Secret Place
21A Venus Street Parys, Free State, Parys 9585 South Africa
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About
#7 of 20 guest houses in Parys
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Guest House as well as function and wedding venue
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Bar / lounge
Babysitting
Airport transportation
Conference facilities
Meeting rooms
Wifi
Non-smoking hotel
Laundry service
Self-serve laundry
Room features
Room service
Kitchenette
Refrigerator
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Business
Hidden Gem
Location
21A Venus Street Parys, Free State, Parys 9585 South Africa
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 64 out of 100
64
Johannesburg Intl Airport
115.8 km•
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Detailed Reviews
The Secret Place is well named as it is a little hard to find. I had to call the owner to get directions once I arrived in Parys.
That is the end of the bad news.
Entering through beautiful gardens I was taken to a spotless, comfortable room.
Tea, coffee, water & rusks were all set up waiting for us.
For those non-South Africans, the Free State winter nights are FREEZING.
Our room had a heater, electric blankets and down duvets so we were as warm as toast despite the weather.
Daline had organised a therapist to come to the guesthouse and give us (mother & daughter) manicures and pedicures. She even set up the treatment bed in the lounge in front of a fire. What service!
I would recommend this hideaway to anyone wanting to escape to the peace and beauty of Parys.
Thanks to Daline for a lovely weekend.
That is the end of the bad news.
Entering through beautiful gardens I was taken to a spotless, comfortable room.
Tea, coffee, water & rusks were all set up waiting for us.
For those non-South Africans, the Free State winter nights are FREEZING.
Our room had a heater, electric blankets and down duvets so we were as warm as toast despite the weather.
Daline had organised a therapist to come to the guesthouse and give us (mother & daughter) manicures and pedicures. She even set up the treatment bed in the lounge in front of a fire. What service!
I would recommend this hideaway to anyone wanting to escape to the peace and beauty of Parys.
Thanks to Daline for a lovely weekend.
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Date of stay: July 2010
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
For our annual holiday, my wife and I spent two delightful weeks in February of this year at "The Secret Place" in Parys, Free State. We would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this venue for a peaceful rest or get-away.
We can say that the proprietors provided us with every care and attention to make our stay so memorable. Personal attention was the order of the day. All meals were superbly "home-cooked" with really delightful table settings, and served both indoors and outdoors. (Bright moonlight and candle lighting added to the lovely atmosphere created thereby).
The contact numbers of The Secret Place is "The Coach House", (The Secret Place), address is 13 Water Street, Parys, Free State. Telephone 056 811 5232; Bookings can be directed to 081 414 6822; e-mail address is: info@coachhouseparys.co.za
LAWRENCE WILLIAMS
We can say that the proprietors provided us with every care and attention to make our stay so memorable. Personal attention was the order of the day. All meals were superbly "home-cooked" with really delightful table settings, and served both indoors and outdoors. (Bright moonlight and candle lighting added to the lovely atmosphere created thereby).
The contact numbers of The Secret Place is "The Coach House", (The Secret Place), address is 13 Water Street, Parys, Free State. Telephone 056 811 5232; Bookings can be directed to 081 414 6822; e-mail address is: info@coachhouseparys.co.za
LAWRENCE WILLIAMS
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Date of stay: February 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.
Response from Suzette G, Manager at Secret Place
Responded 02 Feb 2016
Thank you for your kindness
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My husband and I were visiting South Africa from the United Kingdom. We were viting family. We wanted to spend a week end together as a family (30 people). My sister booked us all into 'Sectet place' in Parys. What a wonderful secret this was.! The venue is out of this world, very tastefully designed and decorated, the food was 5 star and the owners made us feel very welcome and at home. They provided for all our needs as a family.
They also organised a hot air balloon ride for us on the Sunday morning, the views were spectacular. Most of us had beauty treatments and messarges that was arranged at Secret Place. As a well travelled person, staying iregulary in many different hotels I can recommend this 'Secret Place' as one of the best. What a joy this was for all our family.
They also organised a hot air balloon ride for us on the Sunday morning, the views were spectacular. Most of us had beauty treatments and messarges that was arranged at Secret Place. As a well travelled person, staying iregulary in many different hotels I can recommend this 'Secret Place' as one of the best. What a joy this was for all our family.
