Rondebosch Guest House

It was clean and very comfortable. Service was good. Would definitely stay there again.

The room was very nice and continental breakfast was fine. Putting guests at one dining room table can make guests feel awkward and uncomfortable. The garden is overgrown and in a shocking condition and the swimming pool is dirty and green. It was very hot and we could not use the swimming pool.

I made an online booking at the Rondebosch Guesthouse in October 2012 seeking accommodation for 3 people on the night of the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert in Cape Town on 5 February 2013 (4 months in advance). We booked a 3 bed room for R700 because my brother intended to travel with me and my wife to watch the concert. However he had to cancel the week before the time, but this didnt bother me and still decided to go with the 3 bed room. When we arrived at the guest house on the afternoon of 5 feb 2013, we were shocked to find that there was no form of reception. The only person present at the guest house was the cleaning lady who didnt know about the booking system. She could not provide us with keys or anything and said I should phone the owner. After 3 atempts of trying to reach him (30 minutes later) he answered. I asked him what we should do to check in. He told me that he had no idea about our booking and said he guest house was already full. He cannot accommodate us. After a long discussion with my proof of reservation printed out in my hand. He finally agreed to come to the guest house. While I was waiting for him to arrive I phoned Safari Now, they confirmed the booking and that they have already paid the share of the deposit to the owner. When the owner arrived Safari Now phoned him and informed him about the booking. He still maintained that no one informed him of the booking. After more discussions he agreed to Safari Now that he would accommodate us. He then put us in a two bed room after moving another client to a single room. Unfortunately we still had to pay the full R700 for 3 people (even though there were only two single beds). If my brother didnt cancel we would have been in real trouble. They do not even have receipts or any paper work at this guest house. I would like to thank Safari Now with their tremendous help in convincing the owner to give us accommodation for the night. Because while we were waiting for the owner to arrive we phoned many other guesthouse to seek alternative accommodation, but they were all fully booked. But I also want to warn fellow travellers to rather seek accommodation elsewhere to avoid the disappointment and difficulties we had to endure.

The picture as attached is misleading, swimming pool green and dirty. On arrival I have found that there was no booking made for me ( not clear if it was Safari or the Guesthouse mistake)- hugely stressful. This also happened with another guest arriving on Sunday night... I can confirm that the rooms where cleanish...lots of hairs on floors and on bedding, no aircon and no hairdryer and no tea/coffee and kettle in rooms.TV services only ONE DSTV channel and rest SABC feeds. Parking on site need to be arrange every time as there is only 3 spaces on site. Richard, however is an asset as he is friendly and tried his best to assit as much as possible with moving vehicles...he clearly cannot make any decisions and is purely there to run the facility. Please also note that this Guesthouse is unaccommodating towards any changes requested - my plans changed which resulted in a request for cancelling two nights - even though they had request from other people to stay the nights I had to pay the full amount...

It was hard to get a hold of the manager most times but apart from that it is a very quaint place to stay at if one is on a tight budget.