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.
One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel is known for its elegance and personalised service. Situated in the picturesque town of Hermanus, right on the Cliff Path, within easy walking distance of the town’s many attractions, and overlooking Walker Bay. Within minutes of the hotel are the town's exciting shops, art galleries, bars and restaurants, and a stroll to the Cliff Path, which offers the best shore-based whale watching in the world. All rooms have an impressive range of facilities including a king-size bed, en-suite bathroom, in-room safe, LED TV, free Wi-fi, and air conditioning. Included in the services offered are a 24-hour concierge, an in-room spa service, a day room, breakfast served until 11 am, an all-day dining menu, and a full-service bar. One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel is part of The Living Journey Collection.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to TGCSA - Tourism Grading Council of South Africa.
HOTEL STYLE
Trendy
Boutique
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans, Xhosa
Location
1 Marine Drive, Overstrand 7200 South Africa
One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel
416 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.
Very pleasant personal welcome with lemonade. People at the desk really think along with me to make your schedule and be able to book everything, also give suggestions in terms of restaurants, are very helpful.
Rooms: very comfortable, good beds, some with coffee machine (others outside corridor), delicious bath products, good wifi and a bottle of water per person every day. In the evening, your slippers and your water are prepared.
Nice bar, every afternoon “tea-time” with freshly baked cake, massages and facial care on request, small gifts to buy in maritime theme (hugs whale etc).
Breakfast small but adequate, various hot dishes on request (toast salmon, omelets, oatmeal...).
In short, highly recommended!
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip 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.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed here for 2 nights . The greeting you get when you check in is lovely and friendly. We were allocated 2 rooms one in the second floor and one on the first floor both were spotlessly clean and beautiful with balconies to sit and watch the amazing ocean views and hopefully whales , we were lucky. Breakfast was offered continental help yourself and a number of cooked items all were very nice and the staff were very attentive. There is a small pool with 8 sun beds around it and cake is left out for guests at 3 pm each day . There is an honestly bar and coffee machines outside the rooms on each level allowing several rooms access to the fridge , kettle and coffee machine . All the staff were lovely , friendly, professional and so helpful we really enjoyed our stay .
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Date of stay: November 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Ask for a second or 3rd floor room the views are amazing.
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 Lorraine Schaefer, Owner at One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel
Responded 15 Nov 2022
Dear Wendy Thank you for taking the time to post such a wonderful review, and for choosing One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel for your recent trip to Hermanus. We are delighted that you enjoyed your time with us. I have shared your wonderful comments about the rooms with the housekeeping team - often the unsung heroes so they will be very pleased with the feedback. Thanks for that. I am so pleased that you managed to get some whale viewings from your room. This is not something that can be planned, but when it happens, it is truly magical, in fact, totally unforgettable. Thank you for your strong recommendation, which we really appreciate. Please do stay in touch and let us know when you are planning your next trip to Hermanus. We would love to welcome you back to One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel, or indeed to another one of The Living Journey Collection in Cape Town, Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Robertson. Warm regards and thanks again. Lorraine
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We had the pleasure of staying at One Marine this past week. Although there was confusion with our check in date, with the help of Gilbert, the manager, the situation was resolved very well. I selected One Marine Boutique Hotel in the first place because of all the many positive reviews I had read of the property. The staff were so helpful and welcoming, with particular mention to Sakhi who had a bright smile on his face every time we saw him.
The property is very well taken care of. Our room was on the second floor looking out to the ocean. We sat outside on the balcony a few times to take in the view. The hotel is located about a 10 minute walk away from the main town so this location was perfect for access to town but also a bit removed so it was very quiet in the evenings. I would definitely suggest booking a room with a view even though it is slightly more expensive. The bed was very comfortable as were the furnishings. Parking was also very secure as cars are in a gated area and monitored 24 hours a day.
Breakfast was delicious too with a big selection of Continental breakfast items to a list of hot breakfast options too. Everything made to your preference. The main reason you want to stay in a boutique hotel, like One Marine, is that you get the personal service that you do not get in larger hotels. The staff knows your name.
