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If you're lucky enough to be heading off on your holidays to Cape Town with a full wallet and an empty credit card, looking forward to treating yourself to a luxurious getaway and a few weeks of pampering - don't read on. If, however, you're like many people who save all year for your annual holidays and have to keep an eye on your spending whilst abroad, then this article is for you. Cape Town is an eclectic destination with the ubiquitous "something for everyone". It really is a place where you can splurge or save and, depending on your circumstances, you may find a few of these ideas suit your pocket perfectly.



Camps Bay Beach

In summer at least, the beaches are definitely the best place to be in Cape Town. With many to choose from, Camps Bay Beach is definitely rated amongst the best. The palm-fringed beaches create a picturesque contrast to the dramatic backdrop of Table Mountain. Whether you want to engage in some of the many water sports available, swim lazily in the shallows, sunbathe, or simply sit in a pavement cafe; Camps Bay Beach is a wonderful place to pass some time without having to spend a lot of money.


Greenmarket Square Flea Market

Whilst you certainly will have to pay for any purchases which tempt you, it doesn't cost anything to wander around these wonderful markets and soak up the history. Located centrally in Cape Town, Greenmarket Square has a long and chequered history, starting out as a slave market. Through incarnations as a fruit and vegetable market and a parking lot, in the 80's it was transformed into a small flea market. Today it has evolved into a thriving hub of craft and creativity. As well as the many stalls and shops which line the square, there is an abundance of cafes and restaurants ideal for watching the passing parade of Cape Town - all for the price of a coffee.

Breakfast in the Kirstenbosch Gardens

Surely one of the most relaxing places in Cape Town, the beautiful Kirstenbosch Gardens do have an entry fee but, at what is equivalent to the price of a cup of coffee in some cities around the world, you certainly get a lot more bang for your buck here. Treat yourself to a budget-busting breakfast in one of the most sublime settings you will ever find. Over 500 hectares are devoted to the propagation and maintenance of indigenous South African plants and flowers and, after a full English breakfast to give you strength, you can spend the rest of a lazy morning exploring the gardens at your leisure.

Enter the Dragons

If you head down to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront any Monday to Thursday evening, you can witness the practice sessions of Cape Town's Dragon Boat rowers. If you're even luckier, your visit will coincide with an official race. This spectacular sport commemorates the death of an ancient Chinese poet and the boats are beautifully decorated to represent a dragon. Each boat is crewed by 22 rowers, a steersman, and a drummer to keep the beat of the stroke. Watching both the practice sessions and the actual races is free and it is easy to get swept up in the exciting atmosphere.

Cape Town is a wonderful place to visit for a few days or a few weeks. How much you spend is up to you but, for those with a small budget but a big imagination, the sky's the limit.


Author: Rachel Hill



One common misconception surrounding travel is you should have loads of money before setting off. Obviously, that isn't the case in most cases. Armed with planning and the right information, you should be able to have the time of your life on your trips. Guys, which destination(s) did you go to on your last visit to Cape Town? Would you recommend them?

Whether you need to travel to another city or another country, it's never been easier to book a flight. There are many options for travelers. The airline companies themselves offer booking services via the internet, phone, and in person. There are also budget travel sites that simplify the whole process by allowing you to compare all of the rates from every airline at once and choose which one would most suit your preferences.

There are many things to consider when booking a flight: departure city, departure date, arrival city, arrival date, whether or not you want a round trip, number of nights you'll be at your destination, whether or not you want to book a car rental and/or hotel along with the flight, and so forth. Luckily, all of this is made easy with the use of online search and comparison tools. You can experiment with the dates and times as well as the destinations to get an idea of the price range. The more flexible you are, the easier it will be to get a cheaper price.

Age is an important factor as well - especially if you'll be traveling with children or the elderly. Ticket prices are different for adults and children 17 and under. For older adults, senior discounts may be available. While credit/debit cards are the primary methods of payment preferred by the airline industry, there are a few airlines who accept PayPal and unused travel funds. You might also have flyer points or gift cards that you can redeem.

Price Alerts Will Help You Book a Flight

Be sure to sign up for price alerts before you book a flight. Tickets can fluctuate considerably - even on a daily basis. Even a small decrease can result in large savings if you have to buy tickets for relatives or associates. Some online sites and tools even allow you to set your own budget and will notify you when a ticket becomes available within your budget range.

Determine whether or not it would be cheaper to book a long haul flight yourself. If you are flying a long distance, consider that it might be cheaper to book two or three legs of the trip separately by adding another destination or two to the trip. For example, if you need to fly from Europe to Alaska, it might be cheaper to first book a trip to Atlanta, then book a trip from Atlanta to Chicago, then fly from Chicago to Seattle, and then finally onto Alaska by taking budget airlines who offer smaller trips.

The best thing to do is to use a travel shopping comparison site that will allow you to compare all of the prices from all of the airlines on the dates you enter at once. Choose the option that best suits your needs and book a flight as well as hotel room and car rental if you need to.


Whether you want to book a flight for a business trip or a vacation, the best place to begin your search is online. The site will not only uncover the best airfare rates, but hotel rates and car rental discounts as well. You can create your entire itinerary and save money in the process by using online coupons.

Author: George Botwin



Bonus Travel Hack: Use your browser's incognito mode to surf for airline tickets. They are usually cheaper that way. The reasoning behind this airline and booking sites use your cookies to identify you've visited their site too often and may assume you might be willing to pay higher for the tickets, thus prices are likely to go up if they notice you've visited their site multiple times. 

We would like to know your thoughts on this. Is this something you've personally experienced?