Strand Guesthouse - Hostel

The location is stunning and close to the Bo Kaap tourist sites, and the rooms and linen were clean. It was affordable, but the promised comfort didn’t come through. The beds were uncomfortable, and the double bunks felt risky and interfered with our rest. The top bunk shook when someone moved, and ours had bricks underneath it. The kitchen was dirty and poorly equipped, smelled of oil, and had old, greasy pans. It didn’t feel suitable for guests, more like it belonged to staff or residents. The place shouldn’t be operating. Cleanliness isn’t worth much on its own. We also weren’t given a key for coming and going freely.

There were five adults in our group, and we booked a five-bed room but were given one with only four beds. The owner agreed at the property to a free cancellation when I asked, but is now arguing online that I left without a reason. I’ve gone back and forth with them and still haven’t found a solution.

I booked in Bo-Kaap, but they wanted to put me in Plattekloof. When I called, nobody knew I was arriving, and the guest house never responded to my messages. The room was extremely hot, with no windows, fan or air conditioning. The linen and shower floor were dirty, it was noisy, and the staff showed no regard for guests. This was the worst service I’ve had. Avoid this place at all costs!

Inside, it was neat, clean and very nice, and I really liked the environment. The price was cheap, too. The only issue is the lack of extra parking. If the authorities paid attention to that, the place could be even better.