To the Manor born

Functional, comfortable - and the breakfasts are great! You can relax afterwards by the pool.

The reason I loved the apartment though was that it had an open balcony that ran the length of the apartment and, from the left-most corner, it had a glorious view of the sea.

Between the sea view and me was a hotel. This piece is about that hotel.

I looked into the windows of the Premier Hotel Cape Manor for about three years while I lived at Wingate, only to be booted out when the building was sold. People's propensity for leaving hotel curtains open at night still amazes me but then it was a thrilling view into the private lives of people who, perhaps because the windows were tinted to suggest one-way-glass, weren't aware of my voyeuristic intentions.

A shower to remember

Perhaps it is just a matter of time until all hotels realise that providing free internet access would be a very nice plus.

When we stayed there the night of the Neil Diamond concert in Green Point I secretly wished that I'd get a room facing Wingate but when I saw the large windows onto the sea I was glad for it. This top-floor suite had a bar counter, coffee-making station and basin as we walked in and a neat sitting area in front of the TV and sound system. The draw-card is the view and the way the windows slide open make you feel you could fly out. I'd forgotten how noisy the sea can be.

The bedroom is standard but then one doesn't choose such a property is you're after charm or finesse. The bathroom had a large and wonderfully high-powered shower but the floor ended up so soaked I had to use all the towels just to stop it flowing into the bedroom. I told management about the problem but I'm amazed that either the last person who used the shower didn't tell them or, perish the thought, management did nothing about it.

Functional and comfortable

And so to bed - but make sure those curtains are closed.

This four-star property is a comfortable, functional place to stay. I was impressed by the quality of the breakfast. Although very busy when we stayed there, it appeared the place was efficiently run. I am still amazed that hotels, irrespective of their star-grading or room rate, charge for internet access.

To my mind, charging for Wi-Fi or, at the very least, cable-accessed broadband is like charging for air-conditioning or hot water. Perhaps it is just a matter of time until all hotels realise this.

If you want to share in my voyeuristic tendencies, Wingate is now also available as part of The Cape Manor's basket of beds.

For more information go to www.premierhotels.co.za.