Arum Hill Lodge

The lodge is handy for getting to many wedding venues, and the setting is beautiful. The king rooms are a lovely size, and there’s a lot of potential here, but the decor needs updating. We stayed one night and came away very disappointed. The sheets were badly soiled and the linen smelled of body odour. At first we noticed it was very crumpled and hadn’t been ironed, but looking closer, it seemed clear that it hadn’t been changed after the previous guests. Staff told me those guests had stayed three weeks earlier. The manager kindly offered us a two-night stay as compensation, though I doubt we’ll take it. The staff weren’t very welcoming and seemed more interested in their cellphones. Breakfast was very average, and some fruit should be served. With a few upgrades and more attention to detail, Arum Hill Lodge could be a great place to stay.

We were swarmed by mozzies day and night, and no bug spray was provided. At check-in, we were told we couldn’t use the fridge, and there was no fridge in the room. The gate intercom was broken, and the manager didn’t answer either of our two calls. Taking a shower was a real struggle: there was no water for half an hour, then only scalding hot water, with no cold water at all. The manager was unhelpful, unwilling to assist, and almost rude. We had a cycle race and asked for breakfast an hour early for six people. He refused, but still charged us for it. Definitely won’t be back.

Luke made our stay at Arum Hill superb. He and his colleagues were ready to help with anything, and the rooms were clean, comfortable, and had everything we needed, even a heated towel rail. Breakfast was delicious, and the fresh-ground 100% Arabica coffee was a lovely surprise. We loved staying there and hope to return on our next visit to South Africa. Don’t hesitate to book!

The cottage’s beauty and the things to do nearby made the trip worthwhile. The place is romantic, peaceful and quiet, exactly what we needed. Still, I’m torn about the stay. My partner travelled from NewYork, and we celebrated both our birthdays during the week we were there. After hours of travel, I had to clean the fridge and kitchen when we arrived. During our stay, only light cleaning was done. The kitchen needs a deep clean, especially the cupboards, utensils and oven. Cleaning is the last thing you want to do on vacation, particularly on your birthday. The underfloor heating wasn’t working, though the electric blankets were a treat. If we return, we’d choose the hotel-style units, or Granny Mouse or NothinHill Lodge, where I’ve stayed before.