People who travel themselves have designed the rooms at Delicious Hotels. A good bed, shower, fast free Wi-Fi, coat hangers (not those hideous, no-steal ones you have to fight with and aim just right to get to work) and loads of plugs. At less than €100 a night and with travel-friendly check-in times of 4pm and out by 2pm Delicious Hotels aims to provide a base in a charming and, up until now, expensive Franschhoek.
Moreover, to take the sting out of the budget-stay tail, they offer witty supe-ups like Devilish Daiquiri's, (we road-tested the Strawberry Daiquiri, which is sensational) and World Famous Sticky Buns at LQF's The Common Room.
You can also pre-buy vouchers for the superb (and discounted) Full Monty Breakfast at Le Quartier Français (R100) or a Budget Brekkie at just R35 per person that includes a croissant, scrambled egg and hand-crafted bacon by Bread & Wine restaurant's Neil Jewell. To put this into international-travel perspective, you'll pay similar for a stand-up coffee in Italy.
Other supe-ups include daily room serving, gym bunny access to the local gym and an Express mani or pedi.
I loved the fact that there were easy-reach multi-adaptor plugs on both sides of the bed to charge the bevy of tech we all seem to travel with nowadays, a lap-top safe as well as burglar-alarms for each room and off-street, secure parking. There is a pretty, large garden with pool and recliners and all rooms have aircon and basic DSTV.
I didn't enjoy being able to hear the front door open and close and the geyser of the adjacent room fill and the fact that our toilet seat was loose. Our room, (R1210) the Itsy Bitsy, was probably the original master bedroom at 28m². I liked the fact that ours had a desk (although I could do without the vintage typewriter, which just wastes space). I spied our neighbour hogging the shared lounge with her computers so assume that she didn't have a desk or Wi-Fi reception in her room. Other rooms are smaller, from 17m² with the cheapest at R930 for the both of you.
Think of Delicious Hotel as LQF-lite. After you've walked through their scented garden and experienced their service, not to forget to take the opportunity to dine at The Tasting Room (if you book an eon in advance for it) one of the finest restaurants in the world, and dine at The Common Room - (one of the most delicious and value-for-money experiences I've had in an age).
You'll be smug at the money you've saved over what LQF's in-house guests have shelled out. Bring your own ear plugs, robes and slippers, and supe-up your own stay.
For more information go to www.delicioushotels.com or call +27 (0) 21 876 4232 / Fax: +27 (0) 21 876 3105