Gilbert told us that they are expanding the hotel by constructing a new building behind the current one, but it will remain under the definition of Boutique. Construction of the new building should begin later this year.
I would strongly recommend staying at One Marine Boutique Hotel if you visit Hermanus. Our regret was that we did not have enough time to base out of Hermanus to also explore the many nearby wineries.
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Date of stay: July 2022
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Best views on 2nd or 3rd floor sea view rooms with balconies.
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 Lorraine Schaefer, Owner at One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel
Responded 25 Jul 2022
Dear Lola Thank you for taking the time to post such a wonderful, and very detailed review, and for choosing One Marine Drive for your stay in Hermanus. We are just delighted that you enjoyed your time with us. The team is really great, and they emulate everything that a Boutique Hotel should - personal service, warmth, high standards and friendliness. Thanks for mentioning Gilbert and Sakhi, they are two of our special heroes and they will definitely appreciate the mention. Please let us know when you are planning to return to the area. We would love to welcome you back to One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel, or indeed to another one of The Living Journey Collection in Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Warm regards and thanks again. Lorraine
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We chose this hotel due to the description, size and sea view.
I liked 1 Marine Drive for: Size Proximity to CBD - walking distance to restaurants Size of room Modern bathroom View of ocean Friendliness of most staff Free cake and coffee in the afternoon Off street parking
I disliked 1 Marine Drive for: Dirty tiled passages (remained like that for days even with one of the alleged owners supervising staff on one of the days) Dirty carpets in room Dirty upholstery of chairs in room Broken window handle in room meaning that the window could not close Mould in shower Proximity of neighbour’s chimney which allowed smoke into the room for about 5 hours Quality of breakfast Sullen and sloppy receptionist (male) - should not be customer facing Swimming pool (one side) unusable
One could have overlooked some of the above depending on the price. However, this is not a cheap establishment.
(Photos of most of the above available on request)
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Avoid side rooms that look onto the roofs of neighboring properties.
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 Lorraine Schaefer, Owner at One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel
Responded 06 Mar 2024
Dear Jozi2Melb Thanks so much for posting such a long and detailed review, and for choosing One Marine Drive for your recent trip to Hermanus. We appreciate your feedback and apologise for our shortcomings. As you know, the hotel had just re-opened after extensive renovations and, despite every effort on a daily basis, we often found it challenging to keep up to date with the settling of the new building. This has all been sorted now, and we et constant compliments and positive feedback about our wonderful new product. Please stay in touch and let us know when we will have the opportunity to showcase this to you. Thanks again and warm regards. Lorraine
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When planning a week to spend in South Africa, we had heard about the Living Journey boutique hotels. We had stayed in the Tree House before and were looking for the personal touch experienced with this collection of boutique hotels and it was just as special as we wished. We contacted them and they suggested we spend one or two nights in some of their hotels. They organized transfers between hotels so we didn’t even need to hire a car which turned out to be a great decision. Everyone working in the hotels was incredibly welcoming and helpful. We wanted to eat out so the bed and breakfast option was ideal. All hotels are an easy stroll to town with a choice of restaurants. Breakfast is delicious with buffet food - fruit, pastries, cheeses etc and plenty of cooked options. There is a homemade cake every day mid afternoon and coffee /tea all day. The poolside deck chairs have thick cushions and are fabulously comfortable for relaxing by the pool. There is a bar for evening drinks before heading out. Some hotels have specialty gins/brandy. Each hotel is unique with its own style and personality which makes it very interesting to travel between hotels. We had a fabulous trip and will definitely book again when back in South Africa.
The hotel in Hermanus was small and pretty with a nautical theme. We understand there are plans to expand. It has an uninterrupted sea view and is located along the coastal walk. You can turn left or right on the walk to continue for several kilometers in either direction. There are sea pools along the way for swimming. The path is nested among a stunning nature reserve. Lee the manager was very helpful. We made use of the same day laundry service which was very handy. We went to a vineyard Creation wines for a wine tasting and lunch which is highly recommended. The transfer was organized by the hotel. The first night we had dinner very locally in Heritage just a few doors down the road. Limited menu but very nice. The second night we went to The Wine Glass which was very good. Load shedding / loss of electricity occurred every day for a few hours. We got used to it and some restaurants have generators and manage quite well despite. We’d love to come back here.
