Hotels Archives ⋆ Page 2 of 18 ⋆ The Passenger

July 7, 2024July 27, 2024

Adara

The city of Whistler reminded me much of the beautiful towns of the Swiss Alps, but it is also a bit Disneylandish. It has it’s unique style, a car-free city center, lots of water in different colors passing the city center and the highest density of gondolas and lifts for winter and summer sports I’ve ever seen. Close to the pedestrian zone and the Whistler Conference Center you can find the Adara Hotel – a good hotel with nice rooms including terraces, a rooftop pool and a connected restaurant.

July 5, 2024July 27, 2024

Black Rock

The best hotel on my trip to Western Canada was the Black Rock Oceanfront Resort at the tiny little town of Ucluelet on Vancouver Island. Its main building is located directly at the shore of the Pacific Ocean (remember, the next country on the other side is Japan) and you’ve got great views from your balcony to the rocks and the sea. The hotel contains a nice bar and a very good restaurant (a reservation upfront is needed) which also serves high-class breakfast in the morning: on a terrace with views on the sea.

July 3, 2024July 27, 2024

The Vic

If I would look for a place to reenact some scenes of Pulp Fiction, The Vic would be my first choice. It isn’t by far a boutique hotel like how it is marketed, it rather feels like a motel at a radial road in a suburb of Victoria (on Vancouver Island). A lot of parking lots are available, the rooms are equipped with a kitchenette but they are already a bit shabby and need renovation (I couldn’t even lock my balcony door). But therefore the place also has its own liquor store, a Floyds Diner that serves good breakfast and a pub for the evening hours.

July 1, 2024July 27, 2024

The Listel

As I started my trip to Canada at Vancouver, The Listel was my very first hotel in the country. And it is a good one as it is located in downtown Vancouver on Robson Street with lots of stores and restaurants surrounding it. From here you can walk or cycle to the Waterfront, Stanley Park and Gastown, I even hiked to Hornby Street Aquabus stop to get to Granville Island (but don’t underestimate the inclination). The Listel is decorated with art and offers water dispensers on every floor – carrying you’re own reusable water bottle here is so normal that I had to buy me one already on the first day (and refill opportunities are available in many, many places).

April 28, 2024June 29, 2024

Gerald‘s Gift

Gerld's Gift Guesthouse, South River Valley

It was probably the most lovely place I stayed at in South Africa, but I was really happy that satellite-based navigation was already invented when I had to find it. Gerald’s Gift Guest House is perfect if you want to sleep close to the Addo Elephant Park and it is located in the center of a large farm producing citrus fruits. It has the most wonderful garden a hotel can have around its rooms and as it is somehow in no-man’s-land there is also a restaurant just for the guests.

April 27, 2024June 29, 2024

At the woods

Having booked the At the Woods Guesthouse at Storms River brings you to a very special place, a village surrounded by forests of the Tsitsikamma National Park. Clearly designed for tourists, but having its special atmosphere. The At the Woods is a simple but good guesthouse with very nice owners. The rooms have a balcony or access to a terrace, but you need to make sure to hide your food as sometimes baboons get there – which sounds more funny than it is.

April 25, 2024June 29, 2024

Ocean Watch

On a hill above Plettenberg Bay you can find the Ocean Watch Guesthouse and nomen est omen – from its terrace you’ve got amazing views on the beach and can enjoy sunrise as well as sunset. I was even so fortunate that I had this panoramic view from my bed. The guesthouse has just five rooms spread across two levels and a vast amount of shared space: living rooms on both levels and a small pool on the ground level.

April 23, 2024June 29, 2024

Fairy Knowe

It is not only the Fairy Knowe Hotel at Wilderness, it is the Legendary Fairy Knowe Hotel because it is already one hundred years old. You can find this place a little bit outside of the city at the Touwsrivier river and if you’re lucky you’ll get a room with a good view on the water. Watching out of your window or sitting on a bench close to the river you’ll might spot some beautiful birds including the kingfisher.

April 22, 2024June 29, 2024

Zeekoe

A bit outside of Oudtshoorn you can find the De Zeekoe Guest Farm, a lovely guest house on farm grounds. It is one of these places I enjoy very much with well-designed rooms, balconies to look out on the surrounding landscape and a nice restaurant and bar. What makes them special is on the one hand that they’re trying to hire locals and use local produce wherever possible.

April 20, 2024June 29, 2024

The Stellenbosch Hotel

Sleeping at the Stellenbosch Hotel means being at the center of action as it is located on Andringa street of Stellenbosch which is filled with good bars and restaurants. On evenings everybody in the small city seems to gather in this street to unwind by having a good glass of wine. The hotel itself has a long-standing history and what I liked about it very much is that you’re directly at the city center but the hotel is an inner courtyard that gives you the chance for some quiet time as well.