{"id":4235,"date":"2012-12-12T14:09:38","date_gmt":"2012-12-12T14:09:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ethosmarketing.co.uk.dedi391.nur4.host-h.net\/blog\/?p=4235"},"modified":"2013-03-14T10:38:30","modified_gmt":"2013-03-14T10:38:30","slug":"press-trip-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ethosmarketing.co.uk\/blog\/2012\/12\/12\/press-trip-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Press Trip Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

A WEEK IN HEAVEN FOR A TRAVEL-STARVED MUM<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

On hearing I would be taking a small group of journalists to South Africa for a week \u2026 I was torn.\u00a0 Torn between being totally excited to be staying in some of the country\u2019s top boutique hotels or the simple pleasure of getting a rare\u00a0full night\u2019s sleep.\u00a0 As mum to 3 boys (including 2 year old twins!)\u00a0a full night\u2019s sleep sounded like a major highlight. So despite some trepidation about leaving my little monkeys behind, it was with great excitement and anticipation that I met four lovely ladies at London Heathrow for our flight to Johannesburg.\u00a0 We all hit it off right from the start over some tasty lunch and drinks in South African Airways<\/a>\u2019 Star Alliance First Class lounge. It certainly set the tone for an amazing week of luxury and decadence.<\/p>\n

One of the bonuses of visiting South Africa is the easy 10-11 hour overnight flight and the minimal time difference- meaning there is no jet lag. Between the on-demand movies, tasty meals and a few hours kip we were landing in what seemed no time at all.\u00a0 We had a few hours between flights to kill at Jo\u2019burg airport before our flight down to George \u2013 a great opportunity to get to know each other a little better. Our lil team of lovely ladies included Sarah Green from You and Your Wedding Magazine, Diana Pilkington from the Press Association (writing for the PA Wire\/Etc Magazine\/Evening Standard), Kate Gilbert from Handbag.com and Anita Clements from Hamilton PR, writing for Cosmopolitan Online and Selling Long Haul.<\/p>\n

After our 1 hour 50 min flight to George on SA Airlink and a short ten minute drive from the airport to Fancourt, I was struck at how lush and green it all was. No wonder it is called The Garden Route!\u00a0 A mass of multi-coloured bougainvillaea\u2019s marked the entrance of the Fancourt Estate \u2013 and a hint of the amazing gardens, greens and spectacular countryside that lie within its 613 hectares of prime Garden Route property.<\/p>\n

We were very lucky to be staying at the new \u201cManor House At Fancourt<\/a>\u201d which opened in 2011.\u00a0 A boutique style all-suite hotel built within the historical homestead known as \u201cBlanco House\u201d that belonged to Henry Fancourt White 150 years ago. One thing that is certainly not lacking in is WOW factor.\u00a0 The 16 suites are both sumptuous and spacious.\u00a0 The smallest suites are over 60m2 if that gives some indication of their size.\u00a0 The suites include an entrance hall\/butler station, private lounge (complete with funky mirror that turns into a flat screen TV at the touch of a button!), private patio overlooking the pool, luxurious bedroom (I\u2019m told that 10 layers of luxury ensure a comfy night\u2019s sleep) and a bathroom that literally blew me away and made me feel like royalty.\u00a0 They come equipped with complimentary mini bar including wine and bubbly, snacks – everything from jelly beans to biltong (nom nom), a coffee machine and decanters of spirits you just help yourself to.\u00a0 And if there\u2019s anything you can\u2019t find- a quick call to your butlers will see that problem sorted. What a way to holiday!<\/p>\n

Our three nights at Fancourt were a mesmerizing blur of pure luxury and decadence \u2013 a constant flow of canap\u00e9s served up in the Garden and Tea Lounge and High Tea on the terrace \u2013 with the always present bubbles of my favourite Graham Beck Brut NV (the choice of both Obama and Mandela to celebrate their inaugurations).<\/p>\n

