Category: Travel News

Durbanville is not just a sleepy hollow of a suburb. It’s an upmarket area, with much to offer by way of entertainment, eateries and shopping malls. Located a convenient twenty minute drive North of Cape Town Central, Durbanville is also home to a gorgeous wine route.

The suburb hosts a monthly craft market, on the first Saturday of every month at Rust-en-Vrede. This cultural centre is an old Cape Dutch complex which dates back to 1850, and is now home to a coffee shop, clay museum and an art gallery.

The Durbanville Nature Reserve is a 15-acre reserve located in the heart of the suburb. Short hiking trails, fantastic picnic spots and a wide variety of fynbos are some of the reserve’s main attractions. Durbanville Nature Reserve is also a haven for birdwatching fanatics, with a wide range of well-known and rare birds making an appearance.

Cape Pillars Boutique Guesthouse

Cape Pillars Boutique Guesthouse offers luxurious and modern self-catering accommodation in Durbanville. Whether your accommodation needs are corporate, leisure or relocation – Cape Pillars offers you warm hearted hospitality with a sophisticated touch of elegance. Cape Pillars also boasts a modern conferencing facility, which can accommodate up to 25 guests.

Carol of the Cape Winelands Lodge

Carol of The Cape Winelands Lodge is located just two kilometres away from a wine farm and a mere fifteen kilometres from Blouberg Beach. The lodge overlooks the Hottentots Holland Mountains and is well placed at the start of the Durbanville Winelands valley. The lodge is in close proximity to restaurants and superb shopping malls that have numerous restaurants, movie theatres and other entertainment facilities.

Durbanville is a suburban secret of Cape Town - go ahead and experience it for yourself!

Category: Travel News

It’s summertime and the living is easy. It’s a great time to head out into the cool ocean waters surrounding the Cape Coast and enjoy a surf after work or over the weekend.

If you’re looking for a new favourite surf spot, take some advice from the locals and pick from these top five locations.

Surf Spots in Cape Town

Derde Steen can be found just past Big Bay and Blaauberg. It’s a great, fairly exposed beach break that serves up fabulous waves under the right conditions. It’s not for amateur surfers though, as you’ll need to be able to negotiate the waves well.

Big Bay is a popular choice for both new and advanced surfers so the beach and waters can get quite busy. Big Bay has a relatively laid back atmosphere, with easy access to shops and restaurants, for when you need a snack after riding the waves.

Llandudno Beach is a true jewel of the Western Cape. Whilst the water is cold, the beach is beautiful and Llandudno is known for offering up some great waves, if you know how to catch them.

Dunes is also a popular surfing spot, and is one of Cape Town’s surfing treasures. The unspoiled location is less crowded than other surf spots and boasts a beautiful, long beach.

Long Beach is Cape Town’s most well-known surf spot. Whilst it can get crowded, this beach is perfect for all surfing fanatics - from the very beginner to advanced. It’s known for its friendly atmosphere and waves that are relatively easy to ride.

Surf’s up in Cape Town!

Category: Travel News

One of the best ways to while away a sunny afternoon in Cape Town is to pack up a basket with delicious snacks and find a sweet spot for a picnic. A picnic is an inexpensive, easy way to relax, have some fun and enjoy a little quality time with family and friends. Cape Town is peppered with beautiful spots, perfect for a lazy picnic.

Picnic Spots in Cape Town

Head down to any of Cape Town’s beautiful beaches of bliss and enjoy a day in the sunshine, relaxing on the warm sand. Whether you choose a busy beach like Clifton, or a secluded spot in Llandudno, you’ll have a magnificent time.

Take a little drive, and stop at any of the picnic spots along the meandering road that Chapman’s Peak is famous for. With spectacular views and lovely treats, you can enjoy a marvellous day in the sunshine.

The Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts are now in full swing and there’s no better way to end the week than relaxing whilst being entertained by some of South Africa’s greatest musicians. If you forget to bring along a picnic basket, you can purchase a hamper from the Silvertree Restaurant or the Kirstenbosch Tea Room.

If you’re feeling more adventurous, take a drive out to the Winelands and enjoy all that the numerous wine estates across the region have to offer. Most estates offer picnic facilities and are even happy to make up a picnic hamper for you.

Relax and enjoy a day in the sun with a charming picnic in Cape Town.

Category: Travel News

The holiday season has come to an end, and the tourists have returned home. This is the time when the locals venture out again to enjoy the natural splendour and magnificent atmosphere of Cape Town.

Living in a town that so many deem the ultimate holiday spot, has different ramifications. In Cape Town though, the holiday never ends. The laid-back nature of the people, the crisp air and the stunning scenery ensure that the quality of life in Cape Town is top-notch.

