Contemporary Dutch design for Noordhoek guesthouse

For Marc Bakker and Marjolijn Botje, two Dutch nationals who fell in love with South Africa when Marc as a Rotary exchange student first came here as a teen and, later, showed off our beautiful country to sweetheart Marjolijn, Noordhoek is home.

Now they both champion South Africa to the mostly European clientele although, Marc says, many South Africans take advantage of their winter rates for weekends away.

Set on a sprawling greenbelt with immediate views over the bowling green, wetlands and on to the sea, this Crofters Valley location is also very near Noordhoek's mall and the soon-about-to-open Virgin Active health club.

This couple and their two young daughters are totally hands-on and the superb continental breakfast is prepared by Marjolijn who also prepares lunch and dinner to order. She prepared a Banting-friendly feast for us which started with a beautifully clear chicken broth, a Spanish-inspired heady tomato salsa and prawn dish as a starter with braaied, locally caught tuna and a lovely vegetable and greens salad with poached eggs as a main.

A wonderful surprise was that a Ellie's, a local Noordhoek deli makes a range of Banting products including a light and tasty bread and decadent tasting chocolate brownie and we were served these as dessert.

In today's experience economy, meeting and chatting comfortably to the owners while they prepare and serve meals, is a huge plus and a welcome shift away from the anaemic, politically correct niceties one typically hears.

As a luxury traveller, all you will miss in these large and upscale rooms is a robe and slippers but everything essential, including an espresso maker, safe, hair-dryer, a sufficient number of plugs and, most importantly, strong and free WiFi, is offered. You will be surprised to find imported, double-glazed windows with insect-repelling screens that produce a sound-proof cocoon that is also energy efficient. And, speaking about green credentials, these owners have sustainability at the heart of their design - alien timber is used as decorative edging and in furniture, water is solar heated (as are the two pools, including one lap pool), and their creation and support of a number of CSI projects all indicate their commitment.

I especially liked the contemporary design considerations and the clever way they've used potentially wasted space as an attic bed for a child keen to clamber up a ladder to get to bed.

For more, go to www.guesthouseafricanqueen.com