SimonAndBaker.com
Mount Nelson
Cape Town
Republic of South Africa
8001
Overall impression: For years we heard how wonderful the Mount Nelson was. We left our extraordinary waterfront accommodations early to sample the historic Mount Nelson . We need not have bothered. We found droopy, dated, and at times smelly, common areas, poor food, indifferent staff with an attitude; and a less than desirable location for our Victoria & Alfred Waterfront oriented visit.
For our money Cape Town's oldest luxury hotel needs revamping in more ways than one. We would not recommend it to our friends and relatives.
Location: In central Cape Town ; 19 miles from the Cape Town International Airport
Owned: James Sherwood /Sea Containers
Managed: Orient Express, a Sea Containers' subsidiary
Hotel manager: Andrew Cook
Concierge: Joey Michaels
Year opened/renovated: March 1, 1899
Class of accommodation: 5 star
Size: 201 suites and rooms
Handicapped access: There were stairs in many of the common areas
Check-in/check-out process ease: Weak
Languages: English
Lobby and common areas: Wilted and tired looking British colonial style décor. There were strong unpleasant odors in several of the common areas. Nine acre manicured gardens.
Room: The room we were assigned upon arrival was smelly and worn looking. The hallway adjacent to the room also had a strong odor, which the porter kindly informed us was due to recent painting. After three hours and multiple phone calls to our travel agency in the United States , we were finally relocated to a room that did not smell. It was necessary for us to make the phone calls on our international portable phone because the hotel would not allow collect calls and our calling card was not compatible with their system.
The highlight of the second room, a mini suite also in the main building, was a narrow balcony with a partial view of Cape Town and a front view of the hotel grounds. In addition to the room itself, there was a sitting room.
Furniture in sitting room: A two seat sofa; TV/VCR, coffee table, desk, one chair, and a mini bar. Furniture in bedroom: smaller desk and small wall mirror; large closet including an electronic safe, a king size bed and two night tables, TV/VCR, chest of drawers.
Bathroom: The bathroom included a bathtub and separate shower, his and hers sinks and a W.C. The plastic floor and mildew in the shower stall were disappointing. The black and white checkered type floor was reminiscent of a bygone era.
Service: We received some of the worst service we have ever encountered at a "five star" hotel. Most of the staff we interacted with had a condescending and starched attitude.
Cleanliness: Moderate. When we visited one of the swimming pools, there were many leaves and a plastic cover had fallen in the pool. The chairs were scattered about in disorder. There were no pool attendants in sight.
Amenities: Complimentary bottles of water, bath robes and a blow dryer.
Facilities: Two pools; two restaurants, a high tea lounge, bar, beauty salon, beauty center, two tennis courts and a gym.
Pool: Two heated outdoor swimming pools
Food and restaurants: Cape Colony , an on site gourmet restaurant, the Oasis, a daily restaurant and room service. The self service buffet style breakfast was disappointing.
Conference facilities: For a maximum of 350
Other: Although the Hotel website listed complimentary transfers to the V & A Waterfront until9:30 p.m. , when we arrived we discovered the shuttles were only available until5 p.m. A shuttle for train connections was mentioned on the website. When our travel agent called the Mount Nelson they did not know what she was referring to.
Length of stay: One night
Date of last visit: May 2004
Would you stay again? No
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