HOTEL REVIEW | The Plettenberg, Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape
This five-star hotel offers all the luxuries you need to enjoy a blissful holiday by the sea, writes Dave Chambers
LOCATION
40 Church Street, Plettenberg Bay. The hotel is 500m from Main Street, an easy downhill stroll.
ROOMS
There are 35 rooms in the hotel's two buildings, either side of Church Street, across five levels ranging from a standard double to a premier suite. The property also has two self-contained family villas, each with a heated pool.
This is a five-star property, so most high-end touches you can imagine are included. The best rooms have 180-degree sea views encompassing the Keurbooms river mouth, Lookout Beach, the rocky headland that persuaded the Thesen family from Knysna to build a beach house on the hotel site 120 years ago, Central Beach, Beacon Isle, the Robberg peninsula and lots of sea. STYLE
Blue and white dominate, and the walls are full of original local art.
FACILITIES
A swimming pool either side of Church Street (one is heated), a spa, a bar, a restaurant, a lounge stocked with holiday reading and unlimited amounts of ozone-charged sea air.
SERVICE
Smiles may have been invented elsewhere, but they came into their own among the legions of staff at The Plettenberg. Only the egregiously entitled would be able to find fault with the efforts of this army.
THE EATING
Under young head chef Richard Rorich, Seafood restaurant is winning fans way beyond the hotel's captive market of guests. It offers a compact menu and daily specials, and delivers delicious flavour in every perfectly cooked mouthful. Our three-course dinner for two came to R800 (excluding drinks).
Seafood also serves lunch and breakfast, and there is an extensive room-service menu.
THE 'DO' LIST
Assistant general manager Wiida Swiegers says many of the regulars do nothing more than luxuriate around the hotel. The slightly more energetic stroll to Lookout Beach, either to watch the dolphins or to surf with them.
Plett's wider range of attractions needs little introduction, and the hotel travel desk books them all.
BEST TIME TO GO
Between September and May. Bear in mind that regulars generally book out the Christmas and New Year weeks months in advance.
RATES
From R3,350 a room in the 2019 winter season, including breakfast and minibar.
BOOKING
Visit theplettenberghotel.com • Chambers was a guest of The Plettenberg...
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