29@Whale Rock Estate

The host was friendly and helpful, but this was the worst experience of our trip so far. The apartment smelled, felt old and rusty, and wasn't clean. The location was also unpleasant, between an industrial farm and a township. It was much too small for four people and a baby, even though I specifically asked whether it would fit us. There was no air conditioning either. We wouldn't recommend it.

You can safely explore only about 200m of roadway on foot in the evening. The units are over 30 years old and still have dated fittings and furnishings, with old, rusting kitchens and appliances from the 80s. Even with a stunning ocean view, some rooms have urine-soaked carpets that stink. The waterfront walk is also affected by abalone fishing runoff and algae pools, which often smell bad. The complex has a lovely pool and ocean views, and it's a high-security property with 24-hour guards and electric fences. It's between a township and an industrial fishing complex.

No 57 is a very comfortable two-bedroom townhouse with a well-equipped kitchen, Netflix in the lounge, and free wifi. It's good value for money, with an amazing agent and a safe, secure complex right on the beach. The pool and clubhouse aren't sea-facing, and the house only has a slight sea view, but the beach path is just a few meters away. We spotted whales from there. You'll need to drive into central Hermanus. We weren't comfortable driving through that area at night, though there's a quieter route into town that avoids the township. The industrial area and township are on one side.

There's a lovely pool area, and the walk down to the sea is quick and well worth it. The accommodation sits behind the apartments by the sea. The location is spectacular, and everything was handled very professionally. The small bathroom has the toilet and the shower over the bath, which wasn't great, and there isn't a window. The place isn't serviced. We appreciated the helpful extras, including a washing machine, dishwasher, air fryer, and Nespresso machine. The ceiling fans worked really well, though blackout curtains in the lounge would be a good addition. A lot of the main bedroom cupboard space is taken up by random things. It's adequate accommodation, and the owner was helpful.