By Jenna Berndt
Have your kids flown the nest? You’ve worked hard and done well for yourself. It's time to blow the kids’ inheritance. Why? Because you deserve it.
Cash in your chips and head to any of these six sought-after, indulgent destinations.
The chart-topper on Lonely Planet’s list of Best Cities to Visit in 2019, jet off to ultra-cool Copenhagen.
With a thriving food and coffee scene, cycle-friendly streets, and cutting-edge design, you’ll discover just why Copenhagen’s hub, Denmark, is consistently rated as one of the top three happiest nations on earth. In March 2018, the World Happiness Report again ranked the country in the top three, a title it’s happily claimed for seven consecutive years.
There is plenty to see, do and eat in Copenhagen. Visit the famous Little Mermaid statue and Copenhagen’s equivalent of the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. Next, it's the Nyhavn Harbour to snap pics of the colourful old buildings that line the riverbank.
Just don’t worry about currency conversions. You've earned it, after all.
'Oui, bonjour!’ Where better to indulge your every travel fantasy than in the country that brought us quiche and Coco Chanel.
“The most relaxing way to soak up the joie de vivre, is a cruise on the Seine onboard the world’s most luxurious river cruise line,” says Teresa Richardson, Managing Director of The Travel Corporation South Africa, which includes luxury travel companies Insight Vacations and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises.
A frequent worldwide traveller, Richardson remarks: “More than just an average vessel, these are truly boutique floating hotels. Uniworld’s S.S. Joie de Vivre, launched on the Seine in 2017, embodies the chicest Frenchwoman one could imagine, inspired by 20th-century Parisian design. Come spring in 2019, and the S.S. Bon Voyage will join the fleet and cruise these French waters.”
Live your best life, straight out of the pages of French Vogue, taking in Paris or Provence from the floor-to-ceiling windows of Uniworld's floating hotels. From the chateaux, vineyards, lavender fields and Medieval citadels, you’ll soon see why cruising through the Bordeaux and Burgundy or Paris and Provence regions of France tick the right boxes.
Egypt is enjoying a resurgence of popularity, with travel companies reporting a spike in bookings and interest in 2018, especially for guided holidays that offer travellers additional peace of mind.
A popular bucket-list travel destination, Egypt is a paradise for history lovers and culture vultures. Discover the secrets of the Sphinx and the pyramids of Giza in the magical, still pre-dawn hours with a certified Egyptologist. Embark on a birdwatching expedition along the Nile, sip tea as Agatha Christie did at the Old Cataract Hotel Aswan housed in a 19th-century Victorian Palace, or keep cool with ample G&Ts and views of the sun setting across the Nile.
The number one destination identified by the Silver Years’ Travel Index survey for travellers over 50, Japan soars above its competitors. With a fascinating mix of modern metropolis and ancient traditions, and a culture intriguingly exotic and different to our lekker South Africa, Japan deserves your savings fund.
Travel by bullet train through neon-lit cities and forests. Stuff your face with sushi and hit the streets for the super-fresh and tasty street food (try the okonomiyaki – an omelette-like pancake).
Japan is home to some of the world’s critically acclaimed restaurants and is a veritable heaven for food lovers. Treat yourself to the tasting menu at Shiba Tofuya Ukai in Tokyo, famous for its artisanal tofu. Even if you don’t like tofu, you should give it a try, it’s that good.
Where better to be wowed and surrounded by decadence and opulence than Russia? From the old-world charm of St. Petersburg to cosmopolitan Moscow, Russia is spectacular in every season. In winter, it's frosted with snow and, in summer, gold-tipped palaces sparkle in the sunlight.
Marvel at what must surely be the world’s most beautiful subway station in Moscow. Dress to the nines to take in the ballet or opera at the Bolshoi Theatre. In St. Petersburg, journey to Russia’s version of Versailles, the Peterhof Palace, onboard a hydrofoil boat and explore the 144 intricately detailed fountains in the beautiful gardens.
Really blow the budget onboard the legendary Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express, travelling across eight time zones and more than 10,000 kilometres between Russia and Mongolia. It is the ultimate bucket list travel experience.
Not a destination per se, but Europe's Christmas markets are a holiday of such epic proportions, we thought it deserved a spot on this list.
Wave goodbye to the extended family squabbles and slaving over a roast Turkey in 30-degree local weather. Instead, fly north to experience a festive season straight out of your favourite Christmas movie.
Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland host the world’s most famous - and festive - Christmas markets. Enjoy mugs of warm gluhwein and freshly baked gingerbread while wandering across ancient cobbled squares decorated with thousands (and we mean thousands) of twinkling lights.
What an excellent way to spend the most wonderful time of the year. Book now for 2019.
With so many destinations to explore, so much food to eat and wine to drink, and so little time, what are you waiting for? The kids will still be there when you return. Go on, treat yourself! You deserve it.
Contact your nearest Sure Travel agency to book, or call 0861 47 48 49.
