Sea Breeze

I’ve been in South Africa for 23 years, and this was my worst experience so far. Southern Cross Beach House looks beautiful outside, but felt empty inside. Wendy was condescending, never put us at ease, and made passive-aggressive remarks. And the owner? The less said, the better. It also made me think of apartheid times: you can have a gorgeous guest house, but if guests aren't treated equally, the beauty is gone. Are South African tourists treated this way when they go to 4* hotels in Mauritius? We stayed five nights and paid 17,500 rands. We were surprised to find helper Joe waiting instead of the manager. The website says the house takes inspiration from Mauritius, but the warmth of Mauritian people wasn't there. Our room was quite small, with no air conditioning or fridge and a broken safe. We liked the architecture, aesthetics, and location, though. A room with a kitchen was sitting completely empty, and Wendy could have upgraded us if she wanted. Instead, we had a small room with a very old toilet. Without a fridge, we had to walk to the kitchen back and forth every day. Is this a 4*? After a shower one night, my daughter found a black scorpion in the bathroom. I went out for help, but there was nobody around except four guests. Someone upstairs must have heard me, because Joe appeared with a dustpan and brush to remove it. We put a towel across the big gap under the door to keep out any more unpleasant surprises. The next day I told Wendy, and instead of reassuring me, she said there could even be big spiders and snakes. What kind of manager or host says that? Breakfast at 8.30 am was late if you wanted to do activities before it got too hot. Over five mornings it was the same and rationed, one muffin and one croissant per person. The service was another big problem. After midday the place was empty, and there was no one around if you needed help. God forbid there was an emergency. At one point we were the only guests, which is no wonder given the price and service. We had no car, making dinner difficult. Wendy said she'd give me a taxi number but never did, so I luckily found a taxi in an unfamiliar area. I called her twice for help, and she didn't answer either time. When I asked, she said she sleeps at 6.00 pm. If my flight hadn't been booked, I would have checked out early, even if it meant losing money. The only friendly faces were Eunice, Joe, William and Akim. The two dogs, Marley and Summer, were so lovable they made up for the poor service. On the eve of departure, I sat outside on a couch by an empty room to stay out of the sun. Wendy went into the room and closed the door behind her. I wondered what she was doing, then realized she'd left through another door, leaving it wide open. She must have thought I would go in, so she closed the door. It made me laugh at how petty a person can be. A warning for photographers: security might check on you if you get up early to capture a sunrise.

Wendy was full of local knowledge and recommendations, and her breakfast was lovely, especially the homemade crepes. We were glad we stayed a little outside Plettenberg's main hub, rather than in town. The house is peaceful, yet only a short drive from town and closer to Robberg Nature Reserve, home to one of the best hikes in the world. The ocean and Tsitsikamma mountains make a lovely backdrop, and the rooms were very clean, well presented, and nicely designed. We had a wonderful stay and would highly recommend it.

Room 6 was stunning, spacious, and very private, and Wendy generously upgraded us when we arrived. The bed was so comfortable and the room spotless. We had a very special stay, with great, funny conversations with Wendy, and will certainly return. The house is ideally placed, with an easy boardwalk to the long sandy beach and views of Robberg nature reserve and Tsisikama mountains. Wendy and her team served a delicious breakfast on the terrace overlooking the mountains. If you're lucky, one or both of the resident dogs might come by. Words can't describe how wonderful our stay was.

The terrace has a fantastic view, and the beach is just a short walk away. Wendy, the manager, was accommodating and made a delicious breakfast. The house is beautifully decorated, very tidy and clean. We also enjoyed the honesty bar and the two friendly dogs on the property. Great location, we'd definitely visit again and recommend it.