Discussion
a311 said:
REALIST123 said:
Hi all.
Staying in and around Cape Town early August for a family wedding. Any suggestions for a 5 night stay for two couples and a toddler? Have been looking at an apartment in the Cape Royale, Green Point but not sure about it or the location.
Green Point is nice, kind of to the East of the city-stayed there myself. It depends on exactly where you are in Green Point you stay but your a short walk to the waterfront but if you're going with a kiddie I think the Waterfront area may be more suitable as it's self contained so you can stroll around shops, take in the sights, places to eat etc which are more family friendly than other locations I can think of.Staying in and around Cape Town early August for a family wedding. Any suggestions for a 5 night stay for two couples and a toddler? Have been looking at an apartment in the Cape Royale, Green Point but not sure about it or the location.
Camps Bay may be another option to consider as you get a beach experience while being within easy distance of Cape Town.
REALIST123 said:
Thanks for that, I will have a look at it. Beaches won't be up to much in August will they?
Nah they won't be, in terms of sunbathing weather. Actually the water is said to be warmer in the winter months than the summer. August in the SH is the eqivilient to Feb in the north but you have agood chance of getting days on a parr to a very nice spring/summers day in the UK more so a bit in land.In Cape Town, for me there's only one hotel I'll be heading back to - The Bay Hotel in Camps Bay. Not far from the airport (you can arrange collection in their Panamera if you fancy!), fantastic hotel, staff and location. Can pop to Table Mountain from there in a jiffy if it's clear (the hotel will take you in one of their cars). Good food/drink close by, within walking distance. Very nice.
Must go down to Cape of Good Hope. The national park is stunning. If you time it so that you're there at the end of the day it looks pretty damn nice...especially if you get a little bit of a mist dropping in as you leave. That also should give you enough time to get back via Chapman's Peak which is an epic road with great views and if you time it just right, you'll get a cracking sunset!
Oudtshoorn - stay at the Hlangana Lodge. We were meant to stay at a nice hotel in the town (but when 5 dirty smelly motorbikers arrived, they had mysteriously lost our reservation despite having been confirmed 48 hours prior to our arrival), however, this was a much better place to chill for a short while. Nice rooms, good value, good location, beautiful pool. However, whatever you do, do NOT eat at "Swiss Bistro"! Ask the hotel to make you reservations - they'll get you in places even if they're full.
If you get the chance and fancy hunting Ostrich, if you're lucky the PH will allow you to hang out the side of the vehicle with a pistol aiming for their heads. Good luck!!
Franschhoek - make sure you head into Franschhoek via the Franschhoek Pass - beautiful road to ride/drive with stunning views.
Mossel Bay - again, only one hotel for me - African Oceans Manor on the Beach. Bloody wonderful. John, the manager, will look after you well. The rooms are amazing, the common areas are lovely also. Breakfast was delicious. Biggest disappointment? Only one night there!
Plet Bay was rather nice. Some good places to grab some food. Didn't stay here however.
Tsitsikamma National Park. Once again, very beautiful. (supposedly) World's highest bungee jump here at Storm's River if that's your thing. However, don't stay in the Tsitsikamma Lodge - it was probably very nice at one point, but being the most expensive hotel (except The Bay Hotel) on one of our trips and not being able to get anything more than a vending machine can of coke after 9 or maybe 10pm, a buffet dinner with no a la carte option on site, the whole place needing a lick of paint and only 25Mb allowance of Wifi per room per day really grated for me!
As has already been said, Cape Agulhas is a fair distance off-route, however the ride/drive down/back is gorgeous and there are some nice spots for food down that way also.
If you drive through the vineyards/wine regions of Stellenbosch etc, make sure you have the windows down for the smell!
Swellendam seems like a popular place for people to call in at. Some nice roads in that area, but not much else.
Anyway, I hope that's some food for thought
Must go down to Cape of Good Hope. The national park is stunning. If you time it so that you're there at the end of the day it looks pretty damn nice...especially if you get a little bit of a mist dropping in as you leave. That also should give you enough time to get back via Chapman's Peak which is an epic road with great views and if you time it just right, you'll get a cracking sunset!
Oudtshoorn - stay at the Hlangana Lodge. We were meant to stay at a nice hotel in the town (but when 5 dirty smelly motorbikers arrived, they had mysteriously lost our reservation despite having been confirmed 48 hours prior to our arrival), however, this was a much better place to chill for a short while. Nice rooms, good value, good location, beautiful pool. However, whatever you do, do NOT eat at "Swiss Bistro"! Ask the hotel to make you reservations - they'll get you in places even if they're full.
If you get the chance and fancy hunting Ostrich, if you're lucky the PH will allow you to hang out the side of the vehicle with a pistol aiming for their heads. Good luck!!
Franschhoek - make sure you head into Franschhoek via the Franschhoek Pass - beautiful road to ride/drive with stunning views.
Mossel Bay - again, only one hotel for me - African Oceans Manor on the Beach. Bloody wonderful. John, the manager, will look after you well. The rooms are amazing, the common areas are lovely also. Breakfast was delicious. Biggest disappointment? Only one night there!
Plet Bay was rather nice. Some good places to grab some food. Didn't stay here however.
Tsitsikamma National Park. Once again, very beautiful. (supposedly) World's highest bungee jump here at Storm's River if that's your thing. However, don't stay in the Tsitsikamma Lodge - it was probably very nice at one point, but being the most expensive hotel (except The Bay Hotel) on one of our trips and not being able to get anything more than a vending machine can of coke after 9 or maybe 10pm, a buffet dinner with no a la carte option on site, the whole place needing a lick of paint and only 25Mb allowance of Wifi per room per day really grated for me!
As has already been said, Cape Agulhas is a fair distance off-route, however the ride/drive down/back is gorgeous and there are some nice spots for food down that way also.
If you drive through the vineyards/wine regions of Stellenbosch etc, make sure you have the windows down for the smell!
Swellendam seems like a popular place for people to call in at. Some nice roads in that area, but not much else.
Anyway, I hope that's some food for thought
Edited by The Moose on Monday 24th June 23:59
The Moose said:
In Cape Town, for me there's only one hotel I'll be heading back to - The Bay Hotel in Camps Bay. Not far from the airport (you can arrange collection in their Panamera if you fancy!), fantastic hotel, staff and location. Can pop to Table Mountain from there in a jiffy if it's clear (the hotel will take you in one of their cars). Good food/drink close by, within walking distance. Very nice.
Must go down to Cape of Good Hope. The national park is stunning. If you time it so that you're there at the end of the day it looks pretty damn nice...especially if you get a little bit of a mist dropping in as you leave. That also should give you enough time to get back via Chapman's Peak which is an epic road with great views and if you time it just right, you'll get a cracking sunset!
Oudtshoorn - stay at the Hlangana Lodge. We were meant to stay at a nice hotel in the town (but when 5 dirty smelly motorbikers arrived, they had mysteriously lost our reservation despite having been confirmed 48 hours prior to our arrival), however, this was a much better place to chill for a short while. Nice rooms, good value, good location, beautiful pool. However, whatever you do, do NOT eat at "Swiss Bistro"! Ask the hotel to make you reservations - they'll get you in places even if they're full.
If you get the chance and fancy hunting Ostrich, if you're lucky the PH will allow you to hang out the side of the vehicle with a pistol aiming for their heads. Good luck!!
Franschhoek - make sure you head into Franschhoek via the Franschhoek Pass - beautiful road to ride/drive with stunning views.
Mossel Bay - again, only one hotel for me - African Oceans Manor on the Beach. Bloody wonderful. John, the manager, will look after you well. The rooms are amazing, the common areas are lovely also. Breakfast was delicious. Biggest disappointment? Only one night there!
Plet Bay was rather nice. Some good places to grab some food. Didn't stay here however.
Tsitsikamma National Park. Once again, very beautiful. (supposedly) World's highest bungee jump here at Storm's River if that's your thing. However, don't stay in the Tsitsikamma Lodge - it was probably very nice at one point, but being the most expensive hotel (except The Bay Hotel) on one of our trips and not being able to get anything more than a vending machine can of coke after 9 or maybe 10pm, a buffet dinner with no a la carte option on site, the whole place needing a lick of paint and only 25Mb allowance of Wifi per room per day really grated for me!
As has already been said, Cape Agulhas is a fair distance off-route, however the ride/drive down/back is gorgeous and there are some nice spots for food down that way also.
If you drive through the vineyards/wine regions of Stellenbosch etc, make sure you have the windows down for the smell!
Swellendam seems like a popular place for people to call in at. Some nice roads in that area, but not much else.
Anyway, I hope that's some food for thought
Thanks Moose, some useful tips.Must go down to Cape of Good Hope. The national park is stunning. If you time it so that you're there at the end of the day it looks pretty damn nice...especially if you get a little bit of a mist dropping in as you leave. That also should give you enough time to get back via Chapman's Peak which is an epic road with great views and if you time it just right, you'll get a cracking sunset!
Oudtshoorn - stay at the Hlangana Lodge. We were meant to stay at a nice hotel in the town (but when 5 dirty smelly motorbikers arrived, they had mysteriously lost our reservation despite having been confirmed 48 hours prior to our arrival), however, this was a much better place to chill for a short while. Nice rooms, good value, good location, beautiful pool. However, whatever you do, do NOT eat at "Swiss Bistro"! Ask the hotel to make you reservations - they'll get you in places even if they're full.
