Important Information for Barry Richards Exclusive Golf Tour

What your tour price includes:

• Accommodation in 5 star hotels and resorts (bed, breakfast, welcome cocktails, dinners - including wine - except for "free" nights
• All golf (including green fees, golf carts and halfway snacks)
• All land transport in luxury coach
• All excursions (Table Mountain, Township Tour, Boschendal wine estate)
• All game drives
• Prizes for golf events and trophy for the overall winner

What your tour price excludes:

• All airfares (international and domestic connecting flights), airport taxes, excess luggage
• All personal extra's at hotels and golf courses (caddies, pro shops, telephone calls, laundry)
• Spa treatments (except if you have a non-golfing partner a spa treatment is included in lieu of golf)
• All beverage (except specified wines at pre-arranged dinners and water on coach)
• Caddies for golf
• Gifts and personal shopping

Travel Documents:

It is your responsibility to ensure that you hold the correct, valid documents for travel to South Africa. We do not accept any responsibility for any failure on your part to carry the correct documentation.

Currency and credit cards:

International credit cards are widely accepted throughout South Africa, and more particularly at the Resorts the tour will visit. All currencies can be changed into South African Rands on arrival in the country.

Accommodation Check-in / Check-out:

Check in and check out at all properties varies between 11h00 and 14h00. Should the need arise for an early check in or late check out, wherever possible, the properties will attempt to accommodate the tour. However, this is not always possible, depending on hotel occupancies.

Travel Insurance:

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the relevant travel insurance - which covers your belongings and medical care. It is essential that you have the appropriate medical insurance in order to ensure private medical care in the case of illness or hospitalization. Proof of this medical insurance must be provided.

Special Requests:

Any special requests must be advised in writing if it was not stated on your original booking form. We will make every reasonable effort to make the arrangements. We do not however have any legal liability to you in the event that there is non-compliance.

We regret that we cannot accept any conditional booking (ie, any booking that is specified to be conditional upon the fulfillment of a particular request).

Gratuities (tipping):


Although gratuities are by no means obligatory, it is a recommended practice in South Africa to give a tip (i.e. in restaurants a 10% tip would apply) and general tipping for assistance/good service is at your own discretion, but nothing more than a few rands.

Room Safes / Security Deposits:

All hotels used on the Tour have the facility of a room safe. However, most properties will also have a security deposit area at Reception should you require this service.

Disabled Clients:

No two people's needs are the same and therefore we ask you to let us know your specific requirements in writing at the time of booking. We will make every effort to ensure that your needs are able to be met, however, we are not legally liable to provide such specific requests.

Airport Transfers:

Transfers on the tour are by luxury coach and these costs are included in the cost of the Tour.

Security:

All hotels/resorts on this tour are very safe 5 star environments, but if you wish to go out on your own (particularly in Cape Town), speak to Barry Richards first. Rule: "Just be vigilant" as if you were in any other large city in the world.

As anywhere else, be careful around ATM's and when paying with credit card, ensure that the transaction is done in front of you.

As most shopping will be done at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, you are in a safe and secure area.

South Africa is a developing country, so crime does exist. You are advised to take a few basic precautions when out in the city - valuables must be carried discreetly.

Other Helpful Information:

• On arrival in Johannesburg, you will collect your luggage (Customs has to be cleared in Johannesburg) and move to domestic departures and re-check your luggage through to Cape Town. The walk is an easy one under one roof. It is recommended that your luggage is safely locked and well-marked. In South Africa, there is a plastic wrap facility for your luggage - this is not essential but optional for extra security. The porters at Johannesburg airport are very helpful, but you MUST only use the porters dressed in ORANGE. A tip of approximately R10 per trolley would be advisable.
• Recommend you change $50 into Rands at Perth airport (approximately R6,80/$1)
• South Africa is 6 hours behind Perth
• The flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town is approximately 2 hours
• The coach trip from Cape Town to Arabella is 1 hour
• The coach trip from Arabella to Fancourt is approximately 3,5 hours
• The coach trip from Fancourt to Knysna (Simola) is approximately 45 minutes - 1 hour
• The coach trip from Knysna to Plettenberg Bay is approximately 25 minutes
• The coach trip from Knysna to Shamwari is approximately 3,5 hours
• You will be travelling in a malaria free area, so no medication is necessary. Private medical facilities in South Africa are very good.
• Valuables need to be secured in your hotel room safe
• Shopping in Cape Town is outstanding and it is suggested you shop at the V&A Waterfront which is adjacent to the Table Bay Hotel (you can walk directly into the Mall from the Hotel)
• All hotels have access to reliable transport - it is better to use this, but get the fee before you leave
• Golf:
  Use good sunscreen.
  Caddies are optional on most courses, but you can walk if you want (Steenberg, Fancourt). Arabella, Simola and Oubaai are golf carts only. Pull trolleys will be available for hire.
  All courses have a compulsory stop of 10-15 minutes at halfway - it is tradition to stop for a light snack and drink. This is included in your tour costs.
  Caddy fees are not included, and these are approximately R200 (including R20 for halfway) payable immediately after the round.
• Weather at this time of the year is moderate - between 20-25 degrees in the day, and about 15 degrees at night. You will need a light sweater in the evenings.
• Food and drink is of a high quality and the wine is relatively well-priced (ranging from $15 to $30)
• It is safe to drink tap water in all places
• South African electricity supply is 220-230 volts. Round three-pronged plugs are universal. Most hotels will have adaptors.
• All hotels will have wireless networks
• Phonecards can be obtained at the airports and in the Malls (in most outlets) in a variety of denominations, ranging from R20 to R200
• VAT refunds can be claimed on an amount as low as R250, and can be claimed before you leave the country. VAT refunds only apply to items you are taking back with you (not on consumables during your trip). You must have an original tax invoice. It is a very user-friendly system.