The Kimberley Hotel (Kimbo) Cape Town — Hotel in City Centre

I had made a reservation for my mother, who was traveling from Durban to Cape Town to participate in the Two Oceans Marathon. I specifically booked a female dormitory for her stay. However, upon her arrival, she was informed that there was no space available in the dormitory, despite the booking being confirmed online.

To our surprise, the only alternative offered was for her to stay in a male dormitory, which was completely unacceptable given the nature of the original booking. I requested to speak directly with the receptionist, who attempted to explain the situation. However, I was understandably upset, as there had been no prior communication that the bed was no longer available, despite full payment being made. Moreover, I was told a refund would not be processed in time to make alternative arrangements, which was highly inconvenient considering how busy the city was during that period.

Eventually, the receptionist offered her own bed in the female dormitory to my mother, which was appreciated. However, the issues did not end there. My mother later contacted me to inform me that the bottom bunk she was assigned was broken—it collapsed when she sat down. I inquired whether someone would be sent to repair it and was told that no assistance was being offered. When I attempted to call the reception again, the call was dropped as soon as they recognized it was me. Only after someone else called on my behalf did they finally send someone to fix the bed.

Additionally, my mother mentioned that maintenance staff were entering the room without knocking, which was both inappropriate and disrespectful. In today’s world, safety and personal preference—especially for women—should be treated with the utmost importance. You do not need to be a five-star establishment to maintain basic standards of professionalism, safety, and courtesy. There were valid reasons for booking a female dormitory, and this experience was deeply...

Very bad. Bed bugs keeping me up. Hardly any sleep. No hot water for the first three days. Rooms are dirty shower not cleaned. Stuff taken out of my room without my permission. Constant interruptions by staff. Rooms overcharged. Being treated like I am doing them a favor by staying here Cleaners are very nice,but have to send pics of room after only changing bedding. Constant spraying for bedbugs that has given me a Constant cough Was woken up again this morning by bedbugs and no electricity since 9pm last night Dirty towels not removed. Carpets dirty. Microwave dirty and also cockroaches Was forced to pay another R600 this morning. And they wanted me to go to the police station at 2am today. The place is rotten and Miss Dee rude. According to reviews on social media, Mr Dean,the owner is not a good person SA is a tourist destination, but I will NEVER recommend this...

We recently booked a dormitory in Cape Town to accommodate our staff attending a three-week training program. Unfortunately, the condition of this establishment is utterly unacceptable. The place is filthy, infested with bed bugs and lice, and it’s astonishing that it’s still operational. How can such neglect be allowed, especially for a place that prides itself on being a historical hotel?

This level of disregard for cleanliness and service shows a complete lack of respect for guests. It's outrageous that we had to pay for such appalling accommodations—our team might as well have slept outside for all the comfort this place offers.

To make matters worse, the service was disappointing, and the manager, Diane, merely responded with an insincere apology. The situation is beyond frustrating, and it demands...