CPT Waterfront Hotels
 

Need to book 3 nights in CPT for the four fishes. Wish the new Starwood was open, but not yet. Looking at Holiday Inn (2 rooms) or a large 2 bedroom suite at the Radisson. Can anyone compare these two for decency, proximity, activity? Don't need much at hotel as long as we can walk around in the evening on the waterfront to eat, shop, etc.

Robin

Well, the Radisson is on the water, but not at the V&A Waterfront, which is where the American-style mall is with all the shopping & restaurants. They say it's walkable... the best map of the area I could find is this .pdf -- Cape Town Hotel School is also at Granger Bay, in the upper-lefthand corner of the map. Seems like a hike, through the park. We only drove over that way.

The Holiday Inn is on the other side -- to the east of the V&A Waterfront. As I recall, it's just a couple blocks further away than the City Lodge V&A Waterfront, where we stayed. It's a lovely, new, inexpensive property a short (and safe) walk from the V&A Waterfront. It also has plenty of free parking right in front.

And if you really want to be in the middle of everything, the Cape Grace is the only hotel I remember being right in the Waterfront complex. Enjoy!

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AIM: RutherfordMurray

I'll be in Cape Town myself for about 4 days at the end of the August. It's a small part of a longer trip I'm on, so I'm trying to keep to a reasonable budget while still staying in decent places.

Does anyone have any opinions on the Breakstone Lodge, which is located on the waterfront? I can get a single room there for about 475 ZAR, it looks like (or cheaper maybe with shared facilities, which I've done before). It's a budget place but on the waterfront.

Alternaely, there's a place Frommers highlighted called De Wanterkant Village. They have furnished apartments to rent. It's only 390 ZAR for a one-bedroom apartment. It's not on the waterfront, though, it looks like it's somewhere between the waterfront and Table Mountain. I won't have a car so I'm not sure how well that will work out, especially since I'll be traveling alone and will want to be somewhere I can mill about and people watch when not out seeing the sights.

And, as a third option they have one-room apartments down at the waterfront as well. Those are pricier, about 950 ZAR, but that seems in line with most 4-star hotels in the area. Most of them seem to have satellite TV, balconies over the canal, and washers and dryers inside the apartment.

So, anyone have any opinions on these options?

Haven't heard of any of those places, but the De Waterkant website looks pretty fabulous. Their property that's farther away from the V&A Wterfront is in the heart of tiny gay village -- quaint and quiet, except for the main street where all the bars/clubs are. We walked all over that area by day, but don't think I'd want to by night. And since it's in Bo-Kaap, it's a really long walk to the other side of downtown for the District Six Museum, the Castle of Good Hope, City Hall, etc.

I really urge you to get a car if you can. They're not more than a day or two's worth of stuff to see in downtown Cape Town, the peninsula is gorgeous (especially Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope), and walking around at night can be unsafe for anybody in any city, but especially Cape Town.

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AIM: RutherfordMurray

[This message has been edited by IndyDavid (edited 06-17-2003).]

First of all, there are several Holiday Inns in Cape Town, none of which would be safe for walking around in the evening. Most likely you mean the one that is called HI Waterfront, which is close to the Waterfront, but requires walking to it through the area that is considered very dangerous at night.

Radisson is at the Granger Bay, on the water, within 10-15 minutes walk from the V&A Waterfront (IndyDavid -- not sure which map you're looking at, but the walk from Radisson to the V&A is not through the park). I felt quite safe walking alone, even in the evening, and the hotel also has a free shuttle to take you there and back, if you prefer.

Other suggestions in this thread might be an option for you as well. If you want to splurge, the Cape Grace Hotel and the Table Bay Hotel are truly magnificent, and right on the V&A Waterfront.

Oops! Sorry for the misinformation. It's been hard to find Granger Bay on any maps. This one shows downtown pretty well, though. Where's Granger Bay? Isn't it on the other side of Green Point from the V&A Waterfront?

David

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AIM: RutherfordMurray

On a related note, have you ever stayed at Black Heath Lodge? I looked at the rest of their web site and it looks like a nice enough place. It's not really on the waterfront. I'm just not sure what that area of town is like. They claim you can park a car streetside, but I'm not sure about that.

That map does not seem to be quite to scale, and it does not show al the streets. Granger Bay is an upscale waterfront development North of the East side of the Green Point (if you look at that map, it's right where it says Table Bay).

I haven't seen that particular guesthouse, but I've stayed at a similar place for a few days last year. IMO, it's a very nice alternative to hotels. It gives you a different prospective on local life. Location wise, Sea Point is an upscale area in general, but perhaps you might try to find another guesthouse closer to the waterfront. Also, you will have to rent a car or arrange for a taxi every time you go sightseeing. Room prices shown at the website seem to be in line to what I paid last year for a similar accomodation.

Best Cape Town map ever:

http://www.cape-town.net/html/mapcity.html

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AIM: RutherfordMurray

Thank is a wonderful map. Thank you!

Just had my wedding in CPT. In addition to my duties as groom, handled most of travel arrangemments for 30+ foreign visitors to CPT and surrounding areas. Cape Grace and Table Bay hotels are very much a splurge. For the Grace, get a view of the Mountain.

The Holiday Inn closest to the Waterfront is an acceptable distance walk. However, you must cross some major thoroughfares to get to it. With kids, could be a problem Radisson is nice and an easy walk down to the Waterfront. One sidewalk, no maps required and the kids will, no doubt, want to stop at the IMAX theatre along the way.

Can't recommend the Breakwater Lodge. Couple of budget-minded visitors stayed there and were not impressed. Though staff was helpful through it all, flooded bathroom, phone never worked, noise from ongoing construction made it somewhat unpleasant experience. But, you can't beat the price.

One note on "safe" v. "not safe." I have a (some say misguided) view of safety concerns in S.A. However, I have lived and worked in some VERY tough neighborhoods (including in S.A.) and have a work background that has trained me to spot, avoid and, if necessary, deal with day-to-day street crime situations or potential situations. So, I do not think it is such a big deal. With respect to my recommendations above, I do not think walking in these areas is a problem (except, perhaps the Holiday Inn). Nevertheless, it is something to keep in mind.

Enjoy your visit!

The new Starwood is now open