Henry White\u2019s fine dining restaurant housed within The Manor House was unfortunately closed for a few days for a soft refurbishment during our stay – but we didn\u2019t really notice as the weather was so fantastic we opted to eat breakfast on the terrace anyhow \u2013 and our first dinner was enjoyed al fresco in the idyllic garden gazebo nearby with the lovely sounds of Africa as crickets and frogs serenaded us while we ate.\u00a0 The gazebo is understandably very popular for wedding ceremonies.\u00a0 We had a wide choice of dining experiences without even leaving the estate and particularly enjoyed La Cantina which has a lovely Mediterranean\/Italian feel and menu \u2013 and Morning Glory does a killer Crayfish feast!<\/p>\n

For the first two days we didn\u2019t even bother to leave Fancourt – preferring to while away the hours in the amazing spa, enjoying massages and relaxing in and around the impressive Roman Baths.\u00a0 I even picked up a\u00a0book which is a rare treat for a mummy.<\/p>\n

On our third day we were ready to explore and went on a fantastic day trip to Oudstshoorn.\u00a0 Our guide Mario Febbraio from Tours for South Africa<\/a>\u00a0ensured the drive was not only scenic but informative as we wound our way over the majestic Outeniqua mountains.\u00a0 Amazing to see how a mountain can separate the lush gardens along the coastline from semi desert the other side in the Klein (little) Karoo \u2013 like two different worlds.\u00a0 The bonus of having a\u00a0 desert on your doorstep (well, an hour or 60kms away anyhow) is that Oudtshoorn enjoys an average 330 days of sunshine a year- so even if you get an off day on the Garden Route \u2013 it\u2019s not far to find some good weather.<\/p>\n

We started off with a visit in the Cango Caves<\/a> \u2013 Africa\u2019s largest show caves which started forming 20 million years ago and have been used by earliest man for shelter for over 80,000 years . We did the standard tour, not really fancying slithering about in tunnels called the Devil\u2019s Chimney and the Letterbox!\u00a0 Then it was off to Buffelsdrift Game Reserve<\/a> nearby where we enjoyed an amazing lunch overlooking a dam\/waterhole filled with fish, crocodiles and hippo.\u00a0 Then we had the rather surreal experience of interacting with three beautiful elephants that had been rescued as orphans from the Kruger National Park.\u00a0 A small group of us went to meet Jabari (meaning powerful), Bolelo (meaning Thank you) and Malaika (meaning Angel).\u00a0 We got to hand feed these gentle giants, have a cuddle, and even sit on their backs.\u00a0 AMAZING!\u00a0 I worked for the Tembe Elephant Park for a number years and whilst I love nothing more than to see Ellies living wild and free in the bush as they were intended \u2013 it was a pure privilege to actually touch these amazing creatures and to see how happy they seemed.\u00a0 Apparently they actually lie down to sleep as they are so happy and relaxed in their sleeping quarters where they retire each night after a day exploring the Reserve. They played a few ball games, tossing and kicking the ball to us which was amazing.\u00a0 \u00a0It is an experience I shall certainly never forget.<\/p>\n

Then we were off to the Safari Ostrich Show Farm<\/a> where we wandered around the gift shop (us being 5 girls the shopping came first).\u00a0 Having an ostrich purse or handbag is a real status symbol but sadly was out of our budgets \u2013 although we did splash out on some feather dusters.\u00a0 After a guided tour, a couple of us sat on an ostrich \u2013 and Anita and Sarah bravely donned the not so glamorous \u201criding trousers\u201d and actually rode them \u2013 which is a moment I shall never forget the girly shrieks could brighten the dullest of days!<\/p>\n

I wished we\u2019d had a few more days as we had only touched the tip of the iceberg in terms of what is available to explore from Fancourt as your base on the 200km of Garden Route, stretching from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape all the way to Storms River in the Eastern Cape.\u00a0 In an ideal world, I would have taken them down to Heralds Bay, just a short 15 minute drive from Fancourt \u2013 to show them how great it is for families or couples wanting a bit of beach time.<\/p>\n

