Badplaas, a well-known treasure within the Forever Resorts South Africa portfolio has recently spent millions on the upgrade of their Hydro and Spa facility. This upgrade has been on the books for the past two years and upgrades begun in October 2017 with the official construction commencing in January 2018. On the 26th of March the Coffee Shop which also underwent a total renovation along with the Hydro re-opened. The Spa re-opened two days later, on the 31st of March 2018. The official exclusive launch of the Hydro and Spa took place yesterday, 7 June 2018 and was attended by elite guests and VIPs including Honourable MEC Eric Kholwane and Executive Mayor Councillor Nkosi of Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality. 

Sandra Rath from the South African Association of Health and Skincare Professionals (SAAHSP) and from SDV Pharmaceuticals who attended the exquisite launch of the Badplaas Hydro and Spa said that the Spa industry in South Africa is still showing growth regardless of the Economic climate. “Being in the industry for the past 30 years, I can only say that the standard of this Spa exceeds expectations in all aspects. From ambiance to style, staff to treatments, this Spa is a must experience”, Rath added.  

The new buzz word, “Hydro”Hydro’s are often confused with Jet Baths and Jacuzzis. The reason for this is two common  elements, water and pulsing jets. A Hydro is however a treatment rather than an experience, an underwater massage which stimulates your body’s blood circulation. Over and above that, the water is warm therefore it opens pores cleaning your skin leaving you feeling refreshed. The Hydro assists with the treatment of stiff, sore muscles and joints by focusing on typical problem areas such as your neck, back, legs and limbs. It is for this reason that Hydro treatments are often recommended with products and treatments maximising the benefits.

What makes the Badplaas Hydro and Spa unique? There are only a few resorts in South Africa that can boast with natural warm water springs – Badplaas is one of those select few. The spring water is filled with a variety of 32 natural minerals. This water is them pumped into the Hydro pools, from the Hydro pools the water is pumped into the heated pool outside, from there the water is distributed to the other pools on the property cooling down as it travels from one pool to the other. The spring water is also used in the spa for various water based treatments offered at Badplaas. 

The Spa has Specialist Therapists who take care of the needs of customers individually in tranquil and beautiful surroundings. The relaxation area consists of a 12 seat sauna and relaxation pool with spring water. The Spa offers a range of Facial and Specialised Facial Treatments, Brow and Lash Treatments, Massage Therapy, Specialised Body Treatments, Hand and Foot Therapy, Nail Treatments, Waxing and even kiddies treatments including Facials, Massages, Manicures and Pedicures. 

The origin of the springsHot springs in South Africa originates from seepage-water that joins a subterranean water system, the more the water sinks the warmer the mineral water gets. If the mineral water moves fast enough it can still be hot when it moves back to the earth’s surface.  Mineral water contains a large amount of trace elements such as sodium, chloride and fluoride; however the mineral water’s chemical compound will differ from one source to the next. The spring water mainly consists of surface water (rain and snow) seeping through layers of rock which contain the minerals, as the water moves between these rocks its trace elements are dissolved by the water before it moves back to the surface of the earth. 

The spring water at Badplaas rises from approximately 4300 metres below the earth’s surface. The spring itself has a capacity of 34 000 litres of mineral water per hour and a water temperature of 53˚C. A rift valley from Badplaas to the Swaziland Spa in Mbabane has formed in the earth’s crust causing hot bubbles at various places in this valley’s trail.

OLX social experiment unlocks cash and declutters

A recent social experiment by SA’s leading online classified platform, OLX has highlighted that most South African households have money ‘tied up’ in unwanted goods.  

The social experiment surveyed six households and identified unloved and unused items valued at over forty thousand rand which were catalogued and appraised by a professional valuator.  In all cases owners were surprised by the combined value of the household items, and given the current economic climate it came as welcome news.

The weakening rand against the dollar and recent petrol price hikes will have a knock-on effect on consumer goods pricing meaning that consumers will feel the pinch this festive season.  So OLX set out to prove that most households could dispose of unwanted goods to stretch their wallets for the holidays.

“We live in a material world and recent reports from financial and academic institutions show that consumers are more cash strapped than previous generations and less able to fund their families’ aspirations (Unilever Aspirations study). Always resilient, the current situation is forcing South Africans to become creative in how they make their salaries stretch. Buying less is the obvious solution, but selling your unwanted items or buying second hand is probably the easiest way to save money,” says Karla Levick, head of marketing for OLX. 

One of the participants, Cindy Alfino, is married with three kids, owns an insurance brokerage and writing weekly for her parenting blog. The combined value of unwanted items in her household was R6 400 which they spent on camping equipment for the family’s holiday.  Camping is an affordable holiday option for this season, offering even more value for money if you buy second hand equipment online.  

