Cape Town.

On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 21:33:16 GMT, Evelyn Usher
wrote:


Hi there

Booked a holiday for Xmas and New Year to Cape Town.We will be staying
at the Cape Garden Hotel near lions head. Anyone stayed there?

Any must sees, shopping , prices etc.? Much appreciated.

Have ordered a guide book but have not received it yet.

How safe is it to go out at night? Is it a good bet to hire a car?

I was lucky enough to be there when the dollar was twice what it is
now and everything was fantastically cheap then. I stayed in a B and
B in the suburbs and drove into town when I went down there. Renting
a car and driving is fine. You just use your head like in any big
city and the locals will direct you in any case. Lots of good
restaurants. South Africa is quite amazing in that respect. If you
like wine, don't miss the Stellenbosch area which is 30 minutes or so
outside of Capetown. Great wine and food and it puts Napa Valley to
shame.

Hi there

Booked a holiday for Xmas and New Year to Cape Town.We will be staying
at the Cape Garden Hotel near lions head. Anyone stayed there?

Any must sees, shopping , prices etc.? Much appreciated.

Have ordered a guide book but have not received it yet.

How safe is it to go out at night? Is it a good bet to hire a car?
--
Evelyn in Scotland

Evelyn Usher mentioned:

Hi there

Booked a holiday for Xmas and New Year to Cape Town.We will be staying
at the Cape Garden Hotel near lions head. Anyone stayed there?

Any must sees, shopping , prices etc.? Much appreciated.

Have ordered a guide book but have not received it yet.

How safe is it to go out at night? Is it a good bet to hire a car?

A follow up questin on a similar topic: We'll be visiting Cape Town
in February. Advertised hotel prices in the city are much more
expensive than those on the coast. Is it possible / safe to stay
outside the city and travel in by public transport?

Brian
(change closed to open for email)

Evelyn Usher mentioned:

Hi there

Booked a holiday for Xmas and New Year to Cape Town.We will be staying
at the Cape Garden Hotel near lions head. Anyone stayed there?

Any must sees, shopping , prices etc.? Much appreciated.

Have ordered a guide book but have not received it yet.

How safe is it to go out at night? Is it a good bet to hire a car?

A follow up questin on a similar topic: We'll be visiting Cape Town
in February. Advertised hotel prices in the city are much more
expensive than those on the coast. Is it possible / safe to stay
outside the city and travel in by public transport?

Brian
(change closed to open for email)

Central Cape Town has cameras and city police on horses. Driving is an
option, but I find city traffic daunting and if you have to stick to the
"wrong" side of the road it is difficult. SA has however good road signs and
one seldom gets lost. During the day in Cape Town you can catch a minibus
taxi by going to the nearest larger street and sticking your hand up (best
to ask your hosts(at the B&B) where the taxi routes are. These taxis fill up
first and then go to their destination. My son uses them all the time in
Cape Town and they are effective and save you the hassle of driving in
traffic. He has only used them at night in the Sea Point and Waterfront area
and that was okay. Don't know about other areas. I usually email the guys
that I book with and ask them the questions about their specific area.

"Evelyn Usher" wrote in message
...

Hi there

Booked a holiday for Xmas and New Year to Cape Town.We will be staying
at the Cape Garden Hotel near lions head. Anyone stayed there?

Any must sees, shopping , prices etc.? Much appreciated.

Have ordered a guide book but have not received it yet.

How safe is it to go out at night? Is it a good bet to hire a car?
--
Evelyn in Scotland

Try http://www.wheretostay.co.za/general/accommodation.htm and click through
the map till you get to the area you want. Accommodation is organised in
price class. There are many other websites, but this one gives me the bad
news about prices without having to check individual places one by one.
Things to do http://www.places.co.za/html/ct_advent.html or
http://www.owls.co.za/english/links_ct.htm for links
for searching anything African try www.aardvark.co.za

"Brian" wrote in message
...
Evelyn Usher mentioned:

Hi there

Booked a holiday for Xmas and New Year to Cape Town.We will be staying
at the Cape Garden Hotel near lions head. Anyone stayed there?

Any must sees, shopping , prices etc.? Much appreciated.

Have ordered a guide book but have not received it yet.

How safe is it to go out at night? Is it a good bet to hire a car?

A follow up questin on a similar topic: We'll be visiting Cape Town
in February. Advertised hotel prices in the city are much more
expensive than those on the coast. Is it possible / safe to stay
outside the city and travel in by public transport?

Brian
(change closed to open for email)

Booked a holiday for Xmas and New Year to Cape Town.

How safe is it to go out at night? Is it a good bet to hire a car?

Wife and I spent a week there in August at homes of three friends,
without a car. Everyone told us trains and busses are not safe at
night, so after sundown, we took taxis. . . not too expensive if you
value your life. Trains, busses, and a little walking gets you
everywhere in daylight, but if you are new to Capetown you will spend
some time and effort learning where to catch transportation, when, and
where each goes.

