One thing becomes clear the more you travel — don’t believe everything you hear! Whether old wives’ tales or over-cautious advice, we’ve heard some doozies over the years, especially when it comes to booking seasonal holidays to sun or snow escapes.

Are you really bound to catch a cold out on the slopes? And if you’ve seen one beach resort, have you really seen them all? We looked into the fact and fiction of these types of claims — here’s what we found:

Myth #1: I’ll miss out if I travel during the off season

There can be some serious #FOMO (fear of missing out) when you plan a trip during a destination’s off season but there needn’t be!

Many destinations have mild or good weather all-year-round, so barring monsoon or hurricane season (a Sure Travel agent can advise), you should be able to capitalise on lower prices, more flexible availability, and local travel companies that are more receptive to unique or custom requests.

The off-season is great for spontaneity — cheaper flights, hotel upgrades, sightseeing without the queues, and last-minute tour or restaurant bookings you wouldn’t have been able to snag in the high season.

Sometimes, the vacation-of-a-lifetime is just a matter of changing your attitude. While destinations like Bali are a little wetter off season, it also means conditions are better for river rafting and waterfall chasing (and you’ll likely be back on the beach within an hour or two, since tropical rainstorms don’t last long).

You also might be lucky enough to overlap with several cultural festivals that happen off-season: the Bali Spirit Festival, Ubud Readers and Writers Festival, or the Ubud Food Festival, for instance.

Connect to the soul of Indonesia through vivid experiences and enriching adventure at Club Med Bali in Nusa Dua, the perfect blend of modern comfort, culture and harmony. Save 15% when you book a 7-night holiday with Sure Travel and Club Med (all-inclusive packages start from R22,100 pps!*).

Contact your nearest Sure Travel agency to enquire or book, or call 0861 47 48 49 for a quote.

. . .

Myth #2: Seen one tropical destination, seen ‘em all

There’s so much more to island destinations than palm trees, sand and sun (though we love each of these things in their own rite!). Don’t think just because you’ve spent some time on Zanzibar that all Indian Ocean getaways must be the same.

Tropical destinations make it their missions to differentiate themselves from their counterparts. For the most part, they succeed with flying colours.

The Maldives, for instance, was founded by former fishermen from Kerala and Sri Lanka, hence its melting pot of culture (a mix of indigenous groups and colonial settlers from Portugal, the UK and the Netherlands) and mouth-watering food. Besides its iconic floating cabanas, the warm waters of the seabed play host to a plethora of underwater marine life.

Club Med Kani is an all-inclusive, family-friendly resort, with rates from just R31,470 pps for 7-night stays including round-trip airfare. Experience everything from perfectly arranged meals, an open bar, endless water and land sports, plus kids’ clubs for children ages 4 to 10.

While parents relax with a cocktail or go scuba diving, the kids can enjoy a bucket list family holiday too. Activities include flying trapeze, beach soccer and volley ball, a romantic overwater swing, kayaking, snorkelling, and surfing.

Then there’s a tropical paradise like Seychelles. Historically, it was known as a treasure island for pirates. Since then its multiculturalism has created a cosmopolitan feel to the islands, with rich architecture and traditions.

From birdlife to wildlife and marine life – the biodiversity here is some of the world’s best and has been protected for decades. To read more about the Seychelles, click here.

Opening to the public in October 2020, Club Med’s newest resort on the private Seychellois island of Sainte Anne is not to be missed. Packages start from R38,880 pps*. Contact your nearest Sure Travel agency to enquire or book, or call 0861 47 48 49.

. . .

Myth #3: Peak season travel means everything will be fully booked

While it is often true that in-season travel means queues, higher rates and fully-booked excursions and hotels, it’s not always the case.

Studies show about 50% of holiday travellers choose to stay with family or friends whenever they can, reducing the strain on local hotels. It’s also true that business travel is typically non-existent during peak season, so many destinations try to fill rooms with exclusive package deals and additional perks.

Peak season travel usually just means you need to book a little earlier and keep an eye out for specials (our expert Sure Travel agents are pros at this). And even when your hotel or resort is at full capacity, properties, staff and amenities are all designed to give you the best experience — despite the number of guests.

Some of our favourite peak season destinations include Europe’s ski resorts — Club Med Grand Massif Samoens in France and Club Med Cervinia in Italy. We love the busy buzz of the villages, making new friends at the cosy apres ski, and taking in snow-capped views while waiting for the chairlift or soaking in a hot tub.

