Entry permits are issued free on arrival to visitors on holiday
from many Commonwealth and Western European countries, as well
as Japan and the United States. If you are not entitled to an
entry permit, you will need to get a visa (also free) from your
local South African Embassy. You will need a visa if you intend
to stay in South Africa for longer than two weeks. For detailed
information on visas you may visit the South African Department
of Home Affairs website at Department of Home Affairs http://home-affairs.pwv.gov.za/
When
is the best time to visit Cape Town?
Cape Town has a sunny Mediterranean climate with warm summer
days and cool winters. Summer lasts from late October to March,
while winter falls between May and July Cape Town is busiest
during December and January, although the tourist season extends
from
November to April.
What
is the time difference in Cape Town?
South African time is set at GMT +2, so a trip to Cape Town
is guaranteed to be jet-lag free! There are no time zone differences
within South Africa and no daylight time saving system in summer.
How
can I be sure I get the best out of my holiday?
At International Villas we pride ourselves on our complementary
personal service and our guests can choose how involved they
would like us to be. Some just find it comforting to have a
friendly face on call when they need us, and others prefer us
to plan a detailed itinerary for them so that they can be sure
that they sample as much of what Cape Town has to offer as they
can. For those looking for a relaxing break, we can point out
the best places to eat, the best wine to sample and the most
beautiful beaches. The more adventurous traveller might like
us to organise a flight in a jet plane followed by a spot of
abseiling rounded off with a cage dive with Great White sharks.
None of us get as many holidays in the year as we would like,
but we will make sure that yours is the best it could possibly
be.
Do
I need any vaccinations?
Cape Town and the Western Cape have very few health issues to
be concerned about.
No vaccinations are needed and the area is malaria-free. As
with any trip, you need to get adequate medical insurance before
travelling. Most hospitals have emergency and casualty units
and private hospitals offer excellent medical assistance. Charges
are reasonable by international standards; the clinics require
a deposit of up to R5000, paid in cash or credit cards (for
emergency and elective surgery).
How
safe is Cape Town?
Cape Town is generally a safe and friendly place, although as
in any major city, it is strongly advised that safety precautions
be taken, such as not walking around alone at night, and keeping
an eye on your belongings.
For further peace of mind, you could also use the Travel Buddy
system; for more information visit www.travelbuddy.co.za
Is
it a family-friendly destination?
It can be hard keeping children entertained on holiday, but
Cape Town offers a whole host of attractions and activities
to keep the little ones entertained, and we can provide nannies
and babysitters when mum and dad need some time alone.
Who
can I contact if I have a problem?
As part of our complementary concierge service, we will have
someone on hand ready to take your call whenever you need us.
How
do I keep in touch with people back home?
If you don’t want to pay international rates on calls
from your mobile phone, or pay when they call you then just
ask us and we will be pleased to provide you with a phone during
your stay so you only have to pay national rates with no charge
for receiving calls from abroad. We will even pre-programme
it with useful numbers for you. Many of our villas have internet
access, and for those that don’t we can provide you with
a laptop on request.
What’s
the best way to get around?
We will be happy to organise car or bike hire or even a chauffeur
for you. The more adventurous can use several special bus services
catering for tourists. A double-decker, London-style tourist
bus runs guided two hour city tours at 10:00, 12:00 noon and
14:00 for R35. In summer, the "City hopper" offers
day rates and runs buses between major tourist attractions such
as Kirstenbosch, the Cablecar Station, Signal Hill, and the
Waterfront. As the name suggests, you can hop on and off as
often as you like.
There is also a regular bus service between the airport and
the city centre.
Minibus taxis offer convenient and sometimes hair-raisingly
fast transport along major routes, typically the Main Road from
Sea Point right around to Wynberg in the Southern suburbs. Boarding
points are whenever and wherever you can get the driver to stop.
An alternative is a conventional private taxi, (Do ask about
fares beforehand and check your driver’s familiarity with
the area you’re heading for).
What
about money?
The South African currency is rands (R) and cents (c). There
are 100 cents to a rand. Notes are in R200, R100, R50, R20 and
R10 and coins in R5, R2, R1, 50c, 20c, 10c, 5c, 2c and 1c.
Foreign currency can be exchanged at any commercial bank, American
Express, Thomas Cook, Rennies or Diners Club office or Bureaux
de Change which can be found at airports and most large centres.
Cape Town International Airport has 24-hour foreign exchange
facilities. There are also plenty of ATMs in the city. The majority
of shops and hotels accept credit cards, although they cannot
be used to pay for petrol.
VAT is currently at 14% on purchases and services. As a tourist,
retain receipts for purchases to the value of R250 or more and
you will be able to claim VAT back on your departure. Leave
yourself some time to do this – you’ll need your
original tax invoices and your passport, and will need to fill
in a form and have the goods you bought available for inspection.
For more information see www.taxrefunds.co.za
I’ve
heard Cape Town is a shoppers paradise…
With such a favourable exchange rate, Cape Town is definitely
the place to shop till you drop:
Shopping Malls
Victoria Wharf at the V&A Waterfront, home to designer label
stores and craft markets, offers visitors the best of everything
Cape Town has to offer. The Waterfront is a firm favourite with
both Capetonians and visitors.
Canal Walk, just outside the Cape Town city centre, is one of
the biggest shopping malls in the Southern Hemisphere, offering
shoppers hundreds of stores with everything from designer imports
to hand-crafted South African curios.
Antiques and Art
There are hundreds of antique stores and thanks to Cape Towns
rich cultural past the possibilities are endless and staff knowledgeable
and helpful.
The art scene has shown tremendous growth over the last ten
years. You will find art being sold at flea and craft markets,
art galleries and at antique stores. African art is vibrant,
colourful, and always has a story to tell.
Jewellery
Cape Town designs are creative, and the quality is of the highest
standard. You may find many designs from the Cape in some of
the leading stores in Europe and America. Jewellery stores are
found in most towns throughout the Cape province. Many stores
have studios attached to the premises and visitors are often
invited to experience the creative process firsthand.
Wine
There are few wines regions in the world that compare with the
Western Cape, and many visitors consider a visit to the wine
producing districts a must. Most of the wine farms offer cellar
tours and you may buy the local wines direct from the producers.
Wines are also available at specialist wine stores at the V&A
Waterfront. You can expect a wide variety of wines and expert
advice. Staff can also assist you in packaging and shipping
your wine to anywhere in the world.
Craft
Markets and Flea Markets
A wide variety of crafts are generally on offer. These include
pottery, beadwork, basket weaving, woodwork, wireworks and township
craft. Township artists use locally available products, such
cans, bottle tops and papier mache to produce a number of innovative
products. You may also find olives and olive products in the
Riebeek Valley, cheese in Bonnievale, and berries and berry
products in the Stellenbosch area. The Local Tourism Office
in every town will have a full list of all the craft markets
in that area.
