Five-star breakaways

If you need to escape but are worried about how to afford it, drop in at the Getaway show brought to you by Mercedes-Benz Vans. Who knows, you may catch the kind of break you’re looking for.

You’ll find amazing specials on outdoor gear, camping equipment, 4x4 accessories, affordable accommodation and plenty of ideas for your next adventure. Be sure to swing past the Getaway stand to talk to our photojournalists and browse Getaway’s books and guides while enjoying coffee served by the Getaway crew.

Ticket Prices:

Adults: R50

Pensioners/students: R30

Children under 12: Free

Opening Times:

Friday, August 31: 11am-7pm

Saturday, September 1: 9am-7pm

Sunday, September 2: 9am-5pm

For more information, visit www.getawayshow.co.za

Join The Star Travel Club or renew your membership at The Getaway Show to be held at the Coca-Cola Dome on August 31 and September 1 and 2 and you may be the winner of one of these prizes:

l A four-night cruise to Maputo and Barra Lodge for a couple on the MSC Sinfonia in February or March with MSC Starlight Cruises. This includes ocean view cabin accommodation (category nine), all meals and entertainment. Prize is valued at R13 040, but does not include port, baggage, insurance and service charges of R750 a person.

MSC Starlight Cruises is the only local cruise operator in SA offering a range of itineraries in the Indian and Atlantic oceans.

The 2012/13 season will see the return of the popular MSC Sinfonia for her fourth consecutive season, and the arrival of the MSC Opera.

The SA cruise itinerary for the summer season comprises 61 departures between November and April, with sailings from Cape Town and Durban.

Both ships will offer variety and choice, with destinations including Portuguese Island, Maputo, Barra Lodge, Walvis Bay, Mossel Bay and Luderitz. For the more adventurous there are Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion and St Helena.

With fares from only R3 000, cruising is one of SA’s best-value holiday options, with accommodation, meals and entertainment included in the fare. There is no cost for children younger than 18. Cruise enthusiasts can tailor-make their experience on board while enjoying the MSC Italian hospitality. Whether its weddings, honeymoons, family holidays, student getaways or conferences, MSC offers the perfect travel choice.

MSC Cruises is the leading cruise company in the Mediterranean, SA and Brazil and has 12 ships in its ultra-modern fleet.

For more information, contact MSC Starlight Cruises at 011 807 5111, or visit www.msccruises.co.za, or www.facebook. com/mscstarlight

There are seven Getaway prizes:

l The Cavern Resort and Spa offer a two-night stay for two, including breakfast, lunch and dinner and a guided daily walk. Total value: R3 320.

This exclusive family holiday destination is three hours from Gauteng and Durban and is nestled in the majestic Drakensberg.

The Cavern is ideal for families who want to escape the city and embark on a spectacular outdoor adventure. This internationally acclaimed resort’s facilities are designed specifically to suit families and honeymooners.

The Royal Natal National Park Amphitheatre, the unspoilt terrain, surrounding valleys and the indigenous forest form the perfect backdrop for an abundance of year-round outdoor activities.

These include mountain biking, fishing, canoeing, birdwatching and walks. There is also a spa.

The Cavern offers 10 percent off rack rate for Star Travel Club members, valid until February 28, but does not include the festive season. See www.cavern.co.za. Call 036 438 6270.

l Montusi Mountain Lodge, in the Northern Drakensberg, offers a two-night stay for two, including breakfast and dinner, and a picnic for two. Prize value: R5 440. Spectacular views, luxurious accommodation and delicious food are provided. The 1 000ha conservation estate provides guests with an exclusive playground to explore the mountains on foot, horse, or mountain bike from the doorstep. For the less adventurous, the beautiful natural-look swimming pool, sunny lounge and private patios are excellent spots for relaxing. Montusi is four hours from Joburg and three from Durban.

Members get 10 percent off the rack rate until the end of March, but not from December 16 to January 2. See www.montusi.co.za Call 036 438 6243

l Bonamanzi offers a two-night stay for a family of four in a tree house, including breakfast and dinner daily, valued at R6 160.

There is varied accommodation in delightful settings with an Out of Africa-style restaurant. Bonamanzi offers children their own safe place to explore, with activities designed to nurture interest in wildlife and instil respect for the African bush. For adults there is the Amanzi Spa, a pool, bird hides, river safaris and 4x4 game drives and walks. Renowned for its birding and game viewing, Bonamanzi recently reintroduced rhino and buffalo, adding to the elephant, leopard, the endangered Suni duiker and many other species.

