jjsf05

Hi ~

My husband and I will be in Cape Town in a few weeks and then driving to Hermanus and the wine regions. We'd love recommendations on good, inexpensive places to stay (around 600 ZAR). Also, any "don't miss" tips would be great! Thanks!

Selwyn_Davidowitz

jjsfO5

How many days will you be staying in Cape Town?

Are you going to be staying in the Winelands and if so how many days?

Are you visiting Hermanus with the main purpose being whalewatching? How many days will you want to be staying in Hermanus?

If you answer the above I will respond to you with relevant ideas as to where to stay and what to do.

Looking forward to your response.

Very proudly part of the wonderful nation of South Africa

jjsf05

Hi Selwyn,

Thank you for the response! We are flexible, but we will be in the Cape Town area for a week, we were thinking 2-3 days in Cape Town, a day or two in the wine region, and a couple days in Hermanus (one day we will be shark cage diving out of Gansbaai).

I read and printed out your list of things to do in Cape Town, wonderful info. We plan on trying to do much of it. And yes, we would love to do some whale watching in Hermanus. Maybe even see some penguins!

Thanks again...

Selwyn_Davidowitz

jjsf05

In terms of where to stay in Cape Town within your budget may I suggest that you go take a look at the following establishments via their websites

Craigrownie Guesthouse
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http://www.craigrowniehse.co.za/

Wonderful venue. Well appointed. Friendly staff. Near the sea. A short taxi or bus ride away from all. Away from all the action yet close to it. A new facility at the guesthouse is a free broadband internet connection.


Avanti
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www.avanti.co.za

Tried and tested ranking amongst the best value for money in Cape Town.
HIGHLY recommended.


The Bay Atlantic
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http://www.thebayatlantic.com/Default.htm

Smallish rooms but wonderfully located in a safe area in Camps Bay. Magnificent sea views and fabulous swimming pool. Hosts are also very friendly


Redbourne Hilldrop
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http://www.redbourne.co.za/

Great venue. Very well appointed. Friendly staff and hosts. In upper part of Cape Town meaning that you will need a car to get around or otherwise you could quite comfortably use taxis. In actual fact the venue is a short taxi or bus ride away from all. Away from all the action yet close to it. Excellent prices and great value for money.

Davids
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http://www.davids.co.za/

Wonderful venue with fantastic hosts. Close to city as well as the Green Point strip where there are many restaurants. Well appointed and has to be amongst the best value in Cape Town. Highly recommended.


Cape Standard
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http://www.capestandard.co.za/home.htm

Wonderful rustic guesthouse that is reasonably well located in Green Point. Try and book one of the upstairs rooms. Very clean comfortable and well run. Very helpful host/manager

Romney Park.
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http://www.romneypark.co.za/index_02.htm

Excellent venue at excellent prices. Well located. This is a mini boutique hotel which is exquisitely laid out. My only problem with the venue is that they dont have a non smoking room policy and on one occasion have had vsistors who had to fend with a smoke smelling room. I want to add that this is NOT the norm for this venue as on all other occasions of usage the rooms have smelt wonderful. Once again you would need a car or the facility of taxis at this venue so as to get around


Village and Life - De Waterkant
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http://www.villageandlife.co.za/

Fantastic self catering cottages, flatlets or hiouses. Very quaint and well maintained. Right in the middle of where it is all happening if you stay at De waterkant or Waterfront areas. Close to many great little coffee houses and restaurAnts where you can have your morning breakfast seeing that these venues are self catering places of stay.

The Camps Bay houses are great value and close to the seaside.

If you are prepared to self cater Village and Life definitely is the way to go.

Winelands Accommodation
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In my opinion there is nothing to touch Cathbert for a wonderfully scenic break as well as having the facility of being well located in an excellently priced place to stay and tour in the winelands. Cathbert is a marvellous venue and as far as I am concerned it was the find of 2001 for me (yup thats how long I have been frequenting the venue) It is so peaceful and tranquil as the venue is set high up in the Franschhoek mountains. You wont hear a car. All you hear is nature around you and the scenery is to die for. The rooms are well appointed and spacious. The location is absolutely first class in terms of wanting to explore the Winelands. Your hosts will be Robert and Ann Morley and they are marvellous people. In my opinion, as a tourism professional, I think it represents an absolute delight to want to stay at.

Please go to http://www.cathbert.co.za where you will see more of the venue. I have also taken some pics at the guesthouse and I set up a special separate website which you can use so as to help you in seeing what a gem Cathbert truly is. Go to http://www.cathbert.cjb.net to see the site that I set up. Please bear in mind that the pictures on this site were taken in Winter which is when you will be visiting us.

Another tip is that if you opt to stay in a luxury suite, seeing that you will be travelling in the Winter, ask to book the suite with the fireplace in it (I think it is suite 4)

In terms of rates Christine at Cathbert has just told me that the rate for a luxury room in the Winter season is R580/person-30% = R406per person. That comes pretty close to your budget figure and if you ask me is wonderful value for money. If it is affordable the executive suite would be my first choice however you will have to ask Cathbert for this price as I did not receive it from them via our telecon this evening.

I hate to say this but I cannot make any other suggestions to you for a Winelands stay as there is none that will beat Cathbert in my opinion and if one considers how many happy visitors I have had leave Cathbert the staff and management of the establishment simply must be doing something right.


Hermanus
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I always stay at The Windsor Hotel.
http://www.windsor-hotel.com/

I am NOT a proponent of wanting to stay in hotels in that I believe that guesthouses generally offer better value for money as well as a warmer and friendlier stay. With that said when it comes to Hermanus and the whales a sea facing room at the Windsor beats the rest hands down purely because of the fact that you generally can see lots of whales frolicking in the waters outside of your small balcony in season. Make no error the accommodation is very average and you remain a "number" to the hotel staff but when it comes to whalewatching I believe it wins hands down when it comes to this facility as well as value for money.

Schulphoek
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http://www.schulphoek.co.za/index.html

This is a great place to stay even though it is out of town and you wont be on the doorstep, so to speak, of the whales as you will be if you stayed at the Windsor Hotel. The establishment is also a little bit more pricey than your budget allows but I would say that it is worth it especially considering that a first night dinner meal is included in your tariff.

If you dont want to stay in a hotel like the Windsor then Schulphoek is a wonderful guesthouse alternative.

In terms of seeing penguins bear in mind that you can visit Stoney Point outside of Betty's Bay on your way to Hermanus where there is a wonderful natural penguin sanctuary.

Hope all of the above helps and that you enjoy your stay in the wonderful Cape Town and Overberg regions

Very proudly part of the wonderful nation of South Africa

jjsf05

I can't thank you enough for all the info. We will make the most of all your wonderful suggestions. Take care!