| Cape Town Travel
Tips |
| Page Contents
|
|
|
| Gratuities |
| Tipping is common practice in South Africa.
Service charge is usually not included at restaurants, and a 10-15% tip is
considered standard. It is also customary to tip Tour Guides and rangers R100
per day (total). Porters (per bag), car guards and petrol pump attendants are
generally tipped between R2 - R5. |
| Foreign
Exchange |
Forex is readily available from bank branches,
including at the airport and kiosks in all major shopping centres.
Rennies has Bureaux de Change in many locations. Cape Town has a good
network of ATM's making it easy to withdraw money from international
bank accounts using Cirrus, VISA or Maestro cards.
For safety reasons, it is advisable not to carry large
quantities of cash. Major international credit cards (Mastercard, Visa, Diners
Club, American Express) are widely accepted. |
| Local
Prices |
Most foreign visitors find Cape Town an
inexpensive city. Here are a few examples of what you can expect to pay
(published 2008).
- Quality sandwich/ take-away burger, chips & cold drink:
from R40.00
- Bottle of wine: from R40.00
- Car hire per day: from R200.00
- Excellent 3 course meal with wine: from R250.00
|
| To /
From the Airport |
Cape Town's international airport is
located about half an hour from the city bowl - see maps. Shuttle bus services between the
airport and the city centre are available at arrivals, expect to pay around
R180 for one person one way. Private taxis charge approximately R210.
Tour companies should arrange to greet you at the airport.
|
| Tax
Refunds |
| All travellers to South Africa are able to claim
back 12.5% VAT (Value Added Tax) on goods purchased for export providing the
total value exceeds R250. Make sure you keep the original tax invoices
(full receipts) & complete a VAT refund control sheet obtainable
from your airport/harbour of departure and customs offices. The purchases will
need to be checked by a customs inspector. |
| Health |
| Good news - Cape Town is not a malaria
area, no innoculations are required and tap water is perfectly
safe to drink. If traveling to rural areas or north from Cape Town, contact
your local travel clinic for all necessary health precautions. |
| Climate |
One of the wonderful things about Cape Town is
its warm Mediterranean climate. In the summer months (November -
March) it is dry and temperatures frequently rise above 26° C / 69°F.
Long sunny days make for ideal beach weather.
Winter is cool to mild, but never freezing. This is the rainy season and
although there may be several days of constant rain, when the clouds lift the
city is often rewarded with beautifully clear and sunny weather. For mean
monthly temperature, rainfall and wind-speed, see maps. |
| Dress |
| If Cape Town has a dress code it is extremely
casual. Smart-casual wear is appropriate for some restaurants, hotels
and the theatre. Bring comfortable walking/hiking shoes if you plan to explore
Table Mountain and make sure you are well-armed with strong
sunblock. |
| Visas |
Visas are not required for anyone traveling to
South Africa on a European Union, United States or Canadian passport (published
2008). A three month holiday visa is generally issued on arrival into
the country. Those wishing to extend their holiday visa should contact the
Department of Home Affairs 021 464 3700.
If you require a study visa ask the South African institution to help
you with the necessary procedures. Applying for a work visa is often a
difficult, expensive, tedious process requiring endless patience and a strong
sense of humor - Permanent Residence is even worse, contact your closest
South African embassy and a South African lawyer and Good Luck!! |
| Disabled |
The major attractions in Cape Town - the
Waterfront, Cape Point, the Cable Car - are all 'disabled friendly', as are all
the modern hotels and many restaurants. Amenities include ramps and parking
bays. Kirstenbosch Gardens have some excellent trails for the blind.
You can get contact details for the regional branch of the
Association for the Physically Disabled at
www.apd-wc.org.za
|
| Useful
Contact Numbers |
- Cape Town Tourism: 021 487 6800
- Department of Home Affairs: 021 464 3700
- Directory Enquiries (within South Africa): 1023
- Directory Enquiries (international): 0903
- Emergency Services: 10111
- Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital: 021 480 6111 (private
hospital in the city centre)
- Ambulance: 10177
|
|
|
© www.capetown.at 2008. You may print this
article for personal use; if for reproduction please acknowledge
'www.capetown.at'. You may not use this material for any electronic media
except with written permission. www.capetown.at accepts no responsibility for
inaccuracies or the work of service providers.
|
