Shell out for the Oyster Box this July

01 July 2016 - 08:50 By SHELLEY SEID

Durban's iconic Oyster Box Hotel has taken the Vodacom Durban July theme of "leader of the pack" to a new high this week.The five-star establishment is charging R55,000 a night for one of its villas - five times more than the ordinary charge.For that the guests will receive a bottle of bubbly and a tray of its trademark Oyster Box canapés, as well as the usual buffet breakfast with wine and limitless oysters.Durban Tourism is expecting the Vodacom Durban July to trigger an economic boom that will top R450-million this year.Wayne Coetzer, general manager of the Oyster Box, said all eight villas had been booked within minutes of being available."We are chock-a-block," he said. "All the restaurants are also fully booked for the entire weekend."Guests are primarily from Johannesburg and there will be a number of overseas visitors, with owners and trainers making up a sizeable proportion of the clientele.The presidential suite, normally R50,000 a night, carries an R89,000 bill.For that eye-watering price the guest is treated to a Rolls-Royce transfer to the race with Moët champagne and caviar en route.For trendy racegoers the place to be is the white-hot Opulence Lounge, hosted by hip-hop artist Da LES, whose infamous, invite-only All White parties are more sought after than a winning Lotto ticket...

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