Accommodation guide in Cape Town for World cup 2010

The World Cup soccer tournament will be held in the major cities of South Africa during June and July 2010  Our critics amy be surprised to note that preparations are well in place to make this a successful event, the first to be hosted on the African continent . Many Internet visitors looking for affordable accommodation in South Africa may be confused at the variety and selection of accommodation options and the many suburbs that make up the greater Cape Town area. It has been speculated that there will be a shortage of accommodation, but as the date for the match fixtures approaches,  it is apparent that the numbers of visitors expected will be significantly less than originally anticipated. Prices of accommodation have also come down to affordable levels in many suburbs . Cape town offers  a large selection of guest houses, bed and breakfast establishments and self catering holiday accommodation that far exceeds the number of hotel beds available. It is now obvious that there will be plenty of choice but,  in order to get what you want,  it is a good idea to book early.

In order to help visitors choose where to stay in Cape Town and where to find the type of accommodation that will best suit your needs, this article aims to give you a brief guide to suburbs of greater Cape Town and what they may offer.

City Bowl : The upmarket Cape Town city bowl suburbs which include Gardens, Tamboerskloof, Higgovale, De Waterkant, Oranjezicht and Vredehoek may offer luxury and very expensive accommodation, in homes, and guest houses, which are often listed as historic homes. In the centre on thecity however you will find backpackers lodges and other inexpensive accommodation; particularly in the location of Long Street.

Green Point and Sea Point are near to the both the stadium and the famous Waterfront, and all the night life action. For those whose priority is to be close to the World Cup stadium and the exciting night life of Cape Town and the nearby Cape Town Waterfront, you should choose accommodation in the nearby suburbs of Green Point or Sea Point. Expect however to pay higher prices than in the outlying suburbs. Certainly if someone is going to offer a private dwelling in the upmarket areas within walking distance of the stadium they will be charging high rates for the convenience offered by the location.

Atlantic seaboard : on what is known as the Atlantic seaboard you will find the exclusive residential suburbs of Clifton, Camps Bay, Bakoven, Bantry Bay all of which are fairly close to the Stadium. The Atlantic seaboard comprises some of the most exclusive andexpensive properties in Cape Town as they usually have spectacular views across the ocean and are close to the most popular beaches. If you are looking for accommodation at the top end of the market , accompanied by exclusivity and luxury , then this is where you will find it. This is also the area where the beautiful people hang out, and you will find plenty of nightlife and a wide choice of restaurants and bars, with those in Camps bay  being the most popular.

Hout Bay : Quite a lot further out is the quiet fishing village of Hout bay, where you one is likely to find a range of accommodation which varies from expensive to more affordable, and there is a lot to choose from. If you are looking for a quiet spot to relax between the matches this could be a good choice,  although it is generally relatively quiet at night, except in the restaurants in the town and at the neighbouring Fisherman's wharf.

Noordhoek/Kommetjie  : at the southern end of the peninsula, some 30 minutes drive from the centre of Cape Town are  the villages of Noordhoek and Kommetjie which are a great choice if you want to have a quiet relaxing time and also enjoy some of the most breathtaking coastal scenery to be found anywhere.Noordhoek has a wide choice of accommodation from luxury to budget and you will generally find large 1 acre properties which offer just one or two cottages, so one generally does not find that it is very crowded. Noordhoek is the last bit of countryside remaining in the greater Cape Town area and easily accessible to Cape Town by road; mostly freeway. Kommetjie – a surfer’s paradise-it may be a 30  to 40 minute drive to the city backed  here you will find not only a relaxed environment and lifestyle but most likely very affordable accommodation.

Southern suburbs : There are a large number of residential suburbs which stretch toward the False Bay coast from the city and these are generally  older,  mainly Victorian , suburbs including Mowbray, Rosebank, Wynberg, and  Claremont.  Here you can expect to find reasonably affordable guesthouse accommodation,  and if you are not planning to drive,  it will be easy to get to the city using the inexpensive and regular Metro rail system, and public transport from the city will be plentiful.

Further out are the beautiful valley suburbs of Constantia and Tokai. Constantia is home to the mink and manure set, and generally comprises exclusive homes on large properties. Expect to pay a higher than average price to stay here and to have to rely upon hiring a car or a driver to get around.

South Peninsula  : On the coast of False Bay you will find the interesting older coastal suburbs of Muizenberg, St James, Kalk bay, Fish Hoek and Simonstown.  Muizenberg is undergoing conversion from its reputation as being a bit run down, and has a really great beach which is popular with the surfers.  St James is known as “millionaire’s mile” and has been a choice holiday destination for the wealthy since the early days. There is not much accommodation available here or in the more bohemian Kalk Bay nearby, and prices will be expensive. Although these are quaint and charming villages, when the World Cup will be on, the disadvantage is that they lose the sun behind the mountain in the early afternoon. Fish Hoek, a little further of the line has plenty of affordable choice, but has little to offer in the way of nightlife or diversion. It does have a convenient railway station to get to the city.

Simonstown , the historic naval town is very popular with tourists throughout the year. Although a quiet town,  the major attraction is a mile of historic buildings with architecture ranging from Dutch colonial through to Victorian. The most popular attraction is the colony of African penguins to be found on Boulders and Seaforth beaches. There is plenty of choice of accommodation in this town , and it has many attractions, but it the furthest out of the city and may not suit those who wish to be able to commute to the stadium.

Northern suburbs: There is bound to be plenty of affordable accommodation in the northern suburbs of Cape Town which include Durbanville; Bellville and Kraaifontein. Unfortunately you are bound to have to deal with heavy traffic in and out of the city and these are not only a long way from where the action is,  but there is no nightlife or any other form of diversion. Accommodation is bound to be cheap, but this fringe of our city is dead.

Cape Town offers a great diversity to suit your every need, so you should find something to fit your taste and your budget. one thing is sure that and that is that you can expect a warm and friendly African welcome in Cape Town and although, it may rain during the winter it will be interspersed with some wonderful sunny days.