How to Find Cheap Hotels in Cape Town, South Africa

This southernmost city in the African continent, which will play host to the World Cup in 2010, is a popular tourist destination offering gorgeous beaches, teeming flora and fauna, photogenic views of (and from) Table Mountain, and all the shopping and nightlife you want in the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. If you want to spend more money out and about in South Africa and less in bed sleeping, here's how to find cheap accommodations in Cape Town.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Passport
• Computer with Internet access for making reservations
• Map of South Africa

Know Your Destination

1. Plan a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain during your visit. For schedule and prices, visit the Table Mountain Web site (see Resources below). Hiking either up or down is a cheap half-day journey for the ambitious and athletic.
2. Travel to the southwestern most point of the African continent at Cape Point. The Cape Point Nature Reserve is home to over 250 bird species, including ostriches, and mammals such as bontebok antelopes, caracals and baboons. See the view from cliffs that rise 249 meters above the sea. From the nature reserve you can ride a funicular railway to the viewing site at Cape Point.
3. Choose your temperature at the beach. The water at west-facing (Atlantic) beaches is several degrees cooler than those on the east-facing (False Bay/Indian Ocean) side.

Book Your Accommodations

4. Gather up to 11 friends and splurge on the Olifantsbos Guest House and Annex, located between a rugged cliff and a sandy beach within Table Mountain National Park. The whitewashed cottage, operated by the Park Service, includes a fully equipped kitchen and will run a party of 12 under $40 U.S. each per night.
5. Research cheap accommodations by reading Internet reviews from travelers who have been to Cape Town before you. Be sure to look beyond the Web-based commercials that merely advertise specific hotels. To book accommodations, contact Cape Town Tourist Board at 011 ([phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources, below).
6. Make your reservations through a travel agent to ensure easy confirmation. Although many South African hotels and inns can be booked online, it's far safer to book through an agent to ensure your reservation gets into the hands of your hosts.

Tips & Warnings

• All phone numbers include the international prefix "011." When calling internationally but not from the United States or Canada, substitute that "011" with "00." All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.
• A South African who flashes his headlights while driving in the lane next to you is not letting you know that you're clear to change lanes, as he might be in North America. Flashing headlights here are more of an invitation (speaking politely) to "get lost."
• Roll up your windows and lock your doors driving in Cape Town. Beggars often accost drivers to make a donation through the car window, and sometimes these encounters lead to more serious crimes.
• Choose a specific place to go for drinks and dancing; don't just explore. For example, the Cape Town city center is not the place to go after dark. It will be deserted and dangerous.