Salsabeel Boutique Hotel

The rooms are very nice and breakfast was great, but the bed wasn’t comfortable. Client service needs to improve, though the ladies always have a great smile, which matters in hospitality. As a Regional Development Officer, I also felt uncomfortable seeing only male foreign staff. It brings up unwanted assumptions around the Employment Equity Act.

I’m looking forward to seeing the new and improved hotel once construction is finished. What stood out on my visit was the helpful staff, excellent breakfast, beautifully decorated rooms, and breathtaking views. It’s a pleasant, lovely establishment.

There was no hot water in either room, and we had to wait for someone to sort it out. Our booking was for two adults and a child, but we were told the child could share our double bed. Wi-Fi wouldn’t connect despite being given a password, and there were only two channels plus two infomercial channels. The room also had wires sticking out by a corner and in the bathroom. There was no parking where we arrived, so a guard redirected us to undercover parking on another road. The venue was also hosting a wedding that day, with extreme noise and wedding guests of all ages walking around without masks. This was not private or quiet, and the service was terrible. Everything shown in the pictures and amenities was fake and disappointing.

The place seems more like a shabby BnB while claiming to be something else. There were cracks in the walls, dirty floors with hair when we arrived, and no soap, shampoo, or towels. The website lists amenities such as free Wi-Fi and air conditioning, but the Wi-Fi was faulty and the house’s electric grid tripped often. The remote controls had no batteries either. They’re understaffed, with only two people doing everything. Even after ringing the bell about 100 times, we waited at least 20 minutes at an empty front desk. The staff were friendly, but the place itself wasn’t.