Bonamanzi is perfectly situated to discover the many treasures of the Greater St Lucia and Hluhluwe, and offers members 15 percent off rack rates until June. Discount is valid only on new bookings, not to be used in conjunction with specials and not over Christmas and Easter. See www.bonamanzi.co.za Call 035 562 0181.

l One couple will win a one- night dinner, bed and breakfast in a superior room at the Valley Lodge & Spa in Magaliesburg, valued at R4 000.

This established country hotel offers luxurious spa treatments, convivial Sunday lunches, private picnics for overnight guests, and birdwatching and fly-fishing on the private banks of the Magalies River, which flows through the beautifully refurbished and upgraded four-star destination.

Seasonal packages range from overnight dining and spa pamper packages to breakfast, lunch, high tea and spa day breaks for locals needing a heavenly fix.

The hotel and spa are developing eco-friendly solutions to reduce their carbon footprint in tourism, for example, by using heat pumps instead of geysers, and a hot water under-floor heating system in the spa, complete with steam rooms, sauna and bath, and a heated indoor pool.

Accommodation (76 rooms), ranges from superior elegance to country-cottage cosy.

Valley Lodge & Spa is less than an hour’s drive from Joburg and Pretoria. Call 014 577 1301/5, e-mail res@valleylodge.co.za or visit www.valleylodge.co.za There is a 15 percent discount for members, valid until November.

l Clico Boutique Hotel in Rosebank offers two nights, bed and breakfast for two sharing, valued at R6 000.

The established five-star hotel is regarded as a chic fine dining establishment for locals as well as overnight guests. The spring 2012 menus by chef Andrew Green will include delectable brunch, lunch, high tea and dinner options. Booking is essential.

The hotel is a popular special events location. It is ideal for intimate private functions and conferences and events, for which the restaurant, dining decks and events and conference room are ideally designed. General manager Sabine Seeger and her team offer warm and professional service.

All nine beautifully appointed rooms are en suite and designed to executive standards for a luxurious home-from-home for regular and new overnight guests, complete with mini bars, air-conditioning, heating, telephones, and free wireless internet.

A tranquil garden setting, secure parking and 24-hour security allow you to feel at home. Near Rosebank Gautrain Station.

Call 011 252 3300, or you may e-mail info@clicohotel.com, visit www.clicohotel.com. Members get 10 percent discount off rack rates until November.

l Getaway at Chestnut Country Lodge for two nights for two in the Chestnut Suite on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis, valued at R3 320.

Chestnut Country Lodge in Mpumalanga is a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Joburg. It offers friendly service and superior lodging at affordable prices. Each room is comfortably furnished with an en suite bathroom and a patio with magnificent views.

Adventure enthusiasts can enjoy activities such as quad biking, river rafting, aerial cable trail, microlight flights and scenic hot-air ballooning. Enjoy a spa treatment at one of the local day spas or visit an Elephant Interaction Centre in Hazyview. Call 013 737 8195 or 082 462 2740 or e-mail info@ chestnutlodge.co.za or visit www.chestnutlodge.co.za.

A 50 percent discount on the normal rates is offered to members until December 31. The discount excludes long weekends and public holidays. The rate is based on bed and breakfast.

Standard rooms: normally R490 a person for a night, sharing, B&B: Discounted rate of 50 percent: R490 for the room for two persons a night, sharing, B&B.

Luxury suites: normally R590 a person for a night, sharing, B&B. Discounted rate of 50 percent: R590 for the room for two persons a night, sharing, B&B.

l Old Joe’s Kaia – offers one night for two, including dinner, bed and breakfast, valued at R1 500.

Old Joe’s lies among scenic mountains on the way to Nelspruit and is easily accessible from the N4 Schoemanskloof Highway. The venue provides a most relaxing stopover for travellers on their way to the Kruger National Park, Mozambique or Swaziland. It is also the perfect destination for reviving your soul.

It has a charming and friendly atmosphere that makes any visitor feel at home immediately. Comfortable accommodation is provided in 13 units, each uniquely and creatively decorated.

Tasty meals are served in the main building or on the wooden balcony, which has a spectacular mountain and garden view. The restaurant uses organically homegrown vegetables and herbs and as much free-range produce as possible, and produces creative and nutritious dishes.

A labyrinth in the garden offers the visitor a wonderfully tranquil experience.

Members get a 20 percent discount valid until the end of the year.

GPS: S25° 23.096’ E30° 32.395’

Call 083 229 3751, fax 086 518 1778; e-mail info@oldjoes.co.za, visit www.oldjoes.co.za