Author Joe Pike's Superior One-Bedroom Suite at tne Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa
CAPE TOWN, South Africa- Luxury Travel Advisor was on site last week at the luxurious Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town and came back with a wealth of selling points for advisors looking to sell this South African jewel.
The property is located in a vibrant area of Cape Town with many bars and restaurants in walking distance. I stayed in room no. 124, a Superior One-Bedroom Suite. The best features of this room are the King-sized bed; a roughly-50-inch, flat screen LG television in the bedroom; a rain shower that packs a punch with the pressure, an elegant bathtub and tons of closet space. Divided into four separate compartments, the closet nearly extends from one bedroom wall to the other.
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| Now that's a closet Carrie Bradshaw would be proud of |
The rain shower is also amazing. It is a little cozy as far as space goes but the water pressure is excellent and comes with Charlotte Rhys bath products. The puffy shower towels covered more than half of my body and felt more like a blanket.
Although this room was pretty impressive, advisors should ask for a Superior room that offers views of Table Mountain. My room offers views of the hotel gardens, which is also impressive but not as unique as a mountain view. Note: Interconnecting rooms are available on request. Each room has a mini-lounge area, writing desk and lavishly equipped en-suite.
The best meal I had here was the nut and seed crusted springbok loin, or antelope, served with Jerusalem artichoke, caramelized onion, crispy chakalaka croquette and German spaetzle dumplings. If you never had antelope, think filet mignon medallions. The beef was very tender and cut like butter. But the vegetables here should not be ignored ether as they are purchased through an exclusive partnership with a local farming company and may be some of he freshest I've ever tasted. Hint: The beetroot and radish salad with eugenia berries and hazelnut sour cream is a must. Tip: For dessert, ask for the caramel and chocolate fudge. The fudge is homemade and will please even the most discerning lovers of sweets.
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| This was a steak that was cooked perfectly |
Room service was also very impressive. Tip: Tell VIPs to get the grilled beer sirloin with a sauteed brown mushroom, onion and plum tomatoes. With this meal, you have a choice of mushroom or peppercorn sauce and potato wedges or fries. I went with the wedges, mushroom sauce and paired the whole meal with a Mount Nelson Collection Shiraz. I was not disappointed.
Nice Touch: The hotel offers VIPs the option to order a pot of coffee or tea to accommodate your wake up call. When I took them up on this service, there was a knock on my door with a steaming pot of coffee literally seconds after I received my wake up call and hung up the phone. This was the easiest time I ever had getting up early in the morning. Tip: The hotel also offers VIPs the opportunity to order picnic baskets for the road so long as the property is given 12 hours of notice.
Laundry service here is also very efficient. I had delivered a healthy amount clothes to be washed at around 8 p.m. at night and received them by noon the next day. Nice Touch: Guest's clothes are returned folded and wrapped in paper with a red rose on top.
The hotel's Librisa Spa works with well-known skincare companies Dermalogica and Africology, both of which use natural ingredients. Note: Each visit begins with a consultation, taking into account VIP's needs. VIPs can choose from a wide range of face and body treatments in one of eight treatment rooms, tucked away in three late-Victorian buildings. VIPs can relax before or after their treatment in the Finnish sauna, steam bath and plunge pool or enjoy the tranquil surroundings of the conservatory with a selection of herbal teas. Nice Touch: Guests who need to bring their little VIPs along will not have their experience disrupted as the spa has its own children's club available at no extra charge.
Visit www.mountnelson.co.za.