Meet Øyvind and Erlend

Meet Erlend and Øyvind from Norway, who call themselves "two dashy dudes in Kenya!" on their blog about their adventures on their 3-month student exchange.

Whilst my daughter Kate-Lynn has been visiting Norway, the Norwegians studying teacher training in Trondheim have also been posted around the world on a similar student exchange. Taking time out from Kenya,  Erlend and Øyvind are in Durban for a few days and it was great to get a chance to meet up with them. In the pics we are enjoying a braai at our guesthouse and shooters, with Gabby, Brad, Llewellyn, Ian and I.

Guests get married

Meet our guests Kobus (left) and Carl who got married last week. Congratulations guys, every day we are meeting more guys who have taken the plunge since the 2006 Civil Union Act legalised marriages and civil partnerships.

Don't forget also that guesthouse co-owner, Dave, is a notary Public, so if you are thinking of hitching up, be sure to ask Dave to register your pre-nuptial /ANC or Civil Partnership agreement before you get married or register the union.

dave email: adlawza@msn.com

It's FUNSUNZI in Durban

Our local radio station, East Coast Radio, or ECR as we all know it, has a great campaign going to promote Durban as the FUN, SUN, SEA, destination of South Africa, or FUNSUNZI as they have dubbed the campaign.

What a great idea, especially as we head towards winter, knowing that Durban is the only place on the warm east coast where you can have it all, all seasons of the year, whilst the rest of the country goes into hibernation.

Llewellyn's elephant

Llewellyn puts the finishing touches to his towel-fold elephant in the Premier room in anticipation of our guest arriving today.

Isn't he so cute!!

South Africa's 2nd Mr Gay World !! Well done Francois

The new Mr Gay World 2011 chosen tonight in Manila, Philipines, is South Africa's Francois Nel seen right above with Mr Gay South Africa organiser Coenie Kukkuk.

This makes it second in a row for South Africa as Charl van den Berg (left in picture right) handed over his reign as Mr Gay World 2010 to Francois. Charl is pictured in Durban with Durban View Gay Guesthouse co-owner Dave Mc Naught.

We are so proud of both you guys holding up the flag for South Africa at such a prestigeous competition.

Dave revamps Gay Directory

The Facebook group Gay Directory South Africa is the largest gay Facebook group with over 4 200 members and has just been re-vamped. Created by Dave Mc Naught of Durban View Guesthouse the directory has been steadily growing and gives an easy link to nationwide gay interest groups, accommodation in the various provinces and more...

Check out the Gay Directory South Africa here.

Big South Africa

Our guests from Paris Fabien and Ugo did not realise how big South Africa is and that distances to drive between our major cities are great. So if you're wanting to visit the Kruger National Park and the St Lucia Wetlands Park, don't give yourself only 1 day to stay over in Durban. Firstly our Guesthouse is one of the few exclusively gay guesthouses in South Africa, we we are worth a few days visit in itself. Also Durban is the warmest city on the east coast of South Africa and our beaches and Indian Ocean are legendary. So be sure to include a few days to visit us here.

Bent coming for the ladies

Dave of Durban View Guesthouse and Colette of Bent Promotions are working to bring some fun to the Guesthouse for our Ladies Weekend in April and the Rooftop Sundowners on Sat 9 April.

Accommodation bookings for the April weekend are open and we hope to have a good number of local ladies for the Sundowner event. Colette has created a Facebook event and details of the Ladies Weekend are also on our blog here and on our Facebook Ladies Event page.

Bookings may be made online on our website http://www.durbanview.co.za/ or email durbanview@gmail.com

Durban View: Dave's First Notarial Deed

Durban View: Dave's First Notarial Deed: "Dave puts the seal on the first Notarial Deed he has executed as a Notary Public. It was a Notarial Deed of Encroachment - some buildings o..."

Wecome Vince

I love learning about places I have never been to and Mexico is one of them. Meet Vince, a Mexican who is living in Texas, but working while studying and presently on assignment in Limpopo Province and here in Durban for a quick visit. Vince only came out to his family in December and is still on his journey of discovery. Great to have you with us in Durban.

