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Are you sick of being in the city during the summer season? We have found a few trips to get you out and broken down how much they will cost.
It's nearly that time of the year when everyone makes their way down to South African shores for the season. The beaches are packed and the traffic is just unbearable.
If you have to experience this every holiday season, now's your chance to pack a suitcase and head abroad.
We have compiled a list of holiday destinations along with their average price tag.
Take a look...
New York City (aka The Big Apple)
If the hustle and bustle of the city is your ideal getaway, then NYC is the place to go. Whether shopping is your thing, or sightseeing, the variety of exciting adventures are endless.Flights
If value for money is what you are looking for, New York City is not the cheapest option. Air flights vary in price depending on the airline. The cheapest flight is on Etihad Airways from OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesbrug), to JFK International Airport. This flight will cost you R15 269 return per person. The most expensive flight is on American Airlines there and United Airlines back to South Africa. This flight will cost you an outrageous R53 049 return per person. *These flights are all in economy class. For more information on available flights, click here.Accommodation
Now that you have some idea as to the price of flights, here are a few reasonable places to stay during your trip. Accommodation ranges from $40 per night/room to $388 per night/room. It really all depends on your budget and whether you are fussy with your boudoir.- Rainbow Guesthouse is the cheapest hotel option at $40 per night for a room that sleeps two people. At the current exchange rate, you can expect to pay just under R567 per night.
- The Kimberly Hotel & Suites is the more pricey option at R22 250 per night/per room. This located only a few kilometres from the city centre and Times Square.
Places To Visit In The City
Here is a short list of some things that you could expect when you venture into the Big Apple:- Statue of Liberty;
- Empire State Building Observation Deck;
- Times Square;
- Central Park Bus Tours;
- 9/11 Memorial Museum;
- Madame Tussauds.
Currency & Exchange Rate
- 1US Dollar = R14.19
London
Why not spend a white Christmas in the city of royalty? With Buckingham Palace just down the road and a wide variety of shops, pubs and tourist attractions in walking distance, London is the place to go.Flights
The flights heading to London aren't the most expensive part of the trip -food and activities take the cake. The cheapest flight is on Ethiopian Airlines for R10 259 return per person. Whereas the most expensive flight is on British Airways to London and TAP Portugal on return. This flight will cost you a ridiculous R79 599 return per person. Take note that both these flights are in economy class. For more information on these and other flights, click here.Accommodation
Prices of places to stay in London vary quite a lot as the options are endless. If it is a hostel you are after, you could easily find one for just over R200 per person/per night. If it is a budget hotel that you are looking at, the cheapest one you could find is roughly R45o per night.- Ibis Budget London Hounslow is a budget hotel, located 17 kilometres from the city centre. This hotel is priced at R450 per room/per night.
- The Goring is listed as London's most expensive hotels and when you see what it looks like, you will understand why. You will pay just over R27 000 per room/ per night.
Places To Visit
Here is a short list of some things that you could expect when you travel to London:- Big Ben;
- London Tower;
- Buckingham Palace;
- British Museum;
- London Eye;
- Hyde Park;
- River Thames.
Currency & Exchange Rate
- 1 British Pound = R18.61
Australia
Travel to Sydney, Australia to discover the land down under. Sydney is the capital city of Australia and is best known for its various tourist attractions, such as the Sydney Opera House. Want to find out more? Why not book yourself a ticket.Flights
The flights range in price, with many of the flights making two stops on the way. The flight to Sydney is really long so make sure you have a good book to keep you occupied. Prices range from R17 319 on Eithad Airways per person return , to the most expensive ticket being R103 689 per person return on Cathay Pacific Airways. Take note that both these flights are in economy class. For more information on these and other flights, click here.Accommodation
There is a wide variety of accommodation available in Sydney for holiday makers. Once again, it is all about your budget and the type of stay you are expecting to have. Accommodation prices range from R477 with the most expensive being just over R10 000 per room/per night. Many of the cheaper options are university hostels that are converted into hotels during the holiday season.- The Panania Hotel is the cheapest hotel listed for the Sydney area. This is in fact, a real hotel and not a converted hostel . The daily rate is currently R550 per room/ per night.
- The Swissotel Sydney is a five star hotel in the heart of Sydney. The hotel is modern and neat and is perfect for the travelers looking for luxury. The daily rate is currently R10 472 per room/ per night.
Places To Visit
Here is a short list of some things that you could expect when you travel to Sydney:- Sydney Harbour Bridge;
- Sydney Opera House;
- Bondi Beach;
- Taronga Zoo;
- The Rocks;
- Sydney Olympic Park.
Currency & Exchange Rate
- 1 AUD= R10.68
Thailand
This island getaway is a South African's dream vacation as it is so cheap. There is so much to do on in this tropical paradise, that you won't know where to start as the island hopping is endless. The best part of it all is that you don't need a visa when you enter the country.Flights
Travel to Thailand is normally pretty reasonable, however during season time, prices escalate due to the high volume of visitors. The cheapest flight travelling between 22- 29 December is R15 689 per person return on Etihad Airways. The most expensive option is on Cathay Pacific Airways at R62 039 per person return. For more information on flights flying to Thailand, click here.Accommodation
Thailand is one of the only places that is so cheap you can live like royalty at very little expense. There are lots of hotels to choose from, however, it is important to make sure that they are close to the beaches and places you want to see. Accommodation prices range from R100 to just over R10 000 per room/ per night. The hostels are even cheaper, if backpacking is your thing.- The Manohra Hotel is the cheapest of the hotel options available in the Phuket area. A night's stay at this hotel will cost you R185 per room/ per night.
- Sri Panwa Phuket Luxury Pool Villa Hotel is the epitome of a luxurious island villa. Guests can expect to pay a whopping R10 400 per room/ per night. This does include a full continental breakfast.
Places To Visit
Here is a short list of some things that you could expect when you adventure in Thailand:- Phi Phi Islands;
- Grand Palace;
- Ko Pha Ngan;
- Patong;
- Wat Arun;
- Ko Lipe.
Currency & Exchange Rate
- 1 Thai Baht = 0.43 Rand
READ MORE about travel insurance here
Cape Town
Are you a South African who enjoys the festivities that the Mother City has to offer? Well then why not book a ticket there and spend sometime soaking up the summer sun.Flights
If you are flying locally in South Africa, your flights will be a whole lot cheaper than if you were to go abroad. These flight comparisons are between Johannesburg to Cape Town. The cheapest flight package is Safair to Cape Town for R1 719 per person and then Kalula back to Johannesburg for R919 per person. The total return flight costs R2 638 per person. For more flight information, click here.Accommodation
Cape Town is full to the brim with places to stay. From apartments to five star hotels, Cape Town has accommodation to suit everyone's needs. Accommodation in Cape Town ranges depending on how close you stay to the sea. The prices range from R250 to over R100 000 per room/ per night.- Never at Home Cape Town is one of the cheaper options that Cape Town offers. Although the accommodation might not be top notch, the location is right in the middle of the festive hustle and bustle. Guests can expect to pay R298 per room/ per night.
- 26 Sunset Villa Llandudno is situated right on the beach and is one of the most expensive places to stay while in Cape Town. Guests can expect to pay a whopping R103 714 per night.
Places To Visit
Here is a short list of some things that you could expect when you visit Cape Town:- Table Mountain;
- V&A Waterfront;
- Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden;
- Robben Island;
- Lion's Head;
- Two Oceans Aquarium;
- Bo-Kaap.
*These prices reflect the period between 22 to 29 December 2017. Prices have been converted according to 6 November 2017 exchange rates.