Houw Hoek Hotel — Hotel in Theewaterskloof Local Municipality

3 Stars because it is a 3 star hotel, however, there’s a lot more on offer here. This review will be good for parents especially of babies and toddlers.

We booked a mid-week special at Houw Hoek Hotel thanks to a Facebook ad that popped up. It was a great deal, only around R500 per adult per night. Our two kids under 12 eat and stay free. So it worked out to around R2000 for 2 nights which I think was worth it. I do think that if we had paid the full usual price we may have been disappointed, let me explain why.

We arrived Sunday 3pm which is the check in time. We were greeted by some very friendly staff and handed our keys. With it being a hotel, it is not self catering but there is a restaurant that’s open pretty much all day and for dinner.

We booked a room with an adjoining bedroom for kids. The main room has a queen bed or double bed, and the adjoining room had 3 single beds in it so they can cater for bigger families. The rooms are neat and well looked after, our room had a tiny fireplace, aircon and a bar fridge. The room was a pool view room and had a little patio with some chairs and table on the patio. It took me a while to get used to the room, I think I was expecting something different, but not a problem.

The venue does heavily promote itself as a family friendly hotel, some expectations were met and some not. For parents of little ones under 2 or 3 years, the rooms as far as I can tell only have showers so there is no bath option for babies. (Not a problem but the info may help you prepare for your stay).

There is a lot for kids to play with outside and there is a lot of open lovely green grass area for kids to run around. The dedicated play area outside is enclosed for kids safety and the play area is nice with a big trampoline and jungle gym. The swings seemed like they need to be replaced but rest was good. They also have chairs and tables for parents and families to sit while kids play.

We were quite excited for the indoor “game room” which they mention on the website. This was a big let down for the kids as the games were not free, they were pay and play coin machines of which half didn’t work. The table tennis was nice but only one paddle that was in good state, the other two were not in playable condition. So the game room was a bust.

The Putt Putt outside was fun, and the play area with green fields and ponds were wonderful.

We had dinner at the restaurant both nights. I have to state the service from all the staff for our entire stay was fantastic. Reception, waitrons, managers, restaurant staff, cleaners, all amazing.

The restaurant has a nice big fireplace in the middle. The dinner meals were ok, I didn’t enjoy the pizza but my son loved his. The lasagne was really good. They have a kids menu and all looks good, just be careful of bones in the “home made” fish fingers for small kids.

Buffet Breakfast was included in the room price and really stole the show. Breakfast was fantastic both mornings. There was plenty of food and a wide variety of hot and cold breakfast options, coffee, fresh juice, etc.

The hotel has a lot of interesting history that you can find on plaques or photos around the hotel. There is a bar there, famous old one, be sure to check out the ceiling and learn more about the hotels history.

The swimming pool looks amazing, we unfortunately didn’t get to swim it was a bit cold. For little babies there is no fence around the pool so parents just need to make sure they keep an eye out. Also the ponds parents should just be vigilant.

In conclusion, we had a great time. We also recommend the hike up the mountain. The view is lovely.

I think the hotel would be even better when you go with more family or friends. The hotel is also nicely positioned for you to take a day trip to nearby towns such as Hermanus.

Thank you Houw Hoek Hotel for a...

Ultimately, it is a 3 star hotel. We weren't expecting more than that. However with some minor tweaks, it could become a 4 star venue.

A bit of an irritation was how they were always out of fresh towels and the hot water seemed to run out quite quickly. As a family of 4, maybe 2 of us could have a hot shower and they're is nothing worse than not being able to receive fresh towels.

The room service was efficient and helpful, but the food was just ok in general. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. It made more sense for us to buy food from neighbouring places like the House Hoek farmstall, or the Eglin market. Considering the prices were the same as the more high-end place, it was worth the drive.

The setting of the venue makes up for many of the other failing as it truly is beautiful. The mountains and pathways around the views allow you to disconnect from city life. But then returning to the venue was a bit of a let down.

The pools are small and therefore overcrowded. There are not enough loungers or towels for swimming. In many case people who were using the pool were taking up loungers. It isn't a big cost to get more loungers and even consider building another pool. Unfortunately the pool loungers were generally in use by patrols NOT USING THE POOLS. Part of the problem is that you are allowed to being your own drinks not purchased by the venue, which isn't ideal for families with young children who want to enjoy use of the pools. The photos of the pools on the website misleading as the are tiny.

All of the units have WiFi, but not all have Aircon. Not all of the rooms have fans, so it can get quite unpleasant at night.

The breakfast buffet, albeit ample, is 3 star. The breakfast rush is crazy, so gone early. The food could do with a little love, although the staff are friendly, helpful and accommodating where possible.

The facilities for kids are rundown and the game room is none existent. Their ice-cream machine was broken in peak time (we were then from 26 Dec, to 2 Ja). One would think this would be a priority.

As I mentioned earlier, with a few tweaks this could easily become a 4 star venue. Perhaps putting in a bit of effort would improve things over all. One gets the feeling that as well meaning as the staff are, their hands are tired when it comes to the budget that are allocated in order offer value to...

Having always driven passed the turn off to the hotel, I thought that it will be a nice daytrip to explore the overberg.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by the friendly staff at the reception and a waiter who served us for the duration of our visit. There was a fire burning in the middle of the restaurant section providing a warm ambience and homely feeling.

We started of in the indoor playroom where we enjoyed lovely refreshments such as milkshakes and hot chocolate. The playroom had some games, tennis table that needed attention and table soccer that was the only game that could be of entertainment. The huge happy sax were awesome to sit in and basic and neglected toys for toddlers to play with.

The outdoor play area was next on the childrens list and we made our way down into the sunny outdoors. The kids enjoyed the jungle gym and the trampoline. Other outdoor activities for guests include a putt putt course and outdoor sand volleyball court. There is also tennis courts and squash courts for sports enthusiast.

Which, if I would certainly enjoy if I was a guest.

There are two swimming pools which is well maintained along with the rest of the gardens of the hotel. The hotel offers a 3 hour walking trail into the lush green forest which forms the backdrop of the hotel.

We enjoyed a scrumptious meal and a walkabout in the main house. As you enter the hotel, theres a little lounge area to your right with a fire going which, I discovered interleads to the ladies bar. The bar is cozy and rugby matches are screened.

The houw hoek hotel brings together the 'old' and the 'new' which compliments the different eras.

I would love to return to the hotel as a guest so that I have more time to...