Pick your hotel wisely

When you go anywhere on holiday, it's good to know what you're in for. If you're going camping, you want to understand just how rustic it is; if you're going backpacking, you want to know where to overnight. And if you're staying in a family member's beach cottage on an isolated plot that you've never seen before, and suddenly discover that security is becoming a problem in the area, you're no doubt going to have a change of heart and book into a hotel. At least then you know what to expect. Usually people take a holiday to relax and unwind; eager to free themselves of the daily stresses that take up so much time and energy. Staying at a hotel offers assurances of familiar routines, cleanliness standards, room service, in-house restaurants, and entertainment or leisure facilities like a gym, swimming pool, internet connectivity and a business centre.

If you choose a reputable hotel chain like the Southern Sun group, you open yourself up to more choice whether you favour the luxury end of the market or prefer the more economical options. Some people enjoy paying less for accommodation so that they have more to spend on sightseeing, entertainment, eating out and buying mementoes of their hard-earned vacation. However, that doesn't mean they'll accept inferior standards or service.

Luxury usually means opulent d©cor, spacious bedrooms, beautiful bathrooms and discreet service offered by a hotel near the city centre like the Southern Sun Cape Sun or the Southern Sun The Cullinan.

If you're travelling on a budget, you might prefer the Garden Court Southern Sun de Waal hotel in the suburb of Gardens, just outside the central business district, or the Garden Court Eastern Boulevard hotel in Woodstock. It's about five minutes drive from Gardens and is still ideally situated to get you close to all the magnificent sights that make Cape Town the top international tourist destination for 2011.

 

Go online to pre-book popular excursions or to find out what special packages are available during your stay. The Table Mountain Aerial Cable-way is one of the must-do activities during a Cape Town holiday and this destination offers great discounts for online bookings, senior citizens and children.

Whether you're travelling in high season or off-peak, there will always be great deals to tempt tourists to part with their cash. And that's what a holiday is all about, isn't it?