Cape Town Often Remarkable

There is much beauty in this city and on the Cape in general. If you decide to go to Cape Town, don''t miss seeing the Cape Malay area. A very old neighborhood close to city centre that still has a relatively normal life. This tight neighborhood of almost entirely Muslim people maintain its safety with tight family relationships and a very strick religious code. I was taken there as a guest. Rising on steep hills above the City Centre, Cape Malay is wonderful.

Quick Tips:

Cape Town is a beautiful city with much to offer visitors. Be wise and you will be happy. There is much to do and the Rand still offeres very good rates of exchange against the dollar and other currencies. Enjoy the food. Just about any sort you fancy is available. Don't miss Robben Island for an understanding of how South Africa was reborn.

Best Way To Get Around:

Stick to organized tours and taxis unless you are in a protected area such as the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront shopping area. This is not a good place to get lost. Although many visitors rent cars, I feel happier doing organized tours. South Africa is a very large country, so plan ahead and study your maps to get the most out of your travel experience.

If you decide to go down to the Cape of Good Hope, be ware of the babboons! The wait for the chance to steal food from cars.

What is there to say about the hotel that year after year Conde Nast Traveler magazine lists as the Best in The World? Incredible attention to details. Each room has a door bell. You can choose the hour you wish to have your room made up. Bath products include Woolite. Reading lights are all over the place. Huge closets and dressing area. Thermostat in easy reach of your bed. Comfy chairs with foot stools. Hard cover books in each room as well as new magazines.

You sit in the library with a glass of sherry or wine while you check in. They remember your name! Gift shop items are fairly priced. The biggest and most complete mini bar I've ever seen. Complete coffee and tea service in your room with fresh milk (in the fridge).

We had a standard room with far above average size, decor, luxury items and service. A few loft apartments have been added recently to the top of the hotel as demand for this hotel increased with the Conde Nast rating. There are a few suites.

Due to the exchange rate of the Rand, we paid about the same for this fine hotel as for a Marriott in the US. A full breakfast is included. Current rates of exchange make this luxury hotel a bargain for those with strong foreign currency.

This hotel is a popular booking for the premium price tour companies and up market cruise passengers either beginning or ending their cruises. However, the small size of this hotel makes it impossible for it ever to be crowded.

Internet service for guests includes modem plug-ins with high speed access in each bedroom.

The Cape Grace Hotel is on a 'quay'. That is a spit of land into the harbour. It is connected to the Victoria and Alfred Shopping centre by a small draw bridge. Security is very high although subtle. 54 security cameras in the area of the hotel.

Remember when you the leave the hotel and the Victoria and Alfred shopping centre, you are in a big city so take your usual precautions.


Although it was too cool during my visit for swimming or even dining outside, I could see that the pool is in a very attractive area with a fine view of the harbours and Table Mountain. May is the beginning of autumn in South Africa, but even so the weather is pleasing most of the time.

Often too tired at night for a big meal in a restaurant, we used Private Dining (room service) at the Cape Grace Hotel which is both reasonably priced (for those with British and/or US currency) and superb.

How often have you ever heard that?

The menu is vast, service prompt, and the presentation of the food is beautiful. The Private Dining trays have a full service of silverware ( 9 items of forks, knives and spoons per person for dinner )and fresh flowers. My husband really enjoyed the smoked salmon. Breakfasts were wonderful. They also had several 'American' dishes for those homesick for a hamburger, etc. Hot food was served hot, cold food-cold. Ice cream was perfect. (yes I am doing an ice cream tour of the world). Recall that my standard room had a large table with two comfortable chairs. The Private Dining waiters not only came in with the trays, but set the table and arranged the plates, silverware, glasses and flowers on the table. Not just a drop and run as in so many other hotels in the world.

Also, the mini bar had several choices of US brand candies, sodas, fine wine, very good beer and Kodak film! (at the same price as the shopping center nearby). To us the mini bar was a bargain. We used it a lot.

To put icing on the cake, room service trays vanished quickly from the hallways. This is a major pet peeve of mine. I hate to walk down a hotel hallway past used room service trays!


Breakfast service was prompt and the food served hot or chilled as appropriate. Eggs prepared as you like either in the British or American fashion. Low fat and low cal items with mounds of fresh fruit too tasty to describe.

This is better room service than the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C. Yes I said that! The Mayflower has long been my number one on that quality list.

I put the Cape Grace Hotel at the top of my favorite hotels list, but a very close second is the Alphonse XIII in Seville Spain.

Shopping is incredible for those of us with foreign currency. All sorts of things including many US and Europeon brands at very competitive prices. The design of this shopping center is lovely. A vast improvement over the old warehouses that occupied this site for decades if not centuries.

Endless numbers, kinds and prices of restaurants. Fast food to fine dining.
A least one grocery store (in Woolworth''s department store) and several commercial money changers. Also a place to begin the process of getting your VAT refund.

Beautiful views of the harbour and Table Mountain.

At least 5 one-hour photo places which some members of our group used often. Several ATMs. Service was prompt and cordial in all the shops. We were never rushed along even in fast food places. A popular destination for tourists and local residents as there is always something going on. Do not pass up the chance to take a boat tour around the harbour.
A five minute walk from the Cape Grace Hotel. Attached to the Table Mountain Hotel.

In advance of our trip we were given guidelines on tipping in South Africa. A Rand here, a Rand there. Hogwash! We realized on arrival that the Rand (at that time worth about 12 US cents, now stronger) wasn't a tip for anything! We made a family decision to tip in South Africa as much as possible at the same level we would tip in Texas. What does that mean?

I tipped our hotel maids daily. Their wages are small. They use their tips to buy groceries on their way home after a long, hard day. We were in luxury hotels. What was the point of under-tipping or not tipping? I tipped the maids the South African equal to about $4 per day, sometimes more. (We also left unneeded clothing along the way, with a note explaining that the items were left on purpose.) We tipped the equal to about $1 per bag for porters. We tipped waitresses at least 20% of the total of our bill and then some if the tip still looked meager.

We also shopped and tried to buy handmade items whenever possible. The works of art offered are often wonderful. We bought wood and stone carvings and made made clothing of fabric made in Africa.

Don't miss the silk scarves designed by Mike Fitzpatrick in a brand called "Legends of Africa". Incredible! The Mike Fitzpatrick scarves are sold at the Skylight Gallery in the Victoria Wharf part of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront Mall. Tel: +27 (0) 21419 0358. They are pure magic!

On returning home our cousin Rodney completed our shopping desires by sending us by ship a large, carved giraffe. Thanks to Rodney! You know who you are and my thanks also for your reading IgoUgo.

Interesting souvenir items are certainly the South African coins. A handful of pocket change may reveal some that go back decades. More impressive gifts would truly be gold coins that come in several values. The famous KrugerRands.

I have good friends in Cape Town and a relative or two. I would love for the economy of the city to be benefited by the spending of masses of tourists. To make a long story a short one, much has improved since the time of my initial trip to South Africa.

I stayed in a wonderful hotel. The Cape Grace which is said to be the finest hotel in the world. Lovely. Wonderful restaurants! great sightseeing and the Victoria and Alfred Shopping Centre which is adjacent to the Cape Grace Hotel.

If you are traveling by cruise ship, organized tour such as Abercrombie and Kent or going to visit friends or relatives you will find many benefits to visiting South Africa.

Will I return to South Africa? Likely, yes! It is a wonderful country with a future as the best place to live and visit in Africa. It is a huge value for those of us who have a strong currency, most of the people are lovely and very hospitable and the scenery and animals wonderful.