Pietermaai Boutique Hotel

Dirty, Damp and Uncomfortable. If you are looking for an “amenity-rich”, “exclusive”, “four star boutique hotel” (as advertised online), this is not it. The way this hotel is marketed is misleading and simply false. Here is why: • If you book the “split-level suite”, you will likely be placed in a room where the toilet is next to the bed without a door. The room is small, and only has AC at the top level, which leaves the bottom feeling damp and hot. The tiny sink is in front of a window, with no space for toiletries and no mirror. No proper wardrobe for your clothes and personal items. The room where the photos were taken is only 1 room in the hotel, the rest are rooms as described above. • The mattresses are old and uncomfortable; you will feel the springs in your back all night, and after multiple nights your back will feel terrible. The linen is old; plenty of tears and stains. • No toiletries whatsoever; you get 1 pump with cheap soap in the shower. No handsoap, 1-ply toilet paper, and no extra bathroom necessities such as vanity kits etc. (which is standard in 4 star hotels). We had to buy this ourselves. • The bathroom is extremely dirty and grimy, see photos attached. It smells like mould and sewage. After complaining twice we received a “thorough cleaning”, but there were still plenty stains on the walls and floors. For one of us, this led to a face rash every time we took a shower and used the towels. • No curtains, only wooden slats in front of the window that don’t fully close. This means the room won’t be dark once the sun comes up in the morning. • The sinks in the kitchenette and bathroom don’t have hot water, only cold. The list of reasons why is this is NOT a luxury, 4 star hotel is endless. I am very happy we did not see any cockroaches, which apparently are present in a few rooms. This hotel is far below the quality standard they advertise. If you are expecting a 4 star luxury experience, you will not receive it at the Pietermaai Boutique Hotel. NOTE: The hotel has offered us a 25% refund after asking for compensation, which was appreciated. However, this does not change our experience, and we still feel we need to share our honest opinion with future travellers.