Where to go in SA for a family vacation

Destination 1: Teniqua Treetops – Sedgefield, Garden Route

The most awesome thing about this destination in my opinion is that you sleep in a tree house. Yes, you read that right! You and your family literally sleep in a tree house, surrounded by a magical forest with lovely woodland trails and even a fairy or two. The uniqueness of this experience and the safety of your surroundings allow your children to explore the forest, swimming pool and games rooms with outside braais on their own, while you bask in the beauty around you. You are also right on the Garden Route and Sedgefield offers local markets and beaches.

 

Destination 2: Cathedral Peak Hotel – Drakensberg, KwaZulu Natal

This is a no-brainer. Just take a look at pictures of this place and you will be phoning in your booking. This is not just one of the most beautiful places in SA, but also a World Heritage Site. The expansiveness of the majestic mountains will not be lost on you and there is plenty activities for your children – whether you participate or not. There are planned activities during peak holiday season, a separate children’s dining room as well as babysitters! Five course meals for the adults will have you begging for more and the frenzy of so many people (the hotel has 104 rooms) is absorbed by the beauty of your surroundings. Enjoy walks, views, the amphitheatre and rest up!

 

Destination 3: Sparkling Waters Hotel – Rustenburg, North West Province

This 3 star hotel is highly recommended by the AA and is a graded Hotel & Spa situated in the heart of the Magaliesberg Range – a mere 90 minutes’ drive from Johannesburg. With more than 16 on site sport, recreation and outdoor activities, this caters for the whole family. Your options include tennis, volleyball, mini golf, mountain bikes, hiking trails, outdoor action cricket, paintball war games, very well equipped games room, playpark, heated splash pool, cold pool, the spectacular Magaliesberg Canopy tours, Sparkling Health Spa and more. The Health Spa even includes treatment for kids in their own salon when numbers allow!

 

What other spots have become your family favourite? Share with us in the comments below!

Why you should choose Cape Town for your spring break

1.Robben Island

When you are in Caep Town, Robben Island is an absolute must! This half-day tour will take you to the former prison where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years behind bars, fighting for freedom. Many other members of political parties were jailed alsongside him and one of your guides will most likely be an ex-political prisoner, which gives you a beautifully coloured picture of what it was like. The tour includes the prison and the whole island, which is fascinating. Traveling to the island by ferry should also not be dismissed!

 

2.The penguins at Boulder Beach

Swimming with the penguins at Boulders Beach on the Cape Peninsula near Cape Town is a real thrill, especially if you have kids traveling with you. A small portion of the beach has been allocated to the public and it’s separated from the mail penguin colony. However, the penguins pay no mind to this separation and you will often find a penguin sitting next to you on your towel or darting around your legs while you cool off in the ocean. Make sure you get there early in spring, as it can get quite crowded.

 

3.Table Mountain

Obviously this is a must. Table Mountain is one of the 7 wonders of the world and you simply cannot be in Cape Town and not visit this huge slab of stone that it 1086m high and 3km long. The mountain houses more than 1400 unique species of plants as well as several mountains. If you take food up with you, you will find that the dassie rats are quite eager to share your food! You can either climb the mountain (if you’re fit enough for this 3 hour climb) or go up via cable car. The view is astonishing and you can even see Robben Island from the top!

 

What else have you done in Cape Town that is a no-miss opportunity? Share with us in the comments below or on social media!

How to go on holiday without breaking the bank

 

Step 1: The destination

Make sure you choose your destination according to your budget. There is no need to always go to a pricey location and this will influence your budget hugely as expensive accommodation always mean expensive food. There are lots of lesser known spots with beautiful settings and activities. For example, maybe you shouldn’t go to Malibu or Miami to see a beautiful beach. Do yourself a favour and go to Mozambique first – the setting is just as beautiful, but at half the price!

 

Step 2: Accommodation

This is one of the biggest expenses when going on holiday. Please don’t try to book a five star hotel on a camping budget. There are many hotels that are affordable and still clean with proper and healthy food that don’t cost you an arm or a leg. There are also many services available online that allows you to compare various hotels with each other in order to easily find the best one with the best price. This could be the difference between a 3 day trip and a 2 week trip!

 

Step 3: Food

It is a known fact that you eat more when you are on vacation. To the dismay of many women worldwide, this cannot be avoided. So what you should avoid when on vacation is restaurants. Try to not eat out every day when you’re on vacation, but rather choose a hotel which has breakfast and dinner included in their daily rates or book at a self-catering lodge and bring some food from home (if you’re not travelling very far obviously). You also don’t need to have a big lunch every day – simple sandwich or two could also do the trick and this can save you between R200 and R300 per day if you’re four people traveling together.

 

What other tips have you come across that has helped you save money for traveling? Share with us in the comments section below!

Planning for Spring Break

Well,, the sun rises earlier, the birds are singing those beautiful songs of theirs and low and behold – you’ve packed your winter jackets and long johns away. Yes, it’s that time of the year – spring! For most students this means that the summer vacation is not too far away anymore. In the meantime though there’s another much-needed break – spring break! Let’s see how you can mmaximizethis week with a short vacation before the last shift of 2014 starts!





The first thing is to plan ahead. Most vacation spots are fully booked months before the actual holiday, so make sure that you have your plans ready at least 5 months before the holiday starts. This way you can even plan how to pay for accommodation so that you have one less thing to save for. When you've chosen a spot, remember to also plan how you will get there. If you don’t have a car, you could take the train or bus or even fly to your destination. Make sure your tickets are booked and paid for to avoid a last minute disappointment!





If you’re going somewhere that you haven’t been before, make sure to do some research on your location. Find out what the area has to offer in terms of entertainment and make sure to include this in your budget too. If you’re travelling to a different country, make sure your passport is valid and that all your documentation is up to date.





The budget is a really big part of planning for your holiday. Don’t forget that unfortunately having fun mostly costs money, so try to put a little money away every month so that you are prepared. Try to be very accurate in terms of what you will spend your money on, such as souvenirs or tattoos. Remember that you want to relax and have a good time! Remember that if you’re travelling to a different country that this might have a cost impact on your phone bill. Make sure you talk to your service provider about roaming fees for calls and data so that you don’t get a nasty surprise when you get back.





During the month of your visit, make sure you slowly but surely start getting everything together. Confirm accommodation and transportation bookings a week prior to leaving to check that all is still in order, pack your bags and then go and enjoy that holiday!


What other things do you take into account when planning a holiday?http://greyhoundsa.wordpress.com/Planning for Spring Break

Travel destinations for this summer

Travel destinations for this summer

Now that winter in the Southern Hemisphere is winding down, those among us who prefer the sunlight will be looking to quickly get away from our lives that have been cooped up in front of heaters for the last few months. While South Africa doesn't usually get as cold as much of the rest of the world, some of the more popular destinations, especially those that fill up during the summer months, will now slowly start to see people flocking in again. This is also the perfect time to get in your last trip abroad before every Northern Hemisphere country starts to slide into their well known winter chill.

Locally, Cape Town is one of the most obvious choices for a summer vacation destination. Even though it can get a little windy at times, the pristine beaches and world class nightlife will make it well worth your time if you decide to make the trip. Durban is also a great choice for anyone looking to get a bit of surfing in (since the Cape beaches tend to be a lot colder than those in the Indian Ocean), and the year round tropical weather in Durban means that you will be quite unlikely to face much cold weather even if you go a little before summer officially starts. 

A little further north, the Kruger National Park is a great destination for anyone looking to experience some wildlife, whether you’re a tourist or not, its ax experience not to be missed. Sun City is also one of the most popular destinations for summertime parties and relaxation, and being just a couple of hours away from Johannesburg, you can easily get there in good time and spend your weekend partying on the artificial beach.

