to be feeling a bit moany after spending 1000 quid on an unenjoyable holiday and catching the sniffles?

[likethemoon]

Just returned from South Africa, meant to be a birthday treat.
Immigration were very rude on entry. We were expecting warmish weather as it's the start of their summer, but it rained constantly. Almost every attempt at conversation was met with some reference to colour or race, understandable given the history but still rather offputting. One of our friends got mugged (to be fair he did do something risky, i.e. go out late at night and come back from the minibus taxi terminus downtown) and we got fleeced by all the meter taxis. The connecting flight was delayed so we almost missed the returning one to the UK. Now I'm feeling like I'm coming down with a cold (air conditioning on the plane, probably) and have masses of housework to catch up on! I know we're lucky to have been able to travel at all etc but surely IANBU to feel this was a colossal waste of time - just want somewhere to vent!!

[MollieO]

I've not been to Durban but I know people (SAfricans) who were born and work there. They've said it has really deteriorated over the last few years and not a place to visit. Sad that you had to deal with the race stuff because of your own heritage but unfortunately understandable whilst there is still so much trouble there.

I don't think SA is a place to go where you can completely relax and I did have to do things I wouldn't normally do (eg not driving at night) but my experiences both times were hugely positive.

[likethemoon]

Yep, I agree 100% Chandon. This time I stuck to chocolate bars and cool drinks, because I hate not to give the little ones anything but the big stuff doesn't end up with them anyway. It's a difficult one because I don't like to seem mean and I don't like the idea of them going without (always imagine them as if they were my kids). I have a whole load of stories along these lines, but it's all a bit complex to explain here really.

[Chandon]

I think, on the whole, holidays to places like that are always a bit stressful.

You have to be mentally prepared to accept being ripped off a few times, and also be very aware of dangerous situations (ie do your homework). With beggar children in very poor countries I learned to give them a snack or something they could eat straightaway, as any money or valuable things would not end up with them anyway...

Still sucks though.

[likethemoon]

Well, it was unusually cold for Durban, and locals were commenting along the same lines. I'm aware rain is rain and there's nothing that can be done about it, but it's still not pleasant. Tourists often do get fleeced, but to have it recur repeatedly is not very nice. I agree the mugging incident was pretty inevitable and am not surprised at all. I am not an alarmist person and have taken those minibus taxis on both short and cross border journeys, but bus ranks are generally not the safest of places. Still, it was a shame to see him all shaken up like that.

[likethemoon]

I agree, Mollie - I didn't explain the full story about having been before, mainly because the whole story would have gone on for a very long time. I should have done in order to put it into perspective.

I was particularly surprised about the immigration in Cape Town, especially as the immigration in OR Tambo were really friendly and welcoming. I even keep in touch with a woman who works there, as well as a number of other people in Joburg, so I didn't mean to put down SA and it's people as a whole. And to be honest I had a few minorly disappointing experiences the first time, when I was there for over two weeks (such as giving a little girl I was particularly close to our brand new camera and then the mother selling it to go to the casino - and I was not upset because of the camera itself, but because the little girl was crying that her mother had pawned it). But all in all the experience was positive, unlike this last time.


As for the race issue, I think anyone who knows SA reasonably well will concede that this problem still persists. I am mixed-race myself and people from all backgrounds in SA are, as a whole, not used to that concept. Therefore it arouses curiosity, particularly among the older generations, which can be tiresome. However I accepted a few comments about that the previous time, and have tried to be understanding about it. But it does get irksome after a while.


I'm pleased you had a great time and hope you do again. I don't want to put people off SA completely and didn't want to sound overly whiny or negative, so apologies if people have misconstrued that. I think the mugging was the straw that broke the camel's back, although as I said in the OP, that could have happened anywhere, to be fair.

[jaquelinehyde]

It's rainy season at the moment in SA though isn't it? So not sure why you are upset that it rained everyday?

Your friend was a fool to put himself at risk they way he did and tourists always get fleeced.

Holidays always wear me out and I need a week at home to get over it and I have never holidayed outside the UK, so travelling all that way for a miserable time must be depressing but that's the risk you take with holidays, a great time is never guaranteed.

[MollieO]

Your OP doesn't read as if you have travelled extensively in SA before. Instead it reads as if this is your experience of this country and what a waste of time and money it was going there. I haven't been to as many places there as you as I've only been twice for a total of nearly 6 weeks but I loved every minute and can't wait to go back again.

[likethemoon]

Mollie, most of that was done the previous time, I was mentioning all the places I've been in SA in general. That one cost a lot, lot more, but I didn't mind because the DCs loved it. And it probably was a bit more than 350 this time, although DP paid for the accommodation so probably not that much more from my side.