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Date of stay: December 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:The coastal walk /nature reserve is a must.
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 Lorraine Schaefer, Owner at One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel
Responded 31 Dec 2022
Dear Ella Thank you for taking the time to post such a wonderful review, and for choosing One Marine Drive for your recent trip to Hermanus. I am delighted to read how much you enjoyed your stay. It is a real treat to be located on the Cliffe Path. As you rightly point out, the walks along the cliff, either into town, or to the new harbour are magical in every sense. It is great that you managed to get a booking at Creation. They recently won the accolade of the 10th best vineyard in the world, and the Hemel en Aarde (translated as Heavon on Earth) valley is unique and an exceptional wine producing area. Please do stay in touch and let us know when you are planning your next trip to the area. We would love to welcome you back to One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel, or indeed to another one of The Living Journey Collection in Cape Town, Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Robertson. We wish all the nest for 2023, and a Happy New Year. Regards Lorraine
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This was supposed to be the last place we were staying on our 3 week trip of Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. We had 3 nights booked before our return home. What a disappointment this place is. Be very careful if you decide to stay here!!! There are 8 rooms of which I would say 3 are no better than a 3*. This hotel rates as a 5* but it does not live up to that standard. We were given the pool room. We decided as soon as we entered the room that we would move. The room is small, dark because you have to close the curtains so that people cannot see in and definitely not 5*. This room is like an after thought. More like a garden shed than a room. On the first day I had put the towels on the floor to be changed, when we came back to the room discovered that they had just been folded up and put back on the towel rail. The bath mat was soaking and this had just been rolled up. Not good enough. The other two rooms you would not want to be in are on the ground floor - one is immediately behind reception. If you are walking past the front of the hotel you could also see directly into these rooms. As a result of this we were lucky to be able to move for our last evening. This place is the worst place I have stayed in SA and the breakfast wasn't that great either.
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Date of stay: January 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 Lorraine Schaefer, Owner at One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel
Responded 11 Feb 2023
Dear Janet We are so sorry by your disappointment in your stay with us. As you know, we are graded 5* by the grading council, which is a strict and arduous process, and I am sorry that you seem to not agree with their assessment of the property. We work very hard to maintain our reputation and give great service and offer a superior product. We are extremely disappointed when this does not resonate with our guests, as we are in the business of creating beautiful experiences. We wish you well, and warm regards Lorraine
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A small boutique hotel with tasteful seaside inspired interiors, short seafront walking distance from town centre with good restaurants, interesting shops and breathtaking views, ideal for whale watching. My ground floor room was spacious with a lovely seating area overlooking a small private garden . The large bed with great pillows was very comfortable with luxurious linen and your own whale on the bed was a nice touch ! A well designed shower room with beautiful fragrant ocean inspired eco friendly toiletries. The breakfast was delicious with plenty of variety and my poached eggs perfectly cooked to order. I love the cake in the afternoon and the honesty bar. The people who looked after us at One Marine drive were a warm, welcoming team ensuring our stay was very enjoyable.
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Ask for an ocean view balcony room so you can whale watch from your room
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 Lorraine Schaefer, Owner at One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel
Responded 24 Nov 2023
Dear Passport212875 Thank you for such a wonderful review and for choosing One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel for your recent trip to Hermanus, and I am delighted to read how much you enjoyed your time with us. I am so pleased that you loved the product, and the amenities. Our bathroom range is locally made, fully organic and biodegradable, and I agree with you, they smell wonderful. They also make great gifts. I am also very pleased by your great feedback on the breakfast standard and the welcoming service by the team. We really appreciate your strong endorsement and would love to welcome you back to One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel, or indeed another one of The Living Journey Collection in Cape Town, Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Robertson, on your next trip to the area. Warm regards and thanks again. Lorraine
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This is the second time we have stayed here. Room 9 is our room of choice. The views are great and I could sit on the balcony for hours. The standard of accommodation as you’d expect from Living Journeys is very high and they have a secure parking area if that is important for you.