To get to the Boulders to watch the penguins, or to Cape of Good
Hope, or to the World of Birds (all of which we enjoyed) you probably
need to rent a car or have a friend with one. The waterfront aquarium
is one of the best we've seen anywhere. After an hour there we got our
hands stamped, left for lunch nearby, and returned till they closed.

The Robben Island tour was so popular, and bad weather canceled days,
that it took three days to get a reservation. We felt it was worthwhile
but barely so. I enjoyed the view of Capetown from the sea more than
the prison itself, I think.

If you rent a car, take pains not to look like a sitting duck tourist.
If it looks like there is any reason to break into your car, someone
will do it, even in popular waterfront parking where you might think it
unnecessary to be vigilant. . . just like in big USA cities. ---Ken

Evelyn, for your information, we drive on the same side of the road as
you do. "BZH" is obviously from a country where they drive on the
wrong side of the road :-)

I'm certain you will have a wonderful time in "The Mother City". I
would hire a car if I were you, but only because I prefer the freedom
of having a car, and you can carry extra clothing etc. and leave it in
the car when it's not needed. (Leave it in the trunk, never in plain
view).

Some must-sees are Robben Island, the winelands, Table Mountain, the
aquarium, and a host of other things that will be in your guide book.
There are also many really lovely areas an hour or so's drive from
Cape Town.

Regards,

Marc - Johannesburg

On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 06:36:36 +0200, "BZH" wrote:

Central Cape Town has cameras and city police on horses. Driving is an
option, but I find city traffic daunting and if you have to stick to the
"wrong" side of the road it is difficult. SA has however good road signs and
one seldom gets lost. During the day in Cape Town you can catch a minibus
taxi by going to the nearest larger street and sticking your hand up (best
to ask your hosts(at the B&B) where the taxi routes are. These taxis fill up
first and then go to their destination. My son uses them all the time in
Cape Town and they are effective and save you the hassle of driving in
traffic. He has only used them at night in the Sea Point and Waterfront area
and that was okay. Don't know about other areas. I usually email the guys
that I book with and ask them the questions about their specific area.

"Evelyn Usher" wrote in message
...

Hi there

Booked a holiday for Xmas and New Year to Cape Town.We will be staying
at the Cape Garden Hotel near lions head. Anyone stayed there?

Any must sees, shopping , prices etc.? Much appreciated.

Have ordered a guide book but have not received it yet.

How safe is it to go out at night? Is it a good bet to hire a car?
--
Evelyn in Scotland

Evelyn, for your information, we drive on the same side of the road as
you do. "BZH" is obviously from a country where they drive on the
wrong side of the road :-)

I'm certain you will have a wonderful time in "The Mother City". I
would hire a car if I were you, but only because I prefer the freedom
of having a car, and you can carry extra clothing etc. and leave it in
the car when it's not needed. (Leave it in the trunk, never in plain
view).

Some must-sees are Robben Island, the winelands, Table Mountain, the
aquarium, and a host of other things that will be in your guide book.
There are also many really lovely areas an hour or so's drive from
Cape Town.

Regards,

Marc - Johannesburg

On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 06:36:36 +0200, "BZH" wrote:

Central Cape Town has cameras and city police on horses. Driving is an
option, but I find city traffic daunting and if you have to stick to the
"wrong" side of the road it is difficult. SA has however good road signs and
one seldom gets lost. During the day in Cape Town you can catch a minibus
taxi by going to the nearest larger street and sticking your hand up (best
to ask your hosts(at the B&B) where the taxi routes are. These taxis fill up
first and then go to their destination. My son uses them all the time in
Cape Town and they are effective and save you the hassle of driving in
traffic. He has only used them at night in the Sea Point and Waterfront area
and that was okay. Don't know about other areas. I usually email the guys
that I book with and ask them the questions about their specific area.

"Evelyn Usher" wrote in message
...

Hi there

Booked a holiday for Xmas and New Year to Cape Town.We will be staying
at the Cape Garden Hotel near lions head. Anyone stayed there?

Any must sees, shopping , prices etc.? Much appreciated.

Have ordered a guide book but have not received it yet.

How safe is it to go out at night? Is it a good bet to hire a car?
--
Evelyn in Scotland

There is a city tour you can take. they take your around Cape Town and it
includes a penguins tour. Can't remember the name. Hotel can help

Rob
"Evelyn Usher" wrote in message
...

Hi there

Booked a holiday for Xmas and New Year to Cape Town.We will be staying
at the Cape Garden Hotel near lions head. Anyone stayed there?

Any must sees, shopping , prices etc.? Much appreciated.

Have ordered a guide book but have not received it yet.

How safe is it to go out at night? Is it a good bet to hire a car?
--
Evelyn in Scotland