No.28 Seaside Cottages
on Fish Hoek beach
the perfect holiday accommodation
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
A helpful guide for visitors.
- General
- Location
- Enquiries & Bookings
- Cottage Accommodation: Inside
- Rates & Terms
- Cottage Position
- The Surrounding Area
General
What are your contact details?
- We are Peter and Jeannette Kempster, owners of Seaside Cottage No. 28 since the year 2000.
- Telephone: +27(0)21 785 2456
- Cell: +27 (0)72 290 2416
- Post: P.O. Box 43912, Fish Hoek, Western Cape, Republic of South Africa
- Email: info@28seasidecottages.co.za
- Website: www.28seasidecottages.co.za
- Please note: we do not reside at the 28 Seaside Cottages premises. We therefore need advance notice of your arrival.
Location
Where are