As a holiday destination, Cape Town has it all: food, wine, beaches, beautiful scenery and a fantastic lifestyle, creating a thriving demand for holiday home rentals.
With certain areas of the Mother City being true holiday hot spots, location is more important than ever if you’re planning to invest in a rental property.
“We find that most requests from international visitors are for the Atlantic Seaboard – especially Clifton and Camps Bay,” says Helen Untiedt, co-founder, Perfect Hideaways. “For South African visitors anything on the coastline works. Most people want to have an ocean view and be able to walk with ease to the beach.”
The False Bay coastline with its quaint seaside holiday feel is somewhere that families return to year after year, and the Western Seaboard is another popular area, especially for water sports enthusiasts. While the peak summer season shows the greatest demand, Cape Town works well as a year-round destination.
“The biggest spend comes from our international clients and this is usually over the peak period, with bookings of up to three weeks in large homes on the Atlantic Seaboard. Local clients tend to travel all year, so while the spend may be less, it keeps going through all the seasons,” says Helen.
The design, style and character of the property are also big factors at the top end of the market where visitors are looking for a place that feels like home. A swimming pool is essential for most people, and good heating and an open fireplace make a property attractive for cosy winter holidays.
“Our clients look for a beautiful space where they can spend time. Comfort is key and they want a really good location with access to the beach. Views, views and more views,” says Helen.
Our clients love beachfront homes. Scarborough, Simon’s Town, Noordhoek and Kalk Bay all work well for South African visitors. We do find that the quality of accommodation is vital, and clients are fussy in the style and comfort factor.
Helen Untiedt, co-founder, Perfect Hideaways
Best in food:
- Mangata in Simon’s Town
- The Foodbarn in Noordhoek
- Nobu at One&Only V&A Waterfront
- Homespun in Bloubergstrand
Best beaches:
- Clifton beaches: for beach chic
- Camps Bay: for people-watching and sundowners
- Muizenberg: for surfing and family fun
- Bloubergstrand: for adrenaline water sports
- Noordhoek: for horse riding
- Boulders Beach: for penguins and picnics
Things to do:
- Explore shops and boutiques in Kalk Bay.
- Browse crafts and designs at the The Watershed at the V&A Waterfront.
- Watch a movie under the stars at The Galileo Open Air Cinema.
- Walk the Kirstenbosch Boomslang tree canopy walkway.
- Enjoy sundowners in Bloubergstrand with a view of Table Mountain.
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
Take a spectacular journey through the Atlantic Seaboard here:
