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We were blessed with good weather and the ocean was breathtaking. The thought and effort that was put into the experience is wonderful. We were informed that a large group of friends would be there but it wasn't a problem at all! I loved the communal area, it added to the atmosphere and it is kitted with everything you need. A large fire pit and the waves coming in just sets you up for a great weekend. Great showers that work with gas, the fancy long drop is just something to get used to 😉. My favourite part of sea shack was meeting the on site manager, Peter and his dog, Spice. What an absolute fantastic man. He paired up with my husband and provided us with live music. It was an amazing evening, especially after we have had no live anything. Thank you for keeping us stocked up with ice, firewood, good advice and talent as well Peter! Can't wait to go back.
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Date of stay: March 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rustic but relaxed. Our little family enjoyed the Spongebob room. Blah blah blah. Trip advisor insist that I write 200 characters even though I dont want to. Do t you love tech who bully. Blah blah blah blah blah blah
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Date of stay: May 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you have ever wanted to be stranded on a desert island, complete with hammocks, a bar, oysters, and amazing people then this is an absolute must. we stayed in the 2 PAX a frame tents and could have moved in forever. What an amazing bunch of people, the owners and staff, but also the guests. Play the drums by firelight or stay up drinking with the owner all night. God I could do with a holiday right now!!!
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Date of stay: January 2012
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I would like to express my disappointment with my experience at Sea Shack. I am not someone who complains easily, but I feel that there was a lack of clear communication regarding important aspects of the accommodation.
Nowhere was it clearly stated that there is no electricity available for charging phones or laptops. The recommendation to bring a headlamp does not explicitly indicate that there is no power. This is crucial information, especially for guests who still need to work during their stay.
Furthermore, there was no mention that the toilets are long-drop toilets, which have a strong and unpleasant odor. This is a critical detail that should have been communicated in advance.
Regarding the access road: I inquired beforehand about the condition of the dirt road and was informed that it was not in bad condition. In reality, the road is extremely difficult to navigate for any vehicle that is not a 4x4. This should have been made clearer to better prepare guests.
Another aspect I found problematic was the availability of towels. At most self-catering accommodations I have stayed at, towels are either provided, or guests are specifically asked in advance to bring their own. I inquired with management about this and was told they would check if towels were available – I am still waiting for feedback.
I am sharing this feedback not to complain unnecessarily but because I believe future guests should be better informed about what to expect. Clearer communication on the above points will help guests make a well-informed decision about staying at Sea Shack.
Kind regards,
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Be very careful. I emailed and asked for a quote for 2 adults for a few days. Reply stated a per day rate. On this basis we planned our trip. On making final booking discover that the quote was Per Person. ,,!!! This is misleading and throws out our plans…
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am partial to the booking that was made for a wedding. We all contributed towards the booking that was made. Covid19 got the better of this wedding plan and we all had to postpone.
Since then, March 2020, we could still not have the wedding due to the covid situation and have basically each 'lost' our monies.
According to the wedding planner, Sea Shack is not interested in refunding out money.
Please note that I lay this complaint out of my own free will and wish not to involve the wedding planner nor any of the other guests.
I would have thought that since covid put a hold on things that we would have been refunded.
I'm not a happy chappy and will never want to book this place again nor will I recommend them!
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our stay at The Beach Camp in Paternoster was bittersweet, with much more bitter than sweet. The setting was nothing short of sublime, but our interaction with the staff and the state of the camp were both so disappointing that the experience was ruined for us. We're both seasoned travelers and nearly always pass on the luxury hotels and opt for budget accommodations, so this review is not a reaction to "roughing it" for the first time. The problem with The Beach Camp had nothing to do with its rustic amenities, but rather with the complete inattention to even the most basic upkeep and the inexcusably rude and, at times, hostile attitude of its staff.
Tommy, the guy running the show (or at least claiming to) when we arrived at The Beach Camp, treated us like nothing but an annoyance from the very start. When we arrived Tommy was so disorganized that he couldn't tell us what tents or A-frames were available, but rather told us to come back later to see who showed up and then claim whatever remained. When I asked to see one of the tents, he unzipped Tent #3, which released a smell so foul that both Tommy and I had to take a step back. His only comment was "maybe we should let this one air out a little."
When we were finally able to confirm that one of the A-frames was available (Tommy originally told us that he was pretty sure that every one was booked), it was too late for us to find other lodging that night, so we reluctantly took it. The first thing we noticed was several piles of feces directly in front of the tent, from what appeared to be a variety of animals. When I opened the flap, an enormous mouse scampered through a perfectly rodent-sized hole adjacent to the bed. Had I not seen the mouse, I still would have been aware of its presence from the droppings scattered all over the floor. The mouse eventually recovered from that initial moment of panic and was brazen enough to crawl up my leg in the middle of the night.
