"So what's the big deal?", we hear you say

Well, we have a simple goal - to provide the simplest way to find and book the best travel deals.

When you search for a flight with us, you'll get results from all the major and low-cost carriers (such as OneTime and Kulula) displayed in one place so that you can compare prices. You can refine your results by playing around with various parameters such as 'departure time' or 'preferred number of stops'. It's just like being your own travel agent, only cheaper.

We are also passionate about service. Whilst we believe that we have created a simple and intuitive web site, we recognise that not everybody is comfortable using the internet, or would simply prefer to deal with a real person sometimes. We have a travel desk staffed by friendly and knowledgeable people who will assist you with whatever you need. Just call 0861 TSTART (878278) during office hours and they'll be glad to help.

Some background so you know who you're dealing with

Travelstart was started by Stephan Ekbergh in 1999. Although he probably wouldn't like us to say it, Stephan is a bit of a visionary when it comes to travel. In 1995 he created Sweden's first fully-automated, telephone-based travel booking company called Sistaminutenplatser. The system utilised a tone-dialling menu that was unique at the time. It was crazy and complicated, but he didn't stop there!

In late 1995, the launch of version 1.0 of Netscape Navigator (one of the first web browsers) convinced Stephan that the future of travel booking was online. In 1998 he launched Sweden's first online travel agency, MrJet.

Well one thing led to another, and after some highs and lows (as invariably happens in the life of an entrepreneur) Stephan eventually launched Travelstart in 1999.

After being wildly successful in Scandinavia, Stephan decided to re-locate to the warmer climes of South Africa. Having settled with his family in beautiful Cape Town, Stephan wanted to bring the Scandinavian travel revolution to South Africa - so here we are!

• Stephan's blog (Swedish only, sorry)
• Stephan on Wikipedia
• The Travelstart blog

6 reasons to use Travelstart

1. You save time & money
   Instant comparisons: fares from all major airlines & low-cost carriers displayed together.
2. Be your own travel agent
   Find, compare and book instantly - no more waiting for quotes.
3. Low service fee
   Our business is online - we pass the savings on to you.
4. Everything you need
   Great value travel insurance. Immediate SMS confirmations. Personal assistance for your special requirements.
5. No hidden costs
   The price you see is the price you pay.
6. Help is at hand
   Friendly and knowledgeable travel consultants at your service.