The simple insight is that your money could be gathering dust in the back of a cupboard without you realising it. This experiment shows how you can simplify your life, clear up space and make cash which can then be put to use. “It’s like finding cash in a jacket you haven’t worn for a while” says Levick. 

Ntsikakazi Hene, a brand manager plans to put the R4 650 she made from selling her unloved items towards her December holiday travels. “For the last 7 years, I have spent every celebrated New Years in Cape Town. I want something different this year, but still, a want to be at the beach. So the plan is to go to Thailand for a week. Apart from the flights and accommodation, I also need money for shopping (apparently Thailand is a shopping haven). It's such a lovely surprise to see how much money, I can make from the items I never use! Now I can put away my credit card, and use the money I made from selling on OLX.” 

Jurie Senekal, a professional photographer and his girlfriend Mariska, a food stylist, plan to spend the R15 000 they will make on buying camera equipment. “R15 000 will help me to buy more up-to-date equipment. Also, previously the old equipment would just gather dust and it would also cost more as it is specified in our household insurance – so I would pay for cover for items we don’t use,” says Jurie.  

The South African classifieds market is estimated at R7 billion per annum of the entire retail sector worth R707 billion (as per 2014 statistics provided by www.statssa.go.za). With households under pressure, consumer spending will be restrained with a change in shopping habits and consumers looking for bargains. Classifieds companies, like OLX expect to see a spike in the market share of online classifieds.  “We believe that consumers are cottoning onto the benefits of classifieds shopping with thrifty behaviour as a long-term result,” says Levick. 

The results of the experiment are not surprising, says Gerald Mwandiambira, acting CEO of the South African Savings Institute: “In the age of consumerism where people spend more than their means and live on credit to buy goods and services they don’t need, clutter (in the form of unused items) is the result. What most people don’t realise is that selling items they have standing around could help them get out of debt, save or pay for something they really need. Part of the debt restorative process is also to de-clutter your life and focus on a financial plan. As part of the budgeting process, selling unused goods often allows one to pay off debt. Many people have old cellphones, gadgets and appliances that can be used to free space and release cash. Many people end up asset rich and cash poor when they hang on to unwanted goods.”

“So the tough economic outlook should not entirely dampen the festive spirit. Consumers can be creative, dispose of unwanted goods and look for bargains when shopping for gifts, and what better place to shop than OLX?” says Levick. 

More about OLX 

OLX is the world's leading classifieds platform focused on high growth markets, both mobile and online, with over 300 million monthly users across 45 countries. It generates traffic of over 28 billion monthly page views or around 360 million page views per day.

The story of OLX begins in the valleys of El Calafate in Argentina, far from the suburbs of Silicon Valley, where two young Internet pioneers Fabrice Grinda and Alec Oxenford connected, roamed and dreamed. They both loved IT and frequented the newspaper classifieds, and saw in them the potential of mobile technology. Their vision was to create something significant enough to make a positive difference in millions of people's lives, and so OLX was born. OLX currently employs over 2000 passionate and committed people across 25 offices globally, and as the organization continues to grow, so will its ability to deliver on its original promise: to create a richer world.

Contact details: Karla Levick, Head of Marketing Mobile: 078 205 8642 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Koekemoers on the Telly

The Koekemoers, a brand new miniseries from the ATKV which will be broadcasting on Wednesday mornings at 07:00 (staring on the 18th of May 2016) on the popular Die Groot Ontbyt on Kyknet, will have households ready to burst into laughter within three minutes before they hit the road to work. 

Family holiday shenanigans will be depicted with this tongue-in-cheek show which many viewers will be able to identify with."We would like to offer the Afrikaans viewer and our holiday goers content that will draw attention to typical family holiday events that most of us may have experienced. Some of the scenes are slightly dramatized, but the "tongue-in-cheek tone" will ensure a bit of healthy early morning humour. Think of the then short stories in the mornings just before everyone left for work like Het Jou Katvis! "Said Reinard du Plessis, General Marketing and Communications Manager at ATKV Business. 

Although the show is produced to entertain viewers, this production was a far cry from being a joke. The miniseries was carefully planned to ensure that a strong storyline developed with each episode. Each episode is only three minutes long and broadcast spans across 12 weeks - which is an indication of the sharp and explosive humour of the show. 

The main role and father, Johan Koekemoer is played by the well-known Afrikaans singer Joe F. The rest of the family includes the mother and anchor of the family, Marguerite Koekemoer (played by Lizé van der Walt), Megan "Viper" Koekemoer - the difficult teenage daughter (played by Danielle Du Plessis) and Johan Junior Koekemoer (played by TJ Day) - the apathetic boy who cannot stop playing with his electronic gadgets. 

