Non Malarial Archives - Page 5 of 12

Le Quartier Francais, Franschhoek

Luxury and style set in the centre of Franschhoek

Although the hotel is situated right in the middle of bustling Franschhoek, step through into the gardens where the 21 suite style rooms open onto the compact pool and you could be in the middle of the countryside. The atmosphere is very calming set among the fragrant bushes and herbs. The rooms are much larger than usual and exquisitely decorated – some with antiques but all very tasteful. The restaurant is renowned for its food and here you will also find a delicatessen and bistro.

About the Location

The hotel is part of the original village founded by the Huguenots in the early 1700s and many of the nearby buildings date back to that time. In Franschhoek you will find interesting boutiques, numerous restaurants and, of course, many excellent wineries. The spectacular Franschhoek pass is only minutes away and Cape Town takes around 40 minutes along good roads.

Mont Rochelle, Franschhoek

Beautiful and very stylish thatched hotel overlooking the Franschhoek Valley

A first class luxuriously appointed hotel and although is priced to reflect this, the extra expense is well worth it. The hotel has spectacular views from the terrace overlooking the fabulous Franschhoek valley. The restaurant is one of our favourites and one of the most highly regarded in South Africa. The hotel is situated high above Franschhoek so most of the 22 bedrooms have spectacular views.

About the Location

The village is only 5 minutes drive away and is bustling with numerous boutiques, restaurants and street cafes. Some of the finest wineries in South Africa are within easy reach and Cape Town is only 45 minutes drive. Therefore, whether you want a romantic place to stay at the end of your holiday or just a dinner to remember Mont Rochelle should be on your itinerary.

Lanzerac Manor Hotel, Stellenbosch, Cape Winelands

It is with great sadness to relay that as a result of a fire that extensively damaged the Manor House and the operational areas of the hotel, Lanzerac is closed until further notice

Lanzerac is a stylish wine estate with great wines and cuisine

This is a gracious, Cape Dutch manor house resplendent in antiques and the polished woods of South Africa. Lanzerac Manor & Winery is one of the enduring gems of the Cape. Set in the beautiful Jonkershoek Mountains just on the outskirts of Stellenbosch, the Manor has 48 classically appointed suites, many with antique and antique style furniture and fittings to compliment an estate that can trace its origins back over 300 years. The hotel has two pools one of which is located in the stunning gardens complete with poolside service. The restaurant is one of our favourites serving good modern South African dishes combined with an excellent cellar including the estate’s own wines with impeccable service. The rooms and bathrooms are large and traditionally decorated.

About Lanzerac’s Location

This is set in a secluded location on the edge of bustling Stellenbosch. The town centre with its thatched and whitewashed building is a 10 minute drive. The town is home to one of South Africa’s premier universities and the buzz and the ambiance reflects this. As well as Lanzerac, you will find some excellent restaurants.

Fregate Island

This is a wonderful island with giant granite boulders that are synonymous with the Seychelles scenery

The resort can accommodate up to a maximum of 40 guests in 16 beautiful villas strategically built on the granite rocks overlooking the Indian Ocean. The size of the island and the location of the villas ensures privacy. Local building materials have been utilised such as the indigenous mahogany and so the villas blend in very naturally with their surroundings.

Each villa has two bedroom, a large terrace with a day bed and a Jacuzzi. The tropical feel of the villas is imparted by light and plenty of space. The island has two freshwater pools and seven beaches with one, Anse Victorin renowned as one of the most beautiful in the world. Another, Anse Macqueraeu is for private use on a first come first serve basis! Activities abound for the energetic. Snorkelling, hobby cats, kayaks and fishing aboard the island’s launches are all available.

About the Location

There is a fully equipped gym and for the really energetic the 125m Mt Signal is a worthwhile climb. Children are well catered for with their very own Castaway Club to keep them occupied in their own tropical paradise.Fregate is also a culinary experience. As the island has its own fresh water source, much of the fruit, vegetables, salads and herbs used by the kitchen are homegrown. Dinner is served either in the historic and romantic setting of Plantation House for wonderful Creole cooking or in Fregate House where a gourmet menu is prepared daily. Guests can dine in the comfort of their own villa or eat casually at the beach bar.

Cousine Island

Follow in the footsteps of Sir Paul McCartney & Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge

If you are seeking privacy and exclusivity and budget is not too much of a concern then Cousine Island is probably one of the most perfect locations anywhere in the world. This fairly small island is situated 6 kms off the coast of Praslin and is home to numerous migratory birds, Hawksbill and Green Turtles and, of course, Giant Tortoises. The island is completely free of alien mammals and so is also the perfect Private Nature Reserve. It is also classified as a Conservation Island. Accommodation is in 4 exceptionally luxuriously appointed villas set right by the beach with wonderful ocean views. Only 10 people at a time can be accommodated on the island and the design and location of each villa ensures the maximum privacy. Most of the building materials for the buildings were sourced locally and all the ingredients for the restaurant are similarly sourced locally to provide a wonderful Creole experience. The main building (called The Pavillion) has a dining area and overlooks the pool, the Indian Ocean and the islands of Praslin, Cousin and Aride in the distance. Boat excursions to other islands, diving and fishing can be arranged. There is a spa in the newly created Wellness Centre and there is also a gym. The beach extend for the full length of the island and a further one appears during the North West Monsoon season. Transfers can be arranged by helicopter from Mahe and Praslin airports.

