Does, Reviews – “Superb Seapoint Situ” – DM Does… Culture – Cape Town’s Villa Costa Rose Guest House – March 2011 (Posted Nov)

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Superb Seapoint Situ

Having been drawn by the charms of Cape Town from the first day we stepped foot in the mother city many moons ago, we always feel truly excited about making a return, it very much feeling more like a home coming rather than just a holiday when we sweep in around Table mountain , land on terra firmer & then find ourselves within the captivating cradle that this mother city of South Africa serves up spectacularly. And like all great holiday hotspots, Cape Town offers a broad spectrum of accommodation for the tourist, in locations as stunning as any on the planet, whether it be in the shadow of that magnificent mountain in Gardens, further down in the delectable De Waterkant district, or onward round the city’s peninsula in Camps Bay, there is a colossus of choices of where to lay your vacation hat. However, it is in the suburb of Seapoint where you find the lion’s share of accommodation for the travelling tourist, visitors keen search out a brilliant base from which explore the city & beyond, while offering the comforts of home in a relaxed & uncomplicated environment, yet with a style that exudes quality but not one that will break the bank.

 

Villa Costa Rose

So, choosing a Cape Town guest house was our preferred choice this time round, as having sampled some of the high end hotels the city has to offer in both De Waterkant & Gardens, we were keen to see what Seapoint would serve up, in particular the guest house Villa Costa Rose a seven roomed house conversion in the heart of this select suburb, nestled under Signal hill yet just a hop skip & jump away from the seafront, Cape Town a mere 10 minute drive away and the attractions of Camps Bay & the waterfront well within reach. And with a location like that, this glorious guest house proved the perfect point from which to not only follow the usual tourist trails, but to also make the most of the nightlife in nearby De Waterkant, regular minibuses literally ten to the minute at less than £1 (yes can you believe it!), even private cabs a mere £4/£5. Add to that plenty of local conveniences just a stones through away from the guest house, a smart selection of restaurants, shops & cafe’s and Seapoint is, without doubt, one of the best spots to stay in this wonderful city on the southernmost tip of South Africa.

 

Resplendent Reception

With Seapoint our desired destination for our three week stay in Cape Town, choosing Villa Costa Rose was a pretty straightforward option, this despite a wide variety of options both in terms of guest houses & hotels. Having been established just over two years ago, from the outset, this modern & stylish conversion of a typical Capetonian four story property has gained a solid reputation for quality & comfort along with one of the warmest receptions from its proprietors you could ever wish for. Offering a choice of seven rooms of varying size & budget within the house itself, the Villa Costa Rose package also includes the option to hire out an apartment in central Cape Town, a location ideal for either the business person looking for a base close to the office or for the tourist that prefers to be right in the thick of the city action. As we were travelling alone, we opted for the “Standard Queen” (quite appropriate really), while for the more extravagant the range increases through “Superior” options with either a terrace or private balcony, to the “Luxury” (and it is!!) room, the Villa even offering a gorgeous “Garden” suite. And talking of the garden, the owners have painstakingly restored the whole grounds to include sumptuous evergreens, exotic South African plants & even a sparking water feature, that on top of the mandatory plunge pool, just the right size for a refreshing dip after a day on the tourist trail, the provision of sunbathers & other garden comforts also allowing the guest to simply relax in this outstanding calming & tranquil oasis, thus escaping from the hustle & bustle of one of the busiest cities on the African continent.

 

Beautiful Bedroom

So to our stay and a more comfortable room we could not have wished for after arriving from our short flight from Durban, also having been met at the airport by co-owner Neil Rose (a private perk!), although with regular airport transfers available & organised direct from Villa Costa Rose, travelling to the guest house couldn’t be easier. In terms of room facilities, the usual TV, hot refreshments making, lockable safe & mini bar are standard in each room, the addition of Wi-Fi internet (at no extra cost) an added luxury in a country that is still woefully behind the developed world in this respect, so hats off to Villa Costa Rose in providing this necessity in our lives. As for the decor, smart understated pastels on the walls are contrasted yet complimented by dark slate floors & colourful art on the walls, many the inspiration of the villa’s co-owner Rob Costa, while the bed could not have been any more comfortable, white Egyptian cotton & colossal pillows all aiding a truly restful sleep, the air conditioning in the rooms a welcome if but mandatory requirement temper the hot conditions that prevail for ten out of twelve months in the Cape Town year. And with the rooms serviced daily by the two strong team of housekeepers, yet this never being intrusive to your stay in any way, as can be the case with some sterile hotel environments, we could not fault the room at all, the cleanliness levels impeccable & the walk in shower come wet room always left spotless.

