Travel reviews by Mr C & Mrs P from UK
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
7
Excursions taken
0
General comments
South Africa between 16 Dec 2007 and 30 Dec 2007
"A good trip was put together at short notice.
Generally the style of accomodation used was aimed at relaxed time in hotels rather than a more active agenda. Set dinners were a bit restrictive at most places - both the limited menus and the timings. Food appeared pricey compared with other SA experiences but we have nothing to compare with on this trip.
Two hotels did not have information about local places of interest - Rosenhof Country House, Oudtshorn and Hunters Lodge, Knysna.
Expert Africa's information about finding some hotels was insufficient - we had to research the web to find directions; predeparture information did not include advice about set meal times (which we found restrictive); Predeparture information was fragmented in the "book" provided, and covering letter; there was much more focus on Namibia than South Africa and it was not always clear which information related to which country."
Generally the style of accomodation used was aimed at relaxed time in hotels rather than a more active agenda. Set dinners were a bit restrictive at most places - both the limited menus and the timings. Food appeared pricey compared with other SA experiences but we have nothing to compare with on this trip.
Two hotels did not have information about local places of interest - Rosenhof Country House, Oudtshorn and Hunters Lodge, Knysna.
Expert Africa's information about finding some hotels was insufficient - we had to research the web to find directions; predeparture information did not include advice about set meal times (which we found restrictive); Predeparture information was fragmented in the "book" provided, and covering letter; there was much more focus on Namibia than South Africa and it was not always clear which information related to which country."
Arranged By Sabina Hekandjo
Vineyard Hotel
"Vineyard Hotel review"
3 nights
Arrived
17 Dec 2007
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Roggeland Country House, South Africa (this camp has since closed)
"Roggeland Country House review"
2 nights
Arrived
20 Dec 2007
"The best hotel of the trip.
Please advise future clients that wine is included with dinner.
Very friendly welcome.
Great for access to Paarl Bird Sanctuary."
Please advise future clients that wine is included with dinner.
Very friendly welcome.
Great for access to Paarl Bird Sanctuary."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Klippe Rivier Country House, South Africa (this camp has since closed)
"Klippe Rivier Country House review"
1 night
Arrived
22 Dec 2007
"We were the only guests staying yet they rushed us through arriving and dinner.
Overzealous attention throughout dinner asking every few minutes if everything was alright for sir/madam.
Nice room - very good bathroom, shower etc."
Overzealous attention throughout dinner asking every few minutes if everything was alright for sir/madam.
Nice room - very good bathroom, shower etc."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Average
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Rosenhof Country Lodge (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Rosenhof Country House"
2 nights
Arrived
23 Dec 2007
"Pricey meals with limited choice. Christmas Eve was ridiculously overpriced - no difference from the night before apart from the cracker and a small gift.
Nice welcome.
Terrible weather!!"
Nice welcome.
Terrible weather!!"
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Rooms
Good
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Hunters Country House (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Hunters Country House"
2 nights
Arrived
25 Dec 2007
"Not much choice on the Fine Dining menu. Insufficient day to day change.
Pushy with pre-dinner drinks.
Room smelt damp, lots of insects. Even had a scorpion in the room.
Alistair was very helpful with a birding query."
Pushy with pre-dinner drinks.
Room smelt damp, lots of insects. Even had a scorpion in the room.
Alistair was very helpful with a birding query."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Good
Service
Average
Rooms
Average
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Elephant House
"Elephant House review"
1 night
Arrived
27 Dec 2007
"Bathroom needs refurbishment - shower head broken, lights not working, no shampoo. generally a bit shabby and run down.
Rushed to order and choose dinner immediately on arrival after 10 hours on the road. Service at dinner was haphazard by local staff, management not very evident - food not particularly good.
Stuggled to get a packed breakfast - but succeeded after three attempts. Did not seem geared up to people wanting an early start and to be out all day.
Other guests seemed to like the hotel as a place to relax and do nothing."
Rushed to order and choose dinner immediately on arrival after 10 hours on the road. Service at dinner was haphazard by local staff, management not very evident - food not particularly good.
Stuggled to get a packed breakfast - but succeeded after three attempts. Did not seem geared up to people wanting an early start and to be out all day.
Other guests seemed to like the hotel as a place to relax and do nothing."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Excellent
Service
Average
Rooms
Poor
Food
Average
Feedback response
We have been in touch with Elephant House immediately after receiving this traveller’s feedback. Clive, the owner and manager, responded swiftly with a very concerned response.
He apologised for the poor experience the guests had experienced, commenting that Elephant House prides itself on delivering a friendly and hospitable stay to all their travellers. He has investigated the issues raised, replacing the light bulbs and checking that the shower-head in the room was unblocked. Clive made the point that had the guests bought these issues to his attention at the time, he would have done his best to sort them out immediately.
(We’d like to echo this point: it’s always vital for our travellers to clearly voice problems at the time, as it’s only then that we have a real chance to solve them properly!)
It seems clear from his response to us, as well as our own experience inspecting Elephant House, that what this traveller describes is not normal here! However, Clive comments that as part of their on-going upliftment work with the disadvantaged local communities, they are currently employing local student interns – who are just learning about the hospitality industry, and what guests expect. Hence it’s possible that one or two members of staff we’re not as ‘switched-on’ to the traveller’s needs as is usual for his team.
As a gesture of goodwill, and by way of apologizing for the experience they had, Clive has kindly offered to refund these travellers for their meals and drinks whilst at Elephant House.
He apologised for the poor experience the guests had experienced, commenting that Elephant House prides itself on delivering a friendly and hospitable stay to all their travellers. He has investigated the issues raised, replacing the light bulbs and checking that the shower-head in the room was unblocked. Clive made the point that had the guests bought these issues to his attention at the time, he would have done his best to sort them out immediately.
(We’d like to echo this point: it’s always vital for our travellers to clearly voice problems at the time, as it’s only then that we have a real chance to solve them properly!)
It seems clear from his response to us, as well as our own experience inspecting Elephant House, that what this traveller describes is not normal here! However, Clive comments that as part of their on-going upliftment work with the disadvantaged local communities, they are currently employing local student interns – who are just learning about the hospitality industry, and what guests expect. Hence it’s possible that one or two members of staff we’re not as ‘switched-on’ to the traveller’s needs as is usual for his team.
As a gesture of goodwill, and by way of apologizing for the experience they had, Clive has kindly offered to refund these travellers for their meals and drinks whilst at Elephant House.
Africa Specialist
Cosmos Cuisine (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Cosmos Cuisine Guesthouse"
1 night
Arrived
28 Dec 2007
"very helpful in supply breakfast packs for an early start.
Excellent room with water, tea/coffee, snacks available.
Well run guesthouse.
Swimming pool minature (not used by us)."
Excellent room with water, tea/coffee, snacks available.
Well run guesthouse.
Swimming pool minature (not used by us)."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Excellent breakfasts."