Seven-night all-inclusive packages for Club Med Grand Massif Samoens start at R39,370 pps*, while Italy’s Club Med Cervinia starts at R31,250 pps* (including ski and boot hire). Both resorts are entirely family friendly, with kids’ and teens’ clubs to keep the littles busy when you’re out on the slopes. Click here for your nearest agency to request a travel quote.

. . .

Myth #4: Everyone in the family will love it!

While the hope always is that everyone will be equally as excited about your travel itinerary, the reality is we’re all unique and want different things out of a holiday.

For some, it’s relaxation and nothing else. Others can’t sit still and need adventure 24/7. Learning about new cultures might be your thing; food someone else’s. Therefore, a little pre-trip democracy can go a long way when travelling with a partner or group.

Get everyone’s list of top activities, sights and eats of choice — then plan to try a couple each day, centred around a stellar resort where you’ll all be spoilt for choice, like Club Med’s La Pointe aux Canonniers in Mauritius.

Eight-day packages start from R24,330 pps* (save 15% when you book now with Sure Travel) for set departures.

. . .

Myth #5: Winter travel leads to winter blues — or a cold

Although the term “winter blues” is often loosely applied to all things winter, travellers are not likely to experience the medically-diagnosed Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) on a winter holiday, or a pesky cold or flu.

When it comes to SAD, because most people who experience this type of depression notice symptoms during late fall or early winter, due to prolonged exposure. They typically live far north or south of the equator and experience the same things year after year.

In contrast, a short holiday to a winter destination can actually be exciting for us South Africans — the prospect of a new environment, planning with family or friends, and the anticipation of a trip releases mood-boosting endorphins, regardless of the weather.

The same goes for colds and flus. It’s not actually the weather that causes illness but viruses and bacteria that can multiply in warm, dry climates (like those indoors, where people tend to congregate when it’s cold outside). In fact, the US’ Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine published a study that said that cold weather may even stimulate the immune system and reduce the risk of falling ill.

That being said, if you do feel a little down on your trip make sure you’re getting regular sleep, eat well and drink water, and get enough physical activity each day to get your blood and happy hormones pumping (a ski resort like Club Med Val Thorens in France should do the trick!). All-inclusive 8-day packages start from R34,200 pps*. Click here for your nearest Sure Travel agency or call 0861 47 48 49 for a quote.

. . .

*Additional Terms + Conditions may apply. Prices are valid for set departure dates, and may be subject to currency fluctuations.

A few fortunate travellers have the gift of being able to sleep anywhere, at any time, yet for the rest of us, getting a few winks on a long-haul flight is next to impossible. Beyond the obvious tips (like investing in a comfy pillow, ear plugs, and an eye mask, or wearing comfortable clothing), what are the secrets to better quality rest en route?

Here are Sure Travel’s top tips for quality sleep on a long-haul flight — your trusty guide to ensuring the first 72 hours of your trip won’t get derailed by jet lag:

1. Splurge on the industry’s best Business Class seat

Not all Business Class seats are created equal and for a good-night’s sleep, we love to fly Qatar Airways. Why?

Since the airline introduced its award-winning QSuite in 2017, we’ve seen a whole new meaning of luxury: closing doors for privacy, designer bedding, and novelly-designed centre seats that can be configured into two- or four-person suites (perfect for en-route business meetings, romantic honeymoon travel, group trips or families).

Qatar Airway’s QSuites come in top spot for us for their lay-flat beds with direct aisle access. The beds measure 55cm wide and 200cm long in lie-flat mode with sliding doors for privacy, more storage compartments than you’ll likely need, and ‘Do not disturb’ signs.

Sure, most airlines (including Qatar) offer swanky amenity kits, lounge access and top-notch cuisine for business travellers, but these services are lost on the traveller who can’t get a good night’s sleep.

But once you are rested, you’ll be able to appreciate Qatar Airways’ service so much more: a friendly and attentive cabin crew that delivers whatever you need, whenever you ask. Delicious food is served when you want it, in any order (along with champagne, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages). The service rivals international first class and beats most competitor business class offerings.

Plus, as a Oneworld Alliance partner, you can use frequent flyer miles from American Airlines, British Airways, etc. to book your QSuites with Qatar Airways to many major international destinations including Auckland, Bangkok, Boston, Copenhagen, Dallas Fort Worth, Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Los Angeles, Milan, Montreal, and Tokyo Haneda.

Qatar Airways flies 10 flights per week out of Cape Town International (they’ve added three evening flights to the daily midday flights), as well as 4 flights from Durban and 21 flights per week out of Johannesburg. Seven new morning flights have been added to the existing daily midday and evening flights from OR Tambo.

