Blanco Guest Farm
14 km From Tarkastad On the R344, Tarkastad 5780 South Africa
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About
#1 of 1 B&B in Tarkastad
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
A family getaway in the Eastern Cape, Blanco has been running for close on 100 years and still by the same family. Tucked away at the foot of the Winterberg mountains, it’s one of the Eastern Cape’s best-kept secrets. Blanco is warm and friendly and its unique formula makes it the ideal family getaway for those who want to enjoy a farm holiday with a wide range of outdoor and nature pursuits. Our cottages are rustic yet comfortable and we offer quaint Accommodation. At Blanco you will experience life again as you enjoy the peace of unhurried days and nights. Blanco Mission is to create an environment where guests can relax, unwind, have fun, feel free, recharge and hence rejuvenate themselves from the challenges of everyday life.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Public wifi
Sauna
Pool
Free breakfast
Golf course
Tennis court
Babysitting
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Business Centre with Internet Access
Conference facilities
Non-smoking hotel
Laundry service
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Romantic
Mid-range
Location
14 km From Tarkastad On the R344, Tarkastad 5780 South Africa
Getting there
Port Elizabeth Airport
220.5 km•
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Detailed Reviews
We stayed as a group booking before Christmas 2021 and had a magical time. I had heard amazing things about Blanco from friends, but experiencing myself was fantastic. Its true, everything you hear about the roast potatoes are true!!! They are out of this world. The food was so tasty, I don't eat meat and they went out of their way to cater for me. Pack clothes for all seasons as one day the heavens opened and it hailed so much, we lit a fire and enjoyed the sound of the rain, the next day the sun was out and we were at the pool. I love that you can bring your own drinks, they provide fridges with each room having a shelf and cupboard in the bar area for your items. The staff were all so friendly. We had a really wonderful time and would love to go back.
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Date of stay: December 2021
Value
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.
As three generations, aged from 5 to 73, Blanco gave us all a fantastic few days. The children were well catered for, (tractor trips, pony rides, playground and pool.) and the nanny was fabulous. Hiking, golf , tennis and bowls for the older children and adults. We were kept entertained.
The food was very good and you certainly won't go humgry. All the staff were very friendly and helpful.
My son and family were so pleased that he thinks this should be a yearly holiday.
The food was very good and you certainly won't go humgry. All the staff were very friendly and helpful.
My son and family were so pleased that he thinks this should be a yearly holiday.
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Date of stay: December 2021
Rooms
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.
Blanco is a wonderful experience for family and friends. Some rooms are absolutely devine and some are average. There are lovely communal spaces and lots to do: walk, hike, cycle, bowls, tennis, squash, swim, sauna and I am sure I have missed some. Also just a place to really relax!
We loved staying in the manor house with friends.
We even got to experience snow this year - such a treat.
Food is totally wholesome and delicious, you will miss the meals when you leave.
Highly recommend.
We loved staying in the manor house with friends.
We even got to experience snow this year - such a treat.
Food is totally wholesome and delicious, you will miss the meals when you leave.
Highly recommend.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Take a soft fleece blanket with and warm clothes if you are going in June/July.
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.
Such a stunning place in beautiful surroundings, a warm welcome from the staff, accommodation is perfect and well maintained.
A small disappointment with the quality of the food, it might be due to the remoteness of the place making it difficult to source top products.
Our whole group enjoyed our one night stay.
A small disappointment with the quality of the food, it might be due to the remoteness of the place making it difficult to source top products.
Our whole group enjoyed our one night stay.
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Location
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 had wonderful time at this well known gem in a beautiful corner of the eastern cape. Chris, Kim and Cheryl run a fantastic family orientated destination and it no wonder it has been popular with multiple generations of families . There is so much to keep all busy, and the food is wholesome and delicious. The hospitality of the hosts is second to none, and we had a great time !
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Date of stay: December 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.
It’s very hard to review a place that has become part of you. We have been visiting blanc for years. When I asked my eldest why he loved it he said many things but when the light bends and the sun gets lower the mountains become purple - and the feeling of riding a bike with the wind whistling in your ears.
You need to love space and nature fire places and good times with friends and family
You need to love space and nature fire places and good times with friends and family
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Chilly in winter hot in summer pack bikes and drinks
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 visit Blanco every year and look forward to our next trip right the moment we drive out the gates. The accommodation is very rustic, but it is still comfortable and has improved so much since we first started going. The food is real country fare and is wolfed down by our enthusiastic party of friends. The wonderful part about Blanco is the fresh farm air, spending quality time with your partner and your kids and of course the wonderful afternoon rests. If you are looking to unwind, meet some wonderful new friends and be taken care of by the friendly staff, this is the place for you! There really is something for everyone at Blanco!
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Date of stay: March 2012Trip 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.
