Page 383 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

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arrangements, first ensure that
these are satisfactory. Unless
otherwise stated, check-in is
usually at 2pm and check-out
is at 10am.
During the popular domestic
tourism seasons and the longer
school holidays, reservations
should be made well in
advance, especially for the
national parks and game
reserves and along the coast.
Self-Catering
Ellerman House in Cape Town, ranked among the world’s finest boutique hotels (p384)
The choice in style and price of
Children
Internet access is available at self-catering accommodation in
almost all accommodation, Many venues are very family- South Africa is vast. Cottages
unless it is especially remote. friendly, while some upmarket may be referred to as chalets,
At the very least, a computer is hotels, guesthouses and safari bungalows or rondavels (if they
provided, on which guests can lodges do not accept children are round and grass-thatched).
check emails, but most establish- under the age of 10. Where Many of the game parks have
ments have Wi-Fi, either compli- children are accepted, families luxurious, East African-style
mentary or available with a may be able to share a room at safari tents with private outdoor
voucher bought from reception. little extra cost, if tariffs are per kitchens, while farm-style
Air-conditioning or at least a room not per person, and some cottages in the vast Karoo (see
fan is fairly standard, but central hotels have adjoining rooms. pp360–61) feature large indoor
heating in winter is not the hearths to fend off the bitter
norm, although most places do cold on winter nights. Municipal
provide portable heaters and Booking chalets in caravan parks may
extra blankets. Many self- If possible, confirm a reservation offer only the mere basics, while
catering cottages, especially on online or by email. It is normal cottages on Cape wine estates
farms, have indoor fireplaces. for establishments to ask for (see pp196–209), for example,
As well as restaurants, large debit or credit card details in may even have satellite TV and
hotels and safari lodges have advance; in the event that you Wi-Fi. The larger resorts and
full bars. At smaller guesthouses cancel your booking at short game reserves will usually have
and B&Bs there may be an notice or are a no-show, an a selection of chalets. These may
unstaffed “honesty bar” with amount agreed in the booking be self-contained units or have
cold beers, wine, soft drinks and terms will be deducted. The shared kitchen, laundry and
mineral water. Hotels usually hotel is legally obliged to bathroom facilities. They are
have a locked, secure safe where inform you if there has been a usually well-equipped,
guests can deposit valuables. tariff increase since you made comfortably furnished and
In country towns, the hotel your booking. include towels and bedding,
frontage may be on the main Even if you have reserved a although it is always advisable
street making the noise level specific room, ask to see it to check this beforehand.
uncomfortable. Before asking to before you sign the register. Upon arrival, a member of
be moved to a room at the back, And if you require special staff may check to ensure that
however, check that there are all the items on the inventory
no large hidden cooling units, are supplied and intact. You
as those are likely to disturb could also be asked to pay a
your sleep even more. small deposit (refundable at the
end of your stay) to cover
potential loss or breakage.
Hotel Groups
It is advisable to approach
Many of the better-class hotels individual tourist information
are controlled by one of the offices of towns or regions for
national hotel chains such as the addresses and contact
City Lodge, Sun International, numbers of self-catering
Tsogo Sun or Protea (see p383). cottages. Self-Catering
These maintain good standards Accommodation of South
across their properties and may Africa is the national assoc-
offer incentives or package iation of self-catering establish-
deals that include lower family Mountain views at the Cape Town Hollow ments, which also operates a
rates or out-of-season tariffs. hotel, in the city’s Gardens district (p384) grading system like hotels.

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