Just as holidaymakers have their favorites, so the locals do too. It’s well-known that if you really want to get to know Cape Town, get to know it through a resident. Cape Town is a hive of treasured spots and interesting locations. Go ahead and be a tourist in your own town. Jump in your car and head off to explore places you’ve not visited before. The Bo Kaap is one area which not many locals regularly visit, but it is a buzzing region, full of colour and vibrant activity. Head down to the monthly Bo Kaap Crafts and Food Market Day, and indulge yourself in some exquisite cuisine and interesting craft.

Being a local is lekker in Cape Town

The City Sightseeing Bus is an interesting way to explore Cape Town. Allowing you to explore Cape Town’s attractions at your own pace, you can simply hop on and hop off at any of the stops with your ticket. Find out more about this unique way to explore Cape Town here. You can choose between the Red City, Blue Mini Peninsula, Canal Cruise, Night and Wine Tours.

It’s time to claim back Cape Town, so take a vacation in your own town. You’ll learn a lot and have a bunch of fun along the way!

Category: Travel News

The team at The Forge Web Creations proudly brings you the Cape Stay network and its partner sites Cape Stay Blog; Cape Travel Information and Cape Accommodation.

Happy Holidays from The Forge!

The team wishes you and your loved ones a peaceful, safe and restful festive season.

Whether you spend your holiday exploring, relaxing or celebrating, may this festive season bring you joy.

We look forward to bringing you more news, exciting specials and insight into the Western Cape in 2012.

Category: Travel News

New Years Eve is a special time, to be spent with family, friends and loved ones. Now that the festive season has swung into swing, it’s time to think about how you’ll be ringing in the new year.

Take advantage of these great specials and book yourself a little getaway. You can look forward to some quality time with your family, and relax in comfort.

Beach Holidays in Cape Town

Of course, the beaches in the Western Cape are at their very best over this special time, so head on down for some fun in the sun. Take a look at Cape Town’s beaches and pick the perfect spot for a fabulous day in the sunshine.

Cape Town will come alive over New Years Eve with a wide variety of parties, shows and festivals to help you usher in 2012. Take a look at a selection of New Years Eve events and pick your party.

Most of the Western Cape’s theatres will be hosting special New Years Eve performances for you to enjoy. Pick a theatre here and you can look forward to some excellent entertainment to bring the new year in with.

Category: Travel News

Many local and international holiday makers choose Cape Town as their holiday destination for the festive season. There are many well-known reasons why and a variety of activities and events to keep the whole family entertained.

It’s also relatively easy to pick up  a sweet bargain for your holiday accommodation in the Western Cape, by heading over and perusing the Hot Deals and Special Offers for the Festive Season. Most resorts and establishments are happy to create a holiday package to suit your pocket!

Now that the Christmas lights have been turned on, Cape Town has swung into vacation mode, and the town is ready to celebrate. Within the CBD and along the coast, the bars, restaurants and cafes have already started to see an influx of festive visitors. What better way to celebrate than with friends, whilst sipping a cocktail and enjoying the marvellous mountain and ocean views in Camps Bay?

Cape Town is well-known for its people. Laidback, friendly and helpful, Capetonians are very used to having their town explored by a wide range of visitors. The city welcomes tourism and investment, and Cape Town is kept clean and friendly throughout the year.

Blouberg Beach

If there’s one thing the Western Cape is most famed for though, it is the abundance of good food and fresh produce. From the fresh fish caught at Hout Bay or at any of the fishing towns along the coastline, to an array of wholesome Cape cuisine, you’ll find it hard to choose what to eat, when confronted with such a range of tantalising options.

With a full belly and a happy heart, you absolutely must enjoy a little time on Cape Town’s beaches during your holiday.

Whatever your reason for the season, let Cape Town welcome you for your Christmas holiday.

Category: Travel News

The time of year has arrived, where we all start counting down the minutes to the holidays, and look forward to some quality time, relaxing with family and friends. The Western Cape is a sublime choice for a holiday destination, and the festive season offers visitors an array of specials to take advantage of. Numerous establishments are now running great promotions, offering you discounted rates for your festive season holiday. Take a look here for a full listing of specials currently running on Cape Stay.

The cosy and comfortable lounge at Manor Cottage

Manor Cottage and Tranquility Base in Hout Bay is offering an amazing special for the holidays. You can book the Manor Cottage for just R1080 per night, or Tranquility Base for just R1560 per night. The Manor Cottage is situated in the Baviaanskloof region of Hout Bay, in a quiet cul-de-sac, high up on the side of the mountain. Manor Cottage can accommodate 8 people, and is completely child-friendly. Tranquility Base can also accommodate up to 8 people, and boasts a wonderful deck, with beautiful mountain and valley views.

One of the beautifully appointed bedrooms at Twenty One on Deane

Twenty One on Deane in Sea Point is a stylish, modern and spacious double-storey townhouse. Brilliantly decorated and furnished, Twenty One on Deane can sleep up to 6 guests, as it has 3 beautiful bedrooms and bathrooms. This lovely townhouse overlooks the Sea Point Promenade and Robben Island, whilst being quite centrally located, and very close to Clifton Beach, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront and Cape Town Central. You can enjoy this comfortable and cosy holiday home for just R1560 per night, until 04 January 2012.

