I continue my busy trip around southern South Africa visiting some of our regular properties and checking out some new alternatives.
SATURDAY 18TH MAY
After a good breakfast at the Burgundy Restaurant (just over the road from the Auberge Burgundy) we said goodbye to Hermanus and headed towards Knysna. We decided to take the short cut to Caledon to join the N2 however this was a mistake as there are major roadworks taking place and ended up adding an additional hour to our journey. I will be telling future clients to avoid the short cut and instead follow the signs to Botsriver (N2). We arrived at The Rex Hotel approximately 45 minutes late!
The Rex Hotel
This is a modern hotel with a nice feel to it. The entrance is off the road and you head into a small courtyard as you arrive. There is a restaurant (Roses Café) next door where clients take breakfast as is common with many small hotels in SA. In the courtyard there was some lovely wicker furniture with wonderful comfy cushions and it looked a great spot to just relax and read a book in the sunshine. The reception area was also very clean and tidy just like the rest of the hotel. The rooms are spacious, modern and tidy. Rooms have either a bath or a shower but not both. The one bedroom Studio Room is a bit confusing as it is actually a one bedroom suite (apartment) and not a studio at all. In fact it is a stunning room with lots of space and excellent kitchen facilities. The two bedroom suite is also very good however although both bedrooms have en-suite facilities that are open to the room. This hotel does not offer a swimming pool but overall I really liked this property.
Protea Knysna Quays
This is a big hotel with a spacious feel and is part of the Protea chain. The large reception area flows into the breakfast restaurant (they do not offer lunch or dinner however have agreements with restaurants on the Knysna Waterfront) and the bar. The hotel offers standard hot and cold buffets for breakfast. We were shown lagoon facing rooms which had the best views and were functional. They do have two beds in the room for a family however both are double beds and for the two children sharing they must be under 11. They do offer inter-connecting rooms for older families. The lagoon rooms offer beautiful views over the lagoon or marina. The King Pool Room is brilliant, it offers one double bed and a lovely terrace/balcony overlooking the pool and lagoon. The hotel also offers a suite which can sleep up to 10 in three bedrooms (2 double beds in two rooms and 1 double bed in one room). This suite is ideal for families of 5 or more and is very well priced. The suite is huge with a full fitted kitchen, large seating area, dining room area and terrace area. The Suite has two bathrooms one with a bath. I’m extremely impressed with hotel as its situation is excellent and would be an excellent choice for families due to the suites.
The Knysna Belle Guest House
Wow! I love this property. They upgraded us to the Captains Quarters for our stay and I was really impressed with it and the guest house as a whole. The room has an office area, a huge bathroom with bath and shower, plus a separate toilet. It also has a large lounge area and a massive bed. The terrace with this suite is amazing and the views over the lagoon are to die for. This guest house does offer a swimming pool. The style of the place is what I would call New England and it is really very beautiful. I would happily recommend the Emu Suite, Nautilus Suite and Captains Quarters – all of which are wonderful. For dinner we are at Daniella’s Restaurant at Leisure Isle which is just five houses away so guests can walk and avoid having to drive into Knysna if they don’t want to…. I’m extremely happy to be using this property for all guests young and old…I really do love it!
SUNDAY 19TH MAY
Following a wonderful breakfast of fresh fruit, muesli and a small cooked breakfast we said our goodbyes to Gilliane and Pam (the owner) and travelled towards Plettenberg Bay. En route we stopped at Lairds Lodge for a site inspection.
Lairds Lodge
This lodge is situated 20 kilometres from Knysna and roughly 8 kilometres from Plettenberg Bay. The lodge is stunningly beautiful in a Cape Dutch Style. They offer 16 rooms of which the Luxury and Deluxe rooms are the best. The standard rooms are also good but for the small cost to increase I recommend staying in one of the nicer rooms. The lodge has lovely manicured gardens and a beautiful terrace area. The lodge can also offer a dinner and currently a 4 course meal is R295.00 per person. The lodge has various lounge areas and has a very nice ambience. The lodge also has a great pool area with sun beds around it and beautiful furnishings. This lodge would be great for honeymooners or for couples wanting to have some leisurely days. The only downside is if you have dinner you maybe seated with a large group that are just eating at the lodge and not staying there but then again that can often be great fun!
Bosavern Guest House
This guest house is currently doing very well on Trip Advisor so I thought I would check it out. The guest house has 5 rooms one on the level you enter and 4 on the lower level by the pool. The lounge area is large and spacious in a modern style with breakfast taken overlooking Plettenberg Bay and the sea. The rooms are not large but are more than adequate and I can imagine Vivian and her husband look after all the guests very well. The owners live at the property so are available at night which is something I prefer. The hotel has a small pool area again with views over the bay. The hotel also has parking at the front. I would highly recommend this guest house, it was a good find.
Periwinkle Guest House
This guest house is in a prime position close to the beach and ocean. The six rooms are all the same room category and are tastefully furnished. There are quite a few steps up to the entrance but the magnificent view is worth it once you enter the property. It has a large lounge area with an outside balcony where breakfast is served and you can make the most of the fabulous views over the ocean. The guest house also offers a gym and sauna. The guest house also has a delightful infinity pool overlooking the ocean which I would loved to have tested! This property is amazing and it is no wonder that it gets booked up for high season so far in advance.
Robberg Beach Lodge (incorporating Beachy Head Villa, Cottage Pie, Cordovan and Robberg House)
This lodge is situated close to Periwinkle and is also in an ideal position for the beach as the entrance to the ocean is directly opposite the lodge. The signage for this hotel can be quite confusing! The main reception is at Beachy Head Villa however the sign says Robberg Beach Lodge. As it is a little complex of buildings we finally figured it out in the end and checked into our accommodation for the night. We were in one of the Ocean View Suites at the Beachy Head Villa. The room is great with a seating area and a large double bed. The bathroom also has a bath and a separate shower. There is a small balcony with a table and two chairs and the views of the ocean are to die for! And even more spectacular when watching a thunderstorm as we did this evening!
Posted by Paul Hickey-Fry
