I wish I had checked Trip Advisor before booking here. I used an online booking form stating the date we were due to arrive. On arrival, the owner, told us that we had booked for a month later. The booking form she had emailed back to use had the wrong date on, which unfortunately my husband signed only adding his... More

I have no idea how this place stays in business.. The owner Chris von Ulmstein charged me for the four days I booked in full in advance I had to leave early and came by myself - Refused to credit early departure or charge for single stay. AND refused to issue a receipt. The location is nice but corners are... More

All in all, a terrible experience. Any place that asks for full payment before you have even been given the keys to your room - alarm bells should ring. The room was dirty, sheets stained and had holes in them. Lots of amenities broken - i.e. shower connection sprayed water everywhere - perhaps explaining why there was mould on the... More

I arrived at night time, which is a pity as if I had arrived during the day I would have seen what a dump it is from the outside. Overgrown grass, rubbish in the gutter, badly needing a paint job. Our stay confirmed the worst - rooms that had not been cleaned properly, musty damp smell from the sheets and... More

My friend, her 3yr old child & I booked two rooms at Whale Cottage in Franschhoek 16-18 July 2010, we were showed to our rooms Dolphin and Starfish, the rooms were cold and the walls covered in damp. We were showed 3 alternative rooms, all of which were also not in favourable condition. The rooms and the whole cottaged reeked... More

Welcome to the Whale Cottage with a second credit card debt request for the same amount of what has been withdrawn from your account a few weeks before your trip. The owner is not based here and the team (1 person who leaves the premises at 7pm) doesn't have access to a phone. Use your own phone (and pay roaming... More

We were tricked into staying here because of the smart website and pictures. The reality is that the place is a squalid and run down hovel, The garden is a joke of over-grown grass, unkept verges and pathetic flowers. Inside is a dark and dirty roadside motel which may once have been something to look at. The staff are slovenly... More

A filthy run down and disgusting dump Do not get fooled by their flashy web site The staff are incredibly rude and treated us like a major inconvenience We are very saddened that tourists to South Africa have to endure this hell hole

The owner has done a skilled job positioning this hotel as a good 4 star option with lodges in 4 locations in SA. Unfortunately rooms are very very dirty, breakfast is poor, and service is dysmal at best.