 

Sumptuous Style

Looking at the other excellent elements of Villa Costa Rose, even for the fully imitated to Cape Town, the check-in arrangements are pretty comprehensive & thorough; yes the customary details regarding the accommodation itself, but much much more than that, both Neil & Rob being as obliging as you could want. Covering details including local restaurants, transport facilities, landmark tourist sites & plenty more, their hospitable welcome is complemented by the pretty extensive guides left in each room. Then there is the breakfast and what a spread they provide, a vast assortment of fresh fruits, breads & meats that would put many a European continental breakfast to absolute shame, a host of juices, bottomless coffee, tea & other refreshments on tap, the choice extending to include hot food prepared to order along with a host of South African delicacies that certainly arm even the most energetic tourist with all the fuel they need to get through the day. And the lounge come dining area is simply stunning, the modernity theme that is so characteristic of this prolific property extending to this space too, a massive mirror the welcoming centre-piece as you walk in, the view onto the garden a delight and the tasteful furniture adding to the amazing ambiance, the crowning glory being the very impressive polished slate floor which looks like something out of a five star hotel. But as if all that wasn’t exceptional enough, since our visit back in March, the Villa Costa Rose proprietors have installed a bespoke & dedicated post check-out storage & shower facility which gives guests the opportunity to securely store their luggage in case of afternoon, evening or even night flights, as is often the case & need for international travellers like us.

 

Top Class Comfort

So, summing up our choice to stay in Seapoint & to choose Villa Costa Rose, we couldn’t have been any further satisfied, as virtually every aspect of the accommodation proved perfect, the location, the convenience, the service, the style, the facilities & more than anything else, the relaxed atmosphere along with the engagingly friendly welcome from Neil, Rob & their two terrific housekeepers. As a seasoned traveller to Cape Town we didn’t need to make full use of the information & advice that Messrs Costa & Rose can impart, but clearly they are both extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of the city, their personalised service one of the key aspects to the success of this guest house business & testament to the superb reputation they have established in the relatively short time the business has been operating. Yes, if you want the hotel feeling with a full range of facilities thrown in, then maybe the guest house option isn’t for you, but for us and many like us, having a comfortable base & the ability to come & go as you please, exactly when you please, this along with a feeling that you are right at home even though you are on the other side of the world, makes for an unbeatable combination & package in our books. So, if you are planning a trip to Cape Town and are looking for a conveniently located, competitively priced & comfortable place to stay, then look no further than Villa Costa Rose   as we cannot recommend it as a first rate choice enough. (DISCO MATT)

For full details of rates, availability & other information, visit http://villacostarose.co.za or to book directly online, simply select http://booking.com/villacostarose. 

About discomatt

The History........................................................Created in 2008 after a short period of blogging under his real name, the pseudonym, “Disco Matt”, was born on the back of a reputation for being London’s original party boy having partied and clubbed across the London gay scene since in mid 1990’s.........................................................Through his series of blogs via individual blogging pages which soon morphed into a full blown website (http://discomatt.com), Disco Matt established himself as an independent journalist come columnist who quickly gained a reputation for supporting & promoting one of the world’s most prolific clubbing scenes. He previewed, reviewed & recommended London gay clubs, as well as the diverse gay/metrosexual London club/bar culture, linking to & reviewing the scene top D.J.’s and generally covering the gay scene including international gay events....................................................Regularly reporting on the top events across the scene, Disco Matt’s reviews, over the years, developed a strong following, not just by clubbers, D.J’s, promoters, music producers & scene faces, but people far and wide that were looking for an insight to the incredible scene that was London. He also previewed upcoming events that signalled, either a major change or update of existing clubs, new ventures on the gAylist/metrosexual scene, or where he considered events that deserved more comprehensive coverage to that provided in other posts.............................................However, having pretty much reached the top of his game in his chosen specific field, due to a number of personal predicaments, challenges & changes in his life priorities, Disco Matt parked his writing and operation in February 2014. While the burning desire to continue remained, what this much needed period of inactivity did provide was the time & space to re-think & re-focus his activities on a broader spectrum of media and entertainment............................................................So, following this long two year lay-off, he built up the foundations for this diversification into the areas of film, theatre, radio & television where his reviewing, recommending & reporting was to be replicated & resurrected, also pointing his promotions through more visuals & video's linked to all these areas along with his core activities and passions ................................................................................The Present....................................After another (shorter) period of lay-off from mid 2016, a life changing event reignited his passion and early into 2017, Disco Matt has delivered on his promise for a new, more modern look to his website, shedding the old & tired skin in favour of something far more in keeping with the times and with his blogging roots. And he has waived a fond farewell to his clubbing days, this having also been ditched from his site & activity, rather now just focussing on the genres of film, theatre, radio, television, video and of course, music, in so doing, aiming to broaden his appeal to a much wider audience interested in the latest most cutting edge areas of media & entertainment.............................................................................His aim is to be highly regarded across the industry for his writing in these fields and ultimately become a full time critic in film &/or theatre.