Southern Light Country House

We ended our stay after just one night. The accommodation no longer matched the standard we remembered from earlier visits, or the impression given by its online photos. The pool was very dirty, the furnishings were badly worn, and one of our rooms had barely any water in the bathroom. Since the ownership changed, things seem to have gone downhill, and the new management appeared overwhelmed, with no obvious investment in the complex. Communication was difficult too. There was no English-speaking staff member on site, so we had to use WhatsApp, which was inconvenient when problems came up. We only learned at check-in that the accommodation follows a strict halal culture and completely prohibits alcohol. That would have been important to know beforehand.

The room was comfortable, and the staff were great, though there was no air conditioning. It’s in a lovely, quiet part of Cape Town, but traffic can be hectic if you’re travelling there for business. I’d come back.

The reception tables were decorated completely differently from what I’d asked for, even though I’d sent photos of a setup they’d used for another wedding. Then, just three weeks before my wedding, I was told I could no longer hold my ceremony at the venue, despite having everything confirmed the previous Saturday. Management and communication were poor throughout, and the whole experience was very disappointing.

Cisalpinatours in Italy booked a client for one night. His flight landed at 19h55, and his Uber brought him to the Country House at 20h30, but he couldn’t get in. They didn’t answer the phone. I called 27 times with no response. By 23h00 there was still no answer, and it was too late to arrange another hotel. Surely someone could have called to check whether he was still coming. Has customer service gone down the drain? PATHETIC SERVICE!