We all know the question – are you a sea person or a bush person. In other words, where do you usually go on holiday? Having a favourite holiday destination, a place where you know you are guaranteed to recuperate and enjoy your time, is wonderful. However, it is also wonderful to mix things up a bit from time to time and explore new places. Those of you that don’t have a usual holiday destination know exactly what we mean. So, when you choose your next holiday destination, make sure these key points are given the proper attention:
Your reason for going
Holidays aren’t always just about lounging around and doing nothing for as long as possible, though if that’s your goal, there is nothing wrong with it. Sometimes, it’s fun to have holiday expectations like exploring a place you’ve never seen before or trying an activity you never thought you would. Sometimes you need a holiday not because you just want to do nothing for a week or two, but because you need time to focus on your mental, emotional, and physical health. If you have a specific goal in mind for your holiday, make sure the destination you choose will enable you to reach it.
A lazy day soaking up the sun and connecting with yourself can be achieved anywhere from the bush to the seaside. But if you want to go on an architectural adventure, you should look at a holiday location in or near bigger cities and towns.
Your company
If you are going on holiday with company, be it friends or family, you have to choose a destination that either suits everyone’s wants and needs or that provides a pleasing compromise. If everyone has the same type of holiday in mind, this is an easy point to talk about and decide on. However, if people’s ideas of what they want to do on holiday are vastly different, it can make things a smidge more complicated. What becomes important in such a situation is finding a place with diversity.
There are so many locations that are close to big cities, yet it is quiet enough to make you feel like you are out in the middle of nowhere. You can also find fantastic locations that seem small, but their variety of activities, natural beauty, and easy access make them larger than life.
Your accommodation
As much as location, location, location has come to define the property market, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation has also come to define the success of a holiday. The kids might find it to be a wonderful adventure when the beautifully furnished, seaside flat in the images turns out to be a horribly leaky, barely standing, tin-roof postage stamp, but the parents definitely do not (true story). So, make sure you properly vet the accommodation you want to book.
Does the accommodation have a website? Does it have a Facebook page? Are there reviews on the website, Facebook, Trip Advisor, etc from real people? Can you find the place on Google Earth and have a look at the street view? These are just some of the questions you should be finding answers to. If they all pan out, you are good to go.
The trip there
How far away is your holiday destination and how are you going to get there? Depending on the answer, your trip there can be an adventure in and of itself. If you are going far away for holiday and you just want your time off to start as soon as possible, consider flying as close to your destination as you can and then renting a car (if it is an option). You can, however, turn the hours of driving into a mini pre-holiday holiday. Book accommodation halfway to your destination and then take the scenic route and discover our country in a completely new and exciting way. It might mean that you will be driving some dirt roads and the trip that could be completed in a day will take two, but it is an experience you will never forget. Take the time to stop along the way, take photos of funny place names, chat to locals while filling up your car and just enjoy the uniqueness that is South Africa.
Witsand has it all
Call us biased, but we do believe that Witsand is the perfect place to enjoy a holiday. It might seem like it is a small, sleepy town, and if lazy days is your holiday goal, it sure can be, but it is also filled with adventure, breath-taking sights, and mouth-watering food. You can go whale watching, snorkelling, deep-sea fishing, kite surfing, pansy shell hunting and more. The estuary is a fisherman and nature lover’s dream. There are safe areas for the kids to explore and learn more about the ocean, including the sand banks in the Breede during low tide. If you are up for a drive, there are beautiful and historic towns nearby. And few things can get you as calm and relaxed as the sound of waves crashing on the water.
Witsand Plekkies, winner of TWO Traveller Review Awards 2022, has three beautifully furnished homes you can book (and yes, we have a website, Facebook, reviews, and more) to house the whole family or a group of friends. It is the perfect place to stay in one of the gems of South African holiday destinations.
