I’ve been asked a few times about the best places to stay in Cape Town for the World Cup 2010 so I thought I’d share my local knowledge to help ‘newbie’ visitors find the perfect place. I’ll base this on 3 factors: Cost of accommodation, Proximity to the World Cup stadium and Style (is it a cool place with good restaurants, bars and nightlife). The World Cup stadium itself is in Greenpoint which is very central to everything cool and stylish that Cape Town has to offer. There will also be fan parks in Bellville (Northern Suburbs), Athlone (Southern Suburbs) and in front of City Hall (City Bowl).

••• Atlantic Seaboard South •••

Areas include: Green Point, Sea Point, Clifton, Camps Bay, Bakoven, Bantry Bay, Llandudno and Hout Bay.

Cost:
V.Expensive in Sea Point, Clifton, Camps Bay, Bakoven and Bantry Bay and to some extend Green Point itself although this is more Hotel based accommodation.
Expensive in Llandudno (mainly due to the type of luxury accommodation available)
Moderately expensive in Hout Bay (although you will be able to find some real bargains here as there’s lots to choose from).

Promixity to the World Cup Stadium:
1 - 8km: Sea Point and Green Point are within walking distance. Camps Bay, Clifton, Bakoven and Bantry Bay are a short 5 - 10 minute drive.
11km: Llandudno - is approx 15 - 20 minute drive along one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the City.
15km: Hout Bay is approx 20 minutes by car.

Style:
Jet-set super glamorous in Clifton, Bakoven, Bantry Bay and Camps Bay. This is where Cape Town’s beautiful people hang out and the rich and famous take their vacations. Lots of nightlife and trendy bars. Fantastic for after game entertainment of any kind. If I was looking for somewhere to stay I’d choose either Camps Bay or Clifton (if I could afford it).
Surf cool and very luxurious in Llandudno. Lots of big villas with spectacular views. Very exclusive with a fantastic beach for surfing and only a short walk to the nudist beach. However, it has zero nightlife and isn’t somewhere for after game frivolity.
Village life in Hout Bay. This could be great. There’s lots of people in Hout Bay and it has the potential to be a fantastic venue but nightlife has historically been very poor with only a few bars and rather ordinary restaurants. In horse racing terms Hout Bay is a long shot. It could be a surprise winner or follow form and fall at the first hurdle.

••• City Bowl •••

Areas include: V&A Waterfront, Gardens, Tamboerskloof, Higgovale, De Waterkant, Oranjezicht and Vredehoek.

Cost:
Expensive. However there is so much variety here that if you search around you’ll be able to find something for a reasonable price. The type of accommodation ranges from backpacker lodges to Manhattan style loft apartments and Boutique Hotels to 4-bed Villas. If you’re looking for a Villa then try Tamboerskloof. There’s also plenty of apartments at the Waterfront and around the City Centre although these are very expensive. The general rule is that the closer to the Stadium you are the more expensive it will be.

Promixity to the World Cup Stadium:
The City Bowl is perfect wherever you stay and transport links during the world cup will be excellent (fingers crossed). De Waterkant and the V&A Waterfront are possibly the two best locations for proximity and accessibility in Cape Town but for this you will pay a huge premium.

Style:
The City Bowl is more hustle and bustle than the Atlantic Seaboard so if it’s a stylish beach destination you’re after then avoid it. If, however, you want a vibey place with cool bars, restaurants and something more cosmopolitan then the City Bowl could be the perfect destination.

••• Southern Suburbs •••

Areas include: Woodstock, Observatory, Pinelands, Rondebosch, Newlands, Claremont, Plumstead, Tokai and Constantia.

Cost:
Moderately expensive in Constantia, Bishopscourt, Newlands, Claremont and Rondebosch. The Southern Suburbs are old and according to legend you need to live there for 20 years before you’re accepted as a local. However, for the World Cup there will be plenty of things going on. Most of the City’s Major sporting venues are in the Southern Suburbs so it caters well for the Sports mad crowd.
Cheap. Pinelands is a cheap option. The accommodation is mainly residential and many families will be renting out their homes solely for the World Cup month so this could be a good place to look if you’re on a budget.
You might find a bargain in Woodstock. This is the equivalent of Dalstan in London in that it’s seen a revival in the last few years and has become a super-trendy up and coming location to stay. It still has a seedier underbelly and isn’t a place to walk around at night but if you’re looking for a cool bargain then you might find it here.

Promixity to the World Cup Stadium:
Public transport links to and from the Southern Suburbs will be excellent as it’s so close and you won’t pay an arm and a leg to get around.

Style:
Very down to earth. Some would call it gritty and dirty, others would say it’s leafy green and homely. Either way it’s a good option if you like a good old boozer or a cosy fireplace for pre or post-match drinks. There will inevitably be some nightlife post games but it won’t be as glitzy or cool as elsewhere in the city.

••• Southern Peninsula •••

Areas include: Noordhoek, Kommetjie, Clovelly, Kalk Bay, Simon’s Town, Muizenberg, St James and Fish Hoek.

Cost:
Cheap depending on the type of property. Generally the accommodation is much bigger in the Southern Peninsula and you can find some great deals for larger groups. If the World Cup was in summer I would say the Southern Peninsula is an ideal spot in terms of value for money but as the World Cup is in Winter the Southern Peninsula has very little in the way of entertainment and you could find yourself spending all your time travelling to the City where all the action will be happening. However it could be a perfect choice for larger groups or those seeking something away from the hullabaloo of the World Cup.

Promixity to the World Cup Stadium:
Not very close. It’s a 40-minute drive to the Stadium and City Centre.

Style:
Most Capetonians consider the Southern Peninsula as a holiday destination in it’s own right and during summer there’s no better place to be. In Winter it virtually shuts down. The most lively part is Kalk Bay where you can find a few great bars and restaurants. Other than that it’s very quiet and if you’re seeking some entertainment then you will have to drive closer to the City.

••• Northern Suburbs •••

Areas include: Tygerberg, Plattekloof, Bellville, Durbanville, Century City and Edgemead.

Cost:
Cheap cheap. The Northern suburbs will definitely be offering cheap residential accommodation during the World Cup month. If staying in a Barret House is your thing then this could be a good option.

Promixity to the World Cup Stadium:
Between 13 - 30km. Transport links to and from the Northern Suburbs should be excellent as it’s next door to the N1 motorway. It’s also very close to Cape Town Internationl Airport making it ideal for those using Cape Town as a base for other games and venues.

Style:
If you’re travelling to Cape Town for the first time and you stay in the Northern Suburbs then you may wonder why it’s voted one of the top 10 travel destinations in the World. The Northern Suburbs aren’t something you’ll want to write home about. Zero nightlife and I can’t think of a single good bar or restaurant. If you know or find any then please let me know and I’ll add them here.

Okay so that’s my take on the best (and worst) places to stay during the World Cup 2010. Check out the site there’s still some great bargains to pick up.