They have added another swimming pool which was a welcome addition since we were last there.
The quality of the staff though is exceptional. It was very high wherever we stayed but the guys at OMD were a real credit to the organisation.
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip 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.
We stayed in the hotel for two nights and we were absolutely satisfied. The staff was very friendly, helpful and nice, the rooms was excellent and we enjoyed every minute. I will heartily recommend the hotel too others. This is a small boutique hotel with only 16 bedrooms and they serve coffee and cake in the afternoon.
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Date of stay: November 2024Trip 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 Lorraine Schaefer, Owner at One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel
Responded 27 Nov 2024
Dear Solveig Thank you for taking the time to post such a lovely review, and for choosing One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel for your recent trip to Hermanus. We are delighted that you enjoyed your time with us and appreciate your strong endorsement and that you will recommend the hotel further to others. This is really great, thank you. Please stay in touch and let us know when you are planning your next trip to the area. We would love to welcome you back to One Marine Drive or another one of The Living Journey Collection in Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Robertson. Thanks again and warm regards. Lorraine
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The level of service from all of the staff from the moment I booked was such an exceptional experience. The morning of checkin I requested if there was anything to make checkin go smoothly due the amount of time my family had spent traveling there. They responded quickly to my request. Once arrived the staff was even more of a delight to meet. So helpful and eager to assist us with our every need from parking, warm smiles and greetings, they handled our bags with care out of the car and up to our rooms, offered us refreshments right away prior to and during checkin, provided restaurant suggestions and even made a reservation for us, pleasantly chatted as they escorted us to our beautiful room, provided valuable tips for in town late evening parking safety and awareness, were very helpful with their available wine selections for a pre dinner cocktail which we were able to take up to our room, and were so caring to even advise how prawns are served in most of the restaurants with head/tail on in the local area when we were headed out for dinner that evening. The turndown service was so sweet, and such a clever touch with leaving a gummy whale on the pillows.
The beds were so comfortable, I felt completely refreshed the next morning. The bathroom’s heated towel rack was such a delightful feature. And the bathrobes were comfortable and stylish. The honor snack bar and tea/coffee bar outside of my room on my floor was such a nice touch and convenience to not have to go downstairs, However, the stairs were not even an encumbrance, so I could enjoy a cup of tea on the balcony as I watched the sunrise and the waves roll in the bay.
The breakfast setting downstairs was wonderful with a beautiful selection laid out on the self service table as well as several options on the menu. The food was delicious and everything ordered was served quickly and cooked perfectly. What made everything all the more enjoyable was the happiest, most thoughtful and highest level talented professionals that I’ve ever had the pleasure to experience working together at an establishment.
Every detail of the hotel’s beautiful atmosphere was so meticulously thought out and well planned, and the attention to detail all added to such an incredible experience I won’t forget. Even the board game by the downstairs fireplace had a whale’s tail theme! The staff let us know the reason for the maintenance being performed during our checkout and we are excited to come back again in the future.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: August 2022Trip 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 Lorraine Schaefer, Owner at One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel
Responded 29 Aug 2022
Dear JJ Thank you for positing such a wonderful and detailed review, and for choosing One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel for your recent stay in Hermanus. We are really delighted to read how much you enjoyed your stay. The team goes out of their way to strike the perfect balance between excellent service, professionalism and friendliness. Their passion for this is obvious so they will be really thrilled with your positive feedback, and to hear how much you enjoyed their tips and advice. Please do stay in touch and let us know when you are planning your next trip to the area. we would love to welcome you back to One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel, or indeed to another one of The Living Journey Collection in Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Hermanus. Many thanks and warm regards, Lorraine
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Cape Town, South Africa113 contributions43 helpful votes
Hi! In answer to your question.
We checked in about 16:00 and out after a long delicious breakfast, maybe 10:30. I'm sure you can make arrangements with the managment, if you require a change?
There are more places to choose from in the Hermanus area.
PRICE RANGE
R 4,064 - R 4,891 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
South AfricaWestern CapeOverberg DistrictOverstrandHermanus
NUMBER OF ROOMS
16
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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