2. Don’t quite have the budget for Business? Book a window seat

If sleep is your top priority (rather than the flexibility to get up often to stretch without asking your seat mates), reserve a window seat. Many airlines still offer this service free, or at a low additional cost — and it can be well worth the extra rands if you’re tall or travelling with a group.

Why is a window seat beneficial for sleep? You’ll be able to lean over and rest your head (or pillow) on the side of the plane, and control whether your window shade is up or down (thus limiting the amount of light exposure you get while trying to sleep). These seats tend to have a little extra space (since the walls of the plane are rounded), and these added millimetres really can make all the difference.

Expert tip: book with Sure Travel to get the best seat possible and additional details (like legroom inches and proximity to bathrooms) that aren’t always available when booking online. Visit our website for a quote, or call us on 0861 47 48 49.

3. Take a gamble on a middle seat

Feeling lucky? Booking a middle seat towards the middle or back of the plane is the ultimate traveller game of Russian Roulette — either you’re lucky and you’ll get a whole row to yourself (since couples and families are unlikely to go either side of you), or the flight will be packed and you’ll end up sandwiched between two other travellers.

If all else fails, take a quick look to spot any more advantageous real estate. If you spy any other empty seats or rows, try asking a member of the cabin crew if it’s alright to switch seats for extra legroom as soon as possible.

4. Pack whatever makes you feel most at home

If you fall asleep at home to music, a meditation app, or snuggled in a cosy blanket, be sure to pack those items in your carry-on luggage. Having sleep on a plane most closely resemble your regular bedtime routine and sleep hygiene will help trigger your body’s sleepy-time response.

5. Go easy on the sleep aids

Travelling alone is never the time to try new sleep medications that might prove more potent than anticipated. That’s because over-the-counter sleep aids typically contain anti-histamines, which are long-acting, and may leave you feeling groggy once you wake up — not exactly the recipe to arrive at a new destination and hit the ground running!

If you think falling asleep may be an issue on your next flight — no matter how comfy you are — try asking your doctor or travel clinic about the benefits and proper usage of melatonin. It is a naturally-occurring hormone that your body already produces to help keep your sleep-and-awake cycles (the so-called circadian rhythm) in check.

6. Modify your sleep schedule before and during your travels

Travelling east? Head to bed 30 to 60 minutes earlier than usual at least a week leading up to your trip, and try to wake up at least 30 minutes earlier than you typically would.

One 2005 study in the Journal of Biological Rhythms even found the combination of shifting your sleep cycle and taking melatonin could help travellers avoid jet lag altogether, using the same techniques doctors recommend to night shift workers.

One more pro tip? Set your watch to the timezone of your final destination — and act like you’re already there. So if you’re hankering for a cup of coffee but know it’s already 11pm wherever you’re travelling, opt for a caffeine-free alternative instead (and not alcohol, since it reduces your quality of deep sleep).

7. Switch off any blue-light emitting electronics

Our beloved smartphones, tablets, laptops and other electronics trick our bodies into thinking they’re a source of sunlight (and therefore stop our bodies from releasing melatonin). That’s why it’s crucial to stop using them at least an hour before shut-eye, and make our sleep surroundings as dark as possible. Bored? Try reading a good old-fashioned book instead of scrolling through Instagram.

If you’re traveling east on an overnight flight, try to sleep during the first half of the flight (since it will most likely be nighttime where you’re headed). Close the window shade, don your eye mask, turn off the in-seat entertainment screens and overhead light. Meanwhile, if you’re going west, avoid light exposure during the second half of your flight to delay in your circadian rhythm (night owls have the advantage here).

8. Pay attention to your sleep posture

While tiny airplane seats can have us tempted to twist, torque and squeeze our bodies into the most comfortable positions, some positions can have a negative impact on your health.

When you cross your legs, for instance, you clamp down on one side, which can restrict blood flow and increase your chances of a blood clot, according to the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or stress your lower back.

A better way to sit is with your legs straight, and a slight bend at the knees, to avoid any blood pooling in the lower portion of your body. To ease lumbar pressure, you can either recline the chair and tuck a travel pillow or rolled up jacket into the curve your lower back — or try to sleep sitting up straight (if you have strong lower back muscles). Just don’t fall asleep leaning forward without any back support, as you’ll be putting much of the pressure on your spinal discs.

. . .

Book your next flight with Sure Travel and Qatar Airways

Whether you’re wanting to try Qatar Airways’ QSuites for the first time, or simply save with the airline’s unbeatable international fares, contact your nearest Sure Travel agency for a quote. Click here to enquire or book, or call us on 0861 47 48 49.