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Date of stay: October 2009Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
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.
We arrived on Saturday morning and looked for the guesthouse which is not signposted at all but luckily we knew the number of the house. We rang the intercom for someone to let us in but there was no one there. We decided to go to The Coachhouse (a nearby coffee shop/b&b) because from the info I saw on the website I realized that the two establishments seemed to be run by the same owners. On arrival at the coachhouse the receptionist was not aware of our booking and had to scratch around in some paperwork to find the booking she then told us to meet her back at the Secret Place guesthouse. When we got there she said to us that since we were the only guests there we could choose whichever room we like and she proceeded to show us the room options we chose one of the suites which was a larger room then the standard that we had booked. I asked if there would be an additional charged and she said no as the guesthouse was empty for the night. She left us the key to the room and left. We settled down and unpacked in the room. The receptionist returned and said she had just spoken to the owner and the owner said that we need to move out of the room or pay an additional R700. I phoned the owner and explained that it was unacceptable to treat a guest in this manner, that we were not happy being moved from pillar to post. She said that the larger room uses more electricity, has a Jacuzzi bath and she could sell it later that evening to someone else therefore we could have the room but pay the higher rate. It is not a matter of paying a higher rate it is purely a matter of principle. She rudely said she was not willing to discuss the matter and I should just do as I please. Whatever that meant? Not once did she apologise. I decided to stay in the standard room. My complaints are as follows:
- Nobody to welcome us on arrival
- Incompetent person to take us to our room who in turn caused the miscommunication
- No info given to us as to where or when breakfast would be served
- You have to leave the guesthouse and drive to a different location to have breakfast
- Rude and unfriendly owners, who make comments about you. This occurred on the Sunday morning at the Coachhouse where the owner did not even greet us but did make a comment to her colleague about us who in turn gave us a filthy look.
- I challenge the owners to sleep a night on the bed in room 3, it is rock hard!
- Room 3 needs maintenance and cleaning. Curtain dirty, main light’s bulb fused, tomato pip stain on dressing gown, door handle loose.
The other rooms were not occupied that evening but instead the owners of The Secret Place decided to go with the option of upsetting and inconveniencing us. I would have appreciated an apology considering that they had put a damper on our special weekend. The guesthouse is far from good value for money. The owners are evidently only interested in making money and do not have the faintest idea of what hospitality means. A smile and a friendly hello can go a long way but unfortunately this place is one big disappointment.
- Nobody to welcome us on arrival
- Incompetent person to take us to our room who in turn caused the miscommunication
- No info given to us as to where or when breakfast would be served
- You have to leave the guesthouse and drive to a different location to have breakfast
- Rude and unfriendly owners, who make comments about you. This occurred on the Sunday morning at the Coachhouse where the owner did not even greet us but did make a comment to her colleague about us who in turn gave us a filthy look.
- I challenge the owners to sleep a night on the bed in room 3, it is rock hard!
- Room 3 needs maintenance and cleaning. Curtain dirty, main light’s bulb fused, tomato pip stain on dressing gown, door handle loose.
The other rooms were not occupied that evening but instead the owners of The Secret Place decided to go with the option of upsetting and inconveniencing us. I would have appreciated an apology considering that they had put a damper on our special weekend. The guesthouse is far from good value for money. The owners are evidently only interested in making money and do not have the faintest idea of what hospitality means. A smile and a friendly hello can go a long way but unfortunately this place is one big disappointment.
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Date of stay: May 2009Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
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.
Little bit of trouble checking in...person who handled booking away and some general confusion..but once all sorted was worth the wait. Gardens relaxing and serene and rooms clean and decorated in faux antique French style..very charming. Ours was a room facing garden with lovely glass doors and was great to look out and see green. We had breakfast outside and it was delicious and huge! One bit of feedback is the shower in our room (3) has super thin jets of water but high pressure so it's somewhat prickly to stand under!
