Bramasole Boutique Hotel

It’s incredibly peaceful, set in a gorgeous, fairy-like forest. The rooms are all different but equally lovely, and the staff are friendly and helpful. Highly recommend.

The views are beautiful, but the stay wasn’t worth the money or the experience, and the place isn’t what it used to be. My husband and I have always loved Bramasole, so this visit was a real letdown. We paid R5k for accommodation, yet apparently there was no complimentary water. Since it’s remote, we had to buy water at R25 per 500ml bottle just to stay hydrated. Dinner was very expensive, salty to the point of being unbearable, and served in small portions. Being far from anywhere meant we couldn’t just drive out for food at night. The room smelled mouldy, the bin was dirty, and my sinuses reacted all night. The shower door wouldn’t close, and broken glass pierced my foot. Breakfast was incomplete too, even though we were hungry and had a long day ahead.

I expected a polished high-end stay for R2800 per night, but so far this has been disappointing and lacking pride. I hope the rest of my stay improves. The arrival was unwelcoming: I carried my own luggage in the rain, and when I asked for help, the on-duty manager was on a personal call and just told me to “WAIT.” Staff have seemed inattentive and unprofessional, which detracts from the premium experience I expected at Bramasole Boutique Hotel. The restaurant feels empty and impersonal without background music. At R700 per person, I expected a memorable meal, but the salmon starter wasn’t good enough for me to finish. The drink selection is very limited, and they had no cappuccino or ice. There wasn’t enough cutlery on the table, and the rooms had no sweeteners. At this price, those details shouldn’t be missed.

For anyone planning a wedding like our elopement, I’d use the venue and its lovely staff, but bring your own flowers and décor. The person they outsourced for those was terrible. After lots of WhatsApps, photos and calls about what I wanted, she offered builders’ plastic for an aisle runner and dead flowers in a completely different colour from what I’d asked for. The rest of the weekend was wonderful. Management even tried to help put our small romantic wedding together, the staff were lovely and accommodating, and the food was great. My husband and I enjoyed the beautiful, peaceful countryside and lake setting we expected. The rooms have lovely character and modern luxuries, so the setting, beauty and comfort all worked for us.