豪登基維茨克朗葡萄酒莊園酒店 (Kievits Kroon Gauteng Wine Estate)

Upon arrival, check-in at reception was smooth. We were provided with our room key and directed to our accommodation, which required us to drive to the other side of the estate. However, when we reached the room, the key did not work. We walked back to reception, where we were informed that a network issue had prevented the key from being properly programmed. The receptionist, who was very helpful, offered to accompany us to the room and opened it using a master key. She assured us that a functioning key would be delivered as soon as the network was restored. Upon entering the room, we immediately noticed that it had not been cleaned. The window sill was sticky with what appeared to be beverage spills, the floor was dirty, the bathroom mats were not fresh, and most concerning, there were rat droppings on the window sill, on the floor behind the curtains, and behind the door. I contacted reception to request housekeeping and asked to speak with a manager, as the condition of the room was unacceptable. A housekeeping staff member arrived, but I requested that cleaning not proceed until the housekeeping manager assessed the situation. The manager quickly confirmed that the room had indeed not been cleaned and that there were clear signs of rodent activity. She apologised sincerely, asked us to wait while the room was cleaned, and said she would escalate the matter to the rooms division. While waiting on the terrace outside, we noticed a mouse in the bushes, which explained the droppings found inside. After the room was cleaned, the manager returned, apologised again, and informed us that a complimentary bottle of wine had been arranged for us. We told her about the mouse we had seen and expressed that we did not feel comfortable staying in that room. She went back to speak with the rooms division, and we waited in the bar. An hour later, she returned with keys to a new room and directed us there. The replacement room was clean, though the entire experience made for a rocky start to our stay. The following day, after breakfast, we returned to our room to find that the terrace doors had been removed and two maintenance staff were working. This came as an unexpected surprise, as no one had informed us that repairs would be taking place. We decided to return to the bar to allow the work to be completed. As we were celebrating a birthday that day, the housekeeping manager kindly arranged for our room to be decorated with a birthday message. From that point onward, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay thanks to the exceptional customer service at the restaurants, bars, and spa. In particular, we would like to recognise Moses, Regal, and Tebogo at Kingsley Restaurant; Sibongile at Granatas; and Mandy at the spa for their outstanding hospitality. They truly made our stay memorable. Overall, despite the challenges we experienced upon arrival, we had a lovely stay. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making my mother’s birthday special.