But the series is not built merely to provide viewers with a weekly shot healthy humour. There are also valuable holiday suggestions and tips each week on the ATKV resort's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ATKVOORDE) that link onto that week's episode. Viewers should also be on the lookout for attractive prizes from May to August 2016 as part of the ATKV resort's Winter Promotions, because the goal is to pull each viewer into the show making it a real ATKV friendly experience, Du Plessis added. 

ATKV

For more information about the ATKV Resorts, feel free to visit their website: www.atkvoorde.co.za

It’s almost time for the Plettenberg Wine & Bubbly Festival, 4 & 5 October, a highlight on the Plett calendar, and this year Kurland Hotel is offering all attendees the chance to spend the weekend in style at the 5 star hotel.

The accommodation special is - Pay for 2 nights, but stay for 3, and make the most out of the weekend.

After a busy day at the festival, guests can spend the night relaxing at the hotel and experience even more fine dining.

For more information, contact Reservations at 044 534 8082.

Kurland Hotel can be viewed at: www.kurland.co.za

Voyagers throughout the world who want to fulfill their African safari dreams can now plan personalized journeys by banking on Selftours, a registered company that is bonded with SATSA (South Africa Tourism Services Association). The national members of SATSA look after your financial security totally and meet complete holiday requirements. Selftours is one of the most eminent South African Tour Operators which provides customized and affordable South African holiday tours that can be tough to forget throughout life.  

Selftours gladly announces its recent 6 days self-drive tour packages of the Southern Cape Coast of South Africa. The package contains economical B&B accommodation, car rental assistance, road maps, 2 nominated drivers, motoring tips, brochures and lists of things to view in travelling area that can help tourists to be completely worry-free and make a trip to remember. The offer is valid till August 2014.The 6 days and 5 nights self-drive tour package gives the tourists an opportunity to spend 3 nights in Cape Town and 2 nights in stunningly beautiful Knysna with special add-ons of Kruger Park Safari, Gorilla trekking etc.By availing the Economical Cape Town & Knysna Garden Route package, tourists can experience the grand Victoria Falls, Madagascar and Zanzibar just at R4702 till October, 2014.  

Those who are looking forward to have complete assistance in self-drive tours, guided coach tours, adventure package tours and hotel packages in and around South Africa, Selftours is the ultimate solution for them. The well-experienced and reliable team assists the travellers in arranging their holiday and creates a holiday schedule based on the tourists’ requirements and budget. For tourists looking for beaches or countryside- Selftours proposes the best alternatives. From South African Garden Route tour to Cape Point-Winelands tour, Kruger National Park safari along with other self-drive tour packages, Selftours offers the voyagers to explore the unparalleled beauty of the nation.  

For further information on planning safari tours in South African countries visit http://www.selftours.co.za/. 

About Selftours:

Selftours, founded in 2000, is a leading South Africa based tour operator and travel agency that specializes in tailor-made safari tours and holiday packages for travellers across the world. Interested clients can visit the main office in Cape Town on Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 16:30 to get sincere assistance.  

Contact:

Tel: 021 591 0261
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

107 Hamilton St
Goodwood.
7460
Cape Town
Western Cape
South Africa

21 May 2014 – City Lodge Hotel group today announced that 3 of its Hotels have received TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence awards. The accolade, which honours hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Establishments awarded the Certificate of Excellence are located all over the world and represent the upper echelon of businesses listed on the website. The 3 Hotels that received the award were the City Lodge Hotel OR Tambo International Airport, the Courtyard Hotel Port Elizabeth and the Country Lodge Nairobi.

When selecting Certificate of Excellence winners, TripAdvisor uses a proprietary algorithm to determine the honorees that takes into account reviews ratings. Businesses must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five, volume and recency of reviews. Additional criteria include a business’ tenure and popularity ranking on the site.

Winning the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence is a true source of pride for the entire team at City Lodge Hotels and we’d like to thank all of our past guests who took the time to complete a review on TripAdvisor. There is no greater seal of approval than being recognized by one’s customers. With the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence based on customer reviews, the accolade is a remarkable vote of confidence to our business and our continued commitment to excellence.

“TripAdvisor is pleased to honour exceptional hospitality businesses for consistent excellence,” said Marc Charron, President of TripAdvisor for Business. “The Certificate of Excellence award gives top performing establishments around the world the recognition they deserve, based on feedback from those who matter most – their customers. From Australia to Zimbabwe, we want to applaud exceptional hospitality businesses for offering TripAdvisor travellers a great customer experience.”

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