Thursday Travel Inspiration: Durban on a R100 to R10 000 Budget



November is in full swing, the H word is on everyone’s lips. Holiday season is here, just what everyone has been waiting for, after a long and demanding year!  Whilst some of us have already planned our holidays, some of us are still trying to figure out if we should even attempt to go on holiday.  The economists are warning us about saving and clearing debt, can we really afford to be taking a holiday?  Today on Thursday Travel Inspiration we explore why you should go on holiday and how you can take this much needed break on a tight budget.

How much money do you think you need to go on holiday?  For the next 4 weeks we will explore different local destinations and what budgets from as little as R100 – R10000 can afford you.



Durban the Friendliest City in South Africa.



This week we will focus on Durban, possibly the most accessible of all coastal cities compared to Cape Town and the Eastern Cape.  If you are travelling from Johannesburg you are looking at a 50 minute flight time and 5-6 hours by car on the national Highway.  I love Durban for its year round good weather, accessibility, Warm Ocean, great food and how my skin feels when I am there.  Rated by CNN as one of the must see cities to travel to in the world, why not make it your holiday destination?

When I was a student I often had minimal cash on me, but it never stopped me from trying to get away. 

Let’s see what we can get for R500 – R1500.

Yes you most probably giggling now and thinking "yeah right!" but you could seriously travel with this amount of money and I will tell you how.

Transport Options

Taxi: Depending on how much you have, you can take a taxi to your destination its still the most widely used form of transport or a city to city bus which is safe but is a very basic bus so do not expect a reclining seat or  much leg room.  

Girls Road Trip

Catch a lift with a friend:  Find out if any of your friends are heading to Durban and offer some cash towards a tollgate or fuel.

Travel cost: R0 - R250 per trip

Accommodation

Backpackers:  The backpackers in Durban come at a reasonable price, from as little as R60 a night for a bed in a Dormitory.  The social life at most backpackers is excellent and will leave you with some fond memories.

Hanging out, playing some pool.

Camping: There are many camping sites around Durban, these camping sites will offer you safety and if you are travelling in a group, camping can be fun! Make a note of rules and be aware of the noise hours and limitations before paying up. Alternatively you can camp at some of the backpackers which offer you a student/traveller vibe which could be more fun, especially if you like late nights.

Learning how to use Chopstix with Couch Surfer JJ

Couch Surfing: This one is my particular favourite; it’s an easy and interesting way to meet locals in the area and spend little to no money at all on accommodation!  Visit the site and set-up your profile, no one has to assist you but people are often very willing.  Choose your couch carefully, read the profiles and make sure you match yourself up with the right couch suited for your needs.

Staying with relatives:  depending on the type of family you have this can be Amazing or an Epic Fail! There are a few rules of thumb, always clean up and help in the cleaning up.  Don’t  forget that this is your family your failure to keep them informed on your 48hour hang out with cool people you met at the beach can lead to a police search.  So always be helpful, communicate properly if you will not be coming back for the night/ afternoon and remember to bring some food and contribute in some form or way, buying small stuff like daily loaf of bread earns you brownie points for your next stay.

Accommodation Costs: R0 –R120 per night

Activities – under R100

Go to the Beach: always a source of great entertainment and therapy for the mind, the waves are for free and often there are lots of free activities on offer during the festive season.  Pack a lunch so you won’t be hungry and spend the whole day enjoying the fanfare.

Go to the Beachwood Mangroves Reserve:  open over the weekend, this is a informative educational centre about Mangrove trees and the species that inhabit this reserve.  I love learning so this hit the spot for me.

Go Drumming: looking for a creative release? Why not go drumming?

Check out this list of cool Things-to-do-in-Durban under R100

Budget: R2500- R4000

Transport:

Bus: Fancy a weekend away? Nip off to Durban on the latest in couch luxury,  the Greyhound Glam-Line. Unlike the other uncomfortable busses I have encountered at Greyhound,  I have to hand it to them this line is way better than my previous busing experiences with greyhound.  I chose the most basic option and it was worth every cent. Comfortable, bigger seats and even a blanket.  

Travel costs: R 1100 – R1300 for two people

Bus Travel Tip: Travel at night instead of during the day, you get more time out of you weekend. If you take the 10pm bus out of Johannesburg you will arrive in Durban in time to see the sunrise at 5am.  * Kindly not Glam line is only available at 8am and 10pm departing from Johannesburg*

Accommodation:

B&B’s: online there are plenty of reputable Bed & B’s find one that is closest to where you would like to be for the majority of the time so you do not spend to much on cab-fare.

Hotels:  if you are a frequent traveller with Tsogo Sun make sure you sign up for frequent guest program.  These points come in handy and saved our bacon the last time we were in Cape Town for a girl’s holiday. Discovery also has some benefits for their clients at certain Hotels.

Travel Agent Deals:   Travel Agents are often seen to be expensive but if you shop around you can actually find great deals and they can save you a lot of frustation and time. I found this really cool travel deal with BEE AFRICA Travel! For Only R1,360 per person sharing you will stay at the contemporary Docklands hotel for the weekend,  included in this package is a iVenture card that will allow you to visit Ushaka Marine, Phezulu in Valley of a 1000 hills and a few other cool places,  for more information contact  Briony at info@beeafricatravel.co.za in with NomadicMichelle Specila in the subject line.   

Activities:

Oh sky is the limit when you have a good budget I would recommend the following:

Go for a Horse ride on the Beach: whether you have ridden a horse before or not this is always a wonderful experience, my favourite time is at sunset, its you, your horse and the ocean.  Pure magic!

Go Jump of the Big Swing: If you love heights and the feeling of adrenalin running through your body go for it!

Go for Drinks at the Oyster Box : No trip to Durban is Complete if you do not have drinks at the Light House Bar.  Classy bar snacks from roast corn to caramelized cashews teamed up with a crisp, cold glass of white wine  as you overlook  the Indian Ocean,  what more could you ask for?

Its a fact Durban Certainly ROCKS!

Budget: R5000 – R10 000

Please why are you still reading!?! Just Kidding -  For a stress free, fuss free holiday, spoil yourself and call BEE AFRICA TRAVEL they specialize in Holidays in KwaZulu Natal and Southern Africa. Briony will give you morning calls and all those other perks of having someone plan what can only be an awe inspiring all round amazing trip.

 Ask them to create a personalized Holiday for you be specific about the following:
 - amount of days.
- let them know what type of person you are so they know from the start who they are dealing with. 
- whether you would like to be chauffer driven (which really puts the H in Holiday).
- what you would like to experience and most importantly what you are willing to pay for Experience.

This is your holiday, dream Big, have Fun and Rock Out!