travel Insurance, Port Charges and Service Fees for 2 adults sharing.

Car Hire in Durban

Wheel yourself around Durban with these car hire prices. We compared the prices of renting a car in Durban from 12h00 on the 28th of November 2011 until 12h00 on the 29th of November 2011:

Vehicle availability is anticipated to become difficult towards the opening of the Conference so rather book your car now. Avis was excluded from the survey.

Accommodation in Durban

Unless if you love spending your evenings in the kitchen like cups and spoons there are virtually no rooms available in Durban for the period from the 28th of November to the 9th of December 2011 as most hotels and lodges were telling us they were now fully booked for the COP Conference.

What the SAPS checks mean to you is that you need to arrive at the harbour by 12h00 latest to also ensure that you arrive in time for check-in procedures as embarking will stop at 13h00 on all these cruises.

The restrictions, which will be applied to every car entering Durban Harbour during this period, are:

1. No car, without at least a registered travelling passenger on an MSC cruise holding a valid ticket, will be allowed entry to the Port; therefore it is suggested that families and friends either travel with the passengers or refrain from entering the Terminal, as they will be denied entry to Durban Harbour.

2.Contracted MSC Starlight Cruises buses and shuttles may be subjected to random searches by the SAPS and TNPA security, although MSC has made it clear to the authorities that they will all be cruise passengers on board. All other buses and shuttles will definitely be searched.

3. Breathalyser tests will be carried out on all car passengers, not only the drivers, entering the Harbour.

4.Cars will only be allowed to drop off the passengers in the designated area and will have to proceed out of the Harbour straight afterwards (parking will only be allowed for long-term parking passengers cruising on the day).

5.No banners, of any kind (festive or directed at passengers) will be allowed inside the Harbour (car checks may be executed by the SAPS).

6. There will be random checks of IDs and passports at the Harbour Gate, which could lead to delays in reaching the Terminal Area. Passengers are asked to be patient, as these checks are being enforced for the safety of all passengers travelling out of Durban on MSC Sinfonia.

Hotels

Dancers at Barcelona Airport, drawing passengers to the Duty Free shop.

Well done to Jacques Bence for correctly identifying the song they were dancing to on our Facebook page, & winning a small travel voucher.

Emirates Johannesburg flight review

Hot air balloon taking off (click link to see video) at Bill Harrop's Original Balloon Safaris.

Singapore Airlines is officially launching its low cost carrier, Scoot Airlines, in mid-2012.