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Date of stay: March 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Response from Suzette G, Manager at Secret Place
Responded 02 Feb 2016
Thank you. We enjoyed spoiling you.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We arrived late last night - the (I assume) owner was very friendly and welcoming. Strange thing though is that he asked us what the price was that the woman who did their bookings (who is on holiday) negotiated with us. He just guessed it was R950. There are only (I think) 8 rooms - one should know what the prices are for they are on the website. You can't guess prices in front if guests :(
...but that aside, the room was clean, spacious and we had two single beds.
In the room was a bottle of Oasis water, goodies for tea and coffee. Only one spoon for some reason but that's fine :)
Beautiful robes in the bathroom, nice touch!
Overall great experience, I will stay here again!
...but that aside, the room was clean, spacious and we had two single beds.
In the room was a bottle of Oasis water, goodies for tea and coffee. Only one spoon for some reason but that's fine :)
Beautiful robes in the bathroom, nice touch!
Overall great experience, I will stay here again!
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Date of stay: December 2014
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
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.
Response from Suzette G, Manager at Secret Place
Responded 02 Feb 2016
Thank you for the kind response. The problem has been resolved.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Under the most trying circumstances while on a business trip to Parys, the friendly hosts, and idyllic gardens where a welcome respite from the noise. The rooms were very comfortable and the breakfast was very good. It was a serene refuge from the hustle and bustle of the first ever Free State Madeira Flower Festival.
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Date of stay: November 2016Trip type: Travelled on business
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
This very nice place in parys has a very nice collection of things of a French Region.
We were very surprised to see how much effect has gone into this place. Furniture ,plan of the garden, and the people were very very nice. Staff very helpful.
We were very surprised to see how much effect has gone into this place. Furniture ,plan of the garden, and the people were very very nice. Staff very helpful.
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Date of stay: September 2016Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â All the rooms are good.
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.
We were booked at Secret Place for a birthday celebration of a friend and we could not have chosen a better location!. Our hosts treated us like royalty and made sure that we felt at home. The rooms are decorated exquisetely, from the theme to the linnen quality, up to the smallest details. Daline welcomed us with a tray of fresh filter coffee and homemade rusks and the next morning we were treated to a hearty breakfast in front of a fireplace. It was pouring down and freezing- the perfect set-up. beeing in the hospitality business ourselves, we know to what lenght these hosts go to make their guests feel at home. We loved it!
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Date of stay: April 2016Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â The honeymoon suite is to die for! All other rooms are situated in such a way that one can sleep...
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.
The Secret Place is an exquisite hide-away for anybody who wants to get away from the rush of the city. It is an exclusive spot, not open to the public 24 hours, but on appointment. It is exactly what its' name says a secret. It does not have the hotel or guesthouse feel, if that is what you are looking for you should not go to The Secret Place. This is something much more unique. Not the kind of place that you drive to and book a room and that is the way it should stay to keep the privacy and exclusivity the of the place! The owners were very hospitable, kind and accommodating. We were very impressed.
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Date of stay: August 2009Trip type: Travelled on business
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
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.
Good day Brendan. Thank you for the email to which we already replied. Look forward to spoiling you and your wife at the Secret Place!
"The honeymoon suite is to die for! All other rooms are situated in such a way that one can sleep undisturbed."Read full review
"Avoid the Veranda room unless you're an early riser who likes very loud music and the clatter of pots and pans at 7 am"Read full review
ALSO KNOWN AS
secret place hotel parys
LOCATION
South AfricaFree StateParys
NUMBER OF ROOMS
8
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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Frequently Asked Questions about Secret Place
Which popular attractions are close to Secret Place?
Nearby attractions include Kiki’s Vintage Photo Studio (0.3 km), Pine's Emporium (0.3 km), and Hello, Padel. Parys (0.8 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Secret Place?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, a pool, and a lounge.
What food & drink options are available at Secret Place?
Guests can enjoy a lounge during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Secret Place?
Conveniently located restaurants include O's restaurant, Hoi Polloi, and Jimmy Jaggers.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Secret Place?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Does Secret Place have airport transportation?
Yes, Secret Place offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Is Secret Place located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.7 km away from the centre of Parys.
Are any cleaning services offered at Secret Place?
Yes, laundry service and self serve laundry are offered to guests.
Does Secret Place offer any business services?
Yes, guests have access to meeting rooms and conference facilities during their stay.
Is Secret Place accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.