Managing Your Money for Luxurious Travel in Africa and South America: Tips for Luxury Travelers

Blog post with #NANANtravel

Africa and South America offer captivating destinations for luxury travelers, boasting exceptional hotels, restaurants, and experiences. For those seeking a luxurious travel experience in these regions, a great luxury travel agent is essential. This comprehensive guide provides valuable tips to help luxury travelers enjoy the best that Africa and South America have to offer.

1. Contact a luxury travel agency: Before your trip, allow your travel agent to recommend the best luxury hotels in the countries you plan to visit. This way you can create a budget according to the chosen hotels and avoid excessive spending. Ask about restaurant costs and other relevant expenses. Make reservations in advance at restaurants

2. Bring cash or not?: In Africa, there are many destinations and you tend to visit several countries in a single trip, you have to find out how easy it is to pay with credit cards to see if it is necessary to bring cash the same happens in South America. It is advisable to have some cash on hand, the best and easiest thing is to change to local money at the airport when you arrive.

3. Utilize credit cards: Credit cards provide a convenient method for managing expenses while traveling. Use your credit card to make purchases, and pay any extras like for example tipping. To avoid interest charges, ensure that you pay your credit card bill in full each month. For example, in South Africa, you can pay with a credit card everywhere, but you need very little to no cash at all, also, Amex is not accepted in many venues outside the USA so it’s a good idea to have an extra credit card.

4. Minimize ATM usage: ATM fees can be steep, so it’s wise to use ATMs sparingly. When necessary, choose ATMs located in banks or reputable businesses and safe areas to reduce the risk of fraudulent activity. Always pay with a credit card where possible to save the cash for occasions when it’s needed.

5. Embrace the art of bargaining: In many parts of Africa and South America, bargaining is customary, particularly when purchasing souvenirs or local goods. Don’t hesitate to negotiate for the best prices or ask your guide to help you and enjoy the satisfaction of a successful bargain.

6. Indulge in local cuisine: Sampling local food is an excellent way to invest money while savoring the flavours of Africa and South America. Local cuisine often offers more authentic options compared to imported dishes, allowing you to experience the authentic local culture.

7. Opt for luxury accommodations: Africa and South America offer a plethora of luxurious accommodations with exceptional service, amenities, and prime locations. Treat yourself to a memorable stay by choosing luxury establishments carefully curated by your travel agent.

8. Avoid tourist traps: Tourist traps are often expensive and lack authenticity. For a truly luxurious travel experience, ask your travel agent to organize activities beyond touristy areas and explore the local neighborhoods. This allows for more genuine interactions and hidden gems. For more details on this read our article: Avoiding Tourist Traps in Africa and Peru for Luxury Travelers: A Comprehensive Guide

Additional Tips for Luxury Travelers:

Withdraw cash only when needed and avoid exposing yourself to lots of cash on the street.
Ask your travel agent if you can pay tips in advance, that way there’s one more thing you don’t need to worry about.
Make sure that you have a guide or a driver with you for most of your activities, they will always recommend safe places and look after your safety
Familiarize yourself with common scams targeting tourists in Africa and South America, enabling you to avoid falling victim to them.
Very Important! Make sure your visas are in order and any other documents you might need while traveling to avoid extra and unnecessary expenses

With a proper luxury travel agent, luxury travelers can indulge in unforgettable experiences while exploring Africa and South America. By allowing your travel agent to take care of all the details, utilizing credit cards, embracing local culture, and avoiding tourist traps, you can ensure a seamless and memorable luxurious travel experience. Plan ahead, savor the best accommodations and cuisine, and create lasting memories in these remarkable destinations.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is intended for general informational and educational purposes only and is not to be construed as financial advice. We are not financial advisors and do not provide financial advice. You should consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any financial decisions.

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   Brendan Magauran 
 2024-04-14
 
 
  Incredible! Beyond expectations. German guided us on an absolutely amazing trip to Cape Town, Franschhoek, Hermanus and a safari at Thornybush game reserve. Every recommendation was spot on from a restaurants to a guided tour of Cape Point, the Hop on hop off bus, where to visit in the wine country, lodging in a beach front suite in Hermanus. As for the safari at Thornybush - WOW! More than we could have ever imagined in terms of luxury and game sightings. Thank you German. Looking forward to our next trip with you as our guide. And yes, we have told all family and friends, this is the man to contact for their travels.
  
 
       
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 2024-04-12
 
 
  We feel beyond lucky to have found Nanan Travel! We are from the USA and are DIY-ers, used to making our own travel arrangements. When planning for our bucket-list trip to S. Africa, it quickly got overwhelming and stressful to differentiate among the innumerable safari options on the internet, figure out domestic flights, assess safety concerns, find a private driver to tour Cape Point, etc. We did not want to travel with a tour group, nor use a global internet travel agency, so I looked for a travel agent actually based in Cape Town so that we could deal with just one person who really knew the area. I found Nanan based on location and reviews, then was sold by their individualized approach and willingness to help with as much or as little of the planning as one wants.

