Diane Parr is a regular traveller from Britain to South Africa. She names the weather and low costs among the reasons for her high rate of return.
“We travel across in January so we know we will have blue skies and pleasant temperatures for most of our stay. We know that we can visit fantastic restaurants which will deliver quality food and wine every time. We have revisited many of the same places but do try to explore and find new ones.
“The exchange rate is very favourable to us Brits at the moment, but we would still want to visit if this were to change in the future.
“I have only travelled around the Cape area so far, but am very impressed with the way that the people who work in the tourist industry genuinely make you feel welcome – it’s not just a job.
“I tell all my friends how safe I feel as they seem to think it’s a dangerous place to visit, but you just have to use common sense - I wouldn't walk around some parts of London by myself, so I just apply same principle to the Cape.
“I think the shopping malls are very safe - I love Canal Walk and the one by Somerset West.
“Beautiful scenery and beautiful country are a must for me; I have to be pleased by what I see during my travels. I am lucky enough to live in beautiful mid-Wales but I do find the Cape and surrounding area stunning! I do enjoy the beach parts of the Cape but it is not my priority - my favourite place would be around Stellenbosch and the wine route for the architecture.
“Another aspect would be the wide range of accommodation that can be found. You can treat yourself and go 'top end' for a few days and then have very reasonable prices for the rest of the stay but still as enjoyable.”
Parr’s advice to prospective British travellers to South Africa includes keeping an eye on the exchange rate and buying Rands when it is most favourable. As she prefers to fly directly she is prepared to spend a little more on flights, but would compromise with one stop if the budget was tight. She books early, believing that last minute flights are not necessarily cheaper and come with a limited seat choice.
For families holidaying in the Cape, she strongly endorses a trip to Boulders Bay to see the penguins. A safari to view some of the Big 5 is another recommendation, although she feels young children could be bored by anything longer.
“Although I have travelled without children, I have noted on several occasions how nearly all food places welcome children; even on the wine tours there are some activities for the children - picnics, outdoor games areas. Britain could learn a lot from South Africa on being more child-friendly.”
Families, she says, would find it easy to entertain children because the weather encourages playing outdoors or swimming. “A house on a golf resort would be ideal if one or two parents like golf, as all the amenities are there and there is something to entertain the parents too.”
