Holiday for less: the best winter specials!

Paarl doesn’t always get the weekend-break attention it deserves, but Grande Roche is a strong reason to look beyond the usual Stellenbosch-Franschhoek loop. Set beneath Paarl Rock, this historic five-star hotel offers old-school Winelands charm, spacious suites, and easy access to nearby wine estates, restaurants, and mountain trails. It’s also a great base for mountain biking in the Cape Winelands. For winter, the Signature Winter Stay is priced from R5950 for a one-night Terrace Suite stay for two, and includes accommodation, breakfast, and a R1000 dining voucher for

Grande Roche Restaurant or Winnifred’s (the all-day dining restaurant). The Grande Winter Getaway offers two nights, a R1500 voucher, and a bottle of wine from R10 900. Both offers are valid to 31 August 2026 and are available for direct bookings only.

For a low-key Franschhoek hideaway, Akademie Street is a gem. The rooms and cottages are richly layered and uniquely decorated, with underfloor heating, wood-burning stoves, antiques and a sense of perfect privacy. And as it’s just a few minutes’ walk to the centre of the village, you can leave your car parked for the weekend. The Winter Warmer Special runs until the end of August 2026, offering two nights for the price of one for Sunday-to-Thursday stays. The offer includes two nights’ accommodation, breakfast, a welcome bottle of champagne and a fully stocked complimentary minibar. Direct bookings only, and Friday and Saturday nights are excluded.

Camissa Farm is tailor-made for a cold-weather Winelands escape, with a choice of stylish self-catering cabins, mountain views, indoor fireplaces, wood-fired hot tubs, and enough farm trails to make you feel you’ve earned that steak on the braai. That said, with its location in the Banhoek Valley, it’s close to Stellenbosch restaurants and wine estates if you want to indulge and let someone else do the washing up. The winter special is a pay-for-two, stay-for-three offer, with a complimentary bottle of limited-edition The Menagerie Syrah and wood for your first hot-tub session. Accommodation ranges from one-bedroom cabins to larger cottages sleeping up to six, all with decks, braai areas or firepits, and hot tubs. 

Love a hot tub? Camissa is also on our list of unbeatable wood-fired tubs!

With a history dating back to 1692, Lanzerac is the grande dame hotel of Stellenbosch, and winter suits her beautifully. From stately Cape Dutch architecture and oak-lined avenues to roaring fireplaces and cosy lounges begging for a glass of red, it’s the kind of place to settle in rather than simply sleep over. Throw in a little spa time and leisurely breakfasts, and you’re sorted for an idyllic break. The winter offer at Lanzerac is a stay-three-pay-two deal, valid until 31 August 2026. Rates start from R8510 per room per night and include daily breakfast, a selected in-room minibar, wine tasting and a cellar tour, plus access to the spa’s hydro facilities.

Go glamping in the Franschhoek valley! Camp Canoe is offering South African residents 20% off all stays from May until the end of August 2026. Camp Canoe is one of our favourite winelands getaways; a quirky under-canvas bolthole with seven luxury tents set on the Boschendal estate. Each tent comes with a fireplace, private wood-fired hot tub, deck hammock and self-catering kitchen, making it the perfect pick for a cosy winter weekend that still feels outdoorsy. The tents can sleep four, but honestly, this is best as a romantic getaway for two.  And the money you save with the discount, you can happily go and spend at the Deli on Boschendal (their pasteis de nata are off the charts tasty) or on more Winelands exploring.

Spier’s ‘The Slow Season Stay’ is another comprehensive winter package, that starts from R23 325 for two people sharing, and is valid until 30 September, 2026. OK, that is also not cheap, but it includes a three-night stay for two, daily farm breakfasts, a 60-minute couple’s massage, and a seasonal wine and soup pairing in the tasting room.

