Cape Town Rental Regulations

There are no specific arrival or departure days when booking luxury holiday accommodation in Cape Town, South Africa. Almost without exception, the minimum rental period required during peak season (December to January) is 12 - 14 nights. Cape Town Holiday rental villas are charged per day, unless the occupation period exceeds a month. The rates quoted for a Cape Town villa are based on a daily rate for the whole self catering villa and are not priced per person, however the rate quoted for a specific property will be determined by the number of occupants and the duration of occupancy at the time of the booking. Additional occupants, which exceed the number of guests mentioned at the time of booking, will be charged for. Our rates do not include any travel arrangements or travel insurance, only the daily rate of the Cape Town Villa you book.

The majority of our Cape Town holiday villas are available all year round and are primarily booked for short term holiday accommodation lets; however some luxury self catering villas are available for longer periods during the winter months of the year.

Cape Town Villa Seasons

The Cape Town villa industry divides the tourism year into three distinctive letting Seasons. These Seasons vary in terms of their popularity, pricing, weather conditions and accessibility. Often it is a very wise decision to consider these Seasons and the impact they will have on your holiday costs and enjoyment, before actually booking your flights and accommodation for Cape Town.

For example, if you are constrained to a certain travel budget, then it may not be a practical decision to visit Cape Town over Christmas and New Years, as this is when both the flights and accommodation in Cape Town are most expensive and also most limited. Please read the following explanation of our Seasons and consult with your Villa Sales Representative for any advice or queries you may have.

Peak Season: 15th December - 15th January.
Summer. Minimum occupation period required for Cape Town self catering accommodation is usually 12 - 14 nights during Peak Season. This is the busiest time of the year therefore it is advisable to book your flights and your Cape Town holiday accommodation well in advance. Full daily rates are charged during Peak Season. Weather in Cape Town during this period is hot with little rain.

High Season: 16th January - 30th April; 1st October - 14th December.
Summer & Spring. Minimum occupation period required for Cape Town accommodation is usually 7 - 10 nights during High Season (negotiable). Flights are easier to secure, as is your Cape Town holiday accommodation. Daily rates are well priced during the High Season. Weather in Cape Town during this period is warm and pleasant with medium rainfall.

Low Season: 1st May - 30th September.
Autumn & Winter. Minimum occupation period required for Cape Town accommodation is usually 4 nights during Low Season. This is the quietest time of the year; flights are easy to book and special rates are always up for grabs. Daily rates are low and often highly negotiable during the Low Season or winter months. Weather in Cape Town during this period is much cooler than Peak and High Season and there is generous rainfall, but still very much enjoyable.

Check-in and Check-out times

Cape Villa Collection's luxury Cape Town holiday villas are usually available from 14:00pm on the day of your arrival; with departures before 10:00am on the day of your departure. Where possible the check-in and check-out times can be changed to suit your arrival and departure times provided Cape Villa Collection is notified early enough and all the parties agree.

Reservation Agreement

Cape Villa Collection will send you the necessary paperwork via e-mail or fax once you are ready to book the Cape Town villa of your choice. A Reservation Agreement between the Property Owner and you the Tenant needs to be filled in, signed and faxed back to us. Once Cape Villa Collection has received the full Reservation agreement and booking deposit we will forward you confirmation of your luxury holiday villa booking.

Booking deposit

A non-refundable booking deposit (30% of the total rental) is due within 7 days of invoicing and on signature of the Reservation Agreement.

Security deposit

A breakage and security deposit is required when you arrive at your Cape Town villa. We are obliged to freeze an agreed-upon amount on the Tenant's credit card on the day of arrival. The deposit is held as an indemnity against breakages, telephone calls or other charges that may be incurred during your stay at your self catering holiday accommodation villa. Should there be any breakages, damages or costs incurred during the Tenant's occupation, these amounts owing will be deducted from the Breakage and Security Deposit and the balance is released from the authorization.

Car Hire and Airport Transfers

We recommend that you or Cape Villa Collection, on your behalf, arranges a hire car for the duration of your stay in Cape Town. Most Car Hire companies are usually fully booked during peak season; therefore it is advisable to book in advance. The car hire company can arrange to collect you from the airport and drive you to their offices where your vehicle can be picked up. At the end of your Cape Town holiday the hire car can be dropped off at the airport before your departure. If you would like Cape Villa Collection to arrange car hire for your Cape Town holiday, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Airport transfers can also be arranged before you arrive in Cape Town. The transfer company will collect you and your group once you have landed at Cape Town International Airport, they will then transport you to your luxury Cape Town holiday villa where your hire car will be delivered to your door!!! This form of transport is very popular for first time visitors, as it helps avoid the hassle of negotiating Cape Town's high ways immediately after stepping off your plane. For more information please contact one of Cape Villa Collection's Sales Consultants.

