Satpack Travel steers South African fly-drive holidays in a new direction

Sept. 7, 2009 - PRLog -- Travelling around South Africa has just got easier – and safer – thanks to an innovative twist on the traditional self-drive holiday, known as ‘satpacking’.

Southern Africa holiday specialist Satpack Travel has pioneered a new concept which combines satellite navigation technology with local expertise to offer personalised trips via a pre-programmed device.

Rob Maclean, founder of Satpack Travel, said: “Southern Africa’s great road network lends itself perfectly to exploring this exciting destination by car.  However, the region’s reputation for high crime levels has made many travellers wary about driving themselves around.

“We’ve essentially combined sat-nav technology and local knowledge into one easy-to-use handset which gives security-conscious travellers the confidence to get away from the major highways and often overpriced tourist hotspots to explore the real South Africa.”

Knowing there’s no substitute for the human touch, the Satpack Travel team work with travellers to create their ideal itinerary before travelling and remain at the end of the handset’s built-in phone and email throughout the holiday to help with any practical aspects, from booking tours or recommending restaurants to pre-warning clients about roadworks on the route ahead.  

Whilst some car rental companies may offer the option of hiring a sat-nav device, these typically guide the driver on the shortest route between two points.  However, these may not necessarily be the safest, most interesting or picturesque routes.  

Maclean said: “The jump in stress levels that UK visitors typically experience when initially driving in an unfamiliar hire car, on unfamiliar roads, in a foreign country are at odds with the feeling of being on holiday.  We plan to remove that stress and, instead, replace it with confidence so the holiday can start as soon as you set off.”

To illustrate the point, Satpack Travel highlight that a tourist arriving at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport and heading to the popular Sandton area would generally be guided by a typical sat-nav device via Alexandra Township.  Maclean said: “This might not be the best introduction to South Africa, especially after a long flight, and that’s why our local knowledge would steer clients around potential hotspots.”

All Satpack Travel clients receive essential driving tips before travelling and are met at the airport by a Satpack Travel representative.  Holidaymakers are then loaned an HTC Touch Pro Smartphone featuring an easy-to-use touch screen and loaded with the most up-to-date Garmin sat-nav software.  The handset has the guest’s personalised itinerary pre-programmed onto it along with the safest, fastest and most scenic routes, emergency contact numbers, weather forecasts, restaurants and places of interest.

For many, the attraction of a self-drive break lies in not having to plan everything in advance, instead having the freedom to choose where to visit as the mood – or weather - takes them.   Satpack Travel’s flexible service means that, once a guest has decided on their next destination, the team acts as a ‘virtual concierge’, doing the leg work and leaving the client to concentrate on the important business of enjoying their holiday.

The built-in phone is pre-loaded with credit to give clients the freedom to make local phone calls without the fear of footing a large UK mobile phone bill on their return and keep in touch with friends by email or Facebook through its internet facility.

What’s more, the option of preloaded music plus voicebooks and podcasts rules out the need to even pack a book or MP3 player for the beach.

Thanks to the on-screen map, turn-by-turn voice directions and extensive database of handy locations – from shopping malls to ATMs and from parking to petrol stations - getting lost isn’t on the driving agenda.

To provide some pre-holiday inspiration, www.satpacktravel.com incorporates useful guides to each of the provinces as well as helpful driving advice.  The site also features a handy ‘Our Top Five’ section which shares the team’s personal recommendations on where to go, what to do and – most importantly – what most tourists miss out on.   Whether the traveller’s a foodie, a beach-bum, animal-enthusiast, adrenaline seeker or keen golfer, there’s information on hand to help get them in the holiday spirit.

Maclean concluded: “With half a million visitors expected to travel to South Africa to enjoy the 2010 FIFA World Cup next summer and given people’s increasing reliance on sat-nav technology back home, we believe the market is ripe for a new way of travelling which we call satpacking.”

Prices for the full Satpack Travel service – including itinerary booking, and advice before and throughout the holiday - starts from just £15 per day (£17 including insurance).   Those who may already have made their own itinerary arrangements can still hire the handset – with their holiday preloaded by Satpack Travel - and enjoy peace of mind for just £9 per day (£11 with insurance).

For more information visit www.satpacktravel.com or skype Satpack Travel

Media enquiries:
Suzanne Seyghal / suzanneseyghal@gmail.com

Notes to editors:
-   Satpack Travel holidaymakers are loaned an HTC Touch Pro Smartphone, featuring an easy-to-use touch screen and multitude of handy functions, from slide-out QWERTY keyboard to 3.2 megapixel camera and from internet access to built-in GPS locator.  
-   Loaded with the most up-to-date Garmin sat-nav software, the handset will have the guest’s personalised itinerary pre-programmed along with recommended scenic routes, restaurants, places of interest and weather forecasts for the places being visited.
-   Holidaymakers can communicate with Satpack Travel’s team of local experts as little or as much as they like while travelling via the handset’s in-built phone, pre-loaded with R200 of credit, or via the handset’s email account.
-   The 2010 FIFA World Cup will take place from 11 June – 11 July across eight of South Africa’s provinces and nine host cities.

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Satpack Travel is a unique solution for holidaymakers who want to get the best out of their trip to South Africa, but are concerned about crime and their safety.

Satpack Travel uses the latest satellite navigation and mobile technology to help visitors explore the real South Africa, giving them the confidence to do so.

Drawing on the team's expert local knowledge, Satpack Travel creates a personalised itinerary for guests. These are preloaded onto the easy-to-use handset along with the safest, fastest and most scenic routes, emergency contact numbers, weather forecasts, restaurants and places of interest. A bit like travelling with a good friend who lives in South Africa but who only speaks when spoken to!

For more information visit www.satpacktravel.com or skype Satpack Travel.