Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa

Enjoyed my stay and they really have some good food.

Amazing Place, between sea and mountains. A place of tranquility and relaxation. Pippa gave me the warm and best welcome . Big thank you to Theo during my dinner , he took great care and always looking if all things are right; to Esona , she is very caring and very friendly ; to Sisonke for her care during breakfast. Such a kind Staff. I had the best massage treatment ever, did by Thembey Awesome view and sunset Room is a bit small and the bathroom unfortunately no storage place. P.S : may be it should be specify about the mini bar if it is on complementary or extra charge.

I booked a “Mountain view room” at the Twelve Apostles Hotel (an expensive upgrade), and it proved how important it is to read the small print. It claims, “impressive views from your balcony”. From inside the room, it is almost impossible to see the “mountain”. The balcony is only just big enough for a small table and two chairs, and you have to take it in turns to see the “mountain” as only one chair faces in that direction. Another problem with the non-views inside the room is the permanent misting of the double glazing, where the seal between the two sheets of glass has failed. The three sets of floor-to-ceiling windows have wooden shutters that are ineffective at blocking the light from outside. With sunrise at about 05:30am, your room is flooded with light, making sleeping difficult without a blindfold. The sea-facing public rooms are smart, but my room looked dated. The staff are well meaning, but rarely get it right first time. You ask for cold milk, you get hot, you ask for Earl Grey tea, you get English Breakfast, you ask reception for the bottle of water the people servicing the room should have provided, and no-one brings it. The face flannels in the bathroom only get replaced sometimes. The tea bags and the coffee capsules in the room don’t get replaced…and someone comes to check the room has been serviced properly, and they don’t notice the errors either. It's a fabulous location with impressive sea views, but the food does not match. The sushi was soggy, the “fine dining tasting menu” – tuna tartare, mushrooms, roast chicken – with more mushrooms, venison, and dessert was neither fine nor very tasty. The Leopard Bar was the stand-out exception, and the breakfast was good, if they decide to take your order. I had to get up from the table and ask more than once. For the single traveller (I was avoiding Christmas for reasons I need not go into), the ‘do not disturb’ sign actually said “We’re still sleeping”, and the turn-down service (on request), provided two sets of slippers and dressing gowns, just to rub it in! (If you have to request it, surely they can see the room is single occupied. "No plans on Christmas Day?!" was another insensitive question asked with incredulity. The last day was like the others. I was given a different room to shower in after my check-out time, a standard room that was much nicer than my supposedly more expensive upgraded room! When I opened the door, two room service staff were relaxing in two chairs. “Wrong room” they said. I said “The key wouldn’t open the door if it’s the wrong room!” (The room number was also written on the card holder.) They looked puzzled but left. “Phone reception when you want me to collect your bags” the helpful porter said. I called. No reply. I waited and called again “We’ll send someone straight away.” Ten minutes later, nothing. I called again, no reply. I had a plane to catch, so I went to reception. “Sorry, we only have one porter. He’s com