Hotel Skyark

It was quiet and right in the city center, within walking distance of Cape railway station. The room was roomy and had a mini fridge, though there was no hot water and the shower leaked from all sides, so it wasn't good.

I was left waiting and then turned away. When I arrived, they said the room needed 30-40 minutes to be cleaned, but later insisted there were no rooms at all. The way staff handled it was unprofessional and irresponsible, and the whole experience was frustrating.

The location is a plus if you want to stay away from the bustle, but after staying here just after Christmas, I was hugely disappointed with the facilities. We paid three times the normal rate for peak season, and the stay still felt costly for what we got. Staff said the hotel had problems after the recent floods. If so, they should have stopped taking bookings and closed for repairs. Don't rely on the photos if you book, there may be surprises. The parking is a narrow, 10-foot passage where cars are lined up one behind another. You have to wait for others to move before you can get out, and larger cars have trouble backing out. Outside, a Kalyani (water pond) in front of the hotel was full of mosquitoes and trash, an eyesore. Its parapet wall is only two feet high, which felt scary with kids around or if you accidentally hit it. The room itself was large, but the bedding looked untidy. There was no bath mat to keep your feet dry, and the TV had no connection so it didn't work. The room smelled foul even with the AC on, and there were mosquitoes under the bed. The phone didn't work either, so I had to go to reception whenever I needed something. In the bathroom there was no hot water unless we asked staff, who brought a bucketful that wasn't enough for an adult. There were no towel rods or other amenities in there.

We were in Room 201 on 10th March 2019. We checked in early in the morning and didn't stay long, but the relaxed front desk guy let us keep the room for a few extra hours. The place was clean, with nice fitted interiors and comfortable bedding. It had AC, a small refrigerator, a lift that was welcome after the heat outside, and a well-fitted bathroom with good amenities. The one thing I missed was an intercom to call for help.