JNB-DUR on SAA J + BA J and the magnificent Oyster Box Hotel

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jul 21, 2013, 12:37 pm

#16

duniawala

Join Date: Mar 2013

Location: LAX

Programs: Thai Gold, UA, AA, SWA

Posts: 362

Great TR. Have never visited SA but your TR gives a great insight. Someday will be lucky to visit.

Jul 21, 2013, 1:16 pm

#17

anc-ord772

Join Date: Sep 2003

Location: LAX

Programs: UA MM | BA Silver

Posts: 7,193

Very nice TR. Brought back memories!

Wife and I honeymooned in SA and spent a few days in DUR. We stayed at an exquisite boutique hotel Teremok Marine, which was walking distance to Oyster Box.

Lunch at OB was quite nice, even though we did not select the very popular curry buffet.

Jul 21, 2013, 4:44 pm

#18

styxl

Join Date: Nov 2009

Location: Atlanta

Programs: Star Alliance, OneWorld, SkyTeam

Posts: 28

Great TR, amazing Hotel

Jul 22, 2013, 12:33 pm

#19

adampenrith

Join Date: Mar 2007

Location: Bargara Australia

Programs: VA, SQ, IHG, HH,ALL, Europcar

Posts: 1,530

The Oyster Box looks awesome, certainly a reason to visit Durban.

I normally think of J'burg/Pretoria and Cape Town but will include Durban next trip

Jul 22, 2013, 5:15 pm

#20

Bretteee

Join Date: Dec 2001

Posts: 3,181

Hi:

Is it worth visiting the Drakensberg area.

Great pictures.

Now I know where to stay in Durban.

Jul 22, 2013, 7:06 pm

#21

Jimgotkp

Join Date: Oct 2009

Location: Somewhere over the rainbow

Programs: Airline Free Agent, Bonvoy Platinum, Hyatt Globalist

Posts: 3,812

Great TR! I've been enjoying SA reports lately. ^

Jul 23, 2013, 7:58 am

#22

corporateslave

Join Date: Nov 2011

Location: NYC

Programs: AA EXP

Posts: 288

Well done report, thanks.
Very nice hotel, will add it to the list.

Jul 23, 2013, 12:01 pm

#23

mkjr

Join Date: Oct 2007

Location: Left

Programs: FT

Posts: 7,285

great TR.

It really blows me a way at what BA puts on those SA flights in terms of food, er I mean Comair, versus what they put on its intra EU crap, I mean club Europe routes.

clearly BA could do this on shorter Band 1 and 2 flights IF they wanted to.

Jul 28, 2013, 5:07 am

#24

freshaz

Join Date: May 2012

Programs: British Airways Executive Club

Posts: 202

Thanks for the trip report. Also recently flew to Durban and was impressed with the SLOW lounge offerings.

Jul 28, 2013, 10:40 am

#25

Fredrik74

Join Date: Feb 2008

Location: Stockholm

Programs: Various

Posts: 3,369

Thanks for the report. The hotel in Durban looks really nice and I appreciated the comparison between BA and SA.

I am visiting South Africa this (northern) winter and I am looking forward to it.

Aug 7, 2013, 1:38 pm

#26

SAtraveller

Original Poster

Join Date: Jan 2013

Location: Vancouver

Programs: Aeroplan, BA, QR

Posts: 363

Sorry for the late replies... work etc...

LongingForORD

Quote:

I have been to SA many times and always enjoy Cape Town, also much enjoyed the trip to Kruger NP, additionally I love the beauty of the Drakensburg Mountains.

Can't wait for my next trip to SA in September, will be transiting thru JNB (with a couple of stops to re-group at the Sandton Hilton). I have never been to the Cradle of Humankind, is it worth a tour??

Your lovely photo's have made me re-think Durban.

It is definitely worth a detour if you would like to see some interesting ancient trinkets and have a nice meal. The place is a short distance from Johannesburg but will probably end up taking at least half a day to enjoy properly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by I_Can_Fly_US_Airways

Thank so much for your trip report. Really enjoyed it...

It's a great pleasure, I_Can_Fly_US_Airways

Quote:

Originally Posted by time2go1st

That's really great -- never saw a more alluring hotel report than yours. And as you say: really NOTHING visible to raise any objection. Thanks for your efforts in showing it in such warm detail, it provides a lovely daydream for those of us who have never been there.

Thank you for the kind words, time2go1st

Quote:

Originally Posted by duniawala

Great TR. Have never visited SA but your TR gives a great insight. Someday will be lucky to visit.

You won't regret coming here duniawala

Quote:

Originally Posted by anc-ord772

Thanks anc-ord772... Yes Teremok Marine seems to be the only place that really can outpip the Oyster Box on tripadvisor. Thanks for the feedback, we'll try that too!

Quote:

Originally Posted by styxl

Great TR, amazing Hotel

Thank you very much styxl.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bretteee

Hi:

Is it worth visiting the Drakensberg area.

Great pictures.

Now I know where to stay in Durban.

Thanks Bretteee... The Drakensburg is very scenic and beautiful. You must just be aware that it is a four hour car ride from either Johannesburg or Durban (it seems to be in the middle of the two). There are some lovely resorts there if you feel like relaxing. It's freezing cold in winter but temperate in summer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by adampenrith

The Oyster Box looks awesome, certainly a reason to visit Durban.

I normally think of J'burg/Pretoria and Cape Town but will include Durban next trip

Thanks for the kind words adampenrith

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimgotkp

Great TR! I've been enjoying SA reports lately. ^

Thanks Jimgotkp

Quote:

Originally Posted by corporateslave

Well done report, thanks.
Very nice hotel, will add it to the list.

Thanks corporateslave

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkjr

Thanks mkjr, I've heard this complaint before. It seems like BA club europe isn't all that similar.

Quote:

Originally Posted by freshaz

Thanks for the trip report. Also recently flew to Durban and was impressed with the SLOW lounge offerings.

Thanks [Bfreshaz][/B], I thought it was well stocked too. Better than the SAA lounge but with poorer views.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fredrik74

Thanks for the report. The hotel in Durban looks really nice and I appreciated the comparison between BA and SA.

I am visiting South Africa this (northern) winter and I am looking forward to it.

Thank you Fredrik74, I hope you have a great trip!

Aug 22, 2013, 4:07 am

#27

Cheetah_SA

Join Date: Mar 2004

Location: CPT

Programs: BA BD SA

Posts: 4,467

Wonderful TR!^ It certainly tempts me to visit Durbs again - something I haven't done in a long while.

Aug 23, 2013, 6:14 am

#28

jetboys360

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: GB - LONDON

Programs: Star Alliance Gold, BA Silver, HHonors Diamond

Posts: 150

Great trip report!
One Q - was your SAA flight on the new A320? I have not seen any images of the new business class seats / cabin yet. Thanks.

Aug 23, 2013, 6:19 am

#29

SAtraveller

Original Poster

Join Date: Jan 2013

Location: Vancouver

Programs: Aeroplan, BA, QR

Posts: 363

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheetah_SA

Wonderful TR!^ It certainly tempts me to visit Durbs again - something I haven't done in a long while.

Thank you Cheetah_SA!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetboys360

Great trip report!
One Q - was your SAA flight on the new A320? I have not seen any images of the new business class seats / cabin yet. Thanks.

Thank you jetboys360! I'm not sure if it was new A320 but I couldn't find a picture online of the seat map or any part of the interior. It was a frustration.