For cash-strapped Joburgers who are keen to hit the beach this festive season despite the recession, research detailing where sun-lovers will find the most budget-friendly holidays has been done.
According to the budget airline kulula.com's beach index survey, Stilbaai in the Cape rates as the cheapest of 14 popular beach destinations, with Camps Bay taking the crown as the most expensive.
The index was created to help guide holidaymakers in their search for the cheapest getaway possible. At each of these 14 identified holiday hot spots, the research team looked at three main categories and then rated the place according to the prices they found.
Hermanus, Gordons Bay, Stilbaai, St Lucia, Jeffreys Bay, Langebaan, Paternoster, Mossel Bay, Knysna, Ballito, Camps Bay, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Margate were the selected targets that have been rated on a score chart.
So what costs were measured?
At each place the price of beachfront accommodation, a meal of fish and chips, the cost of a beer, a boat trip and a round of golf were all looked at. The prices charged were then ranked, and the beaches were then divided into three main categories: budget nibblers, cash snackers and the rand gluttons.
Topping the chart with the cheapest all-round price ratings was Stilbaai, followed closely by budget friendly beaches at Margate and Amanzimtoti, in Durban. The other nibblers were Jeffreys Bay, Port Elizabeth and Gordon's Bay.
At these destinations you will be able to find accommodation for under R1 300 a night, a plate of fish and chips for under R45, a beer for R14 or less, boat trips for less than R150 and a round of golf for less than R300.
Stilbaai, which is at the top of the cheap and cheerful destination list, is situated about 26km off the N2 between Mossel Bay and Riversdale. It has a long stretch of white beaches, fantastic weather and wonderful water-sport facilities, including fishing and scuba-diving. Although growing in popularity, Stilbaai has maintained its characteristics as a pollution-free, safe and peaceful destination.
"Stilbaai Tourism is delighted that it has come out tops in the kulula beach index survey," commented Dr Joan Prins of the Stilbaai Tourism Office. "It is a well-liked Garden Route destination and we hope that this will further boost tourism to our corner of the world."
The kulula survey's middle-of-the-road rankers, or the cash snackers, were Paternoster, Langebaan, Mossel Bay, Knysna Quays and Ballito. At these moderately priced places you will find that accommodation costs range between R1 300 and R1 900, a plate of fish and chips goes for between R45 and R55, beers are priced between R14 and R18, a boat trip costs between R150 and R250 and a round of golf will set you back R300 to R400.
Hermanus came in as a rand glutton, or a larney and expensive prime holiday spot, with Camps Bay topping the list by a considerable margin as the priciest of the pick.
"Many South Africans are still feeling the effects of the recession and will be on a financial diet this holiday season. The kulula beach index is just one way in which we're helping kulula fans find cost savings without missing out on the fun of summer" said Ian Meaker, kulula distribution's executive manager.