It's not all about the money, as I've said. It's more the disappointment. Anyway, can't really expand much more on this one.

[MollieO]

I'm even more impressed you did all that for £350!

[likethemoon]

Earlybird - I'm wondering the same myself! But DP and our friends were very keen to do something nice for my birthday, which I don't usually bother much with and as I'd given SA good reviews before they wanted to see it, especially in summer.

As DP said himself, it's the fact that it didn't justify the money. But say I hadn't mentioned the money at all - most people wouldn't want to go a long way to have an average to poor experience, I don't think that's so outlandish.

[PrincessJellyBaby]

I feel for you. We all want holidays to relax and unwind and escape from our lives. And I know many people can't afford £1000, but tbh, for a holiday like you were hoping for, I'd have easily paid more (actually, I did - £2500 when we went to SA for 2.5 weeks at xmas last year).

And when you pay that money you want something special. Its rotten when things don't live up to expectations, often when you have no control over things. I agree that simple holidays in the UK, where you have lower expectations often turn out to be more fun.

Our trip was mixed, but there were definitely some highlights. I hope that once you're annoyance has settled down, some of the positives will rise to the surface and you can remember those instead.

Holidays are a minefield!!

[likethemoon]

I'm not pretending this is a serious problem in the scheme of things by any means, this was meant to be in a similar tone to Shodan's post, who summed it all up in her first sentence.

I've been to Joburg (northern suburbs, downtown, Tembisa and Soweto townships) Cape Town (Camps Bay, Langa and Gugulethu townships) Durban, the North West province (Rustenburg and Mafikeng). I have stayed in both hotels and with friends who have family living in townships, so have seen the different sides. It is pretty, and has got a lot going for it, like I said this time was just a disappointment, and so not worth the time or money IMO.

[Earlybird]

OP - think you're getting a bit of a hard time here.

The main issue for me is this: why did you 'stupidly' (to use your word) cash in an ISA to take a holiday?

[TangerinePuppet]

My heart bleeds

[ouryve]

Haven't been on holiday for years. It's just too stressful.

[Shodan]

It's always miserable when something you've looked forward to doesn't live up to expectations (or hopes!), but when you've spent lots of money on it it makes it worse.

TBH SA isn't somewhere I'd go again- I've been once, because DH grew up there, but as far as I'm concerned that was enough. It wasn't that it wasn't pretty, or that it rained (it is, and it did, every day)- it just didn't 'grab me' like other places have.

Although I might consider going again for Jimmy's Killer Prawns.

[MollieO]

Where in SA did you go?

[likethemoon]

Well yes, probably a little over 1000, that was a rounding down. We paid approx 650 for the fare, which I stupidly did by cashing an ISA, but that's another story.

It's true it is what you make of it. It's just I went with such a positive attitude, and was really looking forward to it, and showing everyone around, especially after having such a good experience the time before. Just a bit disappointed I suppose.

[Lilyloo]

That does seem a snapshot of a few parts of your holiday. There must have been good points to ?
I can imagine rain every day when you have travelled so far is slightly depressing on it's own though.
Although we still managed some good points in our annual rain filled camping holiday this year !

[likethemoon]

I have been more than once, and had a different experience when I was with local friends from university. I had a much more positive experience that time in Joburg. I was particularly close to one friend and her kids and the kids all played with each other in a similar way to what Mollie describes.

This time I was in Cape Town and then went up to Durban, and the experience without being with local people was completely different. Perhaps just a bad luck of the draw.

I know a lot of people don't have 1000 pounds to spend on a holiday, and I wish that they could be in the same position but that doesn't mean that this wasn't a waste of money - in fact it highlights the fact it was a waste of money even more.

[MollieO]

I'd add that you got off lightly if you only spent £1000 bearing in mind the airfare is usually £700+.

[HeadfirstForHalos]

TBH I think you only enjoy a holiday if you make the most of it. We've been camping in torrential rain in the highlands and had a great time. If we had taken the "Oh this is horrible" attitude then we'd have had a rubbish experience.

[likethemoon]

I thought that type of comment would pop up, if I was spoilt and miserable I wouldn't have said that I know we're lucky to have been able to manage at all.

[thousandDenier]

I dream of having £1000 to pay my rent and bills!

Have a lemsip and a

[MollieO]

I've been twice with ds. Just the two of us. Once when he was 2 and the second time when he was 5. We travelled along the Garden Route and spent time in different places including Cape Town. Our experience was overwhelmingly positive. Everyone we met was helpful and kind. We never had a single conversation about race. We visited a friend's township project and ds was welcomed with open arms by the local children despite being a different colour and wearing shoes (unlike most of the children).

Ds made friends with local children on the beach and we had an utterly lovely time on both holidays.