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December holiday stays on the West Coast: how to find one and book direct

· 4 min read

December is the busiest month on the Cape West Coast. Families come back to the same towns year after year, and the best self-catering places fill up early. Here is how to find a stay that suits you and book it with the host directly.

Book early for the school holidays

Many hosts open their December dates months ahead, and the weeks between Christmas and New Year usually go first. If your dates are fixed, start looking in winter. If you can travel early in December or in January, you will have more choice and often better prices.

Towns worth a look

Each town along the coast has its own feel. Look at a few before you decide:

  • Paternoster: whitewashed fishing cottages, white beaches and seafood.
  • Langebaan: the lagoon, watersports and the West Coast National Park next door.
  • Yzerfontein: quiet beaches and a short drive from Cape Town.
  • Jacobsbaai and St Helena Bay: smaller, calmer spots for a slower holiday.

Questions to ask the host

Before you pay, ask the host to confirm the details in writing:

  • Minimum stay over Christmas and New Year.
  • How many guests the place sleeps, and in how many beds.
  • Whether linen, towels, Wi-Fi and a braai are included.
  • The deposit, when the balance is due, and the cancellation rules.
  • Load-shedding backup, parking and whether pets are allowed.

Book direct, safely

Booking with the host directly can save you the booking-site fees. On Find a stay every host is a paying StayKnit subscriber and is checked before their listing goes live. Use the link to the same place on Airbnb or Booking.com to check reviews, and never pay a stranger who contacts you from somewhere else.

Browse West Coast stays

Find a stay shows each host’s free and booked dates, so you only ask about dates that are open. Search by town or pick your dates to see which places are free.

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