The TravelGround & LekkeSlaap Team was lucky enough to be invited by Venue & Destinations Options to go on a half-day educational trip, and visit three incredible places between Milnerton, Cape Town, and Franschhoek! It was a fantastic experience which made us realise that there are still plenty of exciting entertainments and hidden gems still to be discovered in Cape Town.

After arriving at the Lagoon Beach Hotel, we were met with the welcome sight of Table Mountain peeking through the clouds, and were impressed all over again with the fact that the 4-star Lagoon Beach Hotel is the only hotel in Cape Town to have direct beach access. After admiring the view, we were ushered into the library, to enjoy some coffee, tea, and fruit juice, with thoughtful snacks laid out for us to nibble on, like muffins and fruit skewers. A short while later the group was whisked away to explore all the nooks and crannies of the hotel.

From spacious standard rooms to more lavish family units, Lagoon Beach Hotel certainly caters to those with refined taste, and with their daily shuttle to Cape Town, included in the room rate, they become quite a cost effective stay. One of my favourite spots during the tour was the warm and scented day spa, which had soft Zen tunes playing, and a warming vanilla scent lingering the air. The view and beauty of the rooftop deck and swimming pool ensures visitors during summer make the most of the warm rays, while business folk will love the spacious and air-conditioned conference rooms.

As we bid farewell to the friendly Lagoon Beach Hotel staff, we were escorted outside to begin the second leg of our #Dontmissthebus adventure, in the very comfortable bus provided by Hylton Ross. The journey from Lagoon Beach Hotel to Cape Town was incredibly fast d we were pleasantly surprised at how quickly we’d arrived at Andiamo, set within the eclectic and atmospheric Cape Quarter.

The signature scent of garlic and freshly brewed coffee invited us into this little Italian gem, where red and white checkered table cloths, decorated with indigenous flowers, added just the right mix of an Italian-South African flavour. We were greeted warmly by the owner, and ushered in to view a very well set up buffet. The fruit juice, fruit-flavoured waters, Lindt balls, and heavenly pizzas were practically begging us to grab a plate and dig in.

I was amazed at the delicious toppings and crispy, thin-based crusts (my favourite). Many of us tried to hold off on enjoying the delicious Lindt balls (graciously supplied by the Lindt store located within the Cape Quarter), during speeches, but temptation finally won and the chocolates were gratefully devoured. After a quick tour of the Cape Quarter, our third leg of #Dontmissthebus began.

The hour bus trip to Franschhoek also seemed to fly by, which was mainly due to the fun and interactive games we participated in, led by Dynamic Corporate Activities. From bingo to music quizzes and anagrams, the trip was sprinkled with laughter, muffled curses, and plenty of excitement.

Stepping off the bus into the crisp air, we got to admire Allée Bleues extensive vineyard for a moment or two before we were met by a friendly representative. We posed for pictures outside the winery, and began our tour of the property, which encompassed conference halls, stylish tasting rooms, and the beautiful cottages on-site.

The tasting room at Allée Bleue is beautifully decorated. After a quick run-down of the history of the estate, our group was led to a tasting room. The helpful staff serving us had excellent sommelier training, and they talked us through the colour and flavours as we sniff, swirl, and sampled the crisp white and fruity red wines from the vineyard. After a few more fun-filled games from Dynamic Corporate Activities, our rumbling bellies were taken care of as we were led to a well-stocked buffet where homemade Panini sandwiches with regular and vegetarian fillings awaited us. The potato, leek, and pepper soup was a welcome surprise to help ward off the chill, and every staff member serving us was friendly, and courteous.

All in all it was an incredible trip that allowed us to enjoy some of Cape Town’s more luxurious hidden gems. We highly recommend a visit to each of the above attractions.

Check out LekkeSlaaps photo-blogs of Lagoon Beach Hotel, Andiamo, and Allée Bleue, and let us know which of the above places you’d love to visit!