Carpe Diem Guest Cottage

Reviews

• "Very pleased with our stay"

  09 May 2015

  "The cottage is lovely and we found it to suit our family of 5 very well. It felt more as if we were locals than tourists, staying in a home away from home. The garden is truly stunning and the children enjoyed the trampoline in particular. The dog was very friendly (while making us feel safer) and the staff were great. I really enjoyed the early morning quiet on the terrasse behind the cottage. A couple of very minor details could have been better, such as the couch which you tend to sink into and the frying pans that were very badly scratched - but then again we found badly scratched frying pans everywhere we went in SA, so maybe people there just don't realize how unhealthy the non-stick coating is when it starts to come off? Anyway, if we ever come back to Cape Town, we are likely to want to stay here again. We highly recommend it.<br />"

• "Our stay in Hout Bay"

  16 February 2014

  "We had a wonderfull stay in Carpe Diem Cottage. The family Adema was very friendly and showed a great hospitality. The environment was very peaceful. It was a good and quiet place to relax."

• "Perfect place for holidays"

  26 March 2013

  "We had a wonderful 6 days stay at Carpe Diem Cottage. Carol and Marc (owner) made our stay really special e.g. they welcomed us very warmly, gave us hints for hikes and shops etc. They made us and especially our children feel very much at home. The cottage is very well equipped, the view is fantastic and the pool warm (nice if the wind is a bit cool). Our little children (3 and 5 years old) had lots of playing opportunities in the beautiful garden and enjoyed playing with Marcs and Carols children as well as with the very friendly and good educated dogs. The location is a very good starting point for day trips to all locations around the cape peninsula and cape town itself (e.g. 30min drive to Waterfront). All in all we can really recommend staying at Carpe Diem where you can realize the slogan Carpe Diem!"

• "3 Star rating"

  07 October 2012

  "The fact that the pictures of the cottage is deceiving...is a bit disappointing. We didn't realize that the cottage was upstairs or that the drive up to the cottage was so steep. It was difficult to get in and out of the place with the car. The pool is also unsafe. And there are big dogs. We couldn't let the kids play outside without constant supervision. The other thing was that the upkeep of the cottage is not that great...needs some work. Other than that it was a nice place to stay for the amount of money asked. People were very nice and friendly. <br></br> <b>Establishment's Response</b> <br></br> <i>Dear Charmain</i> <br></br> <i>We are sorry to hear that your stay at Carpe Diem was disappointing. We note however that you omitted to mention the views, the comfortable and spacious accommodation and beautiful surroundings, but rather focused on the steepness of the driveway and the parking which admittedly is tight with an oversized vehicle.</i> <br></br> <i>We do have dogs (which provide security and are extremely loving to children – we have little ones of our own) and do warn people with toddlers that they will have to watch the balcony and stair areas leading up the cottage. The cottage is however set far away from the main house, providing you with privacy and space from the dogs, if animals are not your thing. The pool is fenced and like any fence can be traversed if your child is intent on doing so, however, it is definitely not unsafe. We have noted the comments about the maintenance issues regarding the cottage, and are attending to them.</i> <br></br> <i>We are disappointed with this review as it is the first review that we have received in which we have not scored 80 - 100% for our establishment. Most guests are simply blown away by the situation of the cottage and everything else on offer, but I do realise it must be tiring travelling with little ones and perhaps had you been more specific in your correspondence about your requirements I could have explained what we have on offer and there would have been no misconceptions or deception, which is definitely not our intention. All the best to you and your family. Carol & Mark Anema.</i>"

• "Just like home"

  13 July 2012

  "Set in a beautiful part the world, a short drive from Cape Town central, this lovely cottage is a home away from home. The children (aged 5, 7, and 9) felt comfortable on arrival and continued to feel at home throughout the stay. Unfortunately we stayed during some inclement weather so were unable to take advantage of the spectacular views...we'll just have to return!!"

• "Cozy with a lovely view"

  05 June 2012

  "Very nice view, very cozy and clean little cottage. We had a great stay."

• "Pleasant"

  30 April 2012

  "Excellent for a family, very comfortable and equipped. We had a very nice time there and I wish to come back for a longer stay."

• "Lovely cottage in a beautiful setting"

  30 January 2012

  "We enjoyed a lovely eight-night stay at this cottage with my husband and 3 year old son. The cottage was beautifully presented with everything we needed for a comfortable, relaxed stay. The heated pool was divine and the cottage was very well located for enjoying Hout Bay, the rest of Cape Town and surrounds. Mark, Carol and the family were lovely and on-hand whenever we required, but got the balance just right as we never felt that our privacy was intruded upon. We would definitely return for another stay and would recommend to others."

• "Very impressed"

  02 January 2012

  "We were very impressed with Carpe Diem Guest Cottage. It is of the highest quality with an outstanding personal touch. Relaxing friendly atmosphere, wonderful view and a nice private area to braai. We can definitely recommend this for anybody who is looking for that something extra special."

• "Very comfortable accommodation"

  20 June 2011

  "We thorougly enjoyed our stay at the cottage and would like to go back there again in future. We were warmly welcomed and enjoyed the complimentary coffee, tea and rusks on arrival. The beds were comfortable and we had everything we needed for a comfortable visit."

• "Wonderful"

  06 April 2011

  "My family and I had a wonderful 10-day stay at Carpe Diem. This cottage, which is centrally located for sightseeing in and around Cape Town, fulfilled all our needs. It is very private and peaceful and I will recommend it to anyone going to Cape Town."

• "Carpe Diem"

  17 January 2011

  "Carpe Diem, with the most exquisite views, is one of my favourite cottages. I felt like I was in my own little world. My two year old daughter just loved the heated pool and friendly dogs. The hosts made us feel so relaxed and at home. I can’t wait to go back and would recommend it to anyone."

• "Loved it!!!!"

  10 December 2009

  "Great stay, amazing view, lovely people, you can't go wrong, but you do need your own car. Enjoy"

• "Great"

  17 December 2008

  "We arrived at night and didn't know what to expect, but the next morning we noticed that we were in paradise. The view was unbelievable and the family of this amazingcottage were so nice. We had a great time and found ourself a home for the next time in the Cape.Thanks Mark and Carol. We hope to see you soon."

• "Easy weekend"

  01 December 2008

  "Very passive and easy. The place was beautiful and cosy, we would def go again sometime!"