Take a look some of the luxurious properties available to rent on the Atlantic Seaboard for the coming holidays.
Cape Town has become the place to be seen over the high summer holidays and Ruth Munitz, Manager of SeeffSHORTSTAY says there is no need to board a plane to Ibiza or any other island destination this summer.
You can do much better in Cape Town. In spending power terms, one rand will give you just 7c in the US, 6c in the Eurozone and 5c in Britain, thus only 5%-7% of the value of your money, she says.
The Big Mac Index (as at January), a popular index used by economists to measure spending power in US Dollars terms puts South Africa fourth cheapest destination with a Big Mac price of just USD2.26 (number 53 out of 56) compared to 5.3 for the USA (4th most expensive out of 56), 4.53 for Australia (15/56), 4.47 for the Euro area (16/56), 4.34 for Spain (19/56) and 4.11 for Britain (22/56). And, says Ms Munitz, you can find some of the best cappuccino in the world here for less than half the price that you would pay in the UK and Europe.
With the additional flights and seats added over the last year, you can get to the city in about two hours from all of the main centres.
Cape Town offers a location as scenic as the best in the world, often compared to the French Riviera and Monaco with the best weather in the world and beautiful white sandy beaches that includes no less than eleven Blue Flag beaches, including Clifton 4th Beach and Camps Bay Beach along with beaches in Llandudno, Muizenberg and Melkbosstrand.
Apart from the beaches, chic cosmopolitan lifestyle with street and beach cafés and hangouts across the city, you have access to nature reserves, a wide range of trails for hiking, cycling and horse riding, water sport, yachting and boating and some of the world’s best vineyards with no less than ten top class wine routes on your doorstep. You can even indulge in some game viewing opportunities within one to two hour’s drive from the city.
Cape Town is not just the most visited coastal city on the continent, but also the most tagged on Instagram with over 5.8 million tags (as at September). The next nearest on the continent, is Cairo (Egypt, 2.9m), Marrakesh (Morocco, 2.6m) and Zanzibar (848 589) and Nairobi (626 909), both in Kenya. The city also ranks higher than Joburg (1.3m) and Durban (1m) as well as Mauritius (1.5m) and even Malta (3.4m).
Hot spots for visitors include Camps Bay and Clifton in particular, but also Sea Point, Mouille Point, Blouberg and Muizenberg as well as attractions such as Table Mountain, the wine farms of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl, Robben Island and of course, the V&A Waterfront where, at the new Silo District, you can ow also visit the latest attraction, the Zeitz MOCAA museum, a first for the continent. Popular hot spots also include Bree, Long and Kloof Streets and the Bo-Kaap.
As with trendy holiday hots spots such as the French Riviera and Monaco, we are also seeing a rise in the popularity of non-hotel type of accommodation with apartments and villas being the most popular choice, says Ms Munitz. Client needs tend to vary, from the basic yet functional, to posh villas with pools and views are always in demand. Upper end bookings often include additional service requests, sometimes akin to that of a 5-star hotel.
Although rental rates have been reported to range to about R200 000/day, Ms Munitz says that these are rare exceptions. In general, visitors can expect to pay on average R2 000-R10 000/day in the CBD are up to Sea Point and R4 000-R30 000/day in the luxury suburbs of the Atlantic Seaboard such as Camps Bay, Bantry Bay and Fresnaye, but more at the top end of the scale in an area such as Clifton.
Lance Cohen, a Seeff property specialist in high-end luxury villas in Clifton, Bantry Bay and Fresnaye says that these areas represent the crown jewel of property in South Africa and that both local and foreign clients are certainly choosing Cape Town as a premier holiday destination over the December summer season.
For holiday makers, there is still plenty to choose from, says Ms Munitz. Seeff highlights six of the best villas available for the summer:
Villa 1: Bantry Bay, R115 000/day
This opulent villa comes with five bedroom suites, a private lift, top class security and privacy and a roof deck, Jacuzzi and infinity pool, all overlooking the Atlantic Ocean with views as far as the eye can see.
Villa 2: Green Point, R72 000/day
The villa offers fabulous views, its own lift, four bedrooms and bathrooms, a cinema room, indoor-outdoor living, full security and staff on the premises.
Villa 3: Fresnaye, R30 000/day
This luxury villa offers the ideal family holiday as there is a games room as well as a jungle gym along with five bedrooms and bathrooms. The property also has borehole water and comes with full security.
Villa 4: Camps Bay, R42 300/day
This luxury villa comes with sea and mountain views and is within walking distance of the Camps Bay Promenade. It is child-friendly and is an outdoor paradise for young children and it comes with full security, four luxury bedrooms, fabulous living areas that open to the outdoor entertainment and pool area.
Villa 5: Bantry Bay, R36 200/day
An entertainer’s dream Ibiza-style villa with an outdoor sunken lounge complete with daybeds and a pool, four bedrooms, beautiful open-plan living areas, full security and views as far as the eye can see.
Villa 6: Fresnaye, R19 000/day
A brand new luxury villa with four bedrooms, spacious living areas, a Jacuzzi and swimming pool and excellent security located next to Fresnaye Sports Club for tennis and bowls.
The Seeff teams says that Cape Town offers a holiday without compare and you have the opportunity to enjoy a holiday that ranks amongst the best in the world. By renting a fabulous villa, you can live like a local and enjoy the Atlantic Seaboard lifestyle that has become so sought after. It means that you are not bound by hotel or guest house rules and do not have to dress up for dinner. Best of all, you can hire in services and staff and create your own 5-star experience.
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