The Western Cape Escapades (Part Two)

Location: Western Cape Province, South Africa

When it comes to travelling, one of the most exciting elements has to be choosing where you will rest your pretty head in after all the fun and excitement experienced during the day. Each one of these places are special for their own reasons (as you will see) but before we go far, lets start with a few tips when it comes to accommodations during travelling:

Tip 1: Travelling in groups always makes for a more affordable experience in terms of accommodation. Instead of paying for prices per person, you can rather book a full unit and divide the costs amongst all of you.

Tip 2: Using platforms such as Booking.com or Air BnB always allows for savings. I have a special love for Bookings.com because of (1) the crazy specials that they are always running and based on the type of accommodation you’ve chosen, you will get to see similar ones (based on price and location. This way you’re always learning about new spaces even when you’re not consciously seeking to do so.

Tip 3: Upon arrival at your accommodation, always ask for a free upgrade. Yep, I said free. As a result of the pandemic, many venues aren’t operating at full capacity so providing you with an upgrade is not hard to do. Worst case scenario, the receptionist can say “no”to your request or alternatively, they may charge you a small fee for the upgrade (in most cases the fee is rather insignificant when compared to the value to be received)

Tip 4: Always read the reviews for the actual unit you’re booking for on the site used to make the booking. I highlight this point because our experiences of the same apartments may be completely different, and this may purely be as a result of the actual unit chosen. Unit 5 vs unit 205 may yield completely different results in terms of experience.

With all that said, let’s get into it!

Remember, all prices quoted in this post were as a result of the specials/discounts obtained during the period, thus there may be a slight discrepancy depending on booking platform and season

Lawhill Luxury Apartments V & A Waterfront, Cape Town

These apartments are conveniently placed to allow for ease of access to everything that the

Waterfront has to offer (key attractions such as restaurants and various activities spots within

walking distance etc). All apartments are spacious with modern finishes and are well equipped with the facilities which one would need (a full spacious kitchen, fully set up lounge and a big balcony).The apartment comes with a cleaning service to ensure that the units are kept clean on a daily basis which creates a space for full comfortable and less admin of daily cleaning. I would highly recommend that one books a room from the 2 nd floor upwards to take full advantage of the views of the canal and palm trees. One thing that I could not quite wrap my head around had to be the check in process (we had to sign in one side of the venue then go take photos for security on another side of the venue), however the actual accommodation and security is top notch. To fully enjoy this apartment, we parted ways with R7193 for 3 nights for a luxury 2-bedroom apartment.

Rating:

- Cleanliness

- Facilities

- Value for money

- Overall experience

O Two Boutique Hotel, Cape Town

This boutique hotel may cost you slightly abit more than my usual recommendations, however it truly is quite luxurious (so you won’t even mind spending the extra coins). Upon check-in, you are greeted by a friendly concierge and receptionist who offer you either a glass of water or bubbles (depending on your preference). The dark walls filled with mirrors, unique artwork and marble is truly worth a second glance. All rooms are modern and well equipped with all the essential items. A key highlight was the attention to lighting (yes, this is important for times when you need to do a face beat haha). An added bonus is that the hotel is situated within walking distance to amazing restaurants (one of them being Bobo’s restaurant. See previous post containing a review)

The roof top pool boasts views of a golf course, mountain sightings and the ocean on opposite spectrums. The pool itself has glass on the one side which, when met with the amazing scenery, can make for breath taking sessions with your camera. A spa is available in the hotel to allow for further relaxation. One thing that I will continue to rave about will be the service. It really is impeccable to say the least. The staff is professional, warm and very helpful- everything that you would expect at such a classy establishment. Obviously, they also gave us an upgrade which earns them an extra star in my books haha… Overall price spent for booking this accommodation amounted to R3060 for one room, fitted with a King size bed and luxury amenities. For preference to have meals on site, the hotel does not have a kitchen, but is surrounded by a host of restaurants around the area. Go take advantage of the Cape Point sunset :)

Rating:

- Cleanliness

- Facilities

- Value for money

- Overall experience

Beachfront Cottage, Hermanus Whale View

Ever imagined what it would feel like to go to bed with the ocean LITERALLY at your doorstep? Waking up to the sounds of the ocean crashing against the rocks? These would be the scenic views available to you at this accommodation. Sure, it is slightly out of town (however I would imagine that a person would only want to go to Hermanus to take some time out of the busyness of life) and you do pass a few townships on your way there, but the adventure is all worth it.

The accommodation itself is a cottage, thus do not expect modern finishes, however you will have all your necessities (bathroom, kitchen, comfortable bedroom and lounge).

All apartments allow for a barbeque on the balcony overlooking the ocean and make for peaceful morning walks. They are also close enough to allow for a drive to go whale watching and enjoy some oysters at a nearby restaurant (see restaurant review post for recommendations).

We parted with a total of R3800 for a 3 day stay at this gem which was worth it. One thing which I did take notice of though is that there was no cleaner available who would come and tidy up the place in the morning so just be cognisant of this.

Rating:

- Cleanliness

- Facilities

- Value for money

- Overall experience

I hope that this part of the blog provides you with a few worthy and experience filled

accommodation spaces to consider, or at least provides you with useful insights on things to

consider when booking accommodation during your travel. Below is a Reel which gives you a snap shot of what the accommodations look like. Hope you enjoy it! Until we meet again for Part 3 of the "Western Cape Escapades", Its byeeee for now :-)

Music: Acoustic Guitar 1

Musician: music by audionautix.com

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode