Sitting next to crystal clear water, with the warmth of the sun gently bronzing your skin whilst sipping margarita’s, may be the perfect holiday for some, but for others, feeling the wind whip through their hair and caress their cold cheeks as they slide down a zip line on a canopy tour, is the only way to go.

If you’re feeling a bit lost trying to plan that perfect vacation, or you’re in a relationship and are travelling together for the first time, then we’ve got some bite-sized recommendations for organising your next South African holiday.

How

The best place to start organising and planning your trip, is not picking the where or when, it’s figuring out your budget. This will determine how far from home you can realistically go and what kind of trip you can expect. It’s great to dream of five star luxury, but if you only have the budget for a one-nights stay at an opulent hotel, you’ll be left more than a bit disappointed at how quickly the time flies.

When

Once you’ve determined how much you can spend, look at when you’re wanting to travel, as there are many attractions across South Africa that are seasonal. Whale watching is one of these – and as it only happens annually from June – November – you’ll have more than enough time to budget correctly and see what else the area offers during that time of year.

If you don’t have a preference for when you’ll be travelling, then look at what the weather’s like across the country during the different seasons and what annual festivals are held – you don’t want to pre-book that trip to Durban, only to find you’ve arrived in the middle of the rainy season and are hotel bound for the next week.

What and Where

The next step is to determine what you’re wanting out of the vacation – whether it’s the excitement of a white-water rafting trip to start things off, or a massage to relax you and let you begin your adventure in a bubble of bliss.

If you’re in a relationship, let each partner pick two things that are within reason, and non-negotiable (realistic ones like “romance” or “adventure” not places like “Paris” or “New York” – although if you have the budget for that kind of trip,
great … feel free to take me with you!).

You can then start to look for area’s that cater to both partners expectations. If your man wants golf and you want history, why not stay at a golf resort – and while he spends his mornings practising his putting, you can explore the local shops, craft markets and view the town’s museums.

If you still can’t decide where you want to travel, or what you want out of travelling, plan a road trip. Make sure to book accommodation along the way, to ensure you get plenty of rest (even if it’s only a camp site). Arriving at your stop-over town, and not being able to find a spot to sleep will put a definite damper on your trip (and a crick in your neck, as most car seats aren’t comfortable to sleep in).

Alternatives

• Some days the budget is a bit tight, and you’re in need of a break. If you don’t have the bucks for a safari (which happens to be the Swahili word for journey), embark on your own journey and visit a zoo, or an animal sanctuary nearby for a fraction of the cost.
• Luxury, comfort and good food, doesn’t always mean five-star splendor. Instead find a 4-star or even a 3-star guest house that offers dinner, bed and breakfast – you’ll get the pampering and luxury, without breaking the bank.
• Slipping beneath the waves to view the marine life is a real eye opener. If scuba diving is out of your price range, don’t opt to tying a rock to your leg to swim with the fishes – instead find a local scuba shop who’ll rent you snorkeling equipment.
• Wishing you could have that spa day treatment, but don’t have the budget? Ask your partner to play masseuse and offer to return the favour – light some candles and put on relaxing music to get in the mood. You can also find common items in your cupboards that work wonders at reviving you – honey as a face mask and mayonnaise as a deep conditioner for your hair. Crazy yes, but also completely effective!
• Fancy going to Sun City? Then why not look at camping nearby instead of staying on-site – you’re close enough so it’s not a schlepto drive in and out everyday – and getting a day pass is cheaper then paying first class prices.

Some tips:

• The current state of the global economy is still touch and go – the bright side of this, is a lot of accommodations offer specials and packages – so keep your eyes peeled for discounts.
• If your vacation is for a special occasion, let the accommodations know. They’re often happy to thrown in some extras for a small fee, such as rose petals, bubble baths and champagne.
• If your travel plans include bring your children, be aware a lot of places offer baby-sitting services, just enquire beforehand, so you can fit in some couple time while the little darlings are kept entertained.
• Make allowances for wet weather mishaps – you can plan as much as you want, but you can’t prevent a storm rolling in – if you’re camping, make sure to bring a waterproof tarp, if you’re staying in a room, bring some cards, boardgames or video’s you haven’t seen before. It’s always better to be prepared, then caught unaware.
• Don’t over pack – take just what you need to make yourself comfortable – after all, unless you’re going to dinner or dancing at the same place every night, you don’t need five stylish dresses. In the long run, it’s better to take a few items you can mix or match such as jeans and T-shirts with one special outfit for those chic dinners – which leaves you plenty of space to place any gifts you may buy.
• It goes without saying that you shouldn’t flash money or show off expensive things in area’s you don’t know. Play it safe and either don’t bring them, or pack them deep into your suitcase.
• If you’re eco-conscious, and worried about your carbon footprint, there are a lot of establishments that now offer self-sustained accommodations – re-using rain water, kitted out solar panels for electricity, and more.
• If you have pets (and no, children don’t count), ask a trusted neighbour to stop in and feed them each morning and night, or ask a close friend to house-sit and collect your post.

There are many pet-friendly accommodations out there, so you can finally take Fido and Fluffy on holiday with you – just make certain you have e-mailed or written confirmation from the establishment, to ensure you don’t arrive and they suddenly have no idea who you are, and refuse point blank to let your adorable pets in.

Wherever you’re travelling to, make sure you have a first-aid kit to ensure that everything from headaches to cuts, and nausea to bug repellent is available should the need arise. Don’t forget sun block and after-sun either – spending
your entire holiday lobster red and itchy never looks good in photo’s.

Earlier this year, I tied the knot, and my wonderful husband organised our honeymoon. He surprised me by taking us on a three week road trip, and in my opinion, it was the perfect mix of both romance and adventure. Some of the highlights from it include: having breakfast on Table Mountain, visiting a wolf sanctuary where they also have a rabbit enclosure / petting zoo for children. We visited wine farms, did a canopy tour, took a river cruise complete with a picnic lunch, befriended two local donkeys, crawled through the Cango Caves, went hiking and wound up at a secluded rock pool, and in Montagu, relaxed into mineral rich hot springs which soothed stiff muscles.

It’s easy to find things that suite your budget and interests, with most places advertising online, and once the planning is done, you’ll feel so much better knowing things will be taken care of, leaving you more time to de-stress, unwind and zone out. With that in mind, where have you had your perfect holiday and what made it special for you?

If this post has inspired you to start planning your holiday, why not start right here, right now, with our wonderful selection of South African accommodation. We offer over 2 700 establishments that will suit every budget, and every need.

All images authors own.