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we have 3 weeks Feb/March to roadtrip the areas above.
Any recommendations on places to stay, restaurants and good finds greatly appreciated. First time to South Africa.
Any issues with crime? Usual precautions, ask locals?
Incidentally, have 100,000 Bonvoy, but looking online, a lot of Protea brand, not familiar with them, are they ok or characterless?
Have to say the points redemptions on all the Marriot brands in south africa did not look like great value.
If anyone booked with Emyr, or Amex travel and get a good deal?
Hi there’s a couple of SA topics in this sub forum. You should find them fairly easily. I have started 3. There are some extremely helpful posts in there.
I also started a topic with my trip report where I mentioned the protea band, and my stay at Le Quartier Francais in Franchoek where I booked through travel. It is quite long winded but you may find some of it useful.
As for crime, we had absolutely no bother whatsoever.
I am sure you will get some great advice as I did. It was probably one of the best holidays I have ever had.The only place on my trip where I felt unsafe was in Johannesburg and lo and behold that is where my phone was stolen. I was in hillbrow but with a guide.
You mention three places in the title – Cape Town and surrounds are a must, if you are staying there at the beginning and end, we have enjoyed staying by the sea (eg Camps Bay) and then in Constantia. Some people like staying at the Waterfront but it’s just a shopping centre for tourists with overpriced shops and restaurants.
We went to Cederberg in May – wonderful, unspoilt area. We stayed at Bushman’s Kloof which is expensive but a one of a kind sort of place and good value for what you get.
The Garden Route seems like a default option but it is very over hyped and trippery, with everything designed for foreign tourists willing to pay a lot for not much; it’s quite unremarkable if you have ever visited the English countryside. The west coast is much more unspoilt, real and hugely better value.
Hi there’s a couple of SA topics in this sub forum. You should find them fairly easily. I have started 3. There are some extremely helpful posts in there.
I also started a topic with my trip report where I mentioned the protea band, and my stay at Le Quartier Francais in Franchoek where I booked through travel. It is quite long winded but you may find some of it useful.
As for crime, we had absolutely no bother whatsoever.
I am sure you will get some great advice as I did. It was probably one of the best holidays I have ever had.Thanks for heads up, I found the threads, very useful. You visited Kruger in mid-November? That’s on our plans (separate trip) …how was the game spotting? And rain? …I read rain starts in November and tall green grass can make game spotting trickier. Though redemptions flights are better value than in Oct, the end of the “good” safari season.
You mention three places in the title – Cape Town and surrounds are a must, if you are staying there at the beginning and end, we have enjoyed staying by the sea (eg Camps Bay) and then in Constantia. Some people like staying at the Waterfront but it’s just a shopping centre for tourists with overpriced shops and restaurants.
We went to Cederberg in May – wonderful, unspoilt area. We stayed at Bushman’s Kloof which is expensive but a one of a kind sort of place and good value for what you get.
The Garden Route seems like a default option but it is very over hyped and trippery, with everything designed for foreign tourists willing to pay a lot for not much; it’s quite unremarkable if you have ever visited the English countryside. The west coast is much more unspoilt, real and hugely better value.
Thank you for the tips. I’ll look into the recommendations. I’ll be going bouldering in Cegerburg , Rockland’s is a bit of Mecca for it. But now you mention it will also look more into the surrounding area and west coast. We have 21 days.
Can recommend Jamaka Organic Orange Farm run by a wonderful German-heritage family (www.jamaka.co.za)
I’ve also noticed (not sure how recent or whether it’s a long-standing thing that’s just escaped me till now) that including @WaynedP like that for some names generates a blue-font link that you can click on and see all original posts generated and replies made by that user. Only seems to work for users with above a certain level of forum contribution.
If that has worked, click on my hyperlinked name to see the posts I’ve replied to containing South African travel tips.
I like Protea Marriott hotels, although I am a man of relatively simple needs so what works for me may not suit everyone.
Are you flying to Cape Town or driving there from elsewhere ? I would search Amazon for second hand South African ROad Atlas (like AA) as I have found them very useful and informative, even as someone born in South Africa.
If you’re in Stellenbosch the Delair Graff winery is really good. Amazing food, drink and views of the mountains at a really reasonable price compared to the UK
If you’re in Stellenbosch the Delair Graff winery is really good. Amazing food, drink and views of the mountains at a really reasonable price compared to the UK
Good recommendation, and I would opt for Stellenbosch or Paarl (Grande Roche hotel) any day over Franschhoek which is a rather fake Disney town full of expensive gift shops and restaurants.
Connected, there are 3 seats remaining in CW for those with a new 241 Amex voucher from oop north via London to Johannesburg on 24 December plus quite a bit more availability up to 20 December
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