Hirondelle @ 45 Old Paarl

The beds and pillows were below standard, and there weren’t any extra blankets. The kitchen was also a mess, with dirty dishes, partly cooked food left on the stove, and fridges that weren’t clean and smelled a bit. We were shocked when we arrived because the place didn’t look like the listing. It felt more like an overnight motel, with people checking in around 11 p.m. Save yourself the hassle and book somewhere established.

I needed somewhere safe for my two-year-old and four-year-old to play under my supervision while my daughter was admitted for major surgery. I’d booked two rooms for myself and my partner, and had asked the owner about the facilities beforehand. He described a beautiful garden. What I found was an untidy back yard with fallen-over rubbish bins and overgrown grass. There were used earbuds by the apartment entrance, and it hadn’t been swept. Inside, the room floors weren’t clean and had hair on them. The rooms faced each other across a foyer with ironing boards and cables on the floor. I also didn’t see COVID-19 protocols being followed. I cancelled right away and found alternative accommodation for the same price with cleaner, better facilities. The owner disputed my review, called me unreasonable, and I never got my refund. He said the review was unfair and unrealistic, that the ironing board was in the right place and the cables were iron cords. He also said I was the only one complaining, while my partner stayed quiet, and claimed we seemed too harsh in our comments. He said the guesthouse hadn’t pretended to offer anything it failed to provide, and that guests should read the listing carefully before booking.

Thokozani was friendly and helpful, which was the one saving grace. The rest wasn’t worth the money. The rooms were in various states of disrepair, with dirty linen, broken tiles, no headboards or bedside lamps, and barely any water pressure. There was no sugar or milk, either. To get outside, you had to walk through a back room piled high with laundry. The place is beside a very busy street, and the entrance and exit gate has no slope down to the road and isn’t clearly marked. The gate by the on-ramp was broken and locked. It was completely misrepresented online.

The place was quiet and clean, and the service was great. The owner was patient, understanding, and treated us with a lot of respect, even though we were young enough to be his kids. Really nice guy. Check the place out.