FAQ & House Guide

Oh, Hi there & Herzlich Willkommen

 

All you need to know about the Check-in

 

Check-in time is between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm.

 

Should you require an earlier check-in, we are happy to arrange this for you. 

 

While you wait, you are more than welcome to use the pool, all our facilities, as well as the WiFi, honesty bar and access to the coffee machine and snack bar. 

Please note that this service (Early Check-In) comes at an additional charge of R1,250 and will be charged to your account.

 

We don't charge if you are dropping off your bags and taking off for a quick tour to explore Camps Bay. We will then arrange for the formal check-in at a later time. Please remember that we can't be held liable for any items that seem to be missing from your bags while they are stored with us. 

 

If you need a check-in later than 5pm, we can also facilitate this.

As we need to keep the health and safety of our staff in mind, we will charge a late check-in fee of R750. This covers the safe transfer back home. At the same time, we are ensuring that our staff's overtime is paid correctly in accordance with South African labour law. 

 

For late check-ins that are flight-related, we highly recommend that you use one of our dedicated drivers. He can take over the check-in as well and doesn't cost more than your usual Uber. The price of R550 will be added to your bill for a convenient payment at check-out. Please reach out to us when you would like to make use of his services. If you use one of our drivers, the late check-in fee doesn't apply.

 

 

It's sad to see you go.

 

Everything you need to know about the Check-out

 

Check-out time is until 10.00am.

 

Should you wish to store your luggage with us until you need to leave for the airport, please chat with us. We are happy to store your luggage for R750.

 

Please remember that we can't be held liable for any items that seem to be missing from your bags while they are stored with us. 

 

If you wish to stay longer on the premises, we will provide access to the house's amenities and assist you when you leave the property. 

Please note that this service (Late Check Out) comes at an additional charge of R1,250 and will be charged to your account.  

We do understand that safety and security are your top concerns when coming to South Africa.

We are also taking these topics very seriously and have partnered with the private security company PPA, to ensure that your stay here is safe and secure.

 

The perimeter of our house is monitored 24/7 through AI technology. We will be informed immediately about any suspicious activity. If we cannot clarify the situation, the patrol team will be dispatched and will be at the guesthouse within a few minutes.

 

 

 

In case of any emergency, we have provided two panic buttons for your convenience.

These buttons look like remote controls (blue) and are located in two areas of the house:

* in the entrance area next to the sideboard

* on the lower level of the house next to the staircase.

 

In case of emergency, please press the red button, and PPA will be alerted, who will respond to the main gate of the house within a few minutes to assist you. 

 

Cape Town is safe if you are street smart and use your common sense, just like in any big city. Let's have a chat about the dos and don'ts when you are here.   

Parking is available in front of the house.

 

We have 2 dedicated parking bays right there. Should all 3 rooms be occupied, these parking spots work on a first come first serve base.

 

As we are in a little Cul de Sac, there are  parking spaces available on the side of the road, which we happily point out to you when you arrive. 

 

Should you decide to get around via public transport, we recommend to download the Uber app.

 

Please keep in mind that longer distances (like the winelands or the tour to the Peninsula) are better be done together with a local guide and driver (rather than an Uber). These trips need to be booked well in advance. We are happy to assist with the planning of these trips.

Our rooms are equipped with key cards and readers to ensure your privacy and security. These cards are cut individually for your room, the entrance door as well and the entrance gate. Each room is issued with 1 room key per room. Should you need a 2nd card, please chat to us.

 

When you leave your room, please don't bang the doors, and ensure all doors are closed behind you, especially the entrance gate. 

 

Please remember to always take your key card with you whenever you leave the room to not look yourself out of the room or even the house.

In your room, we provide you with a Netflix bundle so you can enjoy your favorite shows.

As our TVs are smart TVs, you can even log into your own Amazon Prime or Google TV account and continue your shows where you left off when you left home. 

 

The air conditioner is set to cold temperatures in the summertime and might take 5 minutes to kick in after you've activated it.

Please be patient with the system as it needs some time to cool the room.

During winters, we provide electric blankets and the air conditioning can work as a heater.

 

 

We have established a dedicated smoking area, which we will point out when you are here.  Please refrain from smoking of cigarettes, cigars or pipes and vaping on the balcony or terrace adjacent to your room. 

 

Please be mindful of our fellow guests.

 

The use of any other substances is prohibited on our premises. Should we become aware of the use of any drugs, we will terminate your stay with immediate effect. You are furthermore liable for the settlement of any outstanding payments on your guest account.   

 

Our fridge is stocked with your welcome drinks and snacks, and is then available during your stay for your own grocery purchases.

 

The little snack items in your room and in the house are available throughout your stay and are replenished daily - we know how nice a cookie goes with your morning coffee!

 

You can enjoy our wines, beers and G&Ts at the honesty bar. Please just write down what you had when you take them. 

 

During your stay, you will find a lot of little snacks in your rooms, by the pool, and on our sideboard for the afternoon treat.

 

Please let us know beforehand if you suffer from any food allergies or have any dietary requirements so that we can cater accordingly. 

 

Please remember that we cannot be held liable for any incidents happening during your stay if we have not been advised accordingly.

