Your family vacation in Cape Town

A family vacation in Cape Town? Really??

Yes, really!

Indeed, Cape Town seems to have arrived as an international vacation choice and visitors are flocking in, families included.

The issue that may loom largest in your mind as a potential visitor (particularly as a parent) is that of crime . Take a minute to read what I have to say about it and then come back here to plan your family vacation in Cape Town.

Back already?! Okay....

Planning the best family vacation in Cape Town

Cape Town is not your typical all-inclusive package tour destination.

There's so much to do and with so many variations that no package deal could cover it. That's why you need inside information! Let's take a look at the basic elements of a good holiday plan.

How long should we stay in Cape Town?

An absolute minimum would be one week. Two weeks would be way better and of course any extra holiday time here would be an added bonus!

What time of the year is best to visit Cape Town?

This is a difficult one to answer. It really depends on the age and stage of your family, what sort of holiday (beach, adventure, touring, all three?) you want, and the things your family likes to do. Check out weather and seasons in Cape Town for some background information.

Many Northern Hemisphere visitors like to come in search of 'winter sun' i.e. they come in our summer and their winter (November to February). December is when the South African schools have their long summer holidays, so that's always a busy time.

Other visitors prefer to come in the cooler winter months (bearing in mind our coldest winter temperatures are quite mild and range between 18 degrees C (max) and 8 degrees C (min).

The bonuses of winter include shark and whale watching, proteas in bloom and great surfing conditions! Also, cheaper (international) flights and good discounts on accommodation accommodation as this is considered the off-season.

Family Vacation in Cape Town - Holiday Accommodation

Your usual preference may be for hotel accommodation , guest houses or Bed & Breakfasts. These are certainly plentiful in Cape Town and there's a wide range to choose from.

However, I really recommend you consider a villa vacation rental . It's a great option, particularly for families. Even if budget is not a consideration it gives you complete holiday freedom and flexibility. It also makes you feel less of a tourist and more like a local!

Transport and Getting Around

Again, a family's needs are unique and often call for more flexibility than couples or singles. I recommend that you hire a car for your stay to access all the excitement the Cape offers with the minimum amount of fuss.

If you have any worries about driving yourselves I can recommend a cost-effective way to do Cape Town tours.

Family Vacation in Cape Town -- Things to Do

Kids of different ages have different needs. And don't neglect your own needs just because you're the grown-up! It's your holiday too. My list includes things for younger ones as well as the adrenalin-pumping extreme activities for the older kids and the odd treat for Mum and Dad!

Food (very important!)

Cape Town has a staggering array of dining options. South Africans are really child-friendly so dining out with young kids is seldom an issue even if you don't choose a specifically "family restaurant".

Of course fine dining venues can be a challenge if Junior keeps playing in the soup - guaranteed to give you indigestion so use your discretion!

Alternatively, we have awesome grocery stores like Pick'n'Pay and Woolworths (our local equivalent of the UK's Marks and Sparks) all over the city. Foreign visitors find that the price of good food ingredients is comparatively cheap here. So if you're doing the villa vacation thing, go shopping and cook up a storm for yourselves!

If the weather's good, go South African and braai - any villa worth it's salt comes fully equipped with barbecue and tongs!

More questions to ask and answers to find?