subject: How to choose Cape Town Accommodation [print this page] How to choose Cape Town Accommodation How to choose Cape Town Accommodation
The draw card of any Cape Town accommodation is that all of it offers a view that will always be unique and beautiful, whether you are in the city centre, the Southern Suburbs, the Southern Peninsula or the Atlantic Seaboard. The element that separate theses different areas in terms of choosing Cape Town accommodation is undoubtedly price. The Atlantic Seaboard and the city centre are the most expensive, and the price generally decreases as you move further away from the CBD, these prices though are by no means a reflection on the quality of the accommodation or the access they offer to Cape Town's attractions. The price that tourists pay for theirholiday accommodation in Cape Town is more an indication of local property values and is endemic of property owners trying to make back money on their investment.
Logical advice would steer you towards choosing your Cape Town accommodation based on which parts of Cape Town you wish to see and what exactly you want to gain from your holiday. In truth though Cape Town is a small place and the public transport, although it's not entirely first world, does a fairly good job of covering most of the peninsula. There is also an extensive taxi network which is reasonably priced. Hiring a car is however a sensible option and would make your holiday time more efficient and would add to the enjoyment of your time in Cape Town. Accommodation then does not need to be chosen based on location, due to the topography of the peninsula you are guaranteed a unique Cape Town view and with the help of either a hire car or public transport you can experience everything that the Mother City has to offer.
The city centre is a convenient option for those travelling for business. Cape Town is by no means the largest CBD in the world and can easily be traversed on foot. By choosing Cape Town accommodation in one of the City Bowl suburbs or indeed in the city centre itself one puts oneself at a huge advantage for accessing the business facilities. The new CTICC on the city foreshore is the location of choice for most conferences that happen in the city and is within walking distance of such accommodation as the Icon building on Long Street.
If money is no object and the jet set, playboy lifestyle is one which appeals to you and you want your Cape Town accommodation to reflect this then the Atlantic Seaboard is where you should be looking. Here you will find five start hotels, trendy bars and streets paved with the shattered dreams of a thousand Swedish models.
If value for money is what you're after you can't go far wrong looking around the Southern Peninsula, areas like Kallk Bay, Fish Hoek, Simonstown and Muizenberg offer on the beach accommodation at reasonable prices. The train line runs through all these areas right into the centre of the city and is very reasonably priced. You will also be much closer to the Cape Peninsula National Park, where you can stand at the unofficial tip of Africa. What many tourists don't realise is that the geographical tip of Africa lies at Cape Agalhus, the town however is a two hour drive from Cape Town and there is very little to do there so unless you are ludicrously pedantic, your time would be better spent visiting the beautiful Cape Point Nature reserve and telling your friends you stood at the tip of Africa where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.
The Southern Suburbs is traditionally a middle class residential area that doesn't offer much to the average tourist, there is however a wide selection of bed and breakfasts and short term self- catering accommodation options many of which offer great value for money. The area is also conveniently serviced by all of the public transport option. It is also at the centre of all the Cape Town activity, been equidistance from the Atlantic and Indian Ocean beaches. The city centre, outside of peak traffic hours, is a 15 minute drive away.
Choosing Cape Town accommodation should be done based on price as choosing the cheaper option does not mean you have to miss out on anything the city has to offer.
