FAQs

LOCATION: 9 Oldfield Road, Sea Point, Cape Town, WC 8005, Republic of South Africa

Rates, Stays & Discounts

  • Our rates are based on seasonality and room occupancy. There is a base rate for the property and then based on bedroom usage.

  • We have a minimum of 2 nights, except during Festive season (Dec 15th - Jan 14th) when the minimum stay is 5 nights.

  • The villa accepts children of all ages, however please note it is not childproof. Unfortunately, we do not allow pets, regardless of size or breed, due to allergies and guest comfort.

  • We offer a 10% discount when booking directly through our site. Long-stay discounts (10 nights or more) can be negotiated as well.

Inclusions (including Pre-Arrival Services)

  • Daily cleaning of all common areas (including dishes) and tidying of bedrooms.

  • Up to 6 hours of butler assistance daily (running errands, personal laundry, appointment making, etc.).

  • A fitness/wellness classes (for every 3 days booked) for all guests at a nearby studio. Discounted rate of R200/class otherwise.

  • Access to the Honesty Bar (charged on consumption) and house amenities including the fitness/camping/beach equipment & spice/ingredient cabinet.

  • In order to make your stay even better, we are happy to pre-stock the fridge and pantry with any items of your choosing and billed to your account upon check-out. You can do so by viewing our ‘Pre-Arrival’ page here.

Deposit, Cancellation & Payment Policies

  • We require a 50% deposit upon confirmation of the booking unless the arrival date is within 30 days, when 100% deposit is required.

  • Cancellation terms for all bookings are:

    • If cancelling 14 days before arrival, forfeit 100% of the booking total

    • If cancelling 30 days before arrival, forfeit 50% of the booking total

    • If cancelling 60 days before arrival, forfeit 25% of the booking total

  • If you have extenuating circumstances and we feel there is an opportunity to find a replacement, we may be able to return additional funds, but will not be able to confirm the amount until another booking has been confirmed during those dates.

  • You can view all of the payment options here.

Check-in/Check-out & Luggage Storage

  • Check-in time is 3pm & Check-out time is 10am.

  • When you check-in, you’ll be given a tour of the property to understand where everything is located, provide expectations to the Villa Manager and set up access to the rooms.

  • To access the property through the main gate, there are steps. However, there is a side entrance in which only a small step is required and a ramp can be utilized.

  • Please note that there are Villa Rules that can be found here.

  • We understand that flights to/from Cape Town occur at varying hours throughout the day, most notably departures often in the evenings/nights. We will do our best to accommodate early check-in & late check-outs based on availability, but if you require full access to the room, it’s best to book an extra night. You’re welcome to leave your luggage with the Villa Manager who will store it for you.

  • When checking out, you’ll be required to pay any additional balance incurred during the stay such as the drinks consumed at the Honesty Bar.

  • If you’ve enjoyed your stay; tipping is appreciated, but not required. As a guideline, R100–R200 per day is customary for exceptional service.

  • If you’ve forgotten something, contact us as soon as possible. We’ll happily arrange return shipping or store your item for safekeeping for up to 30 days.

Access & Security

  • Guests have unrestricted access to the property 24 hours a day. Access to the rooms is via a unique code of your choosing (you can also set-up access via your thumbprint or choose to have a fab or a key). You’ll be provided physical keys if requested.

  • The front boundary has electric fencing above the gates and wall.

  • There are cameras located in the front at the entrance, along the sides of the property and facing the pool; as well as a street on the Blink doorbell camera.

  • We subscribe to an armed response unit that automatically comes if the electric fence is triggered, regularly makes their rounds on the street and we have two panic buttons inside.

  • There is a safe located in the closet of each bedroom and fits up to a 16” laptop with directions on use here.

Electricity

  • The property is minimally impacted by South Africa’s loadshedding (forced black-outs) due to us having solar panels. All of the outlets, lights, most appliances and of course, wifi, are always connected. The items not able to be connected to the solar batteries are the AC/heating units, the hot water tank/geyser and the oven (stove is gas). The only other restriction is the dishwasher, washing machine & dryer are on the same outlet and therefore only 2 of the 3 can be operated at the same time. To download the load-shedding app, click here (we are Zone 7).

  • South Africa has unique plugs (Type M) that are not found in multi-country adapters. However, we have both Type M & Type C (European) outlets in the rooms with at least one that has direct USB-inputs. Additionally, we have a variety of converters to cover other types including United States, United Kingdom and Australia. If travelling regionally, please note that some countries use other converters (Zimbabwe uses Type G).

  • When using the AC/heating unit, please keep the doors and windows closed. When not in the room, please turn off the AC/heating unit as well as any lights. The units are strong and will heat/cool a room in 5-7 minutes to your desired temperature.

As of January 16, 2025

Wifi & Technology

  • The property is equipped with 7 hard-wired mesh routers, one in each room and two in the main areas for maximum coverage. Internet Speed test validates the connection at 343.3Mbps download and 359.4Mbps upload and reaches beyond the perimeter of the property.

  • To access your Amazon Alexa device in your rooms, the wake-up word is ‘Echo’.  In the public spaces, the wake-up word is Ziggy.  You can connect your phone to your room’s device to use as a speaker or ask it questions.  If you prefer to disconnect it, you’re welcome to do so.