 

Our pool is available for swimming from 7.00am to 7.00pm, and we request that you keep the noise level appropriate.

 

You'll find pool towels in your room as well as in the pool house.

 

Once done with your pool experience, please either take the pool towels to your room to use the next day. Alternatively, please place them in the grey basket, which you will find in the pool house. We will exchange them for fresh ones.

 

 

During the summer months, we set up the pool with pool cushions and loungers, and place an umbrella in the mornings. Please keep in mind that the weather can change quickly, and we will sometimes put the pool items aside if there is wind predicted. Should you brave the South Easter Storms, you are more than welcome to grab a pool cushion from our pool house to make yourself comfortable. Just make sure you'll fish it out of the water again should the wind catch it :) 

 

We trust that you are using the premises with common sense - no jumping to the pool, no running on tiles and careful descend and ascend of all stairs.

 

Due to the nature of our main travelers, we have decided against handrails and extra safety measures. Please let us know before you are traveling if you have any issues with your mobility so that we can assess if the chosen room is right for you.  

 

Please note that we will not be held liable for any injuries happening on the premises. The use of all equipment is at your own risk. 

 

We do understand that you want to show off with this gem of accommodation! Please feel free to take your pictures and videos tag us on Instagram #athollhouse or Facebook #AthollHouse Camps Bay

  

Should you make use of the outside areas in the evening, please keep your noise level low after 10pm for everyone's night's rest.

 

Please chat to us should you wish to invite a friend, a colleague or your family over. If our booking calendar allows for that, we can make all necessary arrangements. Please understand that sometimes we have to decline these requests as we are known for our tranquility and the privacy of our guests - and will do our utmost to keep it that way.

Should you wish to tip our staff, please feel free to do so at the end of your stay.

We will place an envelope in your room on your last night of your stay and you can discretely leave the tip in cash in there. Alternatively, you can pay via card machine when you check out. A decent tip is R50-R150 per night stayed and all tips received will be evenly distributed amongst our staff members.

 

Although all our staff undergo regular security screenings and tests, we advise you to put all valuables, including money, passports, jewelry, and electronic equipment, in the room safe for your peace of mind.

 

Our staff is strictly advised to not take anything from your room! Should you nevertheless have a feeling that something is missing, please let us know immediately so that we can investigate further. 

 

Please note that we will not be held liable for anything missing from your room. Should you travel with expensive jewelry or other valuable items, please advise the Manager on Duty during check-in.

 

You are more than welcome to request a laundry service.

 

You will find a laundry bag and a list of items in your room. We charge R200 per load, which we happily add to your bill for convenient payment at check-out. 

Once the laundry is returned, please check you have all your items - and only yours :)

 

Please allow for a 24-hour turnaround time. Should there be any special instructions (no tumble dry, no ironing), please advise us.

 

Depending on our booking calendar and the amount of laundry we need to manage to keep the house running, we sometimes cannot accept laundry on the day of arrival or one day before departure.

Having said that, we are still doing our best to accommodate your needs and ensure we find a solution that works for both our guests and our team.

 

Remember: the impossible is done right away. Wonders might take a bit longer :)

Although it is no longer happening, we thought we'd update you about a South African phenomenon called load shedding. It was implemented to reduce the load on the electricity companies during peak times. For 2 - 4 hours at a time, the electricity would be switched off, which has a massive impact on everyday life.   

 

We have taken measures to minimise the impact on our guests and are using a battery buffer, powered by photovoltaic energy, which is supposed to last 4 hours of load shedding. You will still be able to use all the plugs and lights in the house, and both the fridge and the coffee machine are working.

 

Please download the "Eskom Se Push" app to stay updated on the load-shedding schedule.

 

During load-shedding periods, the air-conditioner is not functional as it consumes too much power.

Please try to avoid using appliances with high power consumption, such as a kettle or hairdryer, as the voltage fluctuations can damage the battery.

 

Should there be a total power outage, please phone the Manager on Duty so that we can immediately assess the situation.   

As Cape Town becomes more popular than ever, we recommend reserving your lunch and dinner spots well in advance.

 

Fine dining experiences especially need a reservation at least 3 months before your arrival. Most often, they also require a deposit, which will be deducted from your total bill at the end of your meal.

 

These are our current favourites when it comes to Fine Dining.

 

La Colombe (Constantia)

Salsify (Camps Bay)

The Foodbarn (Hout Bay)

Bistro 1862 @ Steenberg

Babel @ Babylonstoren

Dusk (Stellenbosch)

Belly of the Beast (City Bowl)

The Table @ De Meye (Stellenbosch)

Fyn (City Bowl)

Chef's Warehouse @Tintswalo (Hout Bay) 

 

 

These are our current favourites for a casual fine dining experience:

 

Aubergine (City Bowl)

Hacienda (City Bowl)

Iron (City Bowl)

Nikkei (City Bowl)

 

 

For a more "down-to-earth" meal, we recommend:

 

Miller's Thumb - Kloof Street

Sea Breeze - Bree Street

Bao Down - Sea Point

Nelson's Eye - Gardens

Bovine - Camps Bay

Hussar Grill - Camps Bay