Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa

The friendly, helpful staff and the rest of the experience deserve 4 stars from me. For the spa manicure, though, I’d give the service 2. The finish wasn’t what I’d expect at a 4-star hotel and spa. I could have shaped and polished my nails better myself. Spa management should make sure trainees get enough practice before working on clients, or offer a discount to anyone willing to be a guinea pig. That would help manage everyone’s expectations.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and the hotel looks stunning. But the stay didn’t feel anything like a 4 star place at its current ratings. We had no water in our room for showers on and off for 3 days, the phone didn’t work, and there’s no lift. The TV was ancient and unwatchable, even though streaming was available in the bar downstairs. Dinner at the “ fine dining restaurant “ was laughably poor. The manager asked for feedback, and we said it was disappointing. The mussels arrived cold and were reheated; the duck was burned to a cinder. They offered us coffee, which we declined. At least the wine was good. I wouldn’t recommend it.

I booked a special high tea for my daughter’s birthday, but when we arrived, the hotel told us it had been cancelled. Nobody had bothered to let me know, and we’d driven one and a half hours each way with no backup plan for her birthday. It was very disappointing. Getting the money back has been just as frustrating. It’s been over one month, and I’m still trying to get refunded, with endless follow-ups. If you’re arranging high tea for a special occasion, go somewhere else.

We were evacuated from Chamonix Wine Farm on 11 January 2026 because of nearby fires, leaving about 30 minutes before the house was later destroyed. We reached Le Franschhoek Hotel around 05:00am looking for safety and left again around 09:00am that morning. The unit was in disappointing condition: beds left unmade by previous guests, rubbish still there, no hot water, limited electricity, and no towels at first. We were charged for the full accommodation. Since 12 January 2026, I’ve been trying to get a proper invoice and the refund they promised, which I need for insurance. More than a month later, it’s still unresolved. I’m sharing this so future guests can make an informed decision.