Cape Town
Recognised as one of the most iconic cities on the planet, Cape Town is a world class tourism destination. Table Mountain, the Cape of Good Hope, the Winelands and a plethora of activities on offer, make this city and its surroundings one of Africa’s most appealing destinations. The majority of travellers stay in the area for a maximum of a week, enjoying the stunning natural beauty of the region as well as the excellent nightlife and shopping in Cape Town itself; this is a city for every kind of traveller.
Our itineraries typically involve a few nights in the center of Cape Town mixed up with a couple of nights in the Winelands of Stellenbosch or at one of the beach hotels South of Cape Town such as Camps Bay or Hout Bay. We use a range of hotels across the city, ranging from the luxurious hotels on the waterfront to the smaller boutique guesthouses in the quieter residential areas and the various beach hotels. Generally the accommodation choice is vast and good value and standards are set very high, though it is important to choose the right area to stay in depending on your interests.
Very little time tends to be spent in your hotel. There are museums, walks, restaurants bars, abseiling, wine tasting, Robben Island, paragliding and even great white shark cage diving… Ask our consultants for their advice on where to stay and what to do, but also be assured that the hotels we use have all been chosen to their personal knowledge of their local areas; it is always a great idea to ask for local input.
A Guide to Cape Town and surrounding areas:
Cape Town For those that want to be in the heart of the city itself, the choice is between a hotel on the Waterfront such as The Cape Grace, One and Only, Table Bay or in the “down town” area around Long Street. The Waterfront is very touristy though packed with good restaurants and shopping. Less busy are the hotels near Long Street such as the Mount Nelson and Gape Cadogan. Options outside the main hustle and bustle include the super private Ellerman House overlooking Bantry Bay, or one of the hotels in beautiful suburb of Constantia such as the Last Word. Constantia is a great choice for those wanting access North to Cape Town proper (about 20 mins) or to the beaches around Fish Hoek to the south (about 30 mins) and wanting a quiet location Wine Lands About an hour to the East of Cape Town brings you to the Wine lands of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. As well as amazing wine, the scenery is rugged and impressive and this is a wonderful area to walk and relax, way away the center of town. The recently opened Babylonstoren is our favourite hotels in the Wine lands Western Cape beach hotels Even though this is Africa, the ocean is the Atlantic, and is very COLD even in the height of summer; so be warned that most people you see in the water will be surfers in wetsuits. Camps Bay is the first beach town south of Cape Town and is reminiscent of the South of France, busy, trendy, and expensive; one of those places that a certain type of people like to hang out. The Bay hotel is the famous hotel here right in the heart of Camps Bay, or the 12 apostles is a good choice if you want to be in a quieter location south of the main drag. Next up is Hout Bay which is much quieter than Camps Bay, but if you want to get away from it all then we would recommend carrying on down over Chapman’s peak to stay at the Last Word on Long Beach in Kommetjie. Kommetjie is also a good base from which to head further South to Cape point or 15 minutes drive to the beaches around Fish Hoek Eastern Cape beach hotels The Ocean on the East, in the False bay area, is much warmer (though still cold) than on the West. There are some wonderful beaches Between Simons Town and Muizenberg and the penguin colony at boulders just to the South of Simons Town is worth a visit. There is nowhere noteworthy to stay on this side and most clients visit this area by heading South from Constantia, or East from Kommetjie
Recommended lodges in this area:
Cape Town
Ellerman House is one of Cape Town’s most famous hotels. Very different to the likes of the Grace and Mount Nelson, Ellerman House is a small boutique property which invites guests who are looking for a quieter and ultimately more personalised Cape Town stay. With a range of different rooms running at varying prices, you have to be a little careful what you book here, but the service levels are exceptionally high throughout. An absolutely cracking property.
Cape Town
The Cape Grace takes pride of place in Cape Town; this hotel has the location of all locations! 5 star luxury, beautiful views over the harbour and Tabel Mountain make the Grace one of the finest hotels in South Africa and arguably the very best hotel in Cape Town. A location to beat all others and an incredibly efficiently run hotel…..seriously good!
Cape Town
Located outside of the Camps Bay area out of the city centre, the 12 Apostels is a large hotel with a different location to the majority of hotels we use in the city. The hotel is certainly a 5 star property and offers a great alternative to the majority of more commercial waterfront hotels on the V&A waterfront. However the location off the main road and the fact that the hotel is neither in Camps bay or in the city centre make this hotel a somewhat bizarre choice. Overall a good option, but not one of the very best.
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