Gaikou Lodge — Hotel in Swellendam Local Municipality

What a big disappointment for the price we paid! For R5600 for 2 nights one expects great service, a great location and also rooms that fit the setting.

Our experience was however that little to no maintenance is done at this Lodge. When you read other recent guest reviews they had similar complaints that have not been addressed yet. I am surprised about the high rstings though.

First as we walked into Protea 1 and 2 we were met with an ice-cold place. The floor is concrete and tiles and it was a mere 14 degrees. We saw that there is a panel heater on the wall, but unfortunately, it is broken. The gasheater would not start, which was replaced after we complained, but on the second night the gas ran out literally 30min after we arrived back after a day out. The TV remote was nowhere to be seen, the shower drains were so blocked that we ended up taking a bath wasting liters of water as the baths are huge. When we reported this to the staff at breakfast the first morning we were told they know about the shower drain problem, and have reported this "up there". One wonders who is the "up there" person who has not attended to this in months!

My Mom is 80 years old and feels cold quickly. We therefore put the aircon in heat to try and get her room warmer. Not even 30degrees could get the riom to an acceptable heat.

The blinds are not opening properly and the one curtain did not hang properly as the hooks were out.

The first morning we were asked if someone should come and clean the place. Again, we paid R2800 per night. Surely someone should go in and clean without us being asked. The coffee we used were not topped up. This morning the breakfast, which was good, took a long time to be served as there are only 4 staff that have to do everything, from cleaning, to cooking, to manning the reception desk.

So, in short, if you have R2800 to spend per night, I would not recommend Gaikou Lodge. I am sure there are other places to stay in Swellendam where you will feel it was worth it. A trip away from the comfort if your home should be the full package, not just the location.

We even told some of the shop owners today about our experience and they had nothing...

I really enjoyed my stay at Gaikou Lodge, what a hidden gem in the beautiful town of Swellendam. The staff were genuinely friendly and made me feel right at home. A full-length mirror was surprisingly missing from such a large room, though. The mountain views, guinea fowl, and occasional baboon sightings all add a touch of character and charm to the place.

Breakfast was OK, but I would really appreciate the option of plain yogurt to have with the muesli; some guests are diabetic and can't have that much sugar first thing in the morning.

The rooms feel luxurious and spacious, and I liked the practical spaces for hanging clothes and storing luggage. Great...

A really nice find in Swellendam very tranquil and good reception. We really enjoyed the room however there were a few niggles... The kitchenette light was not functioning, for a four star rated accomodation we expected some tissues in the room and maybe a dustbin in the kitchenette. Also you could not have the electric blanket and lamp on at the same time, might seem I am not picking but for four stars those details are expected. Other than that staff were great and everything else was excellent the breakfast service included. I would recommend a stay for a nice...