Cape Town on a budget: a smart stay at the Holiday Inn Express

What's the best way to enjoy Cape Town's top food and nightlife without having to splurge on a five-star hotel? Brian Berkman has some good suggestions.

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There are hotels for all occasions. While there are low-priced and, frankly, tacky options that offer per-hour rooms, most hotels, even discounted ones, deliver a good basic standard.

When this is what you’re looking for, rather than a plush destination hotel where you plan to spend most of your time, the Holiday Inn Express offers good value in a perfectly adequate room.

For the writer, the following are non-negotiable: good, free Wi-Fi; airconditioning; an in-room safe large enough to hold a laptop; a strong shower; and comfortable beds. While it is lovely to feel cosseted and spoiled, the frills won’t matter if the plan is to be away from the room most of the time.

With the Holiday Inn Express Cape Town, an IHG hotel, in St George’s Mall, you are located directly opposite Newspaper House, a Food Lover’s store, and the five-star Gorgeous George Hotel. Here, the city and environs become an extension of your hotel, which is especially true if your plan is to mostly walk.

Although the inner city is much improved and I’ve enjoyed the benefits of increased foot patrols, I remain wary of some sections of the city after dark.

Heading to the buzzy Heritage Square, just a few blocks away from the Holiday Inn, was an excellent choice with a stand-out dinner at Hacienda, the coastal Mexican eatery in what previously housed Chef’s Warehouse.

COASTAL MEXICAN