irv.co.za

AN IDYLLIC HOLIDAY AT KENTON-ON-SEA

Down Kenton’s part of the world it’s known as the Sunshine Coast and, although a lot of folk are going down there to retire and escape from the urban rush, there is plenty of life in the vicinity. For one thing its close to Port Alfred and a mere 90-minute drive from Port Elizabeth; but that aside – there is peace and tranquility to be found among the dunes of this seaside village. It is sandwiched between two river mouths with a path leading into a forest and you could be lucky enough to see a school of dolphins that passes by.

This is a sports enthusiast’s paradise. The wide flat beach is a safe environment for those who love the surf and lifeguards are always on duty. The conditions are also ideal for kite-surfing and low-tide provides an expanse of shallow water for windsurfing, volley ball and beach cricket.  Dogs are not allowed on the beach and it is thoroughly cleaned every morning to rid the parking area of party debris. Joggers and walkers get their daily constitution on the scenic town roads and a host of smaller coves away from the main beach are ideal for smaller children. If you are a fisherman you can expect to catch leerfish, grunter, cob mullet – especially in the Bushman River.

However if water is not your thing, then you can take a drive along the fenced areas of the game farms along the Grahamstown road. The Addo Elephant Park offers an overnight hiking trail a few kilometers from the turnoff to Alexandria.

And what a lovely end to the day enjoying a plate of oysters and a bottle of champagne on middle beach. All this has to be the best kind of food for the soul.

One of the challenges of visiting South Africa’s Mother City is that there is never enough time to see and do everything you would like to. Cape Town is the country’s oldest city, and there are Cape Town hotels abound on just about every city block to cater for the hundreds of tourists that visit the provincial capital of the Western Cape each year.

Guests at Cape Town hotels can explore the city on foot; it’s one of the best ways to see the local attractions. Short taxi rides around town prove inexpensive. Better yet, there’s the MyCiti bus service that operates in the inner city (it was launched for the Football World Cup) and makes getting around very easy.

Cape Town hotels are clustered near the Foreshore, which lead visitors to venture towards the famous V&A Waterfront with its impressive array of upmarket stores and restaurants offering delicious cuisine as well as major chain stores that serve as anchor tenants and a food court for lovers of fast food.

Cape Town hotels in this area of the CBD are well-located for business travelers attending local conferences, events and exhibitions at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Another cluster of Cape Town hotels will be seen midway between the Foreshore and City Bowl suburbs of Oranjezicht, Tamboerskloof and Gardens. These hotels range from the uber-luxurious establishments to boutique hotels and backpackers’ lodges, catering for all tastes and budgets. Their proximity to the vibey Long Street ensures there is plenty of nearby entertainment in the bars and clubs by night and interesting shopping and browsing opportunities in the designer outlets, antique shops and book stores by day.

Of course there is much in the line of historic attractions near Cape Town hotels, including the beautiful Company’s Garden, first established when the Dutch East India Company established itself on the shores of Table Mountain.

Instead of bemoaning the fact that we are in a recession and that times are so tough, why not look for clever ways of cutting costs?
There are so many ways where we can make a difference to our pockets, not least of all finding cheap flights in South Africa. Yes is it tough waking up at 6 am in the morning to catch the airline sales, but think of it this way – you can save as much as a R1000 on your next trip to Cape Town, Durban or anywhere else in South Africa.
Draw money from your bank’s ATM only! You can save as much as R40.00 every go to the ATM where you usually bank. This could add up to in the region of R2000 or even more a year.
Buying a coffee EVERY day adds up. Coffee could be in the region of about R16 every time you have one so that is R80 a week, and at the end of the month adds up to R320 and per annum this little treat you love to indulge in could be a saving of R3 840 which you could be putting towards Christmas gifts or your annual holiday. I am not saying never have your favourite cup of coffee every again, all I’m saying is that one cup once in a while is more of a treat than one every day which adds up to so much money.
Pack your own lunches instead of buying Woolworths every lunch break ;you will be saving money as well as eating better food, resulting in potential weight loss. Walk instead of driving everywhere, saving you money on petrol, and recycle as much as you can. You don’t need to buy new wrapping paper every time you give a gift, and this year, make a couple of your gifts for Christmas instead of indulging in great expense.
Cheap flights in South Africa makes a whole lot of practical sense, so the next time there is a special deal or a sale on one of the airlines, take advantage and book for your next flight. For more on special cheap flight deals in South Africa, contact us.