Cape Town is one of the South Africa's destinations of choice for international holidaymakers. It is also known for being South Africa's most expensive city for tourists, and with good reason. It has exclusive shopping complexes such as the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront and Canal Walk, luxury 5-star hotels such as the One & Only, and expensive eateries in Bantry Bay and Camps Bay. However, its reputation as an expensive travel destination is somewhat misleading - it is possible for those with more limited budgets to make the most of what the city and the surrounding area has to offer.
In terms of budget accommodation, Cape Town has a number of affordable guesthouses and hostels. Many of its popular hostels are located in Long Street in the city centre. This is a great location from which to explore the city and surrounding areas due to the easy availability of public transport and the vibrant nightlife in the area.
In terms of budget transport, Cape Town has one of the most sophisticated public transport systems in South Africa. It has a reliable, safe and efficient network of buses, the Golden Arrow buses, which connect the Golden Acre bus station in the city centre with various other areas in and around the city. Bus fares for a single trip to any destination cost between R5 and R12 (roughly between 80 US cents and USD 1.50). Travellers are able to catch Golden Arrow buses from the city centre to most of the popular beaches in the area.
The City of Cape Town recently commenced running new bus service, the MyCity bus service. The MyCity buses are an efficient, affordable and safe way of getting between Cape Town International Airport and the Civic Centre in the inner city, with tickets for a one-way trip on this route costing R53 (roughly USD 7). The MyCity buses also provide transport between the Civic Centre and the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront in Greenpoint, and between the Civic Centre and Table View.
In terms of nightlife, Long Street has dozens of bars, pubs and nightclubs that are popular with travellers and locals alike. Most of them do not charge an entrance fee, and travellers with limited funds can enjoy a good night out on Long Street without breaking the bank.
Travellers on a budget can enjoy Cape Town's beaches at no cost. Popular beaches in the area include Clifton, Camps Bay and Muizenberg Beach, all of which are on the public transport routes.
A great way to spend an afternoon in Cape Town without spending too much money is to take a boat trip to Seal Island. Trips in glass-bottomed boats are available from Hout Bay harbour to Seal Island at around R60 each (less than USD 9). These trips are about an hour long, and are a great way of seeing the area's abundant marine life, including its large seal population.
Cape Town is a city with something for all travellers, from those who wish to enjoy a luxury holiday with money being no object, to those who prefer to travel cheaply and don't mind roughing it by staying in more basic accommodation and using the city's public transport system.
Johnny Peters is the content syndication manager of a leading South African travel information and booking portal, flightnetwork.co.za, which allows visitors to search for flights from the country's major airlines and book cheap flights online.
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