Friday, June 11, 2010

Dreaming of South Africa: My favorites in Cape Town and beyond‏ from Suzanne's Files

June 10, 2010

The FIFA World Cup matches kicked off this week in South Africa, and the sight of all those gorgeous vistas is making me nostalgic for my last trip to this breathtaking country. Games are being held in host cities across the country, but my personal favorite is cosmopolitan Cape Town, known as the Mother City to South Africans.

A mix of unique activities, beautiful climate, and truly fabulous food makes Cape Town one of my top worldwide destinations. I've enjoyed hiking Table Mountain, lingering over dinner at Constantia Utsig, shopping the galleries and crafts markets, and strolling the city's stunning botanical gardens.

Here are a few of my most-recommended Cape Town hotels:

Les Cascades de Bantry Bay: Dramatically perched overlooking the Atlantic, this boutique gem is located in exclusive Bantry Bay. Just six spacious suites are bedecked with unusual Asian and African artifacts, and dark wood furniture.

The Cellars-Hohenort: This charming rural retreat features an 18th century building just minutes away from the Constantia wine route. 53 suites offer views of the surrounding Constantia Valley and the hotel's beautifully landscaped garden.

Tintswalo Atlantic: If you like the sea as much as I do, there's nowhere else I'd recommend staying. Staff will drive you anywhere you'd like to go, so there's no need to rent a car, and the setting at the base of a cliff is this hotel's trump card.

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