If you get the chance and fancy hunting Ostrich, if you're lucky the PH will allow you to hang out the side of the vehicle with a pistol aiming for their heads. Good luck!!
Franschhoek - make sure you head into Franschhoek via the Franschhoek Pass - beautiful road to ride/drive with stunning views.
Mossel Bay - again, only one hotel for me - African Oceans Manor on the Beach. Bloody wonderful. John, the manager, will look after you well. The rooms are amazing, the common areas are lovely also. Breakfast was delicious. Biggest disappointment? Only one night there!
Plet Bay was rather nice. Some good places to grab some food. Didn't stay here however.
Tsitsikamma National Park. Once again, very beautiful. (supposedly) World's highest bungee jump here at Storm's River if that's your thing. However, don't stay in the Tsitsikamma Lodge - it was probably very nice at one point, but being the most expensive hotel (except The Bay Hotel) on one of our trips and not being able to get anything more than a vending machine can of coke after 9 or maybe 10pm, a buffet dinner with no a la carte option on site, the whole place needing a lick of paint and only 25Mb allowance of Wifi per room per day really grated for me!
As has already been said, Cape Agulhas is a fair distance off-route, however the ride/drive down/back is gorgeous and there are some nice spots for food down that way also.
If you drive through the vineyards/wine regions of Stellenbosch etc, make sure you have the windows down for the smell!
Swellendam seems like a popular place for people to call in at. Some nice roads in that area, but not much else.
Anyway, I hope that's some food for thought
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 24th June 23:59
I have many more...just can't remember them all at once!
It's a great country. I love Africa very much, especially South Africa and will be going back.
A lot of people say that Cape Town isn't 'real' Africa, and in some ways they're of course correct, but take a look at Cape Flats as you go from the airport to Camps Bay, or some of the townships between Cape Town and the cape and its not all glamor and luxury.
Oh, as already said, the V&A waterfront is rather nice. Aquarium there is pretty cool (if a tad small) and worth a visit.
I love the boys 'looking after the car/motorbike'. Tip them and everyone's happy. Not worth not IMHO.
It's a great country. I love Africa very much, especially South Africa and will be going back.
A lot of people say that Cape Town isn't 'real' Africa, and in some ways they're of course correct, but take a look at Cape Flats as you go from the airport to Camps Bay, or some of the townships between Cape Town and the cape and its not all glamor and luxury.
Oh, as already said, the V&A waterfront is rather nice. Aquarium there is pretty cool (if a tad small) and worth a visit.
I love the boys 'looking after the car/motorbike'. Tip them and everyone's happy. Not worth not IMHO.
The Moose said:
I have many more...just can't remember them all at once!
It's a great country. I love Africa very much, especially South Africa and will be going back.
A lot of people say that Cape Town isn't 'real' Africa, and in some ways they're of course correct, but take a look at Cape Flats as you go from the airport to Camps Bay, or some of the townships between Cape Town and the cape and its not all glamor and luxury.
Oh, as already said, the V&A waterfront is rather nice. Aquarium there is pretty cool (if a tad small) and worth a visit.
I love the boys 'looking after the car/motorbike'. Tip them and everyone's happy. Not worth not IMHO.
On the subject of tipping, what's the going rate? In hotels, for car 'guards'etc. It's a great country. I love Africa very much, especially South Africa and will be going back.
A lot of people say that Cape Town isn't 'real' Africa, and in some ways they're of course correct, but take a look at Cape Flats as you go from the airport to Camps Bay, or some of the townships between Cape Town and the cape and its not all glamor and luxury.
Oh, as already said, the V&A waterfront is rather nice. Aquarium there is pretty cool (if a tad small) and worth a visit.
I love the boys 'looking after the car/motorbike'. Tip them and everyone's happy. Not worth not IMHO.
The boys looking after the vehicles - a few rand. As a group, we'd pay maybe 10 for 5 motorbikes or 5 for 3 bikes. But pretty much just a couple of coins really.
Hotels - didn't tip at all, and none of the boys/girls expected them either. Well, that's not entirely true. One lad s
t the bed several times one night. Properly st the bed. That resulted in a 20 rand tip being left on top of the pile of stty sheets 
Hotels - didn't tip at all, and none of the boys/girls expected them either. Well, that's not entirely true. One lad s
t the bed several times one night. Properly st the bed. That resulted in a 20 rand tip being left on top of the pile of stty sheets 
Quick thread resurrection to say thanks for the advice on here. Got back yesterday after 2 weeks visiting Cape Town, Boulders Beach, Cape National Park, Franshhoek, Betty's Bay, Hermanus, Oudtshoorn, Wilderness National Park, and Addo elephant reserve. Loads of other places it would be great to visit but didn't have enough time. Fantastic trip, now need to sort through the 3000 or so photos we took between us 
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