The hotel – which was recently renovated and upgraded – offers a heated guest pool and access to an incredible collection of contemporary South African art scattered throughout the grounds. You can explore the farm on complimentary bicycles or take a self-guided walk through the wild Cape gardens. The surrounding Stellenbosch area offers plenty to see and do, from wine tasting to wandering historic streets.

A chic choice in the Breede River valley is this historic gem in the heart of Robertson. With 11 rooms, this five-star boutique sanctuary is a design-lover's dream, featuring the wellness-focused Zest Spa, a chic poolside bar, and manicured gardens. Head out on olive oil tastings, river cruises on the Breede River and visits to the wine estates of Route 62. Or, stay in! Their GR8 Cape Escape deal offers a 25 percent discount when you stay 3 nights or more, as well as your choice of a R500 dinner voucher, or a complimentary 30-minute head, neck and shoulder massage during your stay!

Another fine option in the Breede River Valley, The Grand Hotel in Robertson has two winter offers on the table: 20% off stays from 1 May to 31 August 2026, or a ‘stay-three-pay-two deal’ valid through the same period. That ‘stay-three’ deal is available any day of the week, but you can’t combine it with other specials. The hotel is in the heart of town, but Robertson is perfectly positioned for exploring the wider Breede Valley’s wine estates, food experiences and easy Route 62 road-trips.

Maison Chablis is keeping things simple this winter with a ‘stay-three-pay-two’ offer that includes breakfast. It’s an elegant guesthouse close to the village, which makes this offer less about the bundled inclusions and more about stretching your Winelands weekend into a proper escape.

Residence Vive La Vie is running winter-only discounted rates of between 15 and 20 percent off, for stays from May to August 2026, with complimentary breakfast daily, a welcome bottle of local wine, free Wi-Fi and secure parking included. There’s a minimum two-night stay over weekends, but why woldn’t you make a proper weekend of it? Residence Vive La Vie is close to the heart of the village, so you’re within walking distance of Franschhoek’s galleries, restaurants and some wine estates.

If you’re prepared to drive a little further and perhaps stay a little longer, De Hoop Nature Reserve is one of the Western Cape’s great winter escapes. This vast coastal reserve brings together fynbos, dunes, limestone cliffs, birdlife, and, in season, some of the country’s best land-based whale watching. It’s also a strong family option, thanks to the roomy Village cottages. Until 31 July 2026, De Hoop Collection is offering 40 per cent off De Hoop Village Cottages and Suites! Village units start from R2970 per unit and sleep four adults and two children; suites start from R2550 per person sharing per night, including dinner, bed and breakfast.

Spread across a private stretch of fynbos-covered hills just 10 minutes from Stanford, Stanford Valley Country Lodge offers whitewashed cottages, open views, walking and cycling trails, a restaurant serving modern country cooking, and the kind of quiet city dwellers seek. The winter special offers three nights for the price of two, valid until 31 August 2026. It also includes a complimentary wine tasting of estate wines, a free dessert with dinner, a wood-fired sauna session, and 25 per cent off spa treatments. Rates start from R4700 for three nights in a double or twin room. 

Winter is Knysna’s secret season, when the summer crowds thin out, the lagoon takes on a moodier glow, and the Garden Route shows off its unhurried charms. The Turbine Hotel & Spa on Thesen Island is an excellent base for exploring the town and surrounding area. This winter, their Cabin Fever Escape Package is available for two-night stays until the end of August. For R7300 in total, excluding levies, it includes two nights’ accommodation for two adults in a standard room, daily breakfast, two 60-minute massages, and one dinner for two valued at R900.

Set on the fringes of this dramatic mountain landscape, Cederberg Ridge is offering a ‘Stay 3 Nights, Pay 50% for 3rd Night’ special for stays between May and July 2026.

It’s not a huge discount on the final price, but it does make this glorious wilderness escape a little more affordable. Best of all, the package includes all-inclusive dining and guided activities such as rock art tours and fynbos walks. The Cederberg area is particularly spectacular in winter, offering star-studded nights for astronomy enthusiasts and days filled with hikes through dramatic, weathered rock formations.