We reached out to German de la Melena and he answered immediately, even though it was a Sunday evening in Cape Town, wanting to hear all about our wishes so that he could work on things promptly and have a suggested itinerary by the time we woke up the next morning!  He was thoughtful, conscientious, friendly, worked within our budget and did not try to upsell us, gave us options and even incorporated some specific requests we had. From that initial contact on, all the stress and worry about our upcoming trip went away!

After designing a fantastic itinerary for us, the true test of an amazing travel agent came when my husband injured himself the week before our trip and  couldn’t travel, requiring us to postpone for 4 weeks. While we were dealing with stressful health issues, we gave German our medical documentation and he took care of the rest. He had to change all of our reservations and domestic flights, and went above and beyond to do so without our incurring more expense. What a huge relief!

German remained remarkably responsive before and during our trip, able to advise on any question and troubleshoot any problem, reachable by What’s App in minutes. Between the great itinerary and the peace of mind, working with German and knowing he had our back truly made all the difference in our experience being the trip of a lifetime!!
Thank you, German! You deserve more than 5 stars and I will refer everyone I know to you!
  
 
       
   Pablo Berenbaum 
 2024-03-17
 
 
  Exclente organización. Hoteles, tours, impecables !!!
Gracias Germán x las sugerencias, el viaje fue INCREIBLE !
  
 
       
   Faisal Alaali 
 2024-03-13
 
 
  I cannot say enough great things about Nanan Travel. He organized a spectacular trip to South Africa for me, and every detail was absolutely perfect. From the boutique hotels to the incredible safari stays, everything was top-notch and exceeded my expectations.
The entire trip was seamlessly planned, and I never once had to worry about a thing. The accommodations were luxurious, the guides were knowledgeable and friendly, and the overall experience was truly unforgettable.
Last part was the stay in  Cape Town before heading back home. The city is absolutely stunning, and I was able to explore all it had to offer thanks to the amazing recommendations from German.
I highly recommend Nanan Travel for anyone looking to plan a trip to South Africa or any other destination. Their attention to detail, personalized service, and overall expertise make them the best in the business. Thank you German for an incredible journey that I will never forget!
  
 
       
   Manuel D 
 2024-03-08
 
 
  Hemos pasado días espectaculares en Sudáfrica y Zimbabue, toda la organización de nuestros hijos con German funcionaron perfectamente.  Todas las actividades, lodges, tours, safaris, fueron perfectos, así como el trato recibido en cada lugar fue muy personalizado, haciendo que este viaje sea inolvidable.  Cada detalle funcionó a la perfección.  Nanan Travel es 100% confiable y recomendable.
  
 
       
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 2024-03-08
 
 
  Acabamos de llegar a Lima después de un viaje soñado a Africa. Mi hija y su esposo, que habían hecho Safari el año pasado por su Luna de Miel, querían que los cuatros papas viviéramos y sintiéramos  toda la adrenalina y experiencias que ellos habían vivido, así que no lo pensaron dos veces y nos invitaron a este viaje único y maravilloso. Gracias Nanan Travel, gracias German, hemos vivido lo que realmente quisieron transmitirnos los Manuela y Rodrigo, los lugares visitados, las atenciones, los hoteles y su staff, todo, y la experiencia de estar con los animales asi de cerca es única.  Si quieren hacer un viaje soñado, no dejen de contactar a German, escriban a Nanan Travel, y no se arrepentirán.  Gracias por Todo!!
  
 
       
   Gustavo Rivera 
 2024-03-05
 
 
  Fue espectacular, desde el momento en que llegamos a Cape Town hasta que llegamos a Lima de vuelta estuvimos súper engreídos, los lugares escogidos para descansar , los guías, todo lo conocido !!, realmente un viaje de ensueño, recomendado a mil !!!  Gracias Germán, eres un capo !!!
  
 
       
   Violeta Rivera 
 2024-03-05
 
 
  Espectacular ! hemos pasado unos días increíbles con un servicio de primera
Volvería hacer el mismo viaje mañana mismo !!!
  
 
       
   Lizbett Arevalo 
 2024-02-26
 
 
  If you want to sit back, relax and enjoy… German is the way to go! My 16 YO son and I had the best dream trip came true to South Africa thanks to him! I can’t thank you enough German! Starting from Cape town then Safari and meeting my best friend in Johannesburg… I call it an OVER THE TOP kind of vacation🤩🤩🤩🙌🙏❤️🐆🐘🇿🇦🦁 🦏
  
 
  
 
  
 
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