Raffles, Anse Takamaka, Praslin

This a very special hotel with a setting that can only be described as paradise.

The setting is spectacular and unusual. Raffles occupies a commanding view over Anse Takamaka and the island of Curieuse. All the suites are large with a plunge pool and views over the bay. The accommodation is exceptionally luxurious and private. The rooms (and the bathroom) look out over your own private deck and the extraordinary scenery. The restaurant specialises in local dishes as well as an international menu and provides some of the best cuisine we have encountered in the Seychelles. The hotel has three restaurants, each with their own style of cuisine. The hotel also has a wonderful pool for those who just want to relax. You may also want to make ‘friends’ with the hotel’s own giant tortoises. The rooms are situated over a wide and elevated location and the hotel provides buggies to transport you around the property. You will see a myriad of colourful birds and we have even seen the reclusive tenrec (a type of cute, long snouted mouse) nesting in the bushes at twilight.

About the Location

The views are spectacular across crystal clear turquoise blue waters. In the distance, you will see the pristine and ecologically fascinating island of Curieuse. This is home to some of the World’s largest and oldest tortoises including one that is reputedly 300 years old! Trips to Curieuse can be arranged by the hotel. Concierge will also arrange scuba diving as well as snorkeling. If you don’t want to stray too far then snorkeling from the beach by the hotel will reward you with a myriad of remarkably tame fish. The hotel is situated on the far side of Praslin from the airport, which is approximately a 20-minute drive. You will also be close to the most photographed beach in the Seychelles – Anse Lazio. The beach is palm fringed with the characteristic rounded granite rocks and pristine almost pink sands. It is also easy to catch the ferry from Praslin for the short journey to the island of La Digue. In summary this is one of the most romantic locations that you will find anywhere in the world!

Le Vieux Cep, Cilaos

Family style hotel in the centre of this unusual island

A charming hotel with excellent facilities including a wellness centre. The hotel is quite large with 45 rooms including a few suites. The accommodation is tastefully decorated in a combination of local Creole and rural France style. Natural wood finishes are used extensively and although the standard rooms are quite small they are, nonetheless comfortable. The pool is an exceptional feature and the activities include mountain bikes. The restaurant is well regarded locally and is charmingly situated by the pool. The mountain views are among the best of any of the hotels in this area and each room is designed to maximise the view. Some English is spoken. The hotel caters for families.

About the location

Cilaos is one of the most spectacular locations on this extraordinary island. The views from the hotel are stunning and you are within walking distance of all this little, very French, town has to offer.

Tsilaosa Hotel, Cilaos

Old world charm in this extraordinary destination

One of our favourite hotels for friendliness and atmosphere in Reunion. The hotel has no pretensions but as soon as you step through the doors from the busy village street you appear to step back in time. You are welcomed with a warm smile and you will be helped up to your delightful room beautifully decorated in local Creole style. The rooms are a little larger than normal for Reunion with stripped wood floors and excellent bathrooms complete with whirlpool baths. The hotel does not have a pool as it occupies a fairly restricted village centre site close to local restaurants. There are magnificent views from most of the rooms that also have balconies to relax on and enjoy the ambiance or, if you are artistically inclined, from which to paint local scenes in the bustling village surrounded by spectacular mountains. Indeed, the hotel specifically caters for artists.

About the Location

Cilaos is a truly amazing location set in a collapsed caldera which was originally the home of the volcano in the south west of the island. Yes, it has moved over the aeons. The road up to the village from the coast is incredibly scenic but also extraordinarily tortuous – not for the fainthearted.

Hotel Le Cilaos, Cilaos

Simple but comfortable accommodation on the edge of this fascinating town

This is a medium sized, 24 roomed, country hotel. All the rooms have commanding views over the spectacular mountain scenery around Cilaos including the highest point on the island – Piton Les Nieges at 3,300 metres. The standard rooms are simple in decor but comfortable. The larger rooms are similar in style but with individual touches. Bathrooms, again, are fairly standard in size but reasonably equipped. There is a mini bar in the room. The hotel has an excellent pool and from here the views of the mountains are awe-inspiring. The hotel also has a sauna and wellness centre. The restaurant serves mainly buffet style food for breakfast and evening meals and this is a mixture of local and international cuisine – mainly French inspired. We would rate the food above average for the Island. English is spoken and we found the staff friendly and helpful. We would, however, warn that the hotel is built on many different levels and, common with most of Reunion, there is no porter service so you will be faced with carrying your own luggage often up fairly steep steps.

About the location

The hotel’s location is on the edge of town – approximately a 10-minute walk to the centre. This is a good base for hiking in the mountains and the hotel has details of the excellent and well-marked and maintained hiking trails in the area.

Le Boucan Canot, St. Gilles les Bains

Resort hotel in a great location on this unusual island

This large hotel has 44 rooms and suites including 38 standard rooms. The property has the aire of a resort style hotel with all the amenities you would expect. It is perfectly located on the main beach of the island and can be accessed relatively easily from the main airport.

About the Location

From here it is relatively easy to drive to the town of Cilaos perched high in the centre of this spectacular island. You can enjoy paragliding, mountain biking (for the fit!) and canyoning as well as deep sea fishing. The volcano is a 2 1/2 hour drive and then a long hike at 8,000 ft but you can also take a helicopter tour of the volcano and island. You would normally combine this hotel with others closer to some of the key tourist locations.