Sunset Lagoon

We stayed in unit 1 for four nights and couldn’t have asked for better accommodation 😁👌. The rooms were spacious, the beds comfortable, and there was always hot water. It was very clean and had all the bells and whistles. I’d suggest adding a fan for hot summer days and nights, plus a few more cupboard hangers. Greetings from Gauteng, H & L

Check-in and checkout were super easy, and we felt safe. The chalets look quite unassuming from outside, but inside they’re furnished beautifully and comfortably. A lovely little set of places, very well appointed.

Cash was stolen from unit 3 while we were out for an hour-long walk on the beach. Some was in a purse and some in an envelope inside a backpack, in a cupboard on the upper floor where it wasn’t visible. There was no forced entry, the windows were shut, and the response alarm’s red light was on outside the front door. The unit is double-storey. This was definitely not safe at all. Before booking, we always ask about security, both inside and outside. We were told there was a small safe in a bedroom cupboard and an armed-response alarm system. The safe wasn’t fixed to the wall. We weren’t given its key on arrival, and only received it the next day, when the cleaner came to clean the neighbouring unit. That cleaning took two days. The cleaner and manager both had spare keys and access to all the units. With Brakenjan armed-response present, the Police found no evidence of forced entry. We insisted that the alarm be tested in front of us, and it turned out to be dysfunctional. A silent response log report confirmed that no silent alarm responses, or arming and disarming signals, had gone through to the response company since 1st February 2019. Two of the three indoor beams were also not working, at the ground-floor entrance and on the top floor. The manager said there had been a similar incident before and the owner hadn’t been willing to compensate because there wasn’t enough evidence that cash had been stolen. The owner, through the manager, did offer two free nights as a refund to make up for our cash loss, which was almost the amount stolen, but wouldn’t reimburse us in cash. Who wants free accommodation when it doesn’t even feel safe to leave the apartment? Some McDougalls Bay residents and holidaymakers told us the town was risky for a holiday, with visitors specifically targeted. The unit also wasn’t as neat or clean as the website advertised. Maybe the photos were taken when it was new, or maybe they’re misleading. The linen was old and faded, and the duvet cover had intimate stains. The towels were worn and washed out. It was VERY dirty and dusty under the beds. Some cutlery, pots, pans and oven trays were unclean, and the freezer was dirty and smelled of old fish. The braai grill was filthy. There were no barbecue utensils, plunger or percolator, TV remote, or toilet brush. The manager said previous guests had apparently stolen toilet brushes. Management didn’t seem hands-on at all. For the high self-catering price, I’d expect more upmarket accommodation.

There’s no credit-card facility and nowhere decent to park your vehicle. The place could use some exterior paint for a bit of a face-lift. For this area, though, it’s okay.