DEPARTURE LOUNGE // SUMMER 2018
© SHUTTERSTOCK
News on the
Go
THAILAND STUBS OUT SMOKING ON BEACHES
Tourists caught smoking on 20 of Thailand ’ s most popular beaches – including many in the tourist destination of Phuket – now face up to a year in prison or a hefty fine . Authorities say the measure is due to the tens of thousands of cigarette butts left in the sand , with “ stompies ” making up a third of all waste collected on popular beaches . Recently an environmental group collected more than 138 000 cigarette butts over a 2.5km stretch of Patong beach in Phuket . The ban , which came into effect in November , applies to beaches in the provinces of Phuket , Prachuap Khiri Khan , Chon Buri and Songkhla , and includes the popular resorts of Koh Samui and Pattaya , the Bangkok
Post reports . The penalty for violating the ban is a year in prison or a possible fine up to 100 000 baht ( R41 000 ). While smoking is prohibited on the specified beaches , smokers can drop their butts into special containers in designated areas further inland .
BEACHCOMBER OPENS ANOTHER CHILD-FREE HAVEN Child-free travellers rejoice : Beachcomber Tours will open a new adults-only wing at the four-star superior Victoria Beachcomber Resort & Spa in Mauritius on December 1 . This will be the second adults-only wing in the Beachcomber portfolio after the concept was introduced at Dinarobin Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa .
The new adults-only wing at Victoria will have its own à la carte restaurant , bar and an 800-square-metre pool , and offer 40 rooms : 23 ocean-view and 17 of what will be Mauritius ’ first “ swim-up ” rooms .
Guests in these novel new rooms will be able to step straight from the water to their room and vice versa – all without a kid on a lilo getting in the way . “ Guests can even swim their way to the poolside Nautilus Café , where they can order a beverage , a snack , or à la carte lunch ,” says Joanne Visage from Beachcomber Tours SA .
We ’ re betting there ’ ll be no fish fingers and chips on that menu .
Q
A ciggie-free Thai beach .
GO HERE WITH SURE : Bookings for Victoria ’ s new adults-only wing are open ; contact your Sure Travel consultant for details , call 0861 47 48 49 , or visit www . suretravel . co . za
INDIA KEEPS THE DOOR TO SA BUSINESS OPEN – India has introduced a new 10-year multi-entry visa for South African business travellers . The holders of these visas can stay in the country continuously for up to 180 days . In addition , the length of stay on an e-visa has been increased from 30 to 60 days , with double entry on tourist and business e-visas and triple entry on medical e-visas .
DISNEYLAND GONE TO THE DOGS – Can ’ t bear to let Fido miss out on Disneyland ? Good news : you may now take your dog to four resorts at Walt Disney World Florida . Up to two dogs may stay in a room at these resorts . Four-legged guests have access to outdoor pet walkways and green spaces where they can relieve themselves . The catch ? It ’ ll cost between US $ 50 and US $ 75 per night to take your pooch along for the ride .
WHERE IN THE WORLD
?
08 // MAKE MEMORIES FOR LIFE