Driving in Cape Town

Driving in Cape Town and the rest of South Africa is on the left-hand side, as in Britain. Tolls are charged on some major roads. The general speed limit on freeways is 120 kph (75 mph). Elsewhere the speed limit is 100 kph (62 mph); in populated areas it is 60 kph (37 mph) unless otherwise posted. Seat belts must be worn at all times and it is illegal to use a mobile phone whilst driving. Keep your doors locked at all times and avoid leaving anything of value visible in the vehicle when unoccupied. An international driving licence is required when driving in Cape Town, South Africa. Petrol stations are generally open 24 hrs a day as well as their restrooms and kiosk. It is also advisable to use the garage or dedicated parking at your Cape Town luxury holiday villa to ensure further safety.

Cape Villa Collection Representative

A Cape Villa Collection team member will meet you at your luxury Cape Town holiday villa on the day of your arrival to welcome you and introduce you to you holiday accommodation villa. Should you have any queries or complaints please do not hesitate to contact us, it is our aim to resolve them as quickly as possible and/or assist in any way possible. We are here to ensure that you have a wonderful holiday in Cape Town and enjoy the comforts of your private self catering holiday villa. On the day of your departure a Cape Villa Collection team member will come around to your Cape Town holiday villa to collect the keys and receive any feedback you may have about the rental villa.

Useful information while in Cape Town

• Book early for restaurants in December and January as this is Peak Season
• Tipping is according to service and is usually between 10 - 15%
• Smoking is banned in public places; most restaurants have designated smoking areas
• Tap water in the Cape Town area is safe for drinking
• Alcohol may only be purchased by persons over the age of 18
• You cannot buy petrol with a credit card
• VAT can be claimed for purchases over R250 at the airport on presentation of receipts
• Normal shopping hours are 9:00am to 5:30pm; major shopping centres open longer and are open all day Saturday and Sunday
• Banks are open 9:00am-3:30pm; Saturdays until 11:00am. ATMs are open 24 hours
• Be security conscious at all times

Insurance while on Holiday

It is essential and extremely important that the Tenant is covered by adequate insurance. You must have adequate holiday insurance including cover for cancellation, loss of life, personal injury, theft, weather, accidental damage, fire, infestations and medical expenses.

Please ensure that you and all the members in your party are covered by comprehensive travel insurance. Please ensure that you are adequately covered for all eventualities.

Staff, Linen & towels

The majority of the Cape Town's self catering holiday villas have staff and are serviced. However, days, working hours and services do differ depending on the size of the holiday accommodation and the length of stay. We will let you know what services are available for each holiday rental villa. These costs are usually included in the rental except where specified. Should you require additional maid service, we will be able to arrange this for you at an additional cost. All linen and towels are supplied at our Cape Town villas.

Additional Services for your Cape Town Villa

Cape Villa Collection offers many additional services such as baby sitters, chefs and extra staff including chauffeurs and tour guides which can be arranged to heighten your enjoyment and relaxation while on holiday in your Cape Town self catering accommodation.

Should you require additional items / facilities such as baby cots, high chairs etc. during your stay in one of our holiday villas, please notify us as soon as possible so that we can try and assist you in this regard.

Safety

Most luxury holiday villas typify modern architectural design and therefore can present risks for young children especially around swimming pools (even with fenced pools), trampolines or any structures and equipment provided in or on the property. Children should be supervised at all time; if necessary please hire extra staff.

Flights to Cape Town

Please book as early as possible to ensure availability for your required dates and the best competitive prices. Flights to Cape Town get booked very early for December and January at this is Peak Season. The airlines during this period will provide extra flights because of the demand but seats can still be difficult to obtain. If you would like Cape Villa Collection to assist with flight arrangements, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Weather in Cape Town

Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate with little rain during the summer season, December through to March. Average temperatures range from 10oC in winter to 30oC in summer. In summer the prevailing wind is from the South East. Mornings tend to be less windy. The Atlantic Ocean (Camps Bay, Clifton, Llandudno, etc.) is colder than Indian Ocean (Simons Town, Fish Hoek, Kalk Bay, etc.) throughout the year.

Customs Allowances

• 400 cigarettes
• 250 grams of tobacco,
• 50 cigars,
• One litre of spirit,
• Two litres of wine,
• 50 ml perfume,
• 250 ml of eau de toilette,

Also gifts, souvenirs and other goods to the value of R500. Duty is levied at 20% thereafter.

Cape Town Tourist Information Centre

City Visitor: Pinnacle Building, Cnr. Castle & Burg Street, Cape Town
Tel: +27 21 426 4260
Fax: +27 21 426 4266
E-mail: info@cape-town.org

Waterfront Visitor: Clock Tower Precinct, South Arm Road, V&A Waterfront
Tel: +27 21 405 4500
Fax: +27 21 405 4524
E-mail: welcome@tourcapetown.com