The Old Rectory Hotel, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa – Hotel Review

During our long weekend trip in Plettenberg Bay as part of our month-long South Africa visit, we stayed at The Old Rectory Hotel. The oldest building in Plett Bay dating back to 1777, records show this hotel building was built by the Dutch East India Trading company.

Having started its operations only in September 2017, The Old Rectory Hotel pampers guests with its modern furnishings and detailed touches, such as the provision of sunscreen at their pool deck, a unique idea I delighted in.

The owners worked hard with the historical society to preserve some of these historical elements, which makes the property give off a British colonial vibe the moment we entered. Clues to the early history of the property can be found in the stone walls at the reception and the chapel that is now converted into their spa room. At their restaurant, you’ll find a fusion menu of heritage food with a colonial influence.

Old timber mill

You can also find the remains of what used to be an old timber mill opposite the hotel, which is now converted into a heritage site.

Even the bar and the reading room gave off a European vibe, what with a fireplace and stone walls wrapping us in.

I was continuously impressed by the consistency of their branding, from the brochures they print out to their social media platforms. Even the chocolates that were given during the turn down service was branded!

Checking in to The Old Rectory Hotel, Plettenberg Bay

Reception

Before we could even proceed with our check in, we were tasked to sit down, catch a breather and sip on refreshing fruit water. I already felt right at home with the consistent earthy colour themes around the reception and property.

The staff here were all really attentive with our needs and check in was swift.

The Old Rectory Hotel’s Room

Their 18 rooms, all of which are double occupancy, are tightly compacted and furnished in an open-concept style.

What I found unique about their rooms is that there is no bathROOM per se; the shower and bed is separated by a mere wall flushed in the middle of the room, a design I thought was really cool. You can get full view of the bathtub and the sink from the bed.

Out of all the hotels I’ve reviewed across the world, cleanliness, ample light and spaciousness are what makes or breaks my hotel room experience.

I can say that The Old Rectory has very intelligently optimized the space in the room with the open concept. This made the shower really spacious and the bathtub inviting because of natural light from the windows that it is perched up beside it.

Not to mention the beds that I want to sink in and never come out of. I didn’t even mind that the power was out one night (it was a town-wide thing, and everyone was warned in advance).

The final straw was the fact that they provided aromatic bath salts. The first moment I had, I tossed my clothes, poured me a glass of bubbles, and ran the water in the bathtub right away. Nothing like pampering yourself while you can, aye?

The Old Rectory Hotel & Spa, Plettenberg Bay

One caveat of this room-less bathroom is how the cool room air immediately hits you once you step out of the shower. The Old Rectory cleverly counters this by introducing floor heating on the shower floor.

While it might not prevent the cool air from hitting your skin immediately after you step out of the shower, it does make you feel a little warmer inside. I was really impressed with this feature, the first hotel I’ve been in to implement this!

Other details that made me feel extra special as a guest are the chocolates offered during the turn down service, the cookies in the cookie jar that they offer to guest complimentarily, the unlimited coffee capsules for their Nespresso machine, the sparkling clean surfaces of the tables, cutlery and glasses, and most of all, a champagne to welcome our arrival!

Needless to say, we toasted to our arrival in Plett Bay the moment we arrived while snacking on the plate of fruits!

They also offer international sockets and USB plugs in every room, another testament of their thoughtfulness and attention to detail towards international guests.

TIP: The South Africa power plugs are annoying because you can’t use regular international adaptors for it – you’ll have to purchase a brand new one locally when you arrive in the country.

The Old Rectory Hotel’s Amenities

The Old Rectory’s spa

We never got the chance to use the spa, but the inquisitive me couldn’t pass up the opportunity to check out the former chapel that now housed the hotel’s spa services.

Clean, cosy and warm, I can bet any guest would be in absolute heaven when they indulge in The Old Rectory’s spa! If only we had more time here…

Upon heading to the rooms, you’ll also pass by their swimming pool. The pool is unheated and therefore, unsuitable for swimming in winter. That didn’t stop guests from still chilling by the pool though – I would too, given how it’s surrounded by lush greens and so tranquil.

Dining at The Old Rectory Hotel, Plettenberg Bay

Each morning, they offer a Continental buffet cold breakfast and a separate hot breakfast menu. The buffet items include an assortment of cheese, fruits and pastries.

I was so excited to try out their hot breakfast food every morning because of how immaculately-designed their plating and food presentation was. Even a simple dish like an omelette turned out to be so appetizing. I just wished I woke up earlier (and have a bigger stomach) so I can fully enjoy their breakfast!

While we didn’t get a chance to try out their dinner menu, I can only imagine how wholesome their offerings can be.

Everything was neat, impeccable and consistent. All I wanted to do was hang around in the hotel reading, playing board games, swim (if only it wasn’t winter), and photograph the whole property.

The Old Rectory Hotel & Spa
2 Bull St, Plettenberg Bay
6600, South Africa
oldrectory@rareearth.co.za

Special thanks to The Old Rectory for this experience! All opinions remain my own.

19 – 21 March 2019, Sat – Mon