Ladies Weekend in Durban Fri 8th - Sun 10th April

We've often been asked if Durban View Guesthouse is men-only or if we welcome all gay and lesbian guests.

First Lesbian wedding at the Guesthouse

Our most famous guest is Melanie Lowe who has both performed and stayed at the Guesthouse. We were also delighted to meet Gaye whom Melanie has just married. In addition we hosted one of Durban's first Lesbian Weddings with the brides coming down from Johannesburg to get married at the Guesthouse.



Melanie Lowe with Durban View Guesthouse partners
Llewellyn and Dave



So ladies it is a pleasure always to have you with us. The weekend planned for the weekend Fri 8th - Sun 10th April should be a great one for the girls. There will be a Sanctuary Party on Friday night at Origin Club in Durban and on Saturday we are having an informal social on the Guesthouse Rooftop to which the local ladies are all invited. The social will be a free entry event and accommodation for the weekend should be booked early. The rates are R450 pp sharing a double room, R550 single or for the under 25s who are more daring R295 pp sharing the Bunk room. The rates include breakfast each morning.

Bookings may be made online on our website at http://www.durbanview.co.za/ or you can email Llewellyn on durbanview@gmail.com Tel: Dave 083-7033329.

We're also created a Facebook event, so if you're local and would like to attend the Saturday social, please click on the link and let us know you are coming.

Bent Ladies Rooftop Sundowners

The Saturday evening of our Ladies Weekend will feature a Bent Social on the Guesthouse rooftop.

Thanks to Colette of Bent Promotions for helping put together what should be a fun afternoon on the rooftop with it's sweeping views of the City as the sun goes down. Click on the Bent Facebook event to let them know you are coming. There's no cover charge and there will be cash bar facilities.

Russian in the house

It is not too often we have Russians in the house, but Lee's parents are from Latvia, a little country which used to form part of the USSR and is now independent.

Co-incidentally my daughter flew into Riga, the capital of Latvia last week en-route from Oslo to Rome. Lee, an industrial psychologist, now works in Johannesburg and is fluent in Russian.

Upgrade to Premier

Discerning guests wanting a little more pamper can now book our Premier room which offers you and you partner a little extra.. our Premier collection of soaps and bath pampering, a Welcome basket with fresh fruits and snacks and a bottle of Sparkling Wine... so treat him to a little pampering, because he is so special. The rates for the Premier room with it's spectacular views of the city centre are R600pp double and R750 per night single.

Bookings online off our website or email us at durbanview@gmail.com

Making Improvements

Making some changes and improvements to the Guesthouse, Llewellyn and Dave have just put new flatscreen TVs in each room, shelving to take individual decoders and DVD players, a new desk for the Pool room and a photo collage of the World Cup Football with a magnificent photo Dave took of Llewellyn in front of the Moses Mabhida Stadium shortly before the Brazil vs Portugal game here in Durban.

The Guesthouse Lounge

Exciting line-up of Events

We've got an exciting line-up of events planned for the Guesthouse this year. Now that we are able to edit our website more easily, we have added a Specials tab which takes you to our calendar of events and specials during the year. We plan to hold at least one event each month and several themed events such as the Leather and Kinx weekend.

Fri will be spent at the Guesthouse where welcome drinks will start the weekend and a Friday braai. Saturday will be our Leather/Kinx/Army/Jocks party to which Durban locals will also be invited. So book early, either a double room or if single book a sharing spot and come have some fun. The R980 price is per person and includes 2 nights accommodation and the Friday braai. Bring your own goodies and gear!! Bookings to durbanview@gmail.com

Comrades in Durban 29 May

The annual Comrades Marathon from Durban to Pietermaritzburg is an uprun this year and we will be going down at the crack of dawn to watch the start. So if you're running, come stay with us and the other runners at the Guesthouse and we will get you to the start, or come see you off.

We also have an accommodation special "running" for entrants, so if you'd like to come stay and pay for 2 nights, we will give you a third night free. This will give you a chance to acclimatise in Durban and also wind down and relax after the big event. We can even arrange a massage for those weary muscles.

