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Sam's Giardino

Reviews of Sam's Giardino

Wildlife sightings and reviews

173 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Sam's Giardino and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa

Showing 161-170 of 173
Duration
Arrival date
Mr H
California

"Friendly, professional, perhaps obsessional?"

3 nights Arrived 30 Nov 2007
"Sam welcomes you by pulling up a chair to your table and launching into a conversation about Namibia, or Switzerland, or wine, or any of his many interests. He serves a large dinner if you wish, and has a range of wines that he pours by the glass. He seems to be obsessed to provide a "European" level of service in a medium-sized bed and breakfast in Swakopmund.

We had dinner twice and breakfast 3 times, and enjoyed it. The rooms were spacious enough, and the staff very helpful and friendly (the electricity went out twice, city-wide or nation-wide, we never found out which). There is not much within walking distance, so it helps to have a car. We particularly enjoyed the other guests: a geologist and a safari operator, from whom we learned a great deal." See all these reviews: 10n in Namibia; 6n in Botswana; 3n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Mrs E
Broom

"Sam's Giardino review"

4 nights Arrived 6 Nov 2007
"Sam was very helpful when it came to recommending restaurants and activities.

The rooms were a bit basic but comfortable and clean. The breakfast was always good with lots of choice." See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Average
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Average
Food:
Good
Mr & Mrs Tru
UK

"Sam's Giardino review"

2 nights Arrived 23 Oct 2007
"We travelled to Swakopmund by Cessna from the Kulala Airstrip. Super deja views of the red dunes and then of the abandoned diamond mines and the coast, Walvis Bay and then a landing at the small Swakopmund Airport. Our only hitch of the planned itinerary Failure of our rental car to appear. It was sorted by the next morning so we cabbed into town and walked the town's grid pattern of streets. A solid community contrasting with the desert on its doorstep. Shops enough and an obviously self sufficient population with its own activities and amusements as well as the attraction of the seaside beach.

Sam and his welcoming Guest House are both very original!. Sam is an ex pat Swiss with experience back home in the large hotel business who had a dream to create his own very comfortable establishment some nine years ago. It is very relaxed and he will spend time talking with you about life in Namibia and particularly in Swakopmund with its core of long term German and Swiss residents. He takes great pride in his creation and his loyal team of staff. He has plans for further development of the property. he will provide an in house five course meal with excellent accompanying wine.

He has just suffered the loss of Mr. Einstein, his P.R asst. Mr. Einstein's comfortable kennel house and water garden are to be taken over by a younger female companion. The tributes to Mr.Einstein continue to pour in.

Trips from here to Walvis Bay and Cape Cross are recommended. Try to get to Cape Cross (approx one hour drive) by ten in the morning to beat some of the bus trippers. Amazing sight of thousands of fur seals, all active or lolling on the shore within easy view. Do not be put off by the warnings of the stench. Soon forgotten when this special animal place seduces you to simply stay and stay and keep watching !" See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Mrs B
Hampshire

"Sam's Giardino review"

2 nights Arrived 14 Oct 2007
"welcoming, unusual, good meal" See all these reviews: 18n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Good
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Mr P
Penny

"Friendly welcome at Sam's"

2 nights Arrived 13 Oct 2007
"Still suffering from stomach upsets, we both enjoyed Sam and his giardino; cuisine first class, insofar as we were able to appreciate it, cellar exceptional though tasting again limited; we liked the slightly eccentric atmosphere, Sam's laconic concern in conversation and, especially, his willingness to provide us with transmissions of two Rugby world cup semi-finals.

We felt very much at home; nothing pretentious, but very solid, very friendly; thoroughly charming. Thanks, Sam." See all these reviews: 25n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Good
Service:
Good
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Mrs D
London

"Haven in Swakopmund!"

2 nights Arrived 22 Sep 2007
"Sam is a first class and charming host; quietly organising you whilst giving you a lot of information on the town.

We attended 2 wine-tastings and found them very informative and pleasurable.

He made our stay in Swakopmund special and we would definitely go back." See all these reviews: 7n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Mr B
N Yorks

"very nice"

2 nights Arrived 11 Sep 2007
"just one short night but helpful staff and excellent breakfast" See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Good
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Devon Pollard
UK

"Warm welcome from a genial host"

2 nights Arrived 19 Aug 2007
"Our room (a triple) was relatively small but adequate for our needs, warm and comfortable, overlooking the garden.

Sam is a fount of local knowledge and provided all the information we needed to make the most of our stay.

A nice touch is the galleried area where we could help ourselves to a variety of hot drinks whenever we liked. The lounge, adjacent to the dining area, was also available to us to watch television or browse through any of the illustrated books provided.

Sam would have been happy to book trips for us had we wished him to do so.

Breakfast was plentiful, with lots of choice. Staff were unobtrusive and efficient." See all these reviews: 10n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Rooms:
Average
Food:
Good
Mr & Mrs W
Andover

"Great place for wine lovers."

3 nights Arrived 16 Aug 2007
"Sam's Giardino provides and good base for exploring Swakomund and the surrounding area because, the reception staff were helpful in arranging bookings for us on two excellent trips, one to Sandwich Harbour and the other the "Little 5" dune tour, which included pickup and delivery from and to Sam's and filled both of the days we were in Swakomund.

Sam's wine tasting was a very pleasant way of spending the early evening before dinner, and after dinner we enjoyed browsing through Sam's large collection of Namibian travel books in the lounge. The garden was pleasant but unfortunately, there was a lot of sea fog and we were unable to take advantage of it and the garden furniture.

We enjoyed the food and wine." See all these reviews: 12n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Good
Service:
Average
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mr P
West Sussex

"Cool western coast."

2 nights Arrived 16 Aug 2007
"We had a most pleasant stay at Sam's. He takes a real pride in his establishment, and his attention to detail was most impressive.

Again, there were trips on offer which we did not have enough time to fit in, but that was no fault of Sam'!

We enjoyed Swakupmond." See all these reviews: 12n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Showing 161-170 of 173
88%
173 reviews of Sam's Giardino by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
88
71
13
1
0
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