Copyright South African Tourist Board
Cape Town: Travel Centre
Ratanga
Events 2009
A Holiday To Cape Town Is For Many A Once In A Life Time Experience. The City Is Simply A “One Off” Offering The Unique Combination Of African-European Lifestyle, Set In Spectacular Scenery With World Class Hospitality. As A Tourist Destination Cape Town Continues To Grow In International Popularity With An Estimated 3 Million Visitors Expected Per Year From 2010.
Planning Your Holiday To Cape Town
A Holiday To Cape Town Should Be Relaxing, Fun & For Some Perhaps A Little Bit Of An Adventure. The Key Points To Ensuring You Enjoy The Holiday You Have Been Dreaming Of Are Research & Planning.
No Matter If Its A Holiday To Cape Town Or Katmandu It Is Essential You Research Your Destination. Here Are Some Easy Ways To Build Up Your Knowledge Of Cape Town & The Western Cape.
- If You Are A Member Of A Social Network Like Facebook Or Twitter Join A Cape Town Travel Group & Review Fellow Travelers Questions & Answers.
- Youtube Have Lots Of Videos You Can Watch On Cape Town From Tourists Holiday Experiences To Adverts By Hotels, Safari Companies & Tour Guides.
- Visit Your Local Library You Might Be Lucky Enough To Find Some Great Guide Books By Lonely Planet Or Rough Guides.
- Pop Into Your Local Travel Agent & Pick Up A Brochure. This Is A Great Way To Compare Prices Of Package Holidays Vs Buying Flights & Accommodation Separately.
South Africa
It’s Possible...
Type Of Holiday & Budget
The Odds Are (Unless You Have Won The Lottery) You Are Going To Have To Use A Bit Of Commonsense. You Cant See Everything, Do Everything & Experience Everything Cape Town & The Western Cape Has To Offer During A 2/3 Week Holiday.
Start Building Up A Picture Of What You Want To Do During Your Holiday & Balance Off Your Ideas & Aspirations Against Your Budget And The Time Of Year You Intend Traveling.
- Remember That The Seasons Are Opposite In The Southern Hemisphere. I.E. Winter In Europe & North America Is Summer Season In Cape Town.
- Think Long And Hard About The Type Of Accommodation & Location Of Where You Wish To Stay. Like All Cities Cape Town Can Be Split Into Various Districts/Areas Each Having Its Pros & Cons For Tourists. (See Picture Opposite)
- If You Are Looking To Have The Freedom To Explore The Western Cape & Surrounding Areas Then Car Hire From A Reputable Company Is Essential. (Car Hire & Driving In South Africa Advice)
- For Those Looking To Explore More Of South Africa Or Perhaps Her Neighboring Countries Their Are A Number Of Options Available Including, Rail, Coaches, Overland Tours & Internal Flights. ( See Dedicated Page)
Build Your Own Vs Package Holiday?
Over The Past Few Years An Ever Increasing Number Of Travelers Have Drifted A Way From Traditional Package Holidays And Opted To Create Their Own DIY Vacations.
This Trend Away From Package Holidays Has Largely Been Created By The Increasingly Confident & “Savvy” Traveling Public Who Have Embraced Cheap Flight & Internet Hotel Booking Search Engines.
DIY Holiday
Pros: The Main Advantages Of Creating Your Own Cape Town Holiday Are Flexibility & Choice.
- You Enjoy Total Control Over The Length Of Your Holiday. Arrival/Departure Dates & Times Of Travel.
- Many Travelers Prefer To Take Cheaper Flight Options and Invest More Of Their Budget On Accommodation Or Excursions.
- A Greater Number Of Airlines Accommodation & Excursion Options To Choose From.
Cons: The Disadvantages Of A DIY Holiday Are Lots Of Forward Planning & Insurance.
- You Need To Plan Your Flights, Accommodation & Itinerary Very Carefully & Potentially Deal With Multiple Companies.
- Unlike A Package Holiday Were You Have An Overseas Rep To Deal With All The Elements Of Your Holiday, If You Go DIY Then You Are On Your Own. You Have To Shoulder The Burden, Time & Hassle Of Dealing With All Issues & Problems.
- Insurance, ATOL & ABTA: Of An Estimated 20 Million DIY Holidays Originating From The UK Only A Third Of Travelers Were Correctly Insured.