I could go on about Tommy and his ridiculousness, but since we certainly won't be back to The Beach Camp or even dream of recommending it to any of our friends or business partners, I'll just pass on this advice to the owners for the sake of future guests:
1. Get rid of Tommy. It shouldn't be difficult considering that, according to his ceaseless braggadocio, he refuses to sign employment contracts and "works" on a volunteer basis until the proprietors get sick of him - I won't get into the tiresome lecture on natural v. artificial people that we were subjected to. Devote some of the revenue from your inexplicably inflated prices to hiring a competent, or at least pleasant, caretaker.
2. Rustic is great. Some places actually work to appear rustic. The Beach Camp is just dirty, and the inattention to even the most basic housekeeping smacks of laziness. That place has so much unrealized potential that every piece of garbage or pile of droppings is like a slap in the face to your guests; it's like you completely take for granted the unbelievable location that you are lucky enough to have, and frankly, don't deserve.
I'll conclude by explaining why the review is poor and not terrible: we met Daniel just before our rush to leave and he seemed very friendly. As soon as he arrived he set to work cleaning up the messes that Tommy had ignored, and I discovered that it was Daniel, not Tommy, that had the tea water boiling for us that morning. Tommy was just making use of the water for himself when I saw him in the kitchen area. I suspect that our stay would have been vastly different had Daniel been our host, but, unfortunately, you, the owners, saw fit to "hire" Tommy to smoke, read books and act pretentious to guests, so you get the stinky review. You and Tommy earned it.
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Date of stay: November 2012
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:The lighthouse on the hill above The Beach Camp has cottages for rent - check there before you...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My boyfriend has stayed at the beach camp before and talked so much about it. So we were looking forward to staying there on our road-trip along the west coast. The location is awesome and the camp is very simple, rustic and perfect for a beach camp. We really don't have anything bad to say about the camp itself & would like to stay one day in the future.
We were disappointed as the manager, although kind and gentle, wasn't very helpful, he doesn't seem to have much responsibility or decision making power which is a shame. You must book in advance if you want to stay. We didn't but as a leaflet suggested, we tried to call for most of the day. We left messages & sent sms messages - but by time we arrived we still hadn't had a reply. There was availability but the manager wasn't permitted to book us in. So we went for a walk in the hope we would receive a reply by phone.
We got back to the car and fortunately the manager ran out to say he had received notification that we could stay. It is not the cheapest camp but we worth it for something special. It was R560 for 2 people. We were shown to a tent which had a sheet & pillows, (it was a chilly week in Cape Town) so I checked if there was a duvet or blanket. The manager said that would be another R100.
We just felt that was unfair & misleading so after all the missioning we had to try to stay, we decided to leave. We drove 30 minutes back to Jacobs Bay & stayed at the backpackers which was very welcoming and easy.
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Date of stay: September 2015
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Be clear on the tent/ cabin & price that you select. Confirm what you need to bring (bedding).
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I booked 2 "tented" rooms for a mid week getaway and was quite surprised at the amount i had to pay.. (Equal to a 4star BnB).
Rusty mugs, no bedfing, smelly ablutions, and being required to wash all our own dishes or be charged extra.
The only redeeming factor was the amazing view and proximity to the ocean.. neither of which i believe justify the cost paid.
Far more worthwhile places out there...
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Date of stay: September 2014Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peet & Sonja are awesome hosts, however I feel that they have lost interest in the tidiness and maintenance of what could be an amazing getaway from the everyday lifestyle. Putting up with no electricity and eco freindly toilets would not be an issue at all if the place was kept in shape, which it is not. The price you do pay for getting away from the rat race is really not worth what you get in return. R620-00 per night in a cramped tent is not worth it at all. Their bar rates are also extremely expensive. I had also requested meals when I made my initial booking and did not have any as they forgot to cater for me.
Tidy the place up, pull out the weeds and restore the so called herb garden, do a couple of repairs,wash down the kitchen area as well as the utensils, throw away the old mattresses that are scattered about the premises and it won't look like an expensive squatter camp
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Date of stay: December 2011
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Paternoster area.
PRICE RANGE
R 892 - R 1,037 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
South AfricaWestern CapeSaldanha Bay MunicipalityPaternoster
NUMBER OF ROOMS
14
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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