Mossel Bay Tourism warns against accommodation scams

Mossel Bay Tourism has warned anyone who wants to book self-catering summer holiday accommodation on line to book only through recognised accommodation sites.

“Please don’t book your holiday flat or cottage through any of the general sites where anyone can advertise anything for sale,” said the company’s COO, Marcia Holm.

“No matter where you’re planning to stay this summer, please only use well-known accommodation sites that offer real-time, on-line reservations – sites like www.places.co.za, or www.safarinow.com,” she said.

“There’ve been far too many incidents where people have replied to ads on the general sites, and paid for what they thought they were going to receive – only to arrive at their holiday destinations to find that they’ve been scammed.”

Ms. Holm urged consumers to research their accommodation thoroughly– especially if you’re considering staying at a venue that hasn’t been personally recommended.

“TripAdvisor (www.tripadvisor.com) is always a good place to start because of the reviews you’ll find there – and if you’re planning to come to Mossel Bay, you should also check if your chosen establishment is listed with us on www.visitmosselbay.co.za.

“Our staff have personally visited all the hotels, lodges, B&Bs, self-catering units, caravan and camping sites, and backpackers on our site – so you can be sure that you’ll get what’s advertised there,” she said.

Mossel Bay is expecting a bumper holiday season this year – largely because of demand from South Africans, and in part also because of a growing trend amongst European residents (particularly from Holland, Germany, and Britain), who’ve begun taking their South African holidays during the Christmas period.
“In the past they avoided this time of year, but that’s changing,” said Ms. Holm. “We think they’re beginning to realise that even at the busiest time of the year, Mossel Bay still offers excellent value for money.”

Mossel Bay, she said, is the ideal holiday destination.

“It’s got 60 km of sandy beaches (with four Blue Flag Beaches at Santos, de Bakke, Hartenbos, and Klein Brak River), and it boasts probably the widest selection of attractions and adventures, as well as the largest programme of entertainment of any small town on South Africa’s coastline.

“It’s also conveniently close to all the attractions of the rest of the Garden Route and the Klein Karoo – and it’s known for being very family-friendly.

“With all these plusses available to you, you don’t want to ruin your dream holiday by falling for an accommodation scam,” said Ms. Holm.

More information:
Mossel Bay Tourism: www.visitmosselbay.co.za •

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