Bookings are now open for the weekend Fri 27 to Sun 29 May by email on durbanview@gmail.com   

We going up

So DSTV were giving us some trouble about not being registered as a guesthouse subscriber so they could charge us a hotel package instead of the residential TV package we were on, so we have switched to TopTV in some of the rooms. The service was refreshingly good and we got connected within a day, although for one of the rooms the technician has to come back next week.

Now each room has it's own decoder, the rooms all have new flatscreen TVs as part of our upgrade and the Studio will now have TV for the first time. We have taken the Variety package for the rooms, except for the Premier City Lights room and the Studio which has the DSTV hotel package including the movie chanels.

Valentines' fun in Durban

 Having some fun at the Guesthouse at our Valentines' weekend welcome pary are Roberto and Gerhard with guesthouse co-owner Llewellyn (middle),  in the second photo co-owner Dave (left) with Andre, Craig and David; in the third photo Berlin guests Chris and Jorg have just returned from diving in Sodwana  and in the bottom photo well known Durban personality Warren with his partner Gary get into the Valentines' spirit.

And for those who weren't able to share Valentines with a loved one, we have a singles weekend in Durban too, so get your booking enquiries coming.

Warren (of The Lounge fame) with Llewellyn and Gary

What's HOT this weekend and more

Hey guys, here's the line-up of hot events and special weekends at the Guesthouse:

March

Fri 18th - Mon 21st Mar - Human Rights’ Day long weekend. Come party in Durban. Minimum 2-night stay.

April

Fri 1st Apr - Pre-cruise Cocktails for Rainbow Cruise Guests and Durban friends

Wed 30 Mar - Sat 2 Apr - pre-Rainbow Cruise Special: Pay for 2, get 3rd night FREE

Fri 8th Apr - Sun 10 Apr - Ladies Weekend
with Saturday afternoon chilled 4pm - 10pm Rooftop Sundowners for guests and local ladies in conjunction with Bent Promotions!
 Sun 24th Apr - Pre-cruise Cocktails for Rainbow Cruise Guests and Durban friends

Fri 22nd - Mon 25th Apr - pre-Rainbow Cruise Special: Pay for 2, get 3rd night FREE

http://www.alternativetravel.co.za/

Thurs 21st - Thurs 28th Apr - Easter long-weekend and Freedom Day public holiday. Best Durban weather, party hard, lie in the sun. Minimum 2 night bookings open.

May

Fri 29th Apr - Tues 3rd May - May Day long-weekend - more time to party up a storm in Durban or just enjoy a fabulous rest. Durban is the best place to be in May. Minimum 2 night bookings open.

Fri 6th May - Wed 11th May - INDABA Conference Weekend. Double room rate applies for single or double occupancy

Tues 10th May - Cocktail party for Conference Delegates and Durban friends

Sun 29th May - 86th Comrades Marathon up-run. Join our Comrades guests for their pre-run Welcome.

June

Fri 17th June - Sun 19 - Singles weekend. Come alone, bring your mates or take a plunge sharing a room with a mystery stranger...

July

Fri 1st and Sat 2nd July - A RIGHT ROYAL AFFAIR is the theme of this years’s Vodacom July Handicap horseracing just down from the Guesthouse. So dress up like a Queen and join us at the Races... and don’t forget the naked guys 13th Race.. 200 hot dudes make a dash to the finish... everyone stays for this race!!!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-official-Vodacom-Durban-July/212919011349

Fri 15th - Sun 17 July - Leather and Kinx weekend with Sat braai and Leather and Kinx party for guests and locals. Come and do your stuff and have some wild fun.

Durban View Gay GuesthousevRoom rates are:

u25s Bunk room - R295pp

City rooms - R450pp sharing or R550 single (if available)

Premium room - R600pp sharing or R750 single (if available)

So there’s every reason to come visit, stay gay, party gay or simply relax with us in Durban soon.

Dave and Llewellyn

http://www.durbanview.co.za/

durbanview@gmail.com

Dave 083-7033329

Llewellyn 082-377 2322