Cape Town Travel Forum

Hi i'm hoping to spend a few days in Cape Town but have to go to the Winelands for a concert, was wondering if its best to get another hotels in the Winelands for that depending on how far away from Cape Town this may be? Also where are the best night clubs?
Thanks!

I got some great information on the responses to previous questions. Thanks.

I have a conference in in Bakubung in mid February and a collegue and I intend to stop in CT for three nights before returning. We are trying to fit the most into this time and would like to get a game of golf in. We have nt booked accommodation yet but are considering te Town House Hotel or the Cape Town Lodge.
Any feedback on golf courses and a review of either of these Hotels would be appreciated.

Also, I'm a huge Rugby fan. Are there any venues close by either of these Hotels?

Cheers!

Hello:

Which tour outfits in Cape Town do you recommend for this adventure?

Would you recommend this for someone who is a beginner?

I will be coming to Cape Town at the end of February for the first time and am curious on a few things....

What type of clothing to pack?
What the best beaches are?
What types of items South Africa and Cape Town are "known" for that I can bring back to the States?

Thanks in advance!!

:-)

I am thinking of going to Cape Town during January,
I am planning this break following the breakdown of a 26 year marriage so want lots of advice including is this a good location if on your own.
I would want to plan everything without the help of a travel agent so advise on flights accommodation etc would be great.
I would like to fly on to Mauritius for a few days can I do that directly from Cape Town is it easy to do and is it expensive?
I assume the climate is hot and sunny in January,is it expensive? my only other experiance outside europe was India where I have spent a great deal of time recently.

I know that this sounds bad, but I am an American football fan and will be in Cape Town during the conference playoffs of the NFL. The team I support looks like it will be in it, and I would like to watch the game. Does anyone know of a sports bar in the Western Cape (preferably Cape Town CBD) area that shows American football and would likely show the game?

Hi There,

I will be travelling to Cape Town in January, can you tell me if i need a visa being a tourist, im coming from the UK. What are the immigration procedures once i arrive in Cape Town.?

Thanks in advance.

We are newly weds are have decided to have our vacation in cape town. Never been there before, don't have the slightest clue about were to start from (shopping, sightseeing..all that fun stuff). We'll be staying in Roeland street. Is this area safe?
Please help us enjoy our 14 day vacation.

I have gone thru the mails regarding safety in Cape Town. I just need a confirmation. I presume it is quite safe to walk around the V & A Waterfront, Camp's Bay and Long Street areas both at Day and Night. Are there any more areas where we can safely stroll around on our own (without being accompanied by a local) both day and night.

Has anyone been to any tours that focused on the music of south africa? If so which ones do you recommend?

Hello:

I need help bad! I have booked my airfare, but not accomodations because I can't seem to make up my mind on where is the best place to stay. At first I was thinking to stay near the Waterfront, but then I discovered Century City. Which would be the best place to stay for a female visitor to Cape Town?

Also I have decided to go with self catering apartments or guest house as opposed to hotels since they are cheaper. Here is what I have it narrowed down too:

1. Century City would be either
Knightsbridge 2 bd 6 nights at $470 total
Island Club 1 bd 6 nights at $347 total
Both are directly across from Canal Walk

2. Places near Waterfront
Granger Bay 2 bd 6 nights at $767
Dale Court Guesthouse 2 bd 6 nights at $521
Doric studio 6 nights at $651
214 Son Vida 1 bd 6 nights at $564

we are spending 3 full days in cape town and 4 nights. What to do? Here is what we have at this point:
-Tuesday afternoon we are touring Robben island and a helicopter ride.
-Wednesday: morning half-day wine tour
Would love suggestions on restaurants and shopping, and then what to do on Thursday. Thinking of renting a car on Thursday, but not sure where to go. Do we have time to to table top Tuesday morning or wednesday afternoon?

We are a young thirties couple who loves chic spots with great food and wine. Also maybe recommend some cool bars. I have seen suggestions for a place to watch the sunset at a bar and would love to do that, but can't recall what it is.

Also, we are staying at the 12 apostles.

Thank-you!!
Heather

Hi

My boyfriend and I are going from Dublin to Cape Town in a couple of weeks. We've been talking about getting engaged and I've choosen the type of ring I'd like however I'm reluctant to go ahead and buy one here in Ireland as I've heard that diamonds are more reasonably priced in Cape Town.

