Category: Beach Hotels

Sea Five Boutique Hotel

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Beyond being a few steps away from the beach, one of the most important things for me when looking for a hotel in Camps Bay is finding one that is peaceful and relaxing. I live in a big city, which is why being in the middle of so much action during my holiday is really not what I wanted. I found this and much more during my stay at the Sea Five Boutique Hotel.

In fact, it feels much less than a hotel and much more like a huge beach house. While it is only about 300 meters away from the beach and a few blocks away from the sunset strip, you cannot find a better location.

Location

Thanks to being close to the beach, you can expect wonderful views of the sea. If you are looking for a relaxing beach holiday, you cannot be any closer to the water. Plus, you cannot imagine how beautiful the sunsets are from your balcony or from the beach.

The Sea Five Boutique Hotel is located at Camps Bay, which is not just the most accessible beach in the area, but  is also where everyone goes for a night out. But because it is several blocks away from the bay, it is much quieter compared to the other hotels around.

Interior Design

This hotel does not have huge signage but its beautiful architecture, which is more ostentatious than others in the area, is not easy to miss. The design has both South Africa and Mediterranean influences, with the building looking like a huge beach house. Its size is just big enough to give guests ample space to enjoy their holiday, but not too big that people feel lost.

The rooms have been designed by top South African interior designers, with the color palette a neutral mix of sand, blue, and brown. The end result is luxury while not compromising on comfort.

Amenities

The whole boutique hotel has 7 rooms for you to choose from, and I splurged on the one with the view of the sea. The rooms are all beautiful and with all the comforts you can expect from a luxurious hotel, plus extras like Nespresso station and underfloor heating in the bathroom.

The hotel also has open amenities, the favorite of mine being the lounge-bar area where you can chat with fellow guests. It also leads to the deck and the swimming pool. There are lounge chairs where you can work on your tan or go for a dip.

Service

The Sea Five Boutique Hotel is small enough to be able to offer its guests a very personalized service, with guests being able to request for nightly turn-down service. Breakfast is on offer and when guests are hungry, the staff is eager to prepare them a snack anytime.

From the very first time I saw the hotel, I knew that it would be a unique experience. The prices are quite reasonable for a luxurious beach house, especially during low season. Not only is the hotel beautiful and complete with the amenities that will make your stay comfortable, but the location is fantastic.

It is perfect for couples without kids or those looking for a weekend break (kids under 8 are not allowed). After a couple of nights with these views and the attentive service, you can truly destress and have the beach holiday you have been craving for.

Watergate Bay Hotel, Cornwall

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When I was visiting Cornwall, I stayed in one of the most talked about hotels in the area. The Watergate Bay Hotel is said to be a great place to stay if you enjoy surfing. Thinking that I wasn’t planning on surfing (simply because I didn’t know how), I wasn’t too thrilled at reserving a room here. But all these changed when I saw their website.

Watergate Bay Hotel’s website transports you to the coast. It showcased rooms that were white and navy blue and it showed great views of the shore. This made me want to give the hotel a try despite my hesitation.

Location

Watergate Bay Hotel is located at On the Beach, Watergate Bay, Newquay. Just reading the address already gives you an idea that the hotel is in front of the shore, and it is.

As I took a suite that was facing the sea, the view from my room was spectacular. During the day, I can see children, parents, and dogs running along the shore and playing games. During sunset, I can see the sun reflected on the moving water. And during the night, I can see the stars right above my head looking down at me.

If I had to give a rating for the location, Watergate Bay Hotel will receive a 5/5. It’s the perfect place to feel that you went away from civilization without having to feel that you’re living like a caveman.

Interior Design

I mentioned earlier that the overall design of the hotel is coastal. This means that the hotel’s color scheme ranges from navy blue, white, yellow, and pastel green, and light brown.

What I liked about the interior is that it doesn’t look loud with all those colors. It was also spacious enough to accommodate the number of guests the hotel was having. I went here during peak season so I expected the place to be crowded, but it wasn’t. The light airy and sunny feeling the lobby and the dining areas had contributed to making the place look bigger.

Amenities

Watergate Bay Hotel doesn’t fall short of any amenities. They have several restaurants and I would recommend eating at The Beach Hut. They’re open all throughout the day, but the best part is that it’s just by the shore so if ever you feel the need to take a quick break from swimming, you just go to The Beach Hut.

The hotel also offers a lot of activities. As I said earlier, I didn’t know how to surf and although they had their own surf station where you get to enroll at a 2-day course, I went ahead and took yoga classes. The hotel offers a 2-day program where you join a class guided by a yoga instructor. They specifically have a room for this and it was so serene because it was looking out to the sea.

Staff

The staff was the best. They were very welcoming and accommodating. Whenever I need something, they made sure that they will get it. I also noticed that they were accommodating to families especially to children.

Overall, I enjoyed my stay here. Even if the hotel was packed, it had a lot of space and amenities that will disperse the crowd.