Response from Blanco2016, General Manager at Blanco Guest Farm
Responded 10 Dec 2015
Thank you so much for taking the time to provide us with your wonderful feedback. We do apologise for only responding now and we really hope that we will see you again soon. We are very excited to announce that Myles and Tessa Hopkins have joined us as a management couple and they bring a great deal of hospitality experience to our idyllic guest farm. We aim to maintain our family fun environment that we have become renowned for but we will definitely be upping our game from a guest services and standards perspective. We would love you to come back and visit us. Warmest Regards Chris, Kim, Tessa, Myles and the rest of the Blanco team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I have holidayed at Blanco Holiday Farm every year bar one for the past 52 years. In this time I have not only experienced Blanco under the ownership of three generations of the same family but I have also experienced Blanco in every phase of my life – from my 7th year through to my 60th. I have thoroughly cherished each and every visit at every age and I cannot contemplate not returning each year into my future. I love the Blanco setting with the easy farm styling of the cottages we stay in, the central dining and recreational areas, I love the sporting arenas that keep us active, I love the pool and sauna area that keeps us relaxed, I love the unspoiled mountains and lands that surround us, I love the walks, runs, hikes and horse and bicycle rides through a wonderful diversity of birds and other wildlife, I love the healthy climate, whether boiling or bracing, I love the unpretentiousness of the place, I love all the other like-minded guests who merge into one large happy family, I love the sounds of laughter and happiness that define each day, I love the consistent ethos of Blanco and I always long to return. I have had the privilege of holidaying in two dozen countries around the world and I can honestly say that not one can compete with a holiday at Blanco for a thorough recharging of the batteries promoted by lots of healthy outdoor exercise, delightful relaxation, great food, great interaction with lovely people and a constant dose of fun and laughter. Read their website – they can’t sufficiently describe how good Blanco is for you and your family!
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Date of stay: January 2016Trip 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 Blanco2016, General Manager at Blanco Guest Farm
Responded 10 Feb 2016
Thank you so much for such a wonderful review - we just love spoiling our loyal and amazing guests that visit our little piece of heaven year in and year out. Love you guys
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Family holidays are so precious! Especially when you can all have time for yourself, and together - in a safe and beautiful environment ♡
What sets Blanco apart for me is on another level. After the happiness and contentment I feel when I'm there, I'm able to live my busy city life a little more consciously and try integrate the stillness and calm I experience on holiday, into my normal life.
That's what Blanco does.
It doesn't leave you. It stays with you and how beautiful that a holiday can impact on your day-to-day - especially as busy parents.
The children feel it too.
And that's why 'we love it so' ♡
Having a taste of what life 'used to be like', the safety, the free range children, the bicycles and toys left out at night, the nostalgia of things not being perfect, the ability to do whatever tickles your fancy - on your own or with others.
Supported by the Blanco family, the nannies, the produce of the kitchen, the friendly housekeeping, the firesides, the animals, the setting, the colours!
You'll only know what I mean once you've experienced it. It's a feeling.
And you'll only get it, if you go ♡
What sets Blanco apart for me is on another level. After the happiness and contentment I feel when I'm there, I'm able to live my busy city life a little more consciously and try integrate the stillness and calm I experience on holiday, into my normal life.
That's what Blanco does.
It doesn't leave you. It stays with you and how beautiful that a holiday can impact on your day-to-day - especially as busy parents.
The children feel it too.
And that's why 'we love it so' ♡
Having a taste of what life 'used to be like', the safety, the free range children, the bicycles and toys left out at night, the nostalgia of things not being perfect, the ability to do whatever tickles your fancy - on your own or with others.
Supported by the Blanco family, the nannies, the produce of the kitchen, the friendly housekeeping, the firesides, the animals, the setting, the colours!
You'll only know what I mean once you've experienced it. It's a feeling.
And you'll only get it, if you go ♡
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Date of stay: April 2018Trip 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.
No matter how much money you have, or wherever you can go in the world, there are very few places on this earth where the kids have as much fun as the grownups. Which is why, after 35 years, we still keep going back to Blanco at Easter. My daughter who first visited Blanco when she was two is now taking her children there too. I could list all the facilities they have there but you can see them for yourself on their website. Special mention must be made of the nannies they can provide to each family to look after your children during the day, especially while you are at meals (the children have different meal times in their own dining room) and in the evening. Also the amazing pub where you bring your own drinks and mixers and they provide everything else – no more nasty bar bills at the end of your holiday! The accommodation is extremely comfortable, spacious and serviced daily. The food is wonderful and plenty of it – the roast potatoes are legendary! I have come home 4 Kg heavier! Chris and Kim, and in fact all the staff at Blanco, welcome us back every year like family and can’t do enough to make our stay special. Before you cancel your annual holidays at 5-star hotels, one needs to understand the ethos of Blanco. It is a working farm where guests stay in delightful cottages. You will not find Persian carpets on the floors or marble bathrooms. What you will find is that you become part of the Blanco “family” and will leave there having made lifelong friends and a holiday experience for ALL the family which will keep you coming back year after year after year.
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Date of stay: April 2017Trip type: Travelled with family
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: The suites in the Manor House are a little more upmarket.
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.
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"All rooms are private and have wonderful views and outlooks. A great rustic, yet beautiful week retreat for all seasons of the year."Read full review
"This is a rural spot that dates back for years, expect a few country quirks! All part of the charm."Read full review
LOCATION
South AfricaEastern CapeTarkastad
NUMBER OF ROOMS
30
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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Claim Your ListingBLANCO GUEST FARM - UPDATED 2024 B&B Reviews (Tarkastad, South Africa)
Frequently Asked Questions about Blanco Guest Farm
What are some of the property amenities at Blanco Guest Farm?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, a pool, and an on-site restaurant.
What food & drink options are available at Blanco Guest Farm?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Blanco Guest Farm?
Yes, guests have access to a pool and a sauna during their stay.
Does Blanco Guest Farm offer any business services?
Yes, guests have access to a business centre and conference facilities during their stay.
Is Blanco Guest Farm accessible?
Yes, it offers reduced mobility rooms. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.