Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Ballito girls, let’s be honest. We love our beachfront walks, our coffee runs, and our cosy Sunday markets. But you need to shake things up now and then. Pack a small bag, grab your besties, and drive 30 minutes down the N2. Trust me, a weekend in Umhlanga is the reset you didn’t know you needed, so Cristina, Dhivashni and I decided to do exactly that. No big itinerary, no stress, just us, good food, and time to laugh until our cheeks hurt.

We checked into 13 The Shades in Umhlanga on Friday afternoon, and it felt like coming home, a super cute one. It’s clean, stylish, secure, and in that sweet spot where you’re close to everything in Umhlanga but still feel tucked away. The apartment has two bedrooms: one with an en suite and one separate bathroom with a big tub, which is great for relaxing and enjoying a bubble bath moment. The lounge is ideal for sprawling out, especially on those sofas, and it fills with beautiful sunlight in the mornings. We took a few minutes to explore and check out the communal pool and the braai areas. The free Wi-Fi is a bonus, and it’s self-catering with a fully equipped kitchen, so you have the freedom to cook and keep your own snacks, though we had zero intention of cooking that weekend.

After unpacking and taking the mandatory “first night” selfies, we got supper and turned the lounge into our own little den. Think blankets on the floor, snacks everywhere, and a movie marathon that turned into board games at midnight. Cluedo got competitive and Monopoly got personal. We treated ourselves to a generous amount of junk food after a long week and laughed until we couldn’t breathe. No alarms and responsibilities, just having fun with easy company.

On Saturday, we slept in with no guilt. That’s rule number one of a girls’ weekend. The dedicated housekeeping service came through with two ladies who did the tidying, so we barely had to lift a finger, leaving us more time to laze around, sip on coffee and enjoy the morning sunlight. After getting ready and snapping a few OOTD (outfit of the day) pictures, we took a short drive to Gateway Theatre of Shopping.

Yes, Ballito has malls too, but Gateway is an experience. We caught the latest movie at Nu Metro Gateway: Backrooms. Popcorn in hand, some jump scares and plot twists left us questioning reality. Nu Metro has changed the game when it comes to cinema viewings. With the exclusive SCREENX and Kidz cinema added to the XTREME, 4DX and VIP options, every screening offers something new for moviegoers. The dedicated bistro creates different dining opportunities if you’re looking for something more than the iconic popcorn and cold drink.

By the time we walked out, the sun was down, and we were ready for the main event: dinner. If you want a girls’ night that feels special, 1 on Palm is the place. The whole restaurant glows pink and neon. It’s moody, pretty, and makes everyone look like they belong on a magazine cover. We started with the Dream Platter sushi: eight pieces of tempura prawn and cream cheese California rolls, topped with spicy Sriracha crab stick ribbons and finished with their signature sweet and tangy teriyaki sauce. It’s the kind of dish you take a photo of before you ruin it, and then immediately dig in anyway.

For drinks, we went all out with their signature cocktails. I had the strawberry sgroppino, Cristina sipped on the cherry-smoked thyme, and Dhivashni tried the Morello cherry mojito. For mains, we shared the uShaka Beach Platter, keeping with a seafood theme with prawns, hake, mussels and calamari. And because we’re us, we saved room for dessert. The chocolate mousse with cream was rich, silky, and exactly what a Saturday night calls for. We rolled back to 13 The Shades full, happy, and completely talked out. We were so tired we didn’t even make it through a second movie. Straight to bed we went.

Sunday morning came too fast; we said goodbye to the accommodation, promising we’d be back. We hit the road and were home 30 minutes later, but the weekend felt like we had a week away. I love Ballito, but Umhlanga gives you something different; it feels like a proper getaway without going too far. The accommodation makes all the difference; having our own space at 13 The Shades meant we could do the late nights, the messy breakfasts, and the board game rematches without worrying about laughing too loudly or about safety. It felt like our own little base to come back to between adventures.

The best part? You don’t need a huge budget or a long weekend; Friday to Sunday is enough. Pack three outfits, grab your favourite people, and leave the planning loose. Eat good food, take photos, and laugh at silly things. Remember, a fun girls’ weekend away isn’t a luxury: it’s maintenance.

www.13theshades.co.za

www.numetro.co.za