Fancourt is a great base for families \u2013 with nearby attractions including the Cango Wildlife Ranch, Monkeyland, Knysna, hiking trails at Tsitsikamma Forest and boat trips to spot dolphins and whales.\u00a0 There are also many activities for the more adventurous or adrenaline junkies such as shark diving, abseiling, kayaking, skydiving and bungee jumping.\u00a0 It is also the golfing mecca of South Africa – with three Championship courses on the Fancourt Estate itself including Outeniqua, Montagu and The Links (recently voted Top Course in Africa by Golf Digest USA).\u00a0 The list is endless.<\/p>\n

But despite how much I was appreciating the break from my \u201cparenting duties\u201d and how much fun the ladies and I were having –\u00a0 I did find myself regularly wishing that I had my family with me.\u00a0 \u00a0Because if anything \u2013 despite being told numerous times that \u201cFancourt is not just about golf\u201d, even I hadn\u2019t FULLY appreciated how fantastic it is for families.\u00a0 Not only can you give them the freedom to explore over 600 hectares of beautiful space and fresh air without fear of them getting lost or meeting with traffic \u2013 but the facilities are incredible.\u00a0 In addition to the mountain bike, walking and jogging trails that run around the estate and golf courses ranging between 2 and 10 kms – Fancourt has a brand new leisure centre (which opened October 2012) and fully supervised Fancourt Kidz Club \u2013 which is free to all guests. What??\u00a0 Free childcare??? No jokes!<\/p>\n

The new centre had me literally drooling on behalf of my kids \u2013 with a bright and cheerful play room, including play house, library corner and arts and crafts tables, a soft play climbing frame, outdoor playground, indoor heated family pool plus outdoor pool – and a cinema. \u00a0 They even gave me some activity books to take home for my children \u2013 which has had the desired effect already \u2026 Josh begging me to take him there to do all the activities highlighted in his book.\u00a0 During school holidays they also run an hourly programme of events for 3 \u2013 10 year olds so that parents can enjoy some down time, visit the spa or hit the golf course.\u00a0 Babysitters can also be hired for under 3\u2019s.<\/p>\n

There are also 4 tennis courts, a state of the art gym and dance\/aerobics studio where they offer classes (Ballroom and Latin dancing) and Pilates as well as volley ball courts.\u00a0 The trendy Teen lounge is sure to be a hit with older children with an area of their own with pool tables, table tennis, DVDs and PlayStation games.<\/p>\n

Fancourt has fantastic two-bedroom suites that are ideal for families with separate lounge and dining area \u2013 but their one-bedroom suites\u2019 lounges are also large enough to accommodate 2 small children (under 11) free of charge on a sleeper couch.\u00a0 But if like me, you are taking a little sojourn from the mayhem of family life, you can momentarily wish your children were here\u2013 but then quietly (and rather smugly) head back to the elegant comfort of the Manor House where there are no children under 16 years and wallow in the peace and tranquillity that encompasses you as you enter this hallowed house of harmony.\u00a0 And oh look \u2013 there\u2019s another tray of canap\u00e9s and champagne.\u00a0 It\u2019s a tough old job this!\u00a0 Not!<\/p>\n

And Next \u2013 we are off to Cape Town!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On hearing I would be taking a small group of journalists to South Africa for a week \u2026 I was torn. Torn between being totally excited to be staying in some of the country\u2019s top boutique hotels or the simple pleasure of getting a rare full night\u2019s sleep. As mum to 3 boys (including 2 year old twins!) a full night\u2019s sleep sounded like a major highlight.<\/p>\n

Continue readingPress Trip Part 1<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4238,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,7,74,59],"tags":[51,34,9,62],"class_list":["post-4235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-default","category-fancourt","category-manor-house","category-south-africa","tag-fam-trip","tag-food","tag-garden-route","tag-luxury","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ethosmarketing.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ethosmarketing.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ethosmarketing.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ethosmarketing.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ethosmarketing.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4235"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.ethosmarketing.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4235\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ethosmarketing.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4238"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ethosmarketing.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ethosmarketing.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ethosmarketing.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}