Has anyone bought diamonds in Cape Town and if so how do they compare to prices in Ireland and the UK? Is the quality of South African diamonds better since they're mined there?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Hi there,

My fiancee and I are planning to get married this June during a trip to Cape Town, then taking an overland trip via Namibia and Botswana to Victoria Falls.

It'll just be the two of us, and we'd like a simple, secular ceremony. No bells and whistles, no professional photographer, just someone who'd be willing to perform a legal ceremony!

When I do a Google search for "Cape Town weddings", I get a whole bunch of sites that offer expensive, elaborate weddings for people who intend on inviting hundreds of guests.

How can we go about having a valid civil wedding ceremony without shelling out large sums of money, like the people we've found online would require?

Thanks!

I am spending the weekend in Cape Town on November 9-11. I have all day on the 10th to see the sites. What do you suggest. I will have a driver for the day.

Thanks

We have a daughter that lives in Cape Town. We want to get her a baby stroller from a Cape Town department store. We want to pay for it from the U.S. with a credit card. Are there any department stores that we can call to place such an order? If so, how do we contact them?

Roger

I am very new to traveling abroad. I need TRAIN help. I am a female, American citizen, and I am in Malaga, Spain, as a "older" student. I am here to practice my Spanish in order to try to become "fluent."
I want to be in South Africa over the Christmas and New Year's holiday so that I am not so lonely. I am tired of the cold, especially, when in the U.S. this time of the year. This kind of travel, I know, probably will take me through the end of January. I want to travel as "cheaply" as possible. I have looked into hostels and they are very reasonable, but I need to get places booked now. I am worn out on the Internet with the trains.
I have been trying to get train information, but the only information that I run into is traveling around Morocco. Morocco is right here for me.
I can go to Tanger via Gibraltar that is a few dollars cheaper than Algeciras.
I would like to go first go to Cape Town and work my way up through Johannesburg, Mosambique, Zimbabwe, Tanzania. Cross over to the Dem. Rep. Congo, Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia if at all possible. These are places that Americans only hear about. If a train can stop in each big town (capital, etc., well-known city) and it is not expensive, then, I would like to do each country, but time is of the essence now as the end of October is rapidly approaching.
I can travel as cheaply as possible on the trains. I know that travel can be for days at a time. As I remember travel is 1st, 2nd and 3rd. 3rd should do, but depending on the price, I may be able to handle 2nd.
Any help that you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Feel free to e-mail me directly at dewa5555@msn.com.
Thank you.

Denise

hey, I´m a 18 years Dane and I´m going to visit Capetown October, 26 to November the 2nd.
I love going out and wanted to know if there is anyone who shares my interests / would like to show me the nightlife in Capetown.

Can anyone tell me where I will be able to purchase SIM cards for my english mobile for me to phone home in the UK. Will I get one from Cape Town Airport or from the centre of Cape Town.

Many thanks

Hi , me and hubby are planning a trip to South africa in Nov. Any advise/ tips on following would be highly appreciated:

1. Alternative besides air to travel form Jo'burg to CaptTown
2. Local Transport in Cape Town - buses/ metros/ cabs (cost/ safety/ crowded??)
3. What kind of acco would i get it $50 USD per night? Central location possible?
4. How far is Garden route - do I get there by coach. 1 night or 2 nights?
5. Any other place aound cape town to visit?

Thanks to all the sage advice on this forum I've pretty much managed to plan my upcoming trip (17 - 24 October) to Cape Town.

I'll be staying in Bloubergstrand for the full duration, have hired a car to get to where ever I need to go and have included all the 'regulars' in my 'things to do list'.

The one bit of info still missing, which despite research on several forums I've not been able to obtain, is must see / do places up North along the so called Route 27. Up as far as Langebaan probably.

Any advice regarding places to see, places to eat, abundance of the wild flowers that time of year etc. will be much appreciated.

Regards to all

I'm a 30-year-old woman and am planning to be in Cape Town from Oct. 16-20 and wanted to see if anyone would be up for a grabbing a drink or coffee at some point. I'll probably be doing the hostel thing, and would love to meet up with someone who lives there to get a different view of the city. And if you're ever in New York, I'll gladly return the favor.

Message me if you're interested!

We are a family of 4, Mom, Dad and twins (6 yrs old). We have spent the last two weeks searching and reading on internet as we plan our March´08 vacation in SA.

We found this useful forum and would like to receive advice on the following itinerary. Please feel free to comment on any day/section.

We tried to balance fun for the kids and getting to see as much as we can.

