Durban in Lonely Planet top 10

Durban has been listed as one of the top 10 family beach holiday cities in the world by travel publishing heavyweight Lonely Planet.

The South African east coast city shares the prestigious list with the likes of Kauai in Hawaii, Cottlesloe in Australia, Karon Beach in Thailand, Portugal's Tavira, Mexico's Sayulita and Bali's Sanur in the latest edition of Lonely Planet's "Travel with Children".

The new book, which hit US bookstores last week, is the fifth in the popular series first published in 1985.

"Durban resembles a gigantic resort holiday paradise, raised for the sole purpose of entertaining families," the Lonely Planet publication says of the city in its section on South Africa. "Lined with safe beaches watched over by lifeguards, the Golden Mile is great for swimming, snorkelling and water sports."