Aqua Blue

The house is a real little gem, with bespoke furniture and thoughtful details throughout the rooms. Being able to walk to the beach in under a minute was a big plus, and the pool was a nice extra. The location is hard to beat. The kitchen had plenty of crockery and cutlery, along with lovely serving dishes, but the tiny old stove really wasn't enough for a four-bedroom house. Check-out at 10am on a Sunday felt odd. We appreciated getting until 12, though one last barbecue would have been nice. I did wish we'd been made to feel more welcome. There weren't any notes or gifts, or even basics like sugar or fresh milk in the fridge.

The location is fantastic, but the cleanliness wasn't up to standard. One bathroom was particularly dirty, and two toilets were leaking and kept flushing. I know of places in Paternoster for a third of the price that have inverters or generators for load shedding and a braai area, though this spot's location is excellent.

A couple of seconds' walk takes you straight onto the sand. The cottage feels authentic and cozy, with an amazing fireplace and magic views from the patio. You can't beat being right on the beach. We'll be back.

The house is in an ideal spot on the beach, but it needs maintenance. There are lots of small things to fix, including a leaky roof and a broken window. It also gets freezing in winter, and there are no heaters.