Utterly disappointed !
I rarely leave reviews, but my experience at this accommodation compels me to warn others. What was meant to be a peaceful family getaway turned into an uncomfortable, disappointing, and frustrating ordeal due to misleading advertising, inhospitable hosts, and a lack of privacy. My family booked two rooms for six people, expecting a private and relaxing stay, as the booking agent assured us that privacy would be respected. Upon arrival, we were pleased with the cleanliness as the rooms and bedding were well-kept. However, from the very beginning, there were clear signs that this was not the welcoming environment we had been led to believe.
The owner displayed a weird prejudice towards my wife, making inappropriate remarks that felt unnecessary. To add to this, both owners dismissed my three adult sons outright, stating that they wouldn’t even bother learning their names. This immediately set the tone for what became an uncomfortable, awkward stay. Nowhere were we informed that the owners lived on the property, just meters away from our rooms, the common area, and the swimming pool. Had we known this, we would never have booked. Their presence was not only intrusive but also unsettling; their patio doors were mirror-glazed and on occasion we could see them peeping through, making it impossible to relax, let go, and unwind for my wife’s birthday weekend.
The bedrooms themselves, despite their cleanliness, were poorly ventilated, and the air was heavy with the smell of manure or fresh paint. We were advised that the two cats roaming the area were not allowed inside anywhere as their purpose was to keep snakes and scorpions away; ventilation coupled with the smell was thus an issue all day and throughout the nights. The walls lacked proper plug points, and the handwash dispensers appeared to be improperly refilled.
When it came time for supper, we had to inform the hosts that there was no gas, something they should have been aware of on both occasions of request. A major issue was the common area, which was falsely advertised as private. In reality, it was shared between all guests, and while we were fortunate that the third room remained unbooked during our stay, this was purely luck. Had it been occupied, my family of six would have been forced to share a single fridge, microwave, and seating area with strangers - an unacceptable situation given our need for privacy.
The swimming pool, another advertised highlight, turned out to be disappointingly small, only about a meter deep. The worst experience, however, came on Saturday evening. We had informed the hosts upon arrival that we would be receiving guests - my grandson, daughter-in-law, and her mother - for the day, with the possibility of one guest staying over, which was well within our paid booking. At no point did any of their listings (on the website, Booking.com, or their own website) state that this was an issue. Yet at 5 PM, three hours after our guests had arrived, we received an abrupt, aggressive phone call demanding that they leave within 30 minutes or we would be charged for an extra room. A room we had no access to, kept under lock.
The sudden hostility was jarring, ruining what was left of our trip as we discussed vacating the premises altogether feeling unsafe, unwanted, and disrespected. After this, the owners, who had previously made their presence obvious, completely vanished. They ignored our attempts to contact them, disregarding our messages and calls, as well as our direct attempts to apologize through their very windows, which we knew they had been peering through earlier. Their refusal to engage further confirmed our suspicion that they had acted poorly and knew it.
Adding to our dissatisfaction, we were promised breakfast items like muesli, yogurt, and fresh fruit, which never materialized. We had to waste part of our vacation driving into town to purchase what we were told would be provided. The final straw was the false claim that loadshedding would not affect us due to a generator. Twice during our stay, the power cut out abruptly, disrupting our family’s time together. By the final evening, we had lost all enthusiasm for the trip. With no electricity and a growing sense of unease, we retired early, eager for morning to come so we could leave.
This accommodation was neat, remote, quiet but a letdown. It was not private, not welcoming, and not as advertised. If you are looking for a place where you can feel comfortable, respected, and undisturbed, I strongly advise looking elsewhere.
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