All roads lead to Grahamstown in June/July 2010

With 'kick-off' finally here, organisers are quick to stress that there are plenty of affordable travel and accommodation options open to Festival goers.

“A quick browse through airline websites shows that the much-hyped overinflated prices aren’t coming to fruition,” Festival CEO, Tony Lankester, said. “A return flight to Port Elizabeth from both Johannesburg and Cape Town during the Festival period can still be found for under R1 500 if you choose your airline; dates; and times carefully,” he said.

Once visitors arrive in Port Elizabeth, there are regular shuttles to Grahamstown which, this year, will boast a re-vamped 'Hopper' transport system, so visitors can get around to all Festival venues without having to worry about renting a car.

“There will be some visitors who decide to make a family holiday of it and drive down to stay either in Grahamstown or in nearby Kenton or Port Alfred, or one of the nearby five-star game farms,” Lankester said. “Since the Festival falls in the middle of a long school holiday, we’re expecting plenty of families to join us this year – which is why we’re putting a big emphasis on family entertainment.”

Those wishing to stay in Grahamstown have the choice of a number of B&Bs and Guesthouses, private home rentals, or the newly launched Rhodes Festival Hotel – a modified residence, with shared bathrooms, offering comfortable bed and breakfast accommodation for under R400 a night.

The Festival runs from 20 June until 4 July and is carefully programmed so, whatever dates visitors choose to attend, they will be guaranteed plenty to see.

“If you sat down and watched all the performances we are staging at this year’s Festival back-to-back, it would take you about 126 days of continuous watching to get through it all. We’ve crammed it into 15 days. With that kind of line up, the biggest challenge a visitor will face is what to leave off their schedule,” Lankester said.

But Grahamstown – and the Festival – aren’t oblivious to the fact that the world’s biggest sporting event is taking place on its doorstep. There will be a fully-fledged public viewing area in the city, and plenty of screens around town so Festivalgoers can have the 'best of both worlds'.

“Hosting the FIFA World Cup is a big deal for South Africa and we’re confident that the country will deliver an awesome event,” Lankester said. “What we’ve tried to do with the Festival is create something that complements the soccer – that gives the world a taste of what South African arts and culture is all about, and the provides South Africans the opportunity to step into a bubble of creativity and celebrate with us.”

The Festival has partnered with travel specialists Travel247 to put together simple, one call travel packages to the Festival. All packages include flights; car rental; and accommodation at the 'Festival Hotel'. Enquiries can be made by contacting Travel247 on 011 502 3511.

Booking forms for accommodation; intercity transfers; and hopper passes can be downloaded from www.nationalartsfestival.co.za.

Full Festival booking kits are available for free from selected Standard Bank; Computicket; and Exclusive Books outlets.

Call the Festival hot line for all enquiries – 046 603 1103. Follow us on Twitter @artsfestival or join us on Facebook: facebook.com/nationalartsfestival.