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Killer View :: Victoria & Alfred Hotel in Cape Town

Where: Waterfront Pierhead, Cape Town, South Africa, 8001

We are suckers for a room with a killer view.  We find that we are even more likely to forgive some minor hotel inconveniences if we can stare out the window at something pretty--yeah we are that shallow. Let's help out our fellow hotel mavens by uploading rooms with killer views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. We will feature our favorites in this space from time to time. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number of the hot view.

Cape Town, South Africa has got to be one of the most picturesque cities in the world. There are some world-class hotels in that city that get far more press than the comparatively humble Victoria & Alfred. But it's hard to top the view you get from their restaurant (the vista here) or the odd-numbered rooms on floors two and three above.

The more famous Cape Grace is pictured here, on the other side of the water, while Table Bay hotel is a few minutes' walk away--on the other side of a shopping mall.

Built as a warehouse in 1904, the V&A was converted into an upscale hotel in 1990. Victoria & Alfred's large rooms are well-equipped and have deck-out baths with separate stall showers and lots of stone and granite. With the U.S. dollar struggling on the world markets, however, you'll pay a premium for this view--close to $450 a night at published rates.

Related Stories:
· Victoria & Alfred reviews [TripAdvisor]

Tags: South African Hotels / → All Tags

Singita's African Getaway is T+L Readers World's Best Hotel

Where: Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa

In Travel + Leisure's 11th Annual World's Best Awards, the Singita Private Game Reserve in South Africa won the World's Best Hotel, an award they won back in 2004. (We should probably thank the Jolie-Pitt family for making Africa cool again.)

This luxe getaway is located west of Kruger National Park in Sabi Sand Reserve, which is described as "a vast expanse of pristine wild Africa that thunders to the sound of the migrating herds."

There are four types of lodging options available for guests. Ebony Lodge is styled after a traditional safari getaway with the luxury of colonial times. The Boulders Lodge is "unperturbed refinement"with thatch and coarse stone stacks against white leather, linen and "highly shone floors."

If the Jolie Pitt family were to return to Africa, they could stay in the Castleton Lodge which is an opulent farmhouse that can hold twelve guests. Or Daddy Brad might enjoy the Lebombo Lodge with its glass, water, steel and timber cliff-side lofts.

Lastly, the Sweni Lodge offers guests respite with its dark timber, smooth textures, and colorful decor. Hardly a "roughing it" type of safari getaway. Indeed, the staff here takes care of all your needs. When you arrive on the Sabi Sands landing strip, rangers will take you to your lodge where staff will greet you with refreshments and show you to your villas. Safari drives are offered in the morning and at around 6:30pm and the hotel has food ready and waiting for you each time you return.

Inside the villas you can expect:

A foyer with a half bath to the right. The foyer had a chest with a refrigerator, filled with soft beverages and juices. On the table in front were liquers, liquor, wine, snacks...all included. The wall facing the entry was a long, full wall of continuous glass. The living/dining room must have been 1000 sq feet capped off by a 16-20 foot cathedral ceiling.

The living roon was decorated with a zebra skin rug, a comfortable chair, a built in leather couch and a round dining table and chairs. A coffee table in front of the couch had books on birds, mammals and magazines as well as a large hurricane candle. There were 10 votives on the dining table. The decor was modern and elegant, with lovely artifacts scattered throughout the room.

Some more signs that this is not just a plain safari lodge? Outside the villas are plunge pools, amenities include binoculars, spa services are offered and you can order room service.

You do pay a premium price for it with villas going for about $1,000 a night which includes your safari drives, food and drinks, and laundry.

Hmm...a $1,000 a night that doesn't include airefare? Looks like we'll just have to go to our local zoo again to see some wild animals.

Related Stories:
· Singita Private Game Reserve reviews [TripAdvisor]
· World's Best 2006 [Travel + Leisure]