Go to Town
1 Western Cape Windsor Hotel and Apartments
Hermanus
This grand dame in Hermanus was built more than 120 years ago originally as a sanatorium on a prized site overlooking Walker Bay. In 1931 it was converted into a hotel, and in 1996 was bought by Garth Clark-Brown and his wife Etrica, who have done extensive renovations and updates while maintaining the Windsor’s traditional hospitality. As we were on a roadtrip, we chose to treat ourselves to a night at the hotel rather than the two- or three-bedroom apartments that are also on offer. Rooms are either sea facing or have views of the mountain, with king-size or twin beds and en suite bathrooms. From the hotel, it’s an easy stroll to town, where galleries, bookshops and inviting little boutiques kept us busy, as did a long walk along the renowned Cliff Path. Breakfast is a leisurely affair, and the hotel staff took care of our needs with a smile. In fact, we enjoyed the homely ambience so much that we extended our stay. – Olivia Schaffer
028 312 3727, windsorhotel.co.za
2 Free State
À la Maison
Parys
From Johannesburg, taking a weekend trip to be tourists in ‘’ is just over an hour’s journey. Wanting to stay in town to explore its restaurants and shops, we booked into fl la Maison guest house where it lived up to its name and we felt right at home. The house was originally built in 1913, and our room the Lavender Suite was decorated in a Victorian style with a comfortable, four-poster bed, en suite bathroom and private patio. Not only is the inside of the guest house a feast for the eye with its many antiques and collectibles, but so is the well-kept garden that has water features, benches, gazebos and a plunge pool. Unfortunately, rainy weather kept us from relaxing here, but we were able to spend time trawling the art galleries, antique shops and second-hand stores on nearby Bree Street (making a dent in our wallets). A continental breakfast is available on request, but we enjoyed trying out the many eateries in town. Guests can also make use of the communal braai area. A tour of Vredefort Dome, zip-lining, river rafting and horse riding can be arranged at the guest house for the more active and adventurous. –