  • To watch streaming shows, please make sure the Source is set to HDMI 1.  We provide Netflix, AppleTV+ and Disney as well as a VPN. You’re welcome to use your own accounts for these apps, but please log-out prior to checking-out. If you access these apps and it requires logging in, please contact the Villa Manager.

Water

  • The water in Cape Town is some of the best in the world and can be consumed directly from the faucet. You can read a report of the water analysis here.

  • A few years ago, South Africa experienced a drought and we try to be conservative in water usage. A dishwasher statistically uses less water than washing by hand, so we primarily use this unless it’s a large dish (and run it on the 1-hour higher temperature cycle). For the washing machine, we normally wash personal clothes be run on the Jeans (30 degrees) or Shirts (40 degrees) cycle, which is an hour cycle.

  • When taking showers, please be cognizant of water usage.

  • Please do not flush anything other than house-provided toilet paper down the drain; flushable wipes and feminine products need to be disposed of in the trash (there is a box of paper bags near each toilet). Additionally, we provide dark face towels for make-up removal to avoid staining the white towels.

MyCiti Bus Stops

Vehicles & Transfers

  • We do not offer on-site parking, however there is limited parking available on the street. As share-ride vehicles are plentiful (both Uber & Bolt are available), three lines on MyCiti bus run within 3 blocks, and even the Cape Town City Sightseeing Bus is only 3 blocks away.

  • We can provide airport transfers as well as regional transfers (including to the winelands, Hermanus or the Cape of Good Hope). The vehicle rental and gas/petrol are on consumption and can be driven by the Villa Manager.

Grocery, Restaurants & Shopping

  • Sea Point is plentiful with grocery stores with Pick-n-Pay, Woolworths & Checkers located within 5 blocks of the house. They provide delivery service, however if you need anything, the Villa Manager can assist in obtaining.

  • Dozens of restaurants & eateries of all types of cuisines are steps away on Main Road. Additionally, there are two primary delivery apps in the area that service nearly all dining establishments: uberEats & Mr.D.

  • Some of our favorite places are: Mojo Market (20-minute walk) & Oranjezicht City Farm (40-minute walk near the V&A Waterfront and open on Saturday/Sunday mornings & afternoons as well as Wednesday evenings).

Currency

  • South Africa operates on the Rand (ZAR) with varying rates 18ZAR=1USD; ~20ZAR=1EUR; ~23ZAR=1GBP. (Click here to convert.)

  • Many places in Cape Town are cash-free. There are two primary ‘Payment apps’ available in South Africa. Zapper and Snapscan are accepted many places.

  • If traveling regionally, please note that some destinations such as Zimbabwe (which uses USD) are mostly cash-based. Namibia uses the Namibian Dollar, which is pegged 1:1 to the rand (which can be used there).

SIM Cards

  • If your mobile plan doesn’t offer data or it’s expensive, acquiring a local SIM card (or e-SIM) is easy and we’ve found Vodacom to be the best. If you wish, the Villa Manager can easily assist in obtaining a SIM card and buying data.

  • When calling internationally, we suggest using Talk360, which is conducted via VOIP and has great rates.

Activities & Experiences

  • We have various preferred partners with local businesses such as yoga, a dentist, cosmetic dermatologists, etc. Some provide a discount, so just ask us and we’ll provide direction.

  • We have a supplemental full-service travel agency and can arrange any local, regional or international experiences including car rental for local road trips.

  • You can also explore a variety of activities on Viator.

  • During operating hours of 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, we are happy to accept any deliveries for current or soon-t0-arrive guests complimentary. For non-guests, we will accept your delivery and hold for up to 7 days at a cost of R100.

Weather

  • The weather in Cape Town can vary drastically throughout the day and within a season, so we recommend packing a variety of clothes regardless of the season.

  • In Summer (December – February), you’ll find:

    • Weather: Warm and dry, lots of sunshine

    • Temperatures: 25–30°C (77–86°F)

    • Recommended clothing: Light, breathable fabrics (cotton/linen); Shorts, t-shirts, sundresses; Sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen; Light jacket for windy days

  • In Autumn (March – May), you’ll find:

    • Weather: Mild, cooling gradually, occasional rain

    • Temps: 17–26°C (63–79°F)

    • Recommended clothing: Light layers (e.g., long sleeves, cardigans); Jeans or lightweight trousers; Light rain jacket or umbrella; Closed shoes for variable weather

  • In Winter (June – August), you’ll find:

    • Weather: Cool and wet, rain and cold fronts

    • Temps: 7–18°C (45–64°F)

    • Recommended clothing: Warm layers (sweaters, thermals); Waterproof jacket or coat; Boots or waterproof shoes; Scarf, hat, and gloves for chilly days

  • In Spring (September – November), you’ll find:

    • Weather: Warming up, flowers bloom, wind increases

    • Temps: 15–25°C (59–77°F)

    • Recommended clothing: Light layers (t-shirts with light sweater or jacket); Comfortable walking shoes; Windbreaker for breezy days; Sunscreen as UV increases

Questions