The pool at Cape Town Sea Views Villa

Cape Town Sea Views Villa is a self-catering two-bedroom holiday home with its own private solar-heated salt water pool, braai facilities and jacuzzi spa bath. Just two minutes’ walk away from Dolphin Beach, in Table View, Blouberg, this holiday apartment also boasts a lovely breakfast nook from where you can enjoy your morning coffee, whilst watching the waves break on the shore. Whilst this apartment would be perfect for a romantic holiday, it can accommodate up to 6 guests. You can enjoy this lovely apartment for just R1000 per night, until 28 December 2011.

Don’t delay - book your festive holiday accommodation in the Western Cape today!

Category: Travel News

The time has come for you to start planning your holiday itinerary and daydream about all the exciting things you and your family will get up to during the festive season. Your summer holiday time is a special time, to spend relaxing and exploring the world around you.

The Western Cape is a haven for the summer holiday-maker. There is no better place to spend this wonderful time of year, than in Cape Town. The temperature’s great, the people fabulous and the city is abuzz with activity. Book your holiday accommodation in Cape Town now, and add our top five favourite things to do, to your itinerary!

Top Five Things to do in Cape Town on Your Summer Holiday

Without a doubt, sipping sundowners on the beach, or relaxing on the beautiful sands, is a must. Head off to cosmopolitan Camps Bay or relax at quiet Llandudno. There’s a beach in the Cape that’s perfect for you and your family, so go out and enjoy!

The nightlife in Cape Town is incomparable. The Western Cape is home to a true extravaganza of nightclubs, bars and restaurants, all offering a variety of entertainment, to suit your every desire. What better way to blow off some steam and get some exercise whilst catching up with friends, than to take to the dancefloor? Don’t forget to stop in at Grand West Casino because it could be your lucky night!

If a quieter holiday is your preference, why not spend a few days in the Winelands? Same some of the world’s most wonderful wines, and experience a culinary festival of food and fresh produce. The Winelands is vast and just waiting to be explored, with expansive wine estates and farms sprawled across the region. Get out there and get some fresh country air, whilst sampling some of the world’s finest produce.

Indulge all your shopping desires in Cape Town

Take a meander through the wide range of markets and shopping centres in Cape Town. There are nearly two hundred shopping centres and malls listed across the Western Cape, and definitely something that you’d like or enjoy. Cape Town also comes alive over the festive season with a range of Christmas markets, and a number of permanent markets, such as the one at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront.

Lastly, literally, take a hike! This unique area of South Africa is dotted with walking and hiking trails, mountains to climb - for the more adventurous, and an abundance of opportunities to enjoy nature at her very finest. Get some good exercise and you can look forward to spying some wild animals in their natural habitat.

These are our top five things to do in Cape Town during the summer holidays. What’s yours?

Category: Travel News

You’ll find Kleinmond in the beautiful Overberg region of the Western Cape. Set between the Palmiet River and Kleinmond Lagoon, within a UNESCO-declared biosphere, Kleinmond is a haven for those wishing to escape into natural tranquility.

For the beach and sea-lover, Kleinmond has gorgeous sands, and water sports galore. Kleinmond’s main beach has Blue Flag status. For the shopaholic, Harbour Road offers a wide array of quaint shops, an art gallery and wonderful seafood restaurants. Not to be outdone, Kleinmond is a haven for the nature-lover. The Rooisand nature reserve is home to wild horses and a wide range of birdlife and the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, where Kleinmond is situated, is home to more than 1600 species of fynbos, and miles of indigenous forest. This makes the area a great destination for hikers and day trippers, who want to experience nature at her most beautiful.

Kleinmond is the largest of the four coastal towns that fall within the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. Although relatively quiet, Kleinmond is a popular holiday spot. Visitors to this pretty town can swim safely in the lagoons and enjoy lovely fishing opportunities at the beach.

Notornis House

Notornis House is a luxurious, self-catering house located within the Arabella Country Estate. With views to the lagoon and four comfortable bedrooms, Notornis House is the ideal spot for a quiet family vacation. Perfect for summer and winter, thanks to underfloor heating, Notornis House lets you immerse yourself in the tranquility of Kleinmond, whilst relaxing in splendour.

The Homestead

The Homestead is a magnificent, Cape-style holiday home in Kleinmond. Formerly known as Albertyn House and originally built in 1861, The Homestead is proudly known as Kleinmond’s oldest building. Relax on the verandah and enjoy watching the waves roll in, or, if you’re lucky, whales frolicking in the bay. The Homestead is situated right on Sandown Beach, and is perfect for family holidays. A beachside park can be found right next to The Homestead, with rolling lawns, swings and boats that can be hired for lagoon rides.

Escape to the quiet of Kleinmond, and enjoy nature at her most wonderful.