Protea Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Mowbray

The bed was very comfortable and breakfast was excellent, so I've raised my rating. Still, the place fell short of Marriott standards for the price. There were no washcloths or soap by the bathroom sink, just one shower dispenser for body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. Water leaked past the shower glass onto the floor, which got slippery, and the bathroom tile repair looked shoddy. The front desk person seemed apathetic, and the grounds need attention. It's not terrible if you're paying budget-hotel rates, but don't expect Marriott quality at Marriott prices.

A great little hotel for a getaway, with friendly staff. The manager, Gideon, is especially professional and a delight. Keep up the good work!

The setting and location are ideal, and breakfast is good. The independent Wild Fig Restaurant is excellent too, though you can't charge its bill to your room. But this place is a long way from the superb City Lodge Courtyard it used to be, when UCT owned it and the lease later went to Protea. I stayed for business monthly for 12 years, and often for pleasure. Now the management feels sloppy. Our room wasn't made up until 15h00 each day, and the bathroom had neither air freshener nor toilet brush. When I asked, I was told the brushes had been removed for hygiene reasons. I'd have thought a toilet brush was for hygiene. There was dirt and rubbish under the vending machines while a cleaner mopped nearby, weeds outside our east-facing room, and an embarrassing courtyard garden by the dining room. Management don't seem to walk around or care.

We held a conference at the hotel, but the boardroom felt cramped and wasn't a good setup for a presentation. Breakfast was okay, and the coffee was good. Staff were friendly, though they forgot some of our requests.