Now that the FIFA World Cup has left Brazil, and summer is officially coming back to the country (though it is difficult to see how it ever left), a trip to Brazil, which is widely recognized as one of the best summer party destinations, may be a great choice, because you will be able to relax and experience the country as it truly is now that all the football fanatics have packed up and gone back home.

For anyone feeling a little more adventurous, a trip to the Far East countries like Taiwan, Thailand and Japan may be exactly what you need. However, you will want to make sure to plan your trip early, because if you find yourself there at the wrong time of the year, you may face some gigantic typhoons, and in Japan, snowy weather to rival even the very heart of the Russian empire.

Safety Tips When Traveling Alone

No travel companion nagging you! If you would like to take the day and sign up for an art class you are free to do so without someone sitting on the side line bored out of their minds. The ultimate self-indulgence; you can go see what you want; when you want and by any means you want! Another benefit is that your mistakes are your own, and with this your triumphs are all the more exciting! 

Sound like something you would love? Great, now let’s get to the safety part:

 

Be Alert! 

 

Before getting out of a vehicle, do a quick scan up and down the street to ensure no unsavoury characters are trailing you. Don’t make yourself a target by walking down the street talking on your mobile. The more alert you are the less chance you have of being the victim of a snatch and grab.

 

Keep others informed of your daily itinerary

 

Let people know where you are going and what time you are expected to be back on a regular basis; this includes friends and family at home as well as your innkeeper. 

 

Keep your credit cards and passport in separate places

 

When sightseeing, make sure to only carry a copy of your passport’s data page whilst 

keeping your passport locked in your hotel safe. Keep some of your money in your wallet and some in a money pouch, preferably leave the majority of your cash in the hotel safe and work on a daily budget. 

 

Plan ahead

 

Inquire about the open and close times of your destination to avoid sleeping in your car or worse! Nobody likes sleeping in the streets.

 

Trust your gut

 

You are your own best counsel, if something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it! Keep to open and public places, especially at night. Exude confidence and walk purposefully. Avoid appearing like a tourist. Don’t walk around with your face in a guidebook as you make yourself look like a target.

 

No jewellery

 

Don’t draw attention to yourself by wearing flashy clothes or jewellery. Keep it locked up safely at your hotel room.  

There you have it. Follow these tips and your chances of becoming a victim of crime will decrease dramatically. If you have any more travel safety tips let us know in the comment section. 

Things to consider when taking the bus

Things to consider: 

 

Comfort

 

Some bus rides take place during night time and temperatures tend to drop. It’s wise to wear warmer clothes just before boarding as to cut out the chill factor. Packing a small blanket will bring you much needed warmth when the temperature starts to drop. 

 

Keeping yourself busy

 

If you are going to spend several hours on a bus you will need something to keep you busy. Bring your favourite book along or charge your mp3 player to listen to some tunes. Smart phones come with thousands of app that are bound to keep you busy so make sure to charge your device before your trip. 

 

Safety first

 

Always keep a loved one or friend updated on your location. Don’t make yourself a target by wearing jewellery or flaunting your new iPhone. Keep your cash and credit cards in an inconspicuous location like a money pouch. 

 

Take your fellow travellers into consideration

 

Nobody likes the loud obnoxious guy in the front of the bus who complains about everything. Don’t be that person! If you have a complaint, kindly let the cabin crew know and they will most probably be able to sort out your problem. Remember to pack earphones as not everybody likes to hear every song on your playlist that consists of only 4 songs on a loop. 

 

Make new friends! 

 

Bus travel is one of the best places to meet and make new friends! Try speaking to some of the passengers and you are bound to find someone with the same likes and interests. Maybe they wouldn't mind your playlist with only 4 songs on it. 

 

Stretch your legs

 

Long bus trips almost always have bathroom breaks, use the opportunity to stretch your legs and use the restroom! Nothing makes a bus trip more unpleasant than a full bladder. Stretching your legs and taking in some fresh air also helps with the fatigue factor. 

Have anything to add? Let us know in the comment section.