Leisure Portfolio Association

Tag: family holiday

Holidaying for your health and a good cause.
It’s normal to feel a bit overwhelmed with all the things going on in the world currently, especially since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, or perhaps your work-life balance might be out of whack. We get that it’s not always easy to deviate from your daily routine and to just step away for a quick getaway, but you might want to consider it due to the many health benefits to taking time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Health benefits of taking a vacation

Several studies have shown that taking a vacation can have psychological and physical health benefits. It’s even more important than ever before to look after your health, especially during these times. Enjoying a much-needed breakaway once or twice a year will not only reduce stress levels but also lower your risk of heart disease. The state of being totally relaxed and experiencing holiday bliss will not only better your outlook on life, but also help to motivate you to achieve your goals. If you still need convincing, what if we told you that with LPA’s EXTRAordinary Escape deals, you would not only improve your psychological and physical health but also help those in need!

The Cause

African Blessing is a Non-Profit Company and a Public Benefit Organisation based in Rustfontein, the African Blessings’ Farm, near Bronkhorstspruit.

Did you know that LPA donates R99 to African Blessings with every booking made? This means that when you go on a much-needed break, not only will your overall health and outlook on life benefit from it, but you will also contribute to the various focus areas of this Non-profit Organisation.

African Blessings’ Focus Areas

The R99 donation, with every EXTRAordinary booking, contributes to the various focus areas of this NPO to help them to assist those around them. This includes the neighbouring communities, animals, as well as the conservation of the environment. A few of these focus areas include:
- Jochebed Childrens’ Village – An initiative focused on providing a home for orphaned or abandoned children, including guardianship, a safe home and environment, as well as education.
- Food Gardens – The primary purpose of these food gardens is to encourage and provide a means for sustainable food security for the surrounding communities that African Blessings serves.
- The Sanctuary – The primary goal with the Sanctuary is making a difference in the lives of domesticated animals of the neighbouring communities by assisting and providing them with basic medical care, dipping, de-worming, feeding and sterilisation.
Read more about African Blessings’ focus areas here.

Why not tap into these EXTRAordinary deals with a cause?! Book a 2021 Escapism to a holiday destination of your dreams and help make a difference in the life of others. Grab a Bonus Booking at these EXTRAordinary prices.

What are you waiting for? Book your holiday today – this is just what the doctor ordered!
January 18, 2021
Remember, Remember …Holiday Time Spent Together!

Project yourself back to your first-holiday memory – what do you see? Perhaps it begins like this:

You’re about 6 years old and the sun has just begun to rise and break through the night sky, birds chirping as they swoop down to find their early-bird-worm-of-champions. You can barely contain your excitement, or remember to use your ‘inside’ voice, because today is the day that you and your family embark on this thing Mom and Dad call a ‘vacation.’ Although you’ve heard some of your classmates tell tales of their holidays, during their rendition of ‘daily news’ on Monday mornings, you’ve never had your own holiday experience – until now.

Rewind the clock to your teenage years, when the world around you was a new kind of confusing. Remember how you dreaded the road trip en route to those family vacations, being stuck in the car with your fidgeting sibling and your dad complaining after every stop your Mom forces him to make – all because he wants to make ‘good time.’ As you look back on this exasperating procedure, you recall the moment when everything changed – the exact moment when you experienced ‘love’ for the first time, it wasn’t merely a popular movie plot but it could actually happen in real life! And just like that, vacations became a whole different kind of experience.

Do you recall the time in your life you affectionately refer to as your ‘trying twenties?’ A whole decade dedicated to finding yourself. This period marked with a porous understanding of who you are, your life’s purpose, and the multitude of questions that devoured the majority of your day. The best decision you ever made was to use your savings and head out on an adventure –packed with travel, meeting new people, and broadening your horizons to become acquainted with what was out of your comfort zone, to truly become the person you are today.

So you see, none of these experiences would have come to fruition and these memories would never have been made. We must always remember that when we explore the world, when we break out from the four plain walls that surround us every day, there is the possibility for those truly wonderful experience from which memorable moments are formed – some will remain cushioned in your minds memory box for years to come. Without the travel and get-aways our vacations afford us, we won’t have that rich heritage of exciting stories to pass on to our loved ones, or get to share these precious experiences with them.

While it’s always good to practice restraint, especially during very trying economic times like these – sometimes it doesn’t hurt to throw caution to the wind in your pursuit of life’s many pleasures. Perhaps now is not the time to be hesitant – book your holiday and continue to make every moment matter.

June 25, 2020
Get Outta Here!

With the sly surge of COVID-19 making its way into South Africa, we have been forced to adopt a way of life that some might equate to that of a hermit. This, coupled with drastic lockdown regulations, has threatened the festive, playful heartbeat, which makes South Africa and her people so unique. With life slowly entering a state of comfortable normalcy, we, as South Africans have a responsibility to ignite the joyful flame which we all find solace in and bring back that proudly South African pulse.

We’ve been knocking on the door of lockdown level 3 for some time now and it’s finally been opened for us. As the glimmer of freedom looms, now is the ideal time to plan ahead for the future and take advantage of the chance we’ve been given to create new memories with the people who matter most. Having been forced to stay away from friends and family for months on end, there’s a new desire for familial bonding.

This situation has caused a great deal of uncertainty and worry, and worse! In addition to the tragic loss of lives, many South Africans have lost their livelihoods. At the least, most of us have had to adjust our budgets, make cut-backs and forego any ‘unnecessary’ luxuries as we strive to put a little away into that rainy day fund. This tightening of belts has been vital for surviving this global pandemic and it could be said that this newfound sense of appreciation and value is a step in the right direction for us all.

While times are tough, there is an important light at the end of the tunnel that we need to be aware of. The opportunity to travel and explore will open up again and when that happens, you don’t want to be left behind – at home for another prolonged weekend, telly on and an empty pizza box on the kitchen counter.

Pay it forward, share the love and cement your next holiday with your loved-ones. Scientific studies have shown a significant increase in the secretion of endorphins, when individuals begin planning for future travels and holidays. Think about the thrill of packing the car the night before, preparing the ‘padkos’ and creating your favourite road trip playlist. When you finally arrive at your Resort destination and open the car doors to the sounds of children playing and the smell of ‘braai’ smoke wafting up into the South African skies. After all you’ve been through, the isolation and the uncertainty, you deserve to see these special holiday days again soon.

As South Africa begins to move forward and recover its fun-loving nature; its people are emerging with a new-found sense of awareness and priorities: like just how precious life is, just how precious the privilege of being able to walk around freely and feel the sun on our faces is, and just how precious bonds of family and friendship are and how we should give time and attention – our very best selves – to our families. Now is the time to prioritise quality time spent and memories made with the people that matter most. A tough, yet valuable lesson we can all take from these past months is that, tomorrow is not promised, today is what matters. So make every moment count and ensure you and yours are set to enjoy the freedom that is going to come a-knocking very soon.

June 4, 2020