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Michelle recently enjoyed a 4-star stay at Turnberry Boutique Hotel in Oudtshoorn with her daughter.
It could be said that all beautiful roads lead to Oudtshoorn. This spacious town enfolded by mountains can only be accessed through mountain passes, so no matter from which direction you arrive, you will be assured of some awe-inspiring scenery.
In previous visits we had travelled via the R62 and Montague, as well as the more common route from George. This time we took the road through the winding Langkloof, via Joubertina and Haarlem into Oudtshoorn. We had travelled from the Port Alfred area and got caught up in the dead lands of outer Port Elizabeth by mistake, so our arrival at Turnberry Boutique Hotel was just what we needed.
The gate for the secure, covered parking area in front of the hotel opened immediately and on entering we were offered some sherry or iced tea and a neatly rolled white facecloth to freshen up as we were checked-in by the friendly receptionist. She led us to our rooms down a short, plush passage, none of the potential gloom of hotel corridors, where the door was opened satisfyingly with a key, not a card.
This adherence to old-fashioned hospitality continued in the rooms. We had two – a luxury double room and the presidential suite. Given what you get, the prices are good and comparable to some B+Bs. Both rooms had stylish Oudtshoorn-themed artwork, carefully chosen evocations of the beautiful Little Karoo and this area’s famous industry – ostriches.
There’s no way of saying it better: the rooms were luxury personified. I decided I wanted to live here for ever and would have to be pushed kicking and screaming out of the hotel. It was the little touches, such as the page with the maximum and minimum temperatures expected during our stay (freezing and a bit above – snow on the magnificent Swartberg in the distance) and the rooibos shampoo; and the broader brushstrokes such as the comfortable arm chairs, the satellite TV, wireless internet, the safe, the enormous shower head and the hot, hot water, the bed too comfortable to get out of, the air conditioning …
The presidential suite included a Jacuzzi bath as part of its spacious open-plan room and the fluffy gowns and soft white towels were on a par. There is a selection of coffees and teas in the coffee station and a bar fridge with a selection of refreshments at normal hotel prices, should you so desire.
The staff are there to help and are happy to book tours or suggest what to do. Rooms also come with an in-house magazine which has information on the hotel, Oudtshoorn and its facilities (which are many), as well as menus from local restaurants which do deliveries.
Most people come to Oudtshoorn to visit the Cango Caves or visit an ostrich farm but there is far more to this charming town than those alone. The old sandstone buildings attest to a rich history and the wide open streets are a pleasure to walk along – try the swinging bridge which crosses over a river in Church Street. The shopping centre has everything you might need, from small privately owned shops to the high-end chain stores. The restaurants, cafes and coffee shops, many in old converted houses, are well worth a visit.
You can book dinner at the hotel – a small, fixed menu which, when we were there, featured the area’s specialities of Karoo lamb and ostrich – or eat out at one of many options surrounding the hotel. Breakfast is lovely with an unusually wide spread of jams which seem locally made, ranging from indigenous melon, kumquats and sultanas to plums and lime marmalade. Hot porridge is part of the a la carte portion of the breakfast as are various cereals, fruit salad and yogurts. A nice local touch was vetkoek – not of the doughy, oily variety, but light and doughnut-like, with liver for those who wanted. Other delicious items were the mini fruit tarts made from flaky pastry, as well as a variety of muffins, cold meats and cheeses and a range of egg dishes and accompaniments.
The hotel has a stylish bar for those who want something close by to do in the evening and in summer its swimming pool would most likely be well used.
Both Oudtshoorn, and the Turnberry Boutique Hotel, are definitely worth another visit!
