We started off by going to a wedding and decided to spend the night. The grounds, chapel, restaurant, and rooms were very nice and well maintained, and the staff were friendly and helpful throughout our stay. You definitely can get accommodation for less, but our stay was very enjoyable and well worth it.

Stayed at this hotel during a business trip to South Africa. Found the staff to be very friendly and helpful. Lots of choice for breakfast and tasted great. Would definitely return if in the area again.

We were booked via Bookings. com.
This lovely website usually allows one to pick preferences as it is all done online.

On our form, we specifically requested from the options provided
1. a quiet room
2. a smoking room

We also picked the room after viewing a beautiful picture of the luxury bathroom with a gorgeous tub.

NONE of the above was honoured.

The room was (without mincing my words), DIRECTLY A STEP AWAY from the kiddies Jungle gym. Every minute from 7am until 5pm was noisy.

The room provided was non- smoking and the bathroom was a 2 star level bathroom at most (this is being generous) - the tub and shower were outdated, grimy and the bathroom was unwelcoming.

we also called in, as well as additonally requested on the booking form for a room in the Italian section.

We then brought it to the attention of unfortunately one of the most unhelpful almost hostile receptionist/manager on duty at the time - Stephan.

He informed us very frankly that we should not upgrade to the deluxe double room (even if we paid and said that it was in fact smaller - this is the luxury option). We then asked for a room in our requested section and were told without explanation that it was not possible (not even offered to show it to us)

We settled for our room, slightly disgruntled but optimistic to make it work.

I was saddened upon taking a walk around the premises to find that the beautiful italian quarters was not in fact booked out and we could have been offered an upgrade even if payment was necessary.

Why i brought up discrimination or perhaps the correct word was ignorance is that we asked the same Manager if Halal breakfast options were possible ( this was also asked on the phone call before booking) on both occasions we mentioned vegetarian options would be fine as well, we would make do.

The tone of answer we got on both counts (phone and in person) was " i am not sure what u are requesting" . I find this laughable in this day and age - they were certainly clued up on vegan and kosher options but did not recognize the word Halal in a hospitality industry catering to a city and town with a considerable Muslim population of paying customers. We felt awkward, embarrassed and offended and let the topic go.

Lastly this brings me to The Good Stuff - the kitchen staff. Hospitable, Warm, Very Helpful and ready to accommodate us by excluding meat, giving us substitutions and understanding our very simple request of using another pan to fry our food to avoid meat and bacon/ham contact.

The food was spectacular, in fact if it weren't for the unwelcoming receptionist - we would be returning simply for the delicious 4 star breakfast with a wonderful restaurant atmosphere. Hats off to the waiters and restaurant staff who were amazing.

Our quiet retreat as advertised was disrupted and tainted by our location and the unhelpful cold service but was salvaged by the restaurant.

All in all, we would probably not visit again, save for a breakfast if in the area again.

Thank you for reading