Has anyone stayed at the Vineyard Hotel and Spa in Newlands outside of Capetown. Can one walk anywhere from there? Is it far out of town or expensive to get into Capetown for dinners and the waterfront area? We will not have a car . I do not wish to be captive at the hotel. Our breakfast would be included. The hotel looks nice and is fairly reasonable, but not sure if I instead. Thank you

Yellowpellican,

The Vineyard Hotel is about a 20 minute drive outside of the city centre. There is no question about the fact that you will need transport (hire car or taxi) to move around Cape Town if you stay at this establishment. Make no error the hotel is a good hotel to stay at however its location in Claremont is definitely not good if you do not have formal transport. Furthermore if you do not want to feel captive in the hotel I most definitely would not recommend the venue as this could well happen to you.

Just my twopence worth.

Enjoy our city when you visit us.

Very proudly part of the wonderful nation of South Africa

Thank you so much. I look forward to a visit in your country. Could you suggest a nice property in town that is not as expensive as the Grace, but well located.

I agree with Selwyn that you need a car when you stay at the Vineyard Hotel.

If you want to stay at the Waterfront, then have a look at the Commmodore Hotel http://www.legacyhotels.co.za/content.aspx?h=2 or the Portswood Hotel http://www.legacyhotels.co.za/content.aspx?h=3 for something 4 star and cheaper than the Cape Grace. Neither hotel is exciting or unique like the Vineyard, but the location is great for people with no transport.

If you budget is a little higher, then also look at the V&A Hotel which is looking great at the moment (no pool though)http://www.vahotel.co.za/

yellowpellican,

I ALWAYS recommend that visitors stay in guesthouses and not hotels. I do this because owners of South African guesthouses are generally marvelous hosts. The ones that I use as a tour guide definitely are as such. Bear in mind that guesthouses represent excellent accommodation that is much more
personalized at MUCH better rates than hotels. Guesthouses are marvelous venues to stay in and their rate also includes a fantastic breakfast. At most guesthouses you enjoy this meal in the wonderful, friendly breakfast
room. When you are in a guesthouse you have total freedom of movement.. It is a wonderful free and easy style of holidaying. What also is most important is that because of the size of the guesthouse you will NOT be in
amongst the hordes of tourists as you might only have a couple of other guests at the guesthouse while you are there. Thus you get great accommodation, personalised attention as well as wonderful value in a very safe place to stay when you reside in guesthouses and that is why I recommend them so highly.


In terms of good guesthouses close to the city whach have good rates may I suggest that you look at the following sites:



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.

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Cape Standard

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

Well located. Lovely guesthouse with super friendly host. Great value for money and certainly not expensive. Rooms are done up in a rustic manner with all conveniences available. Great breakfast area.


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An African Villa

http://capetowncity.co.za/villa/

Stylish well run venue that is not expensive and close to the city. Rooms are attractive and general decor of guesthouse is very nice. Free internet facilities
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De Waterkant Cottages - De Waterkant

http://www.dewaterkantcottages.com/

These are fantastic self catering cottages at excellent rates. Very quaint, fabulously furnished with huge, huge, huge amounts of space. The cottages are also extremely well maintained. The cottages are right in the middle of where it is all happening near the city centre (10 minute walk away) as well the Waterfront. (20 minute walk away). The cottages are also close to many great little coffee houses, a wonderful deli called Andiamo ( http://www.eatout.co.za/EatOut/Eat_R...8,1686,00.html ) as well as interesting restaurants like:

Africa Cafe, http://www.africacafe.co.za

Tank http://www.eatout.co.za/EatOut/Eat_R...8,1562,00.html

Pigale http://www.eatout.co.za/EatOut/Eat_R...8,1732,00.html

Ginja.
http://www.eatout.co.za/EatOut/Eat_R...8,1327,00.html

At the coffee houses you can have your morning breakfast seeing that these venues are self catering places of stay and do not include breakfast.


Hope this helps and that you enjoy your stay in our great city.

Very proudly part of the wonderful nation of South Africa