Advice for holidays in Cape Town please

[Nosha123]

Hello all. Would really appreicate anyones recommendations for hotels/apartments, what not to do, excursions etc.

We have been invited to a Wedding next April in Cape Town (dont know exactly where yet!). And I had planned to treat the Husband to a holiday for his 40th which is next year - so have got a bit of money put aside already.

Not looking for 5star.. but would like a nice hotel with pool and in a safe area.
Also - but worried that Cape Town is a bit rough.. any tips to avoid dangers???

[jno]

you could stay at one of the ones on the V&A waterfront - not cheap but a nice area with lots of shops and restaurants. Other people may be able to give you other suggestions.

http://www.capetowntravel.com/hotels_directory .asp?LocID=3&prevpage=V%20and%20A%20Waterfront

Ask your hotel when you get there about which areas are currently safe or unsafe. Go up Table Mountain, take a boat to Robben island, Go to Cape of Good Hope south of the city (I saw whales only 100 yards from the shore at Simonstown on the way to the cape) or the winelands to the northeast, eg Stellenbosch. I think there are even game reserves up the coast where you can go on safari if you want; you won't need malaria tablets.

[thugulike]

We always stay in Hout Bay, a very short drive away from Cape Town. Safe, clean and not too expensive. Choose a B&B which are wonderful, many with pools. Portfolio have an excellent selection but don't book through them as they're expensive. When you find one you like just e-mail them and book direct.. I've not had any problems in Cape Town and I've felt more nervous in Carlisle on a Friday night.

[flump2]

when 6 black men try get you into a car to take you to a luxury place just go with the flow.....

[Nkakamasembe]

flump2.crossing your front street is the only overseas you know.bless you.

[coccinelle]

Look on the tripadvisor site, you'll get some good info on there.

[buildersmate]

I thought the first 2 answers are spot-on. We used the Portfolio Collection extensively during our first trip to CT last year. This is the Portfolio website.
http://portfoliocollection.com/static/misc/ord er.aspx
Though it says you have to pay for the booklets, I think this is just to prevent timewasters - we didn't pay for them.
Armed with the books we then emailed a whole series of bookings to these B&Bs. You need to appeciate that B&B in SA is not the same as in the UK. These places are not people offering an odd spare room for a few quid at the weekends - these are proper businesses run by homeowners, many in substatial grounds. On average B&Bs seem to have 5-6 rooms to let - they are like mini-hotels without the evening meal option. Prices by UK standards due to cheap labour and weak Rand are incredibly good value - we were paying around 800 Rand per doubleroom - about �65. Some of these places were palacial, with pools and all sorts.

[buildersmate]

Dangers. Again, an over-exaggerated issue. I had a dummy wallet on me and bought a cheapo �5 watch for the trip. Clearly there are things you do not do - looking like a lost tourist with big camera for example. And places you don't go into. We went into townships on organised trips - but would not have dreamed of wondering about unaccompanied in such areas.
It does happen in CT run into trouble, usually because they haven't followed the advice freely offered. Armed hold-ups of hire cars generally happens in Jo'burg, not CT.

[Nosha123]

Thanks everyone! Some great tips here!!!

Nosha

[kloofnek]

Try the Protea Hotel in Seapoint ,five min drive outside the city or if you prefer in Cape Town itself,...the Park Inn ,Greenmarket Square...smack bang in the centre..
If you want to really splash out...The Twelve Apostles...about 15 min drive.Or you could go to the famous Mount Nelson.
Down on the waterfront...Cape Grace another lovely hotel.

Regards safety,no different than any other country you may go to.