Which area to stay in Cape Town

For those who haven't been to Cape Town before, thought you might like a quick guide to the suburbs to think about staying in.

Firstly, we live in Tableview which is 5 mins from Blaauwberg beach. This beach is very popular for kite-surfing but not great for sunbathing and swimming - it's windy. However guesthouses on the beach have amazing views over the bay to Table Mountain. We are about 25mins drive north of the city centre.

If you plan on doing lots of touristy things in Cape Town then you may want to be closer to the city centre, V&A, the mountain, Robben Island etc. Popular places to stay with good beaches, guesthouses and restaurant include Camps Bay, Clifton, Hout Bay, Seapoint, Greenpoint, and V&A Waterfront.

Safari - Western Cape

The Western Cape is not famous for it's safari reserves, like Eastern Cape or parts of Garden Route, but some nearby to consider:

- Aquila Reserve
- Clara Anna Fontein
- Inverdoorn
- Kagga Kamma
- Sanbona

http://www.sa-venues.com/accommodation/wc_game_lodges.htm

Cape Town restaurants

Search for restaurants in Cape Town:

http://www.dining-out.co.za/
http://www.food24.com/
http://www.eatout.co.za/
http://www.restaurants.co.za/

Some examples of great restaurants:
Cape Colony at The Mount Nelson hotel
Afternoon Tea at The Mount Nelson Hotel (excellent value, all-you-can-eat!)
The Vineyard Hotel - The Square and Myoga
Beluga and Sevruga (sister restaurants)
Jardine
The Roundhouse
Aubergine
Baia (for seafood, at V&A)
Belthazar (for steak, at V&A)

Touring the Winelands

Winelands - all within 1 hour drive of Cape Town:

Franschhoek (our favourite places to wine taste and in many cases to eat):
- Vrede en Lust
- Grande Provence
- Glenwood
- Chamonix
- Haute Cabriere
- Stony Brook
- Mont Rochelle
- Moreson
- Rickety Bridge
- Graham Beck
- Le Petite Ferme
- My Wyn (by appointment, stunning views atop hill)
- Colmant (for bubbly)

Franschhoek Restaurants we recommend:
- The Tasting Room at Quartier Francais
- ici at Quartier Francais
- Le Petite Ferme (lunch only)
- Bread & Wine (at Moreson)
- Haute Cabriere Cellar Restaurant
- The French Connection Bistro
- The Country Kitchen at Mont Rochelle (good for lunch outside)
- Topsi's
- The Elephant & Barrel (good pub!)
- Bouillabaisse
- Le Bon Vivant

Stellenbosch (between Cape Town and Franschhoek and filled with loads of good wineries)
- Morgenhof (also good restaurant)
- Kanonkop
- Warwick
- Spier (also to see leopards, eagles and picnic by the lake)
- Ernie Els

Constantia
- Groot Constantia

Durbanville
- Durbanville Hills
- Meerendal

(last 2 areas are lovely places with lots more choice than above, but I am not as familiar with them)

Tourist stuff - in & around Cape Town

In Cape Town - typical tourist stuff:
- Cable car up Table Mountain (or hike up, advise going in a group and plan ahead, be safe)
- ferry to Robben Island
- 'Red Route' city tour on topless red bus
- Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens
- Cape Point (to see Cape of Good Hope, good hikes, baboons in the national park)
- Boulder for the penguins (near Cape Point and Simon's Town)
- Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek, Simon's Town - nice coastal towns to walk around, have lunch/coffee along False Bay on way down to Cape Point
- Drive along Chapman's Peak road (check if road open before setting off: http://www.chapmanspeakdrive.co.za/)
- V&A Waterfront (shopping, eating, pubs, boat trips into Table Bay, helicopter tours, Aquarium)
- Neighbour Goods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill, Woodstock (Saturday mornings only)

Other places in Cape Town surrounds for beaches, nice to see etc:
- Hout Bay
- Camps Bay
- Clifton
- Blaauwberg (beach closest to my house)

Great for kids:
- Monkey Land (near Somerset West)
- World of Birds (near Hout Bay)
- Butterfly World (near Stellenbosch)


Other destinations just a few hours away that are worth a visit and short stay:
- Hermanus
- West Coast National Park
- Cedarberg Mountains
- Ceres
- Riebeek Kasteel
- Langebaan
- Paternoster


Golf Courses (there are loads):
- Milnerton
- Atlantic Beach
- Stellenbosch
- Pearl Valley
- Parow
http://www.sa-venues.com/western_cape_golf_courses.htm

Car Rental:

Active Car Rental (local to where I live and cheaper than big names)

http://www.bestebeetle.co.za/ (to hire a cool old VW Beetle!)

Avis

Imperial

Hertz

Thrifty

etc

Other websites to check out accommodation etc:
www.sa-venues.com
www.wheretostay.co.za
www.safarinow.com
http://www.sabookonline.com/

http://www.capestay.co.za/

Wedding night B&B - hands up who wants a room??

The wedding venue is about 10km outside of Yzerfontein town, down a 4km dirt track, which is unlit and rough.

All this means that the ONLY place for you to stay after the wedding is at the Sandpiper B&B just 2 mins walk from the venue. They have space for 90 guests, and we are aiming to have around 90 at the wedding, so you need to get in fast while you can.

Rates: ZAR 250 per person per night, includes breakfast. Guests pay on arrival, they DO NOT take credit cards.

Just get in touch with Sam or I and we will arrange for you as we are in touch with the wedding organsier and making a block booking at the guesthouse.

Seriously, DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE !!

RSVP - by 31st August please

Grateful if you could all RSVP by end of August. There is limited room at the B&B next door to the wedding venue, so we want to make sure we have as many happy guests as possible!

RSVP to:

alewis.roundtheworld@gmail.com ; or

samanthaevans@hotmail.com ; or

Tel: +27 82 804 9028 ; or

63 Caernarvon Crescent,
Parklands, 7441
Cape Town, 8000
South Africa