Homestays in Western Cape, South Africa

Pros Great location - a short drive to the waterfront and close to Table Mountain, Lions Head and the Botanical Garden where Uber will get you there quickly and for a good price. Staff were very good Breakfast was cooked very well and with good quality ingredients and a varied selection. It would be better if they had soft bread rather than the heavier one provided (althouh this could be a more European variety i havent come across before). The room was homely, as is the whole building (a bit of a British Grade 2 listed building kind of feel). Nice views over capetown in some rooms and a mountain view from the back. Room has heating and air con for all seasons. Cons As mentioned in a previous review, the room is quite dusty so if you are messing around with plugs behind the bed or tv, it's a challenge not to breathe in the dust. I think this could be a SA thing rather than the hotel itself but they only provide 1.5l of water which for a week is not enough, even for a solo traveller. You have to pay for any more. I have never come across this in 25 years of travel across 35 countries but again, i know there is a water issue in SA sometimes and I believe the tap water is drinkable (although I wouldn't attempt this as a tourist). Bathroom towels not replaced - just left to dry which doesn't work particularly well in winter. The photo of the hotel being near blue water is a little deceptive - obviously it is not near a beach and they don't suggest so but the body of water across the road is a water storage facility (currently empty) so don't expect tropical views. Having said that, if you get a city view room, the sunrise is right in front of you and a perfect time lapse opportunity as the scenery changes dramatically during the sunrise. Stunning experience. Overall, I would stay again and recommend the hotel which is in a quiet location.

This bed and breakfast is in the ideal location to visit Simon’s town and its coastline however the actual set up of the bed and breakfast is a huge let down. We arrived to find our room was not ready, once it was the place still looked unkempt, there was a bucket in the bath, the furniture had not been returned to its original locations well and the complimentary items seemed used. On our second night there was load shedding a common occurrence however there seemed to be no precautionary measures taken and we had to use our phone lights to climb the three flights of stairs to our room only to find the rechargeable light (obviously for such occasions) had no batteries and was therefore useless. As South African citizens we fully understand the uncertainty of power but for the cost and normal clientele of this accommodation we really expected there to be more in place. The meal times had been adjusted for the convenience of the staff who were on the premises compared to the welcome sheet details we received on arrival. The whole place seemed to be being run by support staff with no obvious manager on site for the three days we were there (we stayed over a weekend which I would assume to be a prime time) There is about 4 parking sports in front of the building but they were not being used to their full potential and often we had to park a little further away. Overall the location was the main positive. Considering the price we would have hoped to have better amenities and hope that the profile for this accommodation can be amended as there are no pools on the property unlike what the description had lead us to believe. Luckily the charm of Simon’s town and the beaches made up for the serious lack of attention to detail and luxury you would assume a place this price and in this location would have. 3/10 would probably not go there again.

Mooiplaas is a stunning venue for a clean, crisp peaceful getaway.  The views overlooking the orange skyline and Ostriches doing their thing was, Oh so lovely!! The place is well managed and the staff are a friendly bunch of good old happy country folk. Nothing was ever too much. The food was delicious and fresh fruits and vegetables were delivered everyday.  The rooms are old but neat. The wooden floors give the place a vintage feel.  The old brown  wall to wall carpet was not great but the beautiful rugs thrown over it made is bearable. They have some good quality books to read and enjoy. The breakfast and dinner menu was on point👌🏾👌🏾. I loved the home baked bread 😋 😋. The breakfast box prepared before my 5am-120km ride was excellent! It was prepared excavtly As I had requestes.  I have already booked for my next trip😍😍. I loved seeing the stuff happy and enjoying their work. It’s always a good sign when staff enjoy what they do. I think I might have made a friend or two. The curio shop is interesting and the service at the Spa was… you guessed it, Oh so lovely!!☺️

My wife and I recently escaped to Arendsrus for a quick breakaway, and it was absolutely amazing. If you are looking for a place that feels ”off-the-grid” and immersed in nature without sacrificing luxury, this is it. The setting at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains is spectacular. The wooden chalets offer a sense of total privacy and a ”wilderness” vibe that immediately makes you forget the hustle of daily life. The attention to detail is top-notch, especially the 800-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets—it’s clear the hosts care deeply about guest comfort. The absolute highlight of our stay was the a la carte breakfast served directly to our room. It was delicious, beautifully presented, and allowed us to enjoy a slow morning soaking in the views from our balcony in total peace. The hospitality was warm and genuine, and the entire atmosphere is one of tranquility and refined rustic charm. It truly is a hidden gem on the Garden Route. We left feeling completely refreshed and can’t wait to go back!

Accomodation is located on a separate island, which is a gem itself - stunning shoreline, lovely park for walks, a very peaceful place which is also very safe. Great location - road connecting it to the mainland, and just 10 minutes drive from Knysna harbour with all the best eat out places around. We've been treated by Pierre, who is the most friendly and welcoming host. He has designed the place with his love for sailing and the sea in general - everything is very stylish, clean and bright. He is also originally from Belgium, which means you'll also benefit from delicious Belgium waffles as a nice desert treat for your breakfast. You can also ask him about best places to visit, not just around Knysna but all across the West Cape. And there will also be a special something for dog lovers, as there are 2 absolutely adorable labradoodles hanging around when allowed by guests, and they really love to cuddle 🤗 Wish we could stay for more, but will definitely come back next time I'll be around.

Had a splendid 2 night stay and wish we could have stayed longer. The staff made us feel so welcome. They are exceptionally polite and well informed on the surrounding area. We were provided with a map full of helpful suggestions, and a thorough introduction to the lodge and all it's facilities upon check-in. The lodge is located right next to Hermanus New Harbour and a few steps from the cliff path, which is well worth the walk. The room was clean, comfortable and spacious. It opens onto a beautiful, well maintained garden area but a few steps from the pool. Breakfast was fantastic (reccommend the Full English!), and a lovely selection of breads, cereals, fruits, cold meats, yogurts etc at the buffet. Truly, no complaints. Would absolutely stay again.

We had a truly fantastic stay at Hilltop Country Retreat. From the moment we arrived, everything exceeded our expectations. The location is absolutely beautiful, with peaceful surroundings and stunning views that make it the perfect place to relax and unwind. The accommodation was spotless, comfortable, and very well maintained. You can really see the care and attention put into every detail. The amenities were excellent and had everything we needed for a comfortable stay. The service was also outstanding — warm, welcoming, and very helpful throughout our visit. It felt like a real home away from home. We would highly recommend Hilltop Country Retreat to anyone looking for a quiet and relaxing getaway. We will definitely be back!

We booked this accommodations with high hopes given the good reviews but unfortunately the cleanliness was not up to standard. We got the room on the ground floor with a full kitchen but the fridge was full of mould. For the mould to get this many, black and clearly visible to the human eye, it should have been there for a while. As we were just staying 2 nights, we just decided it was safer not to use the fridge. Housekeeping puts a lot of effort into tidying the room, the beds and tables but it's odd that they have left the fridge alone. Otherwise, the location was great - one of the better value for money accommodations in Sea point, and guests are free to get coffee/tea from the coffee machine at the communal area anytime.

Nicely decorated lodge in safe neighborhood. Breakfast is good but choice is limited and same menu everyday, I stayed for 5 nights so it can get boring. Staffs are friendly and try to be helpful but lack follow ups. Cleanliness is good but my house keeping opened all my balcony door and toilet windows everyday after cleaning despite the fact that I requested them not to open any of them due to safety in Cape Town as well as bugs kept coming into my room with the wide open balcony and toilet. On the last night the house keeping even left their cleaning towel in my room on my night stand, and tried barging into my room with me being inside in early morning. Somewhat questionable on the high rating.