When Michael Lutzeyer started Grootbos in 1996 with a dream of running ‘fynbos safaris’, many people thought he was mad. Well, he is a little mad, but in all the good ways. Either way, he was right, and over the past 30 years, Grootbos has become one of the country’s most celebrated lodges. 

And now is the time for South African residents to take advantage of their excellent low-season rates. Until 30 September rates start from R8450 per person per night sharing. That’s a 50% discount on what you’ll pay in high-season! Rates also include a complimentary bottle of wine and a further 50% off spa treatments.

It’s not cheap, but it’s oh-so-worth the splurge for the experience. Your stay includes five-star dining, guided 4x4 fynbos safaris, and explorations of ancient sea caves along the coast. Each suite features a private deck and a cosy fireplace. Winter is also the best time for whale watching in Walker Bay, and the nearby town of Gansbaai offers world-famous marine adventures, including shark cage diving.

The mercury may be in the teens, and swimming is only for the Wim Hof wannabes, but without the southeasterly wind, winter truly is the best time of year on the West Coast. Throw in the chance to spot whales, perhaps some spring flowers, and you should start packing your bags!

Up in Paternoster, that white-washed idyllic little getaway village, Gonana Guesthouse offers 25% off standard rates until September 2026 when you book with the code LOCALISLEKKER. This virtually off-grid retreat features Scandi-African décor that perfectly complements the misty West Coast views. Your stay includes a daily organic breakfast. Speaking of dining, be sure to book a seat well in advance at the world-renowned Wolfgat restaurant. Work up an appetite with a wander in nearby Cape Columbine Nature Reserve.

We love Stanford, with its mix of natural beauty and small-town charm. And now White Water Farm in Stanford is running a 20% off Winter 2026 special, valid until 31 August 2026. You’ll enjoy contemporary farm accommodation in the Klein River Valley, with a choice of cottages and suites, broad mountain views and a healthy dose of country calm. Don’t miss the excellent birding trips on the Klein River.

Perched close to the iconic Cliff Path in Hermanus, One Marine Drive is the pefect spot for a weekend of Overberg whale-watching, walks through the Fernkloof Nature Reserve or tasting your way through the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Their GR8 Cape Escape is a steal too: stay 3 nights or more at One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel this winter and enjoy 25 percent off. They’ll even include a complimentary 30-minute head, neck and shoulder massage during your stay!

A brand-new addition to the West Coast’s luxury landscape, De Wildeveldt's three contemporary cottages and bungalows share a 2000-hectare stretch of indigenous renosterveld and sandveld. It’s an hour from the city to De Wildeveldt, meaning you can swap Friday emails for a wood-fired hot tub at one of the two gorgeous new Veldt Bungalows. Thoroughly contemporary in style, and supremely well-equipped for a few nights away, there’s a wide deck for when the skies are blue and a cosy lounge with fireplace for when the rain rolls in. Near the two Veldt Bungalows is Thatch Cottage, a slightly more relaxed space, but with a similar modern West Coast aesthetic. And, because they’ve just opened, the early-birds can take advantage of a 20 percent discount when booking their Wild Opening Offer’. What are you waiting for?

AfriCamps is offering three signature deals for the 2026 winter season: a ‘3-Night Special’ that saves you R500 on any three-night getaway between 3 May and 22 September; a ‘Single Parent Special’ (we love this!) where kids stay for free (using code SingleParentSpecial), and a ‘Golden Glamping’ discount of 15 percent for guests over 60 who book midweek stays (using code GoldenGlamping).

There are nine Africamps across the Western Cape, allowing you to explore from the Cederberg to the Winelands. Worried about the cold? Each luxury glamping tent features a private wood-fired hot tub, an indoor fireplace, outdoor braai and electric blankets.