Destination: Cape Town, South Africa

[image: Game-Reserve]

Hawaii may still be the number one honeymoon destination for brides and grooms, but more and more couples are looking for a little more excitement and a little more adventure.  Why not give Africa a try?  Recently, I had the really good fortune to travel to South Africa with my husband.  While, it wasn’t technically a honeymoon, it would be a fantastic spot for couples.  In Cape Town, you could have all four seasons in a day, as it sits on the Western part of South Africa where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet.  And it certainly offers something for everyone – mountains, beach, vineyards and wildlife.

 Cape Town has many different parts to it, all offering something a little different.  My suggestion is that you look to stay away from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (very touristy) and opt for one of the more laid-back beach sections.  Camps Bay is further from the V&A, but it’s gorgeous.  Locals liken Camps Bay to their own LA, or Miami.  It’s very chic, has brilliant restaurants and lounges, and is right on the beach. 

 [Image:  IdeaFarm]

We chose to stay in Bantry Bay, which is just up the road from Camps Bay.  Bantry Bay is a little more residential, but quiet and offers easy access to different sights.  Dining in Camps Bay is very easy, and getting to the funicular to get up to the top of Table Mountain is right around the corner.  We stayed at O on Kloof (see their images below), and I would highly recommend staying here.  It’s a small, luxury boutique hotel and the service was perhaps the best I have ever had.  Staying in Room #1 or #5 would be your best options, as they offer an ocean facing terraces with lounge chairs, a hammock and an outdoor hot tub.  Devine!  We were greeted with Champagne upon our arrival, and when we returned in the afternoon after spending the day walking around Cape Town, appetizers were brought directly to our room.  Bernadette and Patricja are really amazing and understand what service is all about.  They totally do things right.  You cannot go wrong by staying at O on Kloof.  

A few helpful tid bits for you: 

• Delta and South African Airways offer great flights to South Africa.  If you can afford it, or have the miles, I highly suggest you go business – a 17 hour flight can be tough, but it’s doable. 
• No visa is needed for US citizens saying less than three months, but obviously you need a valid passport.
• The currency is called a Rand, and when we were there R10 = $1, so the exchange rate is definitely in your favor
• Driving is on the left side, but pay extra attention as pedestrians do what they want.  Rent a car, though, and spend the day doing the drive to the Cape of Good Hope.  It’s breathtaking.
• Languages vary across different parts of South Africa, but English, as well as Afrikaans, is widely spoke in Cape Town.  
• There are many travel guides that speak about the crime rates in South African, and of course you want to be smart about where you go.  We, however, had no problems and I never felt like I was in trouble.  

Cape Town was so amazingly beautiful we even looked at property there!