The Estuary Country Hotel

Capacity

Style

On-site stay

On-site stay

Good day My wife and I stayed at The Estuary Hotel and Spa from the 11th - 14th July 2026 for our 25th anniversary. On arrival the front desk were quiet friendly. On arrival in the new room the following was noticed. The toilet floor had candle wax in front and side of the toilet and oil marks on the wall. When trying to close the bathroom window the dirt and mould was astonishing to see on the window ledge. The shower floor was filthy with mould and it was unusable and the bathroom mirror was filthy with marks. One if the bath towels we received had hair and brown stains on the white towel. In the bedroom the aircon had mould around the aircon as well as inside the aircon by the filter. Next to the cupboard there was a oily hand print on the wall. Under beds was filthy as if it was not swept or vacuumed for weeks. The coffee cups had coffee stains left from other guests. The one lampshade was crumbling away and damaged. The bedroom mirror was filthy has well. The 2 single arm chairs were filthy with marks over it and like mould at the back rest portion. The food wow what an experience..... Saturday evening - 55min wait for room service, but the food was hot and delicious and could not fault the food. Chicken burger and rump steak Sunday breakfast - 7:30 all the food expect the toast was ice cold, we had to tell the chef which then took the food to warm it up. There was no lit burning candles under the food, only then they sorted the candles out Sunday evening - room service. Food was hot and delicious. Ordered ice cream and chocolate sauce and only got ice cream. Ordered crumbed Chicken burger and 2 x kids Chicken strips and chips. Monday breakfast - 7:30. Food was ice cold again expect the toast I made. Monday evening - 18:07 went for dinner service, all the food was ice cold, the waiter had to take the food to be heated up again. Ordered a shot of Kaluha for both myself and wife, waitress was unsure and asked again, then came back again and asked for single or double, we said single, we went to fetch the food and we had Kaluha Coffee with cream on the table. When asked we were told the barman made it and the waitress was unsure. Tuesday morning - 8am. The breakfast was once again ice cold except for the toast. At this we we gave up and just ate the food. At each breakfast we had the following Scrambled eggs, Bacon, toast/plain bread There was not much of a variety as the balance of food did not took appetising at all, very dried out or looking lack luster. Also my wife can eat certain foods and we did not know or given the option at time of booking via telephone tk make these arrangements. With regard to the dinner room service it is appalling that I had to pay R190 for a crumbed chicken burger and chips whilst rhe same burger is offered at lunch time ( no difference in what is provided) for R130.?? This is daylight robbery. Why the R60 price difference. We also asked at dinner service - sit down, what we are able to order and the only option provided was a buffet only we weren't able or offered to order off menu, a poor lack of choices. Regarding the buffet dinner on Monday, the only choice was waffer thin beef slices, potatoes and carrots eat as a main. The excuse of a deconstructed salad served in plastic plates, and where the onions were rather smelly indicated it was cut hours prior, the cucumber were soft and tasteless which also indicated done too early.All plates covered with clingfilm. The desert was the only portion of the meal where there were choices. For R295 per person is not worth it at all. To say the overall experience is a let down compared to the previous 2 visits. And the food has killed the experience completely from returning, especially with the lack of food variety for room service and the ability to order from lunch menu as well. Especially as mentioned this was our 25th anniversary and I feel like a total idiot to celebrate this milestone in a way we did.

Was utterly disappointed that I did not read the recent reviews before booking here. There has clearly been zero maintenance for years or some shoddy DIY to keep the place going. What was a prime location getaway is now the kind of place you can't wait to leave. The aircon did not work, shower and bathroom was in a poor condition. The only thing that saves this place is the views. Breakfast did not improve the overall experience either with poorly prepared buffet meals and the coffee machine unable to deliver all the hot drink options, pancakes we bad and the veg bake tasted like leftovers. The staff were very unfriendly and unhelpful, from booking enquiry to check in, dining and exit. I would not recommend this Estuary Villas hotel at all. 👎

I am currently staying at the Estuary Hotel and, unfortunately, this has been one of the most disappointing hotel experiences I’ve had. This is already my second room. The first room we were checked into was absolutely horrid. It felt like being placed in an abandoned building rather than a hotel room. It was dirty, deplorable, and completely unacceptable, forcing us to request a room change. Even in the second room, the cleanliness and overall maintenance of the property remain far below acceptable standards. The walls in the rooms and common areas are visibly dirty and poorly maintained. When you step out of your room, the corridors feel neglected and unkept, creating an extremely unpleasant atmosphere that does not feel safe, welcoming, or hotel-appropriate. The swimming pool is visibly green, raising serious concerns about hygiene and safety. This is not what one expects from a hotel advertising leisure facilities. The room itself lacks basic functionality. The bathtub does not have a stopper, making it unusable, and the air conditioning does not work properly, which makes the stay very uncomfortable, especially in warm weather. These are basic amenities that should be standard and checked before guests arrive. The breakfast experience was equally disappointing. There is very little consideration for vegetarian guests. Options were extremely limited, poorly planned, and not replenished adequately. Catering for dietary requirements should be a basic standard in the hospitality industry. Overall, the hotel feels poorly maintained, neglected, and not up to standard. For the price paid, the value is simply not there, and the experience does not match the expectations set by the hotel’s online presence. Honestly, my home feels like a 100-star experience compared to this stay. I would not recommend the Estuary Hotel unless serious and immediate improvements are made to cleanliness, maintenance, and overall guest experience. Ps dont be fooled by the photos online.

Visited the spa for a lovely treatment. Then enjoyed a coffee from the hotel overlooking the estuary view.