Jan 05 2010

Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa

When you arrive into Cape Town at the airport and head to the Twelve Apostles, you go into the city and drive through it, then on through Camp’s Bay and on past until you see no more town.  You are then driving beneath the majestic Twelve Apostles.  Then you see the sign that the Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa is right around the bend on the left.  It is a beautiful white against the brown and sometimes colorful mountains.   

You drive up through the security to what seems like welcome, outstretched arms.  Once inside, while checking in, they offer you a drink, water, wine, etc.  Everyone is kind and wants to help. They have just remodeled, changed the color scheme and it is so crisp and refreshing looking.

Our room was   one of the Luxury Rooms which is, on average, approximately 430 Sq. Ft.  It is one of the 70 rooms that the hotel has.  They consist of the 14 Classic (355 sq. ft.) which overlook the gardens; the 10 Mountain-Facing (355 sq. ft); the 22 Luxury, which have partial views of the Apostles Mountain Range & the Atlantic Ocean; the 9 Superior Sea-Facing (592 sq. ft.); the 12 one-bedroom Mountain Facing Suites (753 sq. ft); the 2 Garden Facing Suites (753 sq. ft.); and 1 Presidential Suite (1829 sq. ft.), with a private lounge & dining room. 

If you have just arrived to South Africa, you may want to go to the spa to use their flotation pool. They say that a 20 minute float is equivalent to 8 hours of sleep.  If that is not enough, you can energize or revitalize yourself with the Rasul Chamber, a hydrotherapy capsule bath, sauna, or enjoy one of several treatments they offer. 

The day after arrival, after you indulge in their wonderful breakfast buffet including champagne and oysters on the half shell, you may want to take the free shuttle to Camp’s Bay to enjoy the wonderful beaches, or to Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.  If you do not want to leave the property, you may opt to see what is playing in their 16 seat cinema (The African Queen was playing while I was there).  You can use the Fitness room, or you may want to just relax by one of the 2 heated outdoor swimming pools.  At lunch, you may want to get something from the Café’ Grill which is open 24 hrs.  After lunch, take the time to explore one of the many hiking trails into the mountain range from the hotel.  Or, instead of getting lunch at the hotel, have them pack one for you to take along on your hike.  

The Twelve Apostles is a great place to relax and a great place to use as your home base for exploring all that Cape Town has to offer.  The ambiance is wonderfully calm.  Every staff member that meets you in the hall stops and asks if there is anything that they can do for you. The food is great, the spa relaxing and what better back drop could you want than the wonderful Twelve Apostle Mountain Range? At the end of the day just sit and watch the waves on the Atlantic or the beautiful sunset.  Whichever you choose, you will never regret your stay at the Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa; in fact, you may want to stay longer, as I did!                
 

About Connie Smith

I have been in travel for 17 years. This was a career change, as I had been a bookkeeper for over 20 years. To me travel is an education of the people their cultures as well as their land. It can be far away or in your own back yard. I believe the saying by St. Augustine “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” My client’s dream vacation starts out as an education for me. No matter how many times I arrange travel to a specific destination, there is always something new to learn. I have traveled to Fiji, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand & Hawaii – I love the South Pacific. I have also studied these destinations extensively. I have also experienced a safari in Kenya & Tanzania which was a highlight in my life. I have visited London & Paris as well as cruised in Europe on Festival Cruise Lines, in the Caribbean on Holland America, in the wine country of California on Cruise West and to Alaska on Celebrity Cruise Lines. I have been halibut fishing in Alaska many times, to Sandals Ocho Rios in Jamaica, Club Med in Bora Bora as well as visited Mexico. Travel can be a passion, a stress release and an education. Let me help you read more of the book of the world through travel.