Taking over a house with a group of family or friends has to be one of my all-time favourite ways to holiday; and where better to do this than on the coast of South Africa in a stunning Cape-style coastal lodge. Strand Beach Lodge sleeps 8 is situated in a secure golf estate overlooking False Bay.
Location
The lodge is located in the seaside suburb of Strand on the edge of the Cape Winelands so it’s ideal for water enthusiasts. There’s lots to do locally and your hosts are happy to arrange wine tours, whale watching, golf, mountain biking, walking and biking on trails, and there’s great shopping nearby too. You can also book the lodge as part of a package; the Wine Weekend particularly appealed to me as did the Bush and Beach Safari and you don’t have to fill all the rooms, why not take over the whole lodge with just two of you and soak up all that space. It couldn’t be easier to get to; flights from London to Cape Town take just 11 and a half hours with British Airways flying the route direct and the lodge is then just a half hour drive from the airport.
Style & Character
The charming thatched lodge is traditionally decorated with inherited antiques and natural textures creating an eclectic blend of classic Cape and rustic romance. The clever design of the U-shaped villa, with the kitchen on one end, a formal lounge on the other and the dining area in the middle, means that there is a seamless indoor-outdoor flow; doors from both living spaces open to the outside, either onto the lawn, courtyard or swimming pool, and there’s an easy flow to the place.
Service & Facilities
The living space, which includes the kitchen, dining area, formal lounge and a Braai room, enjoys a fireplace, artwork, DStv (Satellite TV), DVD player and music player. Outside you’ll find a garden, courtyard, swimming pool and a sports area (with astro field, cricket nets and netball / basketball ring) which has direct access down onto the beach. There’s also a gaming room tucked away on the second floor making it ideal for youngsters, it opens up onto the porch Jacuzzi which leads down to the swimming pool. The lodge also enjoys daily housekeeping, air-conditioning, underfloor heating in the living area, Wi-Fi, dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer, secure parking, alarm and access controlled security. There is also access to the estate golf course, estate tennis courses, the estate restaurant and the club house.
Rooms
There are four bedrooms in the lodge: the Antique Room, the Main Room, the Leather Room and the Garden Room. Each of the bedroom has a double or king size bed, private bathroom (some with stunning freestanding antique baths) and ample storage space. My favourite room would definitely be the Antique Room with its private porch with sun bathing chairs and beautiful sea views; the perfect place to hide and get some quiet peace and quiet. The Main Room and Leather Room also have sea front porches; the Garden Room is on the ground floor, but has the bonus of being in a unit separate from the main villa so would be great for guests that value their privacy
Food & Drink
One of the best things about travelling with a group and all staying together is sharing meal preparation and cooking together; the vast, fully-equipped open-plan kitchen is just perfect for this; there’s a living area by the kitchen which leads out to the lawn and onwards to the beach, so there’s somewhere to sit and chat while everyone cooks together. There’s also a formal dining table which comfortably seats 8 inside and outside on the patios there are dining tables and outdoor furniture so you can dine al fresco. If you fancy a break from cooking, the estate restaurant and club house is in walking distance.
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