Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
The Bethesda, set in the heart of Nieu-Bethesda village, offers luxury accommodation. Comfort and detail are of the utmost importance with extra length king size beds, crisp white percale linen and plush towels and quality amenities. Our team is ready to welcome and serve guests with warm Karoo hospitality.
317 Martin Street, Nieu-Bethesda 6286 South Africa
The Bethesda
150 reviews
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.
The Bethesda BnB guesthouse is conveniently situated near the centre of NB so it was an easy walk to view the sights and have a delicious lamb stew at nearby Inn . The house is big and beautifully decorated and our hosts Carla and Ludewyk welcoming and informative. Our room, with en suite bathroom ( complete with gorgeous Art Deco bath tub) was comfortable and had everything we needed . We chose to have the breakfast the next morning which was delicious but we felt slightly overpriced for the offering . I ended up purchasing a couple of their vintage pieces that for sale in the dining room ! All in all a very pleasant stay and will definitely re-visit .
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: February 2024
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 Carla Smit, Owner at The Bethesda
Responded 12 Mar 2024
Charles, Thank you for your gracious, kind review. It was an honour to host you. Thank YOU for choosing us. We would love to welcome you back to our village. Karoo regards, Ludolf & Carla
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We spent two nights at The Bethesda, as a stay over on a pre-Xmas road trip to the coast, our visit was well worth the detour.
The Bethesda is situated close to the Owl House and other attractions, Carla and Ludolf have created a colourful oasis with spacious rooms and communal areas to relax; we were well fed at Bruno's, the restaurant onsite. The guesthouse is efficiently managed, with solar power and sustainable use of water, and the staff are welcoming.
Hoping to return someday 🦉 🏜️
Driaan & Jess
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Date of stay: December 2023
Value
Location
Service
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.
Response from Carla Smit, Owner at The Bethesda
Responded 19 Dec 2023
Good day, What an honour to host you and to receive such a kind review as a bonus. Thank YOU for choosing our guesthouse for your stay in our charming village. We appreciate you taking the time to write such a lovely review. Karoo greetings, Ludolf & Carla
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There is very little one can add to the glowing reviews deservedly received by Carla and Ludolf for their excellent guesthouse. Their attention to every possible detail is beyond compare, and the whole setting is truly wonderful. Hearing one's every footstep on the original, creaking old wooden floors takes one back to childhood; every view through to the wisteria draped stoep, a wide and cool space, is delightful. The old cupboards and other antique furniture are all lovely to look at. No false notes. Before arrival, Carla sends her guests a whole lot of important info thru WhatsApp about the roads to Nieu-Bethesda and other matters; upon arrival, she sits you down in the green chair and gives a full breakdown of what there is to do in the village, with an easy and interesting map. The rooms are beautiful in the typical old fashioned Karoo tradition but with modern comforts and convenience. The tea and coffee tray atop the fridge in each room is designed for all tastes: filter coffee, rusks, chocolates, even a flask. My bathroom was beautifully done, with no fewer than three real pot plants, a beautiful mosaic floor alternating with the old wood, great shower and bath with quality linen all sparklingky clean and crisp. Breakfast was excellent too, served in the charming pizzeria, and it was no trouble to have it served a little earlier than usual. Excellent value at R1 130, single, B&B. The only drawback was the intense heat, reaching a peak of 40° in the late afternoon. With loadshedding, one couldn't always use the ceiling fan. But this of course is not the fault of the guesthouse: Nieu-Bethesda is well known for its extremes of temperature. In spring or autumn these things will not matter. Do stay here when you go! You will love it.
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
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 Carla Smit, Owner at The Bethesda
Responded 24 Jan 2023
Dear Brian, Thank you for choosing The Bethesda – we feel honoured that we could host you. We appreciate you taking the time to write a kind review – thank YOU! We are working on loadshedding alternatives. Thank you for bearing with us. We would love to welcome you back to our village. Karoo greetings, Ludolf & Carla
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If you need to get away from it all, this the place to visit. Quaintness and quality all wrapped up in one package! Even though the building and location is over a century old, the rooms offer superb comfort and are absolutely spotless. Carla delivers hospitality with a capital 'H'.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: April 2022
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 Carla Smit, Owner at The Bethesda
Responded 07 Sept 2022
Good day, Thank you for choosing The Bethesda – we feel honoured that we could host you. We appreciate you taking the time to write a kind review – thank YOU! We would love to welcome you back to our village. Karoo greetings, Ludolf & Carla
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What a gem of a guesthouse! Very welcoming hosts, fantastic facilities and a beautiful building and setting. We were sent all the required information beforehand iro the roads, map of the town, suggested restaurants and were even given a tip that there was a great musician playing at the local pub on the night of our stay (which turned out to be a fabulous evening spent with the locals and visitors). Highly recommend The Bethesda!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: December 2024
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.