Many thanks,
Kesh

Day 1
========
Arrival day. We arrive late (around 8pm).
We are looking for a Bed & Breakfast south of Table Mountain, between the roundabout to Constantia and Hout Bay.
We would need a taxi to wait at the airport and take us to the B&B.

Day 2
========
Morning at the B&B for the kids to explore, use swimming pool, etc.
Afternoon:
- V&A Waterfront.
- Take a bay trip (Waterfront Adventures?)

Day 3
========
Morning:
Early in the morning get a taxi and go to the city to rent the car
Then:
- Hout Bay
- Drumbeat Charters (Duiker Island + shipwreck)
- World of Birds
- Lunch in Hout Bay
- Chapman Peak
- Cape Town in the evening

Day 4
========
Full day out:
- Simons town, the penguins, and Cape Point.
- Lunch will be either in the Cape Point park or in Simons Town or any other place nearby.
- Cape Town in the evening

Day 5
========
Full day out:
- Leave CT to visit Hermanus. Visit the town, shops for some whale souvenirs, go to the places where people watch for the whales (there will be no whales though) and take some pictures there. Visit the lagoon and the beach. The long sandy beach and lagoon is probably the best place to walk a bit and take some pictures. If the weather is nice and the water is ok, we can try going to the other beach that is good for kids.

- Lunch in Hermanus. There is a restaurant called Milkwood Restaurant that looks to the beach and has sea food (recommended on internet).

- Then, drive to Cape Agulhas? Is this a good idea or is it too much driving for a day? Will we be driving back to Cape Town too late ?


Day 6
========
- Botanic Garden
- Fishhoek Beach
- Table Mountain

Day 7
========
– Franchoek
– Stellenbosch
- Cape Town in the evening

Day 8
========
- Camps Bay Beach
- Two Oceans Aquarium
- Other places in Cape Town city?


Day 9-10-11
===========
- We leave CT and drive the Garden Route.
- We plan to drive straight to a game lodge (Garden Route Game Lodge). If safe, we can stop for some panoramic photos or to visit a town in the route. The problem is: we have all our stuff in the trunk.
- We then spend Day 10 and Day 11 there.

Day 12
===========
- We leave the game lodge and drive back to Cape Town to return the car and take a taxi to a Hotel.
- We stay in a Hotel for that night.
- Cape Town: visit a mall and go out for dinner in the evening? (any suggestions where to go?)

Day 13
===========
- Flight back

am travelling with my family to south africa in october(12-30). can somebody help me with ollowing-a)what would be the weather and what kind of clothing would be required. b)is their any public/ school holiday during these days. c)can my 3 year old sit in my lap while travelling in a car....in india we do that..traffic rule says seat belt required D)which are the must c places in cape town, knysna.e) any relaiable and reasonable car rental company.
thanks folks...pl. reply early

Hello all,
We are 3 women staying in cape town next March, originally we wanted to stay in an apartment at the waterfront but cannot seem to book a 3 bedroomed one as all booked, we are now looking to rent a villa for 4 nights and were considering the camps bay area as looks lovely, we just wanted to know how far would it be to travel to waterfront as we wanted to be around the action so to speak..is there much to do in the camps area ? we wanted to be in a safe area where it wouldn't be a problem to wander around after dark and also would we be safe renting a villaq on our own or should we be in a secure complex...sorry if i sound like i haven't researched this..i have but head now hurts with research overload and still confused :)

Many thanks in advance

we're visiting cape town in november and hope to be taking the train from rondebosch to the city center. is it safe? we would only be riding during the day.

Hi, I'm a female visiting Cape Town this November. I'll be in the area for a month on an internship and am looking for fun people to show me round. Preferably female.. and either locals or people who are new to the region like myself and would like to explore together :D
If that's you please send me a PM and I will give you my email address.
Looking forward to visiting!

We are staying at Lady Hamilton hotel (gardens district?) next year, does anyone know if this is a safe area? Any other tips for staying safe apart from the obvious? Is it best not to carry a camera bag? Are there any areas in the day that should be avoided? Are taxis sfae to take?

Are taxis readily available at the airport or do I need to call a taxi company and book beforehand?
Also is there is specific taxi company that you would recommend?

Hi all,

I will be travelling to Cape Town on this coming Sunday. I need to have some advice regarding the suitable clothing to bring, i understand that the weather is between 12 to 18 degree celcius. Please kindly advise.

Thank alot !