Cape Town - is it worth a trip?

[felapel]

We’re looking at going to Cape Town and the wine region next December. Flights are coming out very expensive £2,000 each for premium. Hotels are not super cheap either. Is it worth going to?

I’ve been and loved it but no way would I pay £2k for premium .
I paid £640 a few years ago .
BA ex LHR

No, it's very dangerous for tourists in SA.

I've been a few times as late dh was from there. It's really beautiful.

Definitely go. It's a fabulous city, and so much to see. And the exchange rate is supposed to be v good (against sterling) at the moment.

Obv there's some nice scenery around but I hated it - dangerous to walk around esp at night, and palpably racist. Luxury often advertised as "colonial". Very odd energy. My impression is most people who like it like mainly staying in an expensive hotel complex on the waterfront and only venturing out on organised wine etc tours. But there are a million places I'd go before SA. I hope I never have to go back.

It's a great city, and the geography is absolutely stunning. Lots of history as well, and the District Six museum is really worth a visit.

I've been 3 times and love both Cape Town and the wine regions. Phenomenally beautiful and unlike anywhere else I've ever been. Stay around touristy areas such as the Waterfront, take official taxis to get to museums and attractions outside of this and/or take guided wine tours and you'll be fine.

To counter the PP above I've only ever stayed in hostels or with friends. No 5* waterfront hotels for me and I still love it.

I’d like to go and have friends that love it, but I’d be too concerned about safety.

Grew up there. It is an incredible destination for a holiday.

I disagree about racist undertones. It is an incredibly diverse and multicultural society. There is a lot of poverty but that is a socio-economic issue rather than a race issue.

Sadly the crime is a reality, so you would need to be vigilant. December is about the worst time to visit. Local holiday peak season - prices soar, traffic is awful. I would go I'm Feb or March. Much better weather - December can be very windy.

Have been countless times because it's one of my places to go.

Those flight costs seem extortionate though, although to be fair I've only ever travelled economy so difficult to compare.

If cost of flights is putting you off then fly economy and still go. It is 100% worth the visit.

If you do decide to go then ask for some top tips for tourists - best places to go / how to travel safely etc.

I’ve been a couple of times to see friends and it’s not somewhere I’d rush back to, despite the scenery. I used to love hiking there, but having to be so on your guard against crime saps the pleasure for me. I mean, I absolutely understand why crime levels are high, and I’m used to taking normal precautions in urban places, but it stops me enjoying myself properly.

https://www.frommers.com/blogs/arthur-frommer-online/blog_posts/rash-of-violent-muggings-plagues-cape-town-s-landmark-table-mountain

https://www.yourcapetownguide.com/table-mountain-crime-map

100% go if you can, try indirect flight with Emirates or Qatar if direct too expensive. Best city in the world, just be cautious, don’t drive or walk about in the dark. Don’t flash cash, jewellery or wealth. The wine lands and garden route are so safe, just be sensible. Exchange rate so good at the moment. Go. You won’t regret it. Let me know if you need recommendations.

I would not go hiking on my own without a guide and a group of people.

Definitely!

Went last year to Cape Town and the Winelands.

Hired a car and felt safe. Used common sense. Used Ubers in Cape Town - very cheap and reliable.

There is a very large township near the airport which the car hire companies should advise the route to avoid if dropping a rental car back.

Sorry what does that mean?

Agree with PPs - odd energy - felt unsafe basically the whole time I was there. To the PP who said “it’s not racism, it’s poverty” - all the poor people are black, so you do the maths. Have never felt so uncomfortable about being a “rich” Westerner (not rich by UK standards but you know what I mean).

Didn’t help that I had my passport stolen from my rucksack while walking down a street in broad daylight. When I realised, I booked an emergency appointment at the British Consulate who sorted it very quickly because “this happens all the time and we are set up to deal with it”. Not encouraging!

Agreed, my post was poorly worded.

What I was trying to say is that it's not overt racism, like it used to be. The fact that that the majority of the population live in poverty whilst a minority live in gated communities and get by by basically ignoring the plight of the people around them is the main reason we left nearly 20 years ago. I did not want my children growing up thinking it was ok to feel nothing when a toddler is begging on the motorway offramp. South Africans have to harden themselves to this reality. Which is awful.

We haven't been back in almost 20 years.

Cape Town is much safer than Johannesburg, for example. I loved it. Instead of just CT and Stellenbosch, consider the Garden route, Hermanus, Simon's Town and Bloubergstrand, too.

We have thought about moving there into a house looking over the sea....not worked out yet, more a dream in five years time if at all.. The scenery is absolutely stunning. We love Africa. And Cape Town is diverse, with arty, appealing areas. But I am very wary of SA and the racism and economically and racially segregated living/ gated communities etc. We would definitely go for an extended holiday before making any decision... and This thread is not reassuring me.