- Ultimately You Enjoy Greater Freedom To Create The Holiday Experience You Desire While Budgeting Your Finances Accordingly.
DIY Holidays Can Be Fantastic If You Have A Clear Understanding Of Cape Town, The Travel Market, & How You Wish To Enjoy Your Holiday.
Creating A DIY Holiday To Cape Town Is Not Always Necessarily Cheaper Than Buying A Traditional Package Holiday. Package Companies Can Offer Better Value If Booked Very Early & They May Also Be Open To A Bit Of Haggling Over Price.
Regardless Of Which Option Of Holiday You Choose It Is Essential That You Book With A Company Which Is ATOL Or ABTA Bonded & Take Out Relevant Insurance.
Hotels, Airlines & Travel Companies Can & Do Go Bust Or On Strike. If You Are Not Properly Covered You Could End Up With No Flight Home Or Roof Over Your Head.
For Further Information On DIY Holiday Risks, Booking With Bonded Travel Companies & The Importance Of Selecting Correct Travel Insurance Visit:
- This Is A Good Article To Read On DIY Holidays By thisismoney.co.uk
- Peak Season: Typically Early December To The End Of January.
- High Season: Traditionally From November To Mid April Although Some Companies Also Include Mid October.
- Low Season: Traditionally From Mid April To End Of October.
Cape Town Holiday Seasons
N.B. Aprox Guide : Flight, Accommodation & Car Hire Price Comparison Graph By Tourist Season
Cape Town Accommodation
Accommodation:
Cape Town Flight Seach:
Cape Town Flights
As A Year Round Holiday Destination Cape Town Offers A Wide Selection Of Accommodation Options To Suit Every Budget. Visitors To The City Can Choose From Opulent Five Star Hotels, Rental Apartments, B&B`S, Budget Hotels & Backpackers.
Popular Areas Within Cape Town Include The Beach Area Of Camps Bay, The Cosmopolitan & Sophisticated Waterfront & Sea Point.
The City Center Also Offers Excellent Accommodation In The Form Of Boutique Hotels, Rental Apartments & Backpackers. Those Looking To Stay A Little Further Out Will Enjoy The Wine Region Of Stellenbosch & The Garden Route Containing Hermanus.
Summary:
Camps Bay Accommodation
Located On The Atlantic Coast. Camps Bay Is A Palm Tree Lined Beach Area Set Against The Back Drop Of Lions Head & The Twelve Apostle Mountain Range
Cape Towns Prestigious Shore Line Development Combines The Hustle & Bustle Of A Working Harbor, Luxury Accommodation & Sophisticated Hospitality.
City Center Accommodation
Base Your Holiday In The Heart & Soul Of Cape Town. The City Center Offers Great Accommodation For Every Budget From 5 Star Hotels To Apartments, B&B`s & Hostels
Waterfront Accommodation
There Are A Number Of Options & Points To Consider When Thinking About Booking A Flight To Cape Town.
- Cape Town Flight Prices Fluctuate Enormously Between Seasons. Take Advantage Of Free Tools Offered By Web Sites Like KAYAK & YAPTA That Provide Details Of Flight Prices Over A Year. Theses Sites Are Free To Join & Will Also e-mail You When Prices Fall Or Drop Into Your Price Range
- Although Direct Flights Are The Preferred Option You Can Save Considerable Money If You Are Prepared To Fly Via Another European City, The Middle East Or Africa. You Should Bare In Mind However That Some Indirect Flights Can Add 6-8+ hrs Onto Your Traveling Time.
- Direct Flights To Johannesburg Are Traditional Cheaper Than Flights To Cape Town. Travelers Take This Option & Then Fly With A Budget Airline Down To Cape Town. Again This Can Add Considerable Time To Your Travel, Cheap International Flights Tend To Arrive Late At Night When Domestic Flights Have Ended.
- Long haul Direct Flights To Cape Town From Europe Are Among The Longest Flights Available To The General Public. Clocking Up Around 10,000 Km In Distance (one way) & Lasting 11 hrs 30 mins! With All Those Air Miles Being Traveled It Is Well Worth Joining Your Airlines Frequent Flyer Program, You Never Know What Offers & Upgrades Might Be Available At A Later Date.