The Bethesda is an absolute gem. Beautiful home. Luxury bedrooms and the bathrooms are just the best. Our hosts Carla and Ludolf are fabulous. While enjoying a very welcome sherry, Carla took us thru the town layout and “must see spots”. The following morning we enjoyed a most scrumptious breakfast (included in the price). If you’re visiting Nieu Bethesda, this is your spot.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: September 2023
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 Carla Smit, Owner at The Bethesda
Responded 01 Oct 2023
Good day, Thank you for your gracious, kind review. It was an honour to host you. Thank YOU for choosing us. We would love to welcome you back to our village. Karoo regards, Ludolf & Carla
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It's almost impossible for words to do The Bethesda justice! This magnificent home has been modernised beautifully with every attention to detail yet not detracting from the original historical authenticity. Comfy beds and lovely linen add to the ambience and the gardens full of blooming roses are a joy to wake up to in the morning! As is the lovely deep stoep that you can spend hours on ,relaxing with a book or a cold glass of wine whilst smelling the perfume that the roses emit! The best part though is that you need not climb in your car at all- every attraction is withing walking distance from the guesthouse and you can wander around the village and discover all the quirky shops,galleries and eateries that each have their own story to tell. Brunos at The Bethesda is such a welcome add on so that you have a wonderful dinner option right outside in the back garden- they serve world class pizza and the Karoo meal of the day is an absolute must have as well! Carla is a passionate and wonderfully warm person who is a fabulous hostess- she gives each guest a full rundown and a map of what to do and what to see! I cannot recommend the Bethesda highly enough! Thank you Carla and Ludolph for an amazing stay
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip 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.
Response from Carla Smit, Owner at The Bethesda
Responded 07 Feb 2023
Good day, Thank you for your gracious, kind review. Most appreciated. It was an absolute honour to host you. Thank YOU for choosing us. We would love to welcome you back to our village. Karoo regards, Ludolf & Carla
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We stayed at the Bethesda for two nights. What a treat to feel so at home in the heart of the beautiful Karoo. We had odd weather as it was cold and raining so we had to spend more time at the B&B. The place is so warm ( even an electrical blanket) , the linen crisp and fresh, the styling luxurious , tasteful and homely. The breakfast in the morning was perfect Nothing seemed like it was too much of a problem for any one of the staff The location is so brilliant. Everything you need : dinner, the Owl house, galleries and a fun bar called Boeties bar is a three/ five minute walk from the front door. I loved my stay and can’t wait to go back in May and then again and again.
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Date of stay: October 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip: Don’t think the Karoo is always warm. It can get pretty cold even in late spring.
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 Carla Smit, Owner at The Bethesda
Responded 27 Nov 2024
Good day, Thank you for choosing The Bethesda – we feel honoured that we could host you. We appreciate you taking the time to write a kind review – thank YOU! We would love to welcome you back to our village. Karoo greetings, Ludolf & Carla
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
From the moment you walk through the doors you are greeted by an atmosphere of refined charm that transports you to a bygone era, yet with every modern convenience you could wish for. The rooms are beautifully furnished and the attention to detail is impeccable đź‘Ś it is clear the owners have gone to great lengths to preserve its character while incorporating modern touches to enhance the overall experience. This guesthouse offers a luxurious accommodation at very reasonable rates. I highly recommend that you book your next getaway at this gem as soon as you can.
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Date of stay: May 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Free off-street parking is available.
Each room has doors leading outside to their own...
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 Carla Smit, Owner at The Bethesda
Responded 20 Aug 2024
Good day, What an honour to host you and to receive such a kind review as a bonus. Thank YOU for choosing our guesthouse for your stay in our charming village. We appreciate you taking the time to write such a lovely review. Karoo greetings, Ludolf & Carla
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
You can't fault The Bethesda! From the warmth and hospitality of hosts Ludolph and Carla, to the character and charm of this beautiful Karoo homestead, you are guaranteed loads of comfort, a great location in the centre of the village and so much attention to details. This is THE spot to stay on your next Nieu-Bethesda visit.
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
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 Carla Smit, Owner at The Bethesda
Responded 24 Oct 2023
Dear Matthew, Thank you for choosing The Bethesda – we feel honoured that we could host you. We appreciate you taking the time to write a kind review – thank YOU! We would love to welcome you back to our village. Karoo greetings, Ludolf & Carla
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
"Free off-street parking is available.
Each room has doors leading outside to their own patio.
There are countless attractions in the surrounding areas."
There are more places to choose from in the Nieu-Bethesda area.
PRICE RANGE
RÂ 1,013 - RÂ 1,161 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
South AfricaEastern CapeNieu-Bethesda
NUMBER OF ROOMS
5
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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