Arabella Western Cape Hotel & Spa

Hotel room & spa

I had not expected this hotel to be as good as it was! From the outside it looks a rather austere, airport type building but inside it was excitingly modern, sparklingly clean and well presented with wonderful flower arangements everywhere. Our room was large and comfortable. Restaurants were first class and the spa excellent. It was superb value for money for the price we paid and, although perhaps not the most atmospheric of the hotels we used during our trip to South Africa (although it was by no means without charm) it was certainly the best value for money.

The buffet dinner was not great and certainly not value for money. The meats were always cold. Breakfast the food wasnt hot. Scramble egg was cold.

Superb golf course, wonderful views, comfortable rooms and pretty good service although their staff in the dining rooms were sometimes very, very raw and in need of lots of training.

Their tv system is the most antiquated I have come across in a long time , far from being in keeping with its supposed status as a 5 star hotel. Only 15 or so channels which from time to time did not work and one had to regularly call their maintenance people to reset the system as clearly no-one from the hotel was monitoring what was going on. 2 channels were "on a loop", one about Arabella and some other company and sadly they always seemed to work. In addition the TV's in the rooms were very old. I have stayed at the hotel many times and this is a recurring issue which they clearly have not addressed yet their staff all acknowledge that the system is very poor and in need of upgrading. City Lodge has far better systems yet is only 3 star

Very peaceful

The food was not up to standard for a 5 star hotel. Breakfast in the Jamani Restaurant. The wines were dreadful by the glass as they had been left standing in the bottle too long.

The services was outstanding when we arrived. the food was great. And the spa was very helpfull and relaxing.

The view

Classy 5* hotel in beautiful setting

Food and restaurant options not in line with 5* hotel. Only buffet dining available and food quality / presentation below standard

The golf course scenery an the quietness I enjoyed.

The hotel is very stiff. I expected more. There are no difference between other hotels with lower grades and Arabella. The upgraded city lodges which charge R800 a night is better furnished then the Arabella. To me it was a real disappointment.

everything was excellent, staff was extremely helpful and friendly

(the TV was quite small in comparison to the room size)

The room was very neat and comfortable. Did not feel as though we were in a Hotel. The Foord was excellent

The Food is overpriced. Having to pay R189 pp for Dinner Buffet is expensive and the R170 breakfast is expensive. They don't have an option to only have Toast and Coffee. You still have to pay the full R170.

The room was very comfortable, as was the bed. It was relaxing and afforded a very good spa facility. The hotel surroundings and ambience were lovely.

The food in Jardine restaurant at dinner was poor and did not give the opinion that a chef commanded the kitchen. The sushi Chef upstairs was very good. I really would have enjoyed walking the golf course but was not allowed to do so. If you could arrange for that to be possible it would be wonderful.