Is Cape Town still affordable?

QUESTION: Could you kindly advise where I can find affordable but safe and tidy accomodation at Blouberg Strand or one of the more remote beaches in Cape Town. I want to be right on the beach, but it does not have to be fancy. Is it still possible for us South Africans to have a holiday in our own country that we can afford? - Linette Lintvelt

ANSWER: Accommodation has become expensive, but it is possible to find reasonable places that are not aimed at the international market. However, you are unlikely to find a bargain right on the beachfront - perhaps a few roads back. For listings of holiday places to let, check www.sleeping-out.co.za and www.sa-venues.co.za on the Internet. It is worthwhile keeping an eye on the classified adverts of the Cape newspapers, especially the smaller ones. (Ask someone in Cape Town to do this for you if you cannot get the newspaper). You can also telephone property agents listed in the yellow pages, as they may rent out holiday flats or houses. The other alternative is to place your own advertisement in one of the newspapers, stating how much you are prepared to pay.