CPT info required
 

I'll be landing at International arrivals around 30 minutes before my partner arrives at domestic. What is the best way/place to meet up?

Similar timing on our return, if I guest her into the lounge at International (past security etc) can she stay airside and get to domestic departures?

The domestic arrival will be arriving from JNB after travelling from Europe. Will she clear customs etc in JNB and be treated as a domestic arrival at CPT or will these procedures be done at CPT?

The domestic and international areas at CPT are housed in one huge terminal but are strictly separated with no way to access one from the other.

After collecting baggage, pax from either area are eventually funnelled towards a central common atrium, which has eateries and various shops, before exiting the building. This would be the logical place to meet up as you could have a cuppa or just browse a newsstand while you wait..

On departure both sections check in in the same area (one floor above the arrivals atrium) and then there are separate entrances to security that separate domestic and international passengers. So there is no way that your partner can join you in the lounge.

All international arrivals into ZA clear customs and immigration at their first port of entry - so JNB in your partner's case. Even if bags are checked through she will have to retrieve them and re-check them in JNB. So she will arrive in CPT on the domestic side.

Thanks for the info.

We're probably going to stay in Camps Bay Area. Is there anything you'd recommend we look out for when selecting accommodation, good or bad?

Sorry... as a local who never has to stay in or even book hotel accommodation in Cape Town I would just be guessing if I gave advice. Others, especially frequent visitors, may want to chip in.

Camps Bay generally is a fairly upscale, touristy area with various (expensive) upscale and luxury hotels. The beaches/cafés etc. are nice to relax, but can be extremely crowded during the SA summer months.

The luxury hotels in the area such as the Bay Hotel or the Twelve Apostles (a few km down the road) are both stunning properties (the former often ranked as one of the top hotels in CPT), but it really depends on how much you want to spend.

A bump as still looking for more hotel info. plus some other issues.

I intend to use ATMs for cash withdrawals. Are there any preferences to avoid ATM fees or are they all much the same. Do they even charge fees?

Where will I find these when arriving at CPT?

How/where can I top up a local SIM card?

just back in Johannesburg from 4 days in CPT in Camps Bay. What type of hotel are you looking for? "self-catering" as they say here. traditional hotel? Will you be renting a car?

Sorry, I booked a hotel today.

I saw a good deal on a 4 star place right on the front at Camps Bay and snapped it up.

I'm still undecided about renting a car so add it to my other questions. I'll probably go down to Cape Agulhas for a day, will be doing whale watching, shark diving, Table Mountain, maybe Stellenbosch - typical tourist stuff - so would you recommend a car?

Table Mountain was closed every day we were in Cape Town last week. My son is going shark diving tomorrow. I know he has a 3:45 am departure but I don't know if someone is driving him or it is through a tour company. We hired a guide to take us to the wine country one day and the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point, etc. I would recommend a car if you don't want to do the private guide thing. My private guide I found was reasonable in terms of cost.

The cable car is closed for maintenance until 25 August. This is a scheduled closure and obviously they do it in mid winter.

Just a pity you had such great weather last week and couldn't use it. (You could still have walked up, though! :))

Saw this on the website. Alas- a hike could be fun for a good view- just don't have a ton of time. A good question would be, as a local, what do you do for fun around CPT? I plan on having wheels.

• Walk the dogs on Signal Hill behind our house
• Walk the dogs on Sunset Beach between Milnerton and Blouberg
• Walk the dogs in Newlands Forest

The tourist benefits (apart from some exercise in the open air) would be great views of:

• Table Bay, the harbour and Robben Island
• Table Mountain - the classic view across the bay
• The Hottentot Holland Mountains, the Cape flats and False Bay

:)

I guess "fun" is defined very differently for different folks so it is difficult to suggest activities. I always recommend the National Botanic Gardens at Kirstenbosch which also offer great views and are beautiful, expansive and interesting.

But tbh at my stage of life my idea of a blissful visit would be to stay in the winelands and do walks and eat in fabulous restaurants in gorgeous settings. Drive to neighbouring towns over scenic mountain passes and enjoy the glorious setting.

Do day trips into Cape Town if you like (say to visit Robben Island or the museums) rather than the other way around.

Wikipedia says there are no ATM fees in South Africa here:

http://wikitravel.org/en/South_Africa

But other sources disagree like this:

http://www.africareview.com/Business...z/-/index.html

Can anyone give up to date information?

I was there last August and did not run into any machine fees. But if your card is Visa branded, they will charge a percentage for foreign exchange.