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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 71-80 of 173
Duration
Arrival date
Mr D
New York

"Sam's Giardino review"

3 nights Arrived 11 Aug 2012
"Charming hotel with a great common area, very decent food and great wine selection. Rooms comfortable but no frills. We had a very pleasant and enjoyable stay and Sam was very helpful. A little far from downtown Swankopmund." See all these reviews: 11n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Average
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Ms P & Mr R
Pasadena

"Sam's Giardino review"

2 nights Arrived 11 Aug 2012
"Good service. Helpful." See all these reviews: 7n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
O Family
Vancouver

"Sam's Giardino review"

2 nights Arrived 21 Jul 2012
"Sam is a lovely individual. His recommendation of Sandboarding was a highlight of the trip. We definitely recommend sandboarding. One other thing to note, is that Swakop was a ghost town during our stay. We arrived on a Saturday and left on Monday morning. The town was very very quiet. A summer visit might be more fun. The TUG restaurant was a highlight." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia; 8n in Namibia; 1n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Kiwis in
London

"A garden oasis"

2 nights Arrived 8 Jul 2012
"Sam is a great host." See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Mr M x 4
UK

"Sam's Giardino review"

2 nights Arrived 31 May 2012
"Sam is a great host.

Being slightly further from the centre of town means that it may be necessary to drive for an evening meal out.

The 5-course dinner is worth it.

Internet access very helpful.

It would be useful to have a safe in the room.

The garden is a delight and we could sit around when ever not busy doing other things.

They were very helpful organising sand-boarding, though unfortunately high winds meant it was cancelled" See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

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

"Sam's Giardino review"

2 nights Arrived 25 May 2012
"Sam's b & b was very nice and he was an attentive and helpful host. We had evening meal and wine at the property for two nights and enjoyed it very much. It was a pity more guests didn't choose to dine in.

Rooms were pleasant and overlooked the garden which was lovely for relaxation with water features and nice planting. Short walk into town and its attractions and Sam provided us with a map." See all these reviews: 16n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mr P &R & Ms H & S
UK

"Friendly atmosphere at Sams"

3 nights Arrived 3 May 2012
"Sams Giardino is in a handy location just outside of town in a quiet area of Swakopmund. Sam is ready to help with any excursion ideas on the local area, with lots of reference books being available.

We didn't eat there but he was happy to suggest places to eat and book us a table. Beethoven, a huge Bernise mountain dog, was very friendly and barked a welcome as you came into the tranquil garden via the outside gate. Breakfast was a casual affair with a good choice and Sam on hand to discuss your plans for the day. The rooms were adequate and functional.

Expert Africa organised for these travellers a day-trip to Sandwich Harbor; they commented:

Ernst our driver and tour guide for the day trip was great he was very knowledgeable and passionate about the environment and wildlife and a very experienced 4x4 driver. The trip was a full day and included a lovely two course lunch at a great location on the edge of the dunes overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The time in Sandwich Harbour is governed by the tide and unfortunately we didn't get much time there to explore however there was lots else to see." See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Dr F & Mrs A
UK

"Welcome return to Sam's Giardino"

2 nights Arrived 14 Feb 2012
"We were so pleased to return to Sam's. He is a great character and charming host. We were the only guests and he really put himself out to make us welcome and to spend time with us.

We enjoyed his wine-tasting, he is so well-informed and enthusiastic. His dog, of course, was on form as co-host, and the beautiful garden was a haven of rest after a hard day's shopping." See all these reviews: 17n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
J, A, D & M
UK

"Sams Garden oif Eden."

2 nights Arrived 25 Jan 2012
"Superb garden to relax in after a busy day. Sam very useful advising and booking tours. We ate in his 'wine cellar' each night and food and wine excellent. Accomodation good.

A high-light of our stay was the catamaran trip in Walvis Bay. Seals on the boat, large dolphins chasing the boat and further out of the bay there were hundreds of small dusky dolphins which apparently only appear two or three times a year. How lucky were we! We even saw several huge sun fish. All this and sparkling wine and fresh oysters." See all these reviews: 6n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Ms S & Mr D
London

"Sam's Giardino review"

3 nights Arrived 25 Oct 2011
"This was our second stay at Sam's and we enjoyed a comfortable stay in a familiar environment. Sam looked after us well, confirming our tour bookings and making a dinner reservation for us at The Wreck. On our last day, Sam suggested that make up a lunch to take with us from the breakfast bar - a suggestion that we appreciated all the more as the food options on the way to Damarland weren't that great.

We felt like a more casual meal one evening and had great pizza at the 3 N'amigos Pizzeria on Daniel Tjongarero Street (next Hansa Bakerei and near Nathaniel Maxuilili Street).

During our stay, we went cross-country sand skiing with Henrik May from Ski Namibia. We'd picked up a flyer at Sam's on our previous visit and organised the tour independently with Henrik via email from the UK. Using conventional cross-country ski equipment (but shorter poles), we followed a route that took us over the tops of the dunes behind Swakopmund. It is amazing how much easier it is to traverse the dunes on skis than on foot and we soon reached the top with a view of the sea. Henrik also offers downhill sand skiing and telemark. If you are keen skier and want to try something different, this excursion is well worth booking. He also sells Ski Namibia t-shirts, a very novel souvenir from a trip to a country renowned for its desert landscape!

Whilst here, we organised a Day trip to Sandwich Harbour for these travellers. They commented:

This was a lovely day out and it was refreshing to spend a day by the sea after a week in the desert. Our guide gave us an interesting tour of the coast, Sandwich Harbour and the nearby dunes. Lunch was very nice. We also enjoyed the chance to meet other Expert Africa customers on the tour and the hear about their experiences in Namibia.

Only one issue: our feet were badly sunburnt at the end of the day, as we didn't think to put suncreen on them when we took our shoes off to walk around Sandwich Harbour! It might be a good idea for Turnstone to warn people about this before they head off on their walk around the harbour." See all these reviews: 18n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Showing 71-80 of 173
88%
173 reviews of Sam's Giardino by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
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