The first impression of Villa Coloniale is very charming when you drive in from the street. The garden is very lush and the white colonial style building fits very well in. Unfortunately this so called paradise in paradise does not meet the expectations that one has when staying at a 5 star guesthouse. We stayed for 12 nights at the beginning of February and we were quite disappointed with a number of things.
• The hosts were not present when we arrived. They had informed us by email that they would be out golfing. We were received by the maids and put in room 8 which looked really nice. However, 10 minutes later (apparently the hosts had called from the golf club) we were moved to room 6, called a luxury suite. This room does not compare at all with number 8, maybe this is the de luxe suite (for just 200 rand extra). The guesthouse was left with no manager on duty on more than one occasion.
• Room 6 is called a suite but it is a really austere room. The fact that the bed and sitting areas are separated by a sliding door does not qualify this room for a suite. The bed is not a full king size, in fact two single beds are pushed together with individual mattresses, sheets and duvets. Above the bed is a noisy fan that needs repair. In the sitting area there is a very small writing desk with a coffee/tea tray, without spoons and just two small wine glasses. There is also a noisy fridge. The only lighting is on the ceiling. There are no reading lamps. If one goes to bed, it is lights on or out, except for the bed lamps. For the rest there is a small flat screen TV with only a few channels available, there is no radio, no iPod/iPhone docking station and only a limited number of old magazines. On arrival there was a glass filled with grapes. The next morning the non consumed grapes were removed but not replaced. One day the trash bin in the sitting area was not emptied. Altogether not exactly what you expect in 5 star accommodation. Our conclusion can only be that there is a clear lack of control by the hosts after the maids have finished serving the room.
• The bathroom is very basic with only one washing basin. Liquid bath and hand soap was not filled up until the last day. The packaging says Charlotte Rhys but I strongly suspects it is filled with ordinary soap. There was a small flower vase and the flowers were removed after a number of days, however the vase with the dirty water was left behind. One day the Kleenex box was empty but not replaced until the following day. Another day the towels were only partially replaced. A laundry bag had to be requested.
• Room 6 has an unpleasant terrace, not facing the garden, with basic furniture, separated from noisy neighbors by a high wall.
• The Villa Coloniale has no common lounge for evenings or bad weather days. According to the host “it is not necessary because the weather is always fine”.
• The swimming pool needs urgent maintenance and the bottom makes a really dirty impression.
• Breakfast. The fresh fruit and muesli are fine. However, no fresh juice is offered, just cheap stuff from the bottle or the carton. The choice of bread is very poor both in quality and in quantity. One day my wife ordered a soft boiled egg and it was brought to the table saying that it was over-cooked. She checked and it was indeed over-cooked and sent back. A few days later, the same happened again. Two eggs were sent back but only one was replaced. The flower plant on the breakfast table was death for a number of days before it was replaced.
• At check-out the printer was not working which can happen and I was promised that the invoice would be sent by email. Today, 10 days later, I am still waiting. Moreover, only the room could go on the invoice, not the minibar and the laundry. These were to be paid separately.
This is very clearly not 5 star accommodation. There is a lush garden and from the outside the building makes a nice impression. However, when compared with 4 star guesthouses were we stayed in Somerset West and in Franschhoek, Villa Coloniale is clearly below their level, except for the rate. A few years ago we stayed in a genuine 5 star guesthouse in Swellendam and that was clearly a totally different standard. I really wonder on which basis the TGCSA has awarded this guesthouse a 5 star rating, so I have inquired with them. It is true that other guests have written big praise reviews. Probably they had a more positive experience or maybe they had no basis to compare with other guesthouses in the Western Cape.