TWO BLISSFUL DAYS AT PLETTENBERG PARK HOTEL & SPA

Hello again, my dear readers,

This is a second part of my "Driving along the Garden Route" trilogy.  If you, for some reason, missed the beginning of the story, you can catch up with us here.  

And for the regular readers of my blog, you might remember that at the end of our first day of driving along the Garden Route, we reached Plettenberg Bay where we were intending to stay for a couple of days.  My husband pre-booked via the internet while we were still in Sydney but didn’t reveal any details about it. Knowing his taste for all the good things, I expected it to be a 4-5 star hotel where the beds are extremely comfortable, towels are white and crisp and the staff is very well trained.  But this time he topped all my expectations.

I was not involved in the process of choosing the hotel and had no idea what to expect.  As we were driving along the highway, I spotted a road sign directing motorists to take a turn for "Plettenberg Park Hotel and Spa" and after my husband took this turn we found ourselves in front of a pair of massive wrought iron gates, I realised that we had reached our destination.  

Upon pressing the buzzer and identifying  ourselves, the gates were opened and we found ourselves driving along a private gravel road running through the grounds that belong to the hotel. 

After a good five minutes of driving, we finally arrived at the front of the hotel. As we stepped out of the car, I looked around with awe. It looked like we had literally reached the end of the Earth.  

The hotel was nestled right on the edge of a cliff and behind it as far as your eye can see lies the sparkling turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. It was magnificently beautiful and magic and I felt extremely grateful for my husband who tries to make our holidays really special.

We were greeted by the friendly hotel staff that took care of our car and luggage and escorted us to our room. It was during the week so the hotel was not busy and they allocated us the Honeymoon Suite.

"WE SPENT TWO BLISSFUL DAYS 

IN THIS HEAVEN ON EARTH"

 As the bell boy showed us the room, I couldn’t stop but “wooing and wowing” at the size of the room, quality of the furniture, beautiful artworks and tasteful décor – absolute perfection. In this sea of luxury and taste, two things, however, were absolutely outstanding: a shower, with three walls of clear glass, its clever design makes you feel as if you are floating above the ocean below.

The other was the stunning view. As we stepped over to the balcony, the sun began it’s descent over the horizon, painting the sky and the cold waters of the Indian Ocean in all the colours of the rainbow. And down below was the hotel’s private beach!!!

We met with the chef who asked us about our preferences and any dietary requirements and cooked us dinner exactly the way we like it.  It was served in the dining room lit up by the huge candelabras with the doors wide open, letting the smell of the ocean breeze come inside and play with the lights of the candles. 

Needless to say the service was impeccable and the food utterly delicious. After dinner the waiter led us to the beautifully appointed library full of books and typical African artifacts. When we returned to our suite, we found that the bed was turned down and the room prepared for the night, the lights were dimmed and the candles in the hurricane vases sitting on the mantelpiece were lit to create a romantic ambiance.

We woke up relaxed and refreshed and went to the huge veranda for breakfast. Sitting at the table protected from the sun by a huge umbrella, watching the waves lapping at the shore while enjoying the scrumptious food made me feel heavenly.

After breakfast, we went to explore the ‘hood. There are myriads of things to do in Plettenberg Bay: from swimming to whale watching, boat riding, bush walking, cycling , hiking etc. The hotel itself is very well known for its spa facilities which, according to the official website….. “is a haven of peace and harmony where treatments are performed by professional dedicated therapists who care for your wellbeing, body and mind”.

We spent a couple of blissful hours at the infinity pool and had another superb dinner in the hotel’s restaurant.

After two days spent in heaven, it was time to say goodbye.  Bags in a car, car at the curb and both of us eager to get on to our next destination: game park.

Till my next post,

Love to all
Anna