We have just returned from a family vacation weekend at the sun city Vacation club. We stayed at the “new” units and it was absolutely brilliant. The people that have *decked* out the places have done an awesome job. They have thought of everything, the kids pool was a hit, the stunning cocktails around the pool were “soothing” in the hot sun. All together well done guys really happy and you will def see us again!
Press release from the USA embassy:
JOHANNESBURG – The U.S. Consulate General in Johannesburg is relocating from Killarney to a newly-built facility located at 1 Sandton Drive, opposite Sandton City Mall just west of the intersection of Sandton Drive and Rivonia Road. During our move, consular services for the public (including American citizen services and visa services) will be closed Monday, April 6, through Thursday, April 9. The Consulate General will also be closed during the Good Friday/Easter weekend from April 10 to April 13. The Consular Section will re-open to the public on Tuesday, April 14, in the new location.
The following press release has been released from Singapore:
From 15 April, Singapore Airlines, together with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Singapore Changi Airport, will offer all its customers the Fabulous Singapore Stopover Package for just US$1 for the first night stay in Singapore.
Aimed at stimulating tourism during this economic downturn, the Fabulous Singapore Stopover package offers Singapore Airlines customers an opportunity to stop over in Singapore for almost nothing. The Stopover package covers exclusive deals on hotel accommodation, airport transfers and entry to some of Singapore’s leading tourist attractions.
Customers will each be given S$10 Changi vouchers, which they can use to pay for purchases at the many retail and food and beverage outlets at Changi Airport. Customers can collect these vouchers, courtesy of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), at the SIA Singapore Stopover Holiday counters when they arrive in Singapore. They can also take advantage of free ground transfers to and from Changi Airport and unlimited use of the Singapore Airlines’ “Hop-On Bus” – an air-conditioned bus service that allows customers to visit over 20 major attractions in Singapore.
The package also includes free admission to attractions including Sentosa Island, Singapore Zoo, Malay Heritage Centre, National Orchid Garden, Peranakan Museum, Singapore River Bumboat Tour and Jurong Bird Park.
Other goodies in the package include a 50 per cent dining discount at designated food outlets at selected hotels, a free SingTel Prepaid Mobile hi!Card, which customers can use to make calls and Singapore Airlines Boarding Pass Privileges, which offer discounts on shopping, dining, sightseeing tours, tourist attractions and car rentals when customers present their Singapore Airlines boarding passes.
This attractive package is valid for travel and hotel stay from 15 April to 30 September 2009. At US$1 for the first night, travelers can choose to stay from a list of six hotels. For a little more indulgence, they can also choose to stay in other hotels at first night rates of US$20, US$30 and US$40 respectively (refer to Annex 1 for hotel list). These special first night rates are based per person on a twin-share basis.
“We hope this special US$1 deal will entice travelers to stop over in Singapore and experience the buzz and unique attractions that this country has to offer. For those already thinking of going on a holiday, this attractive package will give them the extra ‘push’ to travel with Singapore Airlines and stopover in Singapore,” said Mr Huang Cheng Eng, Singapore Airlines Executive Vice President, Marketing and The Regions.
The worldwide sale of this special package will be launched on 15 April 2009. This promotion cannot be used in conjunction with other offers like the SIA Holidays or other travel packages. For more details and other terms and conditions, please log on to singaporeair.com/ssh.
Wow is this really right:
• Only Government and/or Airport taxes are refundable*.
*For partially used tickets not all the taxes may be refundable as some may be considered used e.g. if a UK departure has taken place before ticket is presented for refund, any tax relating to the UK departure will have been used.
(Info released by BA directly via email to the Travel Trade)
This means that if you purchase a non refundable ticket the Government taxes are refundable.The fuel taxes are not refunable! Why you have not flow n you have not used the aircraft and used zip fuel.
Now my question and comments are why are the fuel taxes/ surcharges not refundable? Well the only explanation that can be drawn is that airlines jumped on the band wagon when the going was rough and fuel was at an all time high by hiking the fuel surcharges and taxes. Now why I ask if the fuel has dropped price by half, why have the taxes not seen the same drop in levels? The reason for this is that the airlines need to stay in business and will charge where ever they can to make an extra buck. We will not even get started on ADM’s in this post.
Guys I am not saying give away everything for free and we all live in lala land, what I am saying is that lets cut to the core of it all, charge what you need to charge as the fare and charge what you need to as the taxes however lets be fair and transparent about it. It is a crock to charge exorbitant fuel surcharges when fuel is half the price a barrel it was a year ago. be fair and transparent.