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Just the thought of flinging yourself into the cool ocean to cool yourself down to beat this heatwave is a guarantee of bliss this holiday season. It is that time of the year when we all go out and soak ourselves in some much-needed vitamin sea.
While beach holidays are ideal for perfect summer memories and fun, these holidays do not necessarily come cheap. Think of those snacks on tap, including the slushes and ice creams to cool off the young ones and exotic cocktails to chase the sunsets. This requires a generous food and drink budget.
The reality is that not everyone can afford a luxury villa or sea-view beach bungalow where the sea is just on your doorstep, so here are a few recommendations for beach holidays that can suit any budget.
WHEN LUXURY IS YOUR INTENTION
ISLAND R&R AT BAZARUTO
The five-star Anantara Bazaruto in Mozambique is an hour and 15 minutes from Johannesburg by flight and offers an idyllic luxury island holiday experience. This is a fully inclusive resort from Minor Hotel Group, with offers starting at just over R9 000 to over R22 000 per villa, catering for two. Offers include all meals, beverages, such as house wines, local beer, soft drinks and teas, as well as select activities, including a sunset cruise, a sunset dune experience and snorkelling per stay.
“We have amazing offers for our endless summer campaign from November to March, which has lovely additional value-adds and one of them is having a braai in a private sea villa prepared by your chef who is complimentary to your stay. We have also added some activities. You have three options (of activities) to choose from and one of them is a discount at a spa,” explains Minor Group’s regional director of sales and marketing Lindi Mthethwa.
For a wild card from the same hotel group, you can skip the beach for one of the seven natural wonders of the world and get a front-row seat to Victoria Falls at the opulent Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia. Mthethwa said:
She adds that this is a hit with couples, but the hotel can also set it up for groups or prepare picnics right at the gorge of the falls, where the helicopter can fly you in. The additional extras of this property are access to a personal butler service and experiencing a safari around the property, as there are bucks, giraffes and zebras ambling about within the hotel’s grounds. It is based on a game reserve.
THE SILO HOTEL, CAPE TOWN
It’s art meets style in this architectural masterpiece at The Silo Hotel. Perched on top of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, which houses some of Africa’s best contemporary art, this opulent hotel has become an iconic landmark of the best the Mother City has to offer to discerning travellers since it opened its doors in 2017.
The Architectural Digest describes its unique pillowed glass suites, whose design is influenced by the shape of a maize cob, as:
This is because the ultra-luxury hotel is built on the elevator side of the once-famous grain silo building that was once the tallest in Cape Town from the 1920s and 42 of the original silos have been incorporated into the design concept.
To get a glimpse of how the other half lives, you can take advantage of the free entrance to the museum attached to it for locals on Wednesdays between 10am and 1pm. Prices per room start at just over R17 000 for an ordinary silo room off-peak and R28 000 during high season, while a penthouse stay can set you back just over R100 000 off-peak and R212 000 during the festive season.
Each suite has breathtaking views of the sea and Table Mountain, and the dining experience is catered for and curated by an executive chef as the hotel promises its guests. This is definitely the playground of the Motsepes and Ruperts.
AFFORDABLE HOLIDAYS TO MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY
LOOK TO BALI FOR THE PERFECT BALANCE
Forget Phuket. According to Instagram feeds of celebrities who count, South Africans are looking more at Bali for memorable beach holidays that suit all ages. For some, they are still chasing that feeling of finding the perfect life balance that Julia Roberts found when she stopped running away from love.
In Bali, R1 equals 827.28 rupiah. Avoid the migraine trying to figure out the maths and just know that what you buy in Bali is relatively within the same price range that you would have forked out at home and many items are even cheaper.
From the serene temples and the Balinese massages to picturesque holiday snaps on rice field swings, this is why many locals love Bali. Their seven-day packages range from R15 000 on the cheap end, to an estimated R30 000 for a luxe four-star holiday and you can upgrade to more expensive options to suit your budget.
Should you leave your cell phone behind at a bar by mistake, you will find it the next day waiting for you, with the staff handing it over to you with a smile. Their food is an extraordinary culinary journey from scrumptious satays, aromatic curries, seafood and the freshest coconuts you can imagine!
Bali is not only for holidaymakers looking for spiritual awakening. Their beach holidays are ideal for families as they have various water sports and cultural activities such as visiting their famous waterfalls or beach horse riding that is perfect for family holidays. Oh, and you won’t have Visa headaches as well, as you can do one at the airport when you arrive. Pentravel agency currently has specials starting from R11 000 per person sharing for seven nights to travel till March 2024. For four-star accommodation, you are looking at R20 000 - R23 000 per person sharing for seven nights and a luxury travel budget between R35 000 – R37 000 per person sharing with certain meals included.
One of the suggested hotels to check out is the three-star Ubud Wana Resort in Ubud, which is a walking distance away from Monkey Forrest, one of the key local attractions. There is a big market in Ubud selling clothes, crafts and home interior accessories. Other hotels the agency is booking are the four-star Risata Bali or Grand Inna, both in Kuta or the four-star Risata Bali. In Seminyak, Pelangi Bali is a great four-star and the Double Six, also in Seminyak, is a luxurious four-star right by the beach.
UMHLANGA – OYSTER BOX
The iconic red and white lighthouse situated right in front of the five-star property makes this Umhlanga evergreen holiday spot a favourite with patrons who love quality and class and it never disappoints. Depending on the time of the year rates for The Oyster Box can range from R5 600 per person sharing for two nights to R8 000.
For their summer entertainment menu, the hotel has an array of carol-singing events, luxurious Christmas dinners and a New Year’s Eve party at their dining areas The Ocean Terrace, The Palm Court and the Grill Room. This year's New Year's Eve party titled Mamma Mia will ring in 2024 with a Greek theme.
Their summer programme is suitable for all ages with activities ranging from face painting and pizza making, karaoke competitions and tug of war, for the feast of festive fun suitable to the whole family.
CHEAP WAYS TO ENJOY SUMMER ON THE BEACH
LAZY SHARK
Leave the bustling Durban for a more affordable beach holiday and head to the South Coast. Lekkeslaap travel website usually has a few gems and these include affordable and cheap accommodation. Be mindful though that paying R1 200 per room will not come with the same value of a four-star place. If the property is clean and the furniture is not run-down, as some B&B owners want to dupe customers, look at the bigger picture of enjoying the beach on a budget.
Lekkeslaap recommends the Lazy Shark in Scottburgh on the south coast, for example, and reviews on the site have a mix of happy customers praising the property’s cleanliness and décor. Others warn that since it is mainly a self-service property with staff unavailable at night, those with anxiety about crime may need to take heed. It will cost you roughly R1 200 per room for two people to stay at Lazy Shark.
BEACH SHACKS
Some years ago, the idea of a fuss-free holiday at a beach shack was something knew.
Note that the concept does not refer to a literal shack but any modest abode tourists can use to enjoy holidays like locals. It is for a minimalist stay where you only get what you need and not what you want. Port Nolloth in Nothern Cape has one going for R1 800 per room. In Koensrust, there is also one situated in a secluded part of the beach overlooking a cove for rates starting at R3 600. The idea of staying in a beach shack is for complete rest and taking a break from the rat race.
