Glen Beach Villas

Collection of stylish self-catering villas and a beach bungalow, each sleeping 2-10, on Glen Beach; great for couples or families

Camps Bay is a safe bet if you're looking for a place by the beach in Cape Town; just 15 minutes' drive from the city centre, it's a hip neighbourhood with an upbeat vibe. Take a short saunter along its strip, past the restaurants, bars and suntans, and you'll reach Glen Beach. Here you'll be in a league of your own. Sandwiched between 2 rocky outcrops, this stretch of sand is small enough to feel like it belongs to you, yet wide enough for local surfers to carve some serious waves.

Overlooking the ocean are 3 villas (each with 4 or 5 bedrooms) just behind the coastal road, plus a beach bungalow right on the sand containing the 4-bedroom Main House and the 2-bedroom Penthouse. All are decked out in a clean, contemporary style with all you need to make them your base: open-plan living rooms, kitchens with daily housekeeping, and private plunge pools. But what really stole our hearts was being able to watch the sun sink into the sea from our terrace, then easily stroll into town for a lively evening out.

Highs

• A great location - it's a short walk down to Glen Beach and Camps Bay, close to popular Clifton Beach, and only a short drive from the centre of Cape Town
• The 3 villas have bags of space, refreshing plunge pools, off-street parking and weekday housekeeping
• The outstanding views of the Atlantic mean this is a great place to watch the setting sun; the Main House and the Penthouse are some of the few properties in Cape Town with direct beach access
• Glen Beach has a more exclusive feel to it than Camps Bay
• You can fall asleep to the sound of the waves

Lows

• The 3 villas sit in a block just behind the coastal road leading into town - but the views are still good
• Occasionally the strong wind picks up, as it can anywhere in the Cape
• Don’t expect air-conditioning (except in the bedrooms of Villas 2 and 3 and the master bedroom of Villa 1) - though coastal breezes generally keep things cool and there's underfloor heating for the colder months
• If you rent the Main House or Penthouse separately you may end up sharing the building with strangers, but the staircase connecting them can be sealed off and each has a private pool