Protea Hotel Cape Town Mowbray Reviews

So, let me start by saying this would have been a five star review but for a matter on the second stay. My wife and I booked three separate stays (safaris in between). Let me start with the best part-Mark their contracted tour operator. He took us all over the Cape Town region and to some hidden gems on our first four night stay. The staff was amazing. Friendly and attentive. Breakfast is great-something for everyone. Relaxing courtyard to chill. Rooms very clean. Comfy beds. They even give you some snacks in room at check in. So when we came for the second stay after our foray into Namibia, the air conditioner on the second floor (we did the two floor loft) did not work. I called the front desk and they sent housekeeping. I was told at first it was working (she stood in front of it-and a long story on the nature of the malfunction). Once she moved away from it she agreed that it was not working (bedroom area was 23C/73.4 F when it was set on 17 from check in through dinner). We were told not other lofts were available to switch to. I could have booked a loft for that night on the Marriott app. BUT, the next morning, they quickly sorted it and day staff apologized. That was the only negative. Everything else has been fantastic. When things go right, it is hard to describe. But all in all-excellent hotel and I would return if I make it to Cape Town again-which the tour operator makes one want to. So a little on that. My wife broke a nail. Mark modified everything and took us to a local mall so she could get her nail fixed. We asked if we could stop for snacks-he took us grocery store-so we had a much larger selection. Like I said, I struggled not giving a five star but I felt the a/c issue warranted a reduction-not the malfunction but how it was handled at first.

A few years ago, we just loved this little gem of a place, shall I say once upon a time! On arrival you keep on buzzing the gate and no response. Happened twice. Eventually you make use of your hooter to get the attention of reception. Please do not dare ask them why they don’t open the gate, you get told “you did not ring the bell”! At reception a lady came begging for a warmer blanket for her little one, the more she asked for one, the more the reception lady asked her did she not get a blanket? Quite embarrassing. The Wild Fig restaurant was very enjoyable. The Hotel room was beautiful. Sadly it had a terrible bad toilet spray/mouldy bathroom smell, so overwhelming and unbearable that one could not bare the smell for longer than a few seconds. It did not help much as the room was standing closed with no ventilation. One can only imagine how long it’s been like this. After a few minutes more, we decided to leave and cut this bad experience short, and find an alternative place to stay. On reporting our unsatisfactory experience to management the next day, it became even worse! After management had enough time to check on all the facts and call me back, the reception manager did not do so. Once again I had to telephone the reception manager, who in turn had this unacceptable tone of arrogance in her voice. After explaining to her how to check on all the facts, it was evident her lack of experience in this regard. I asked her for the Hotel manager at 4:20pm in the afternoon, I was told he had already left. After demanding to speak to the hotel manager, I eventually got a call from him this morning. Obviously he only heard his reception managers version, and already made up his mind how he was going to deal with this. I explained everything over again and asked him to please check all the facts properly before addressing the issue further. He said he would, but don’t hold your breath. My recommendation: Do not book here, as they do not live up to the standard this prestigious hotel once had!

The positives: All the staff (reception, breakfast room, cleaning, gardening, security) were extremely friendly. The breakfasts were great and the timings were good. The room was nicely decorated and a generous size with a convenient kitchenette. I didn't mind it being a bit off the beaten track. It felt secure. The historic building is just gorgeous and the common parts are beautifully and tastefully decorated to reflect its history. Downsides: it was noisy. It is right off 2 motorways and does have double glazing but ours was either defective, or insufficient. The blurb on *********** said it was air conditioned but ours was not, so we had to choose between a very stuffy, warm room or being bitten my mosquitoes all night (we tried out both experiences!). We also had overhanging branches from a tree that hit against the roof all night which was a bit annoying - and that was with earplugs! Also, I feel the bathrooms could do with updating. But everything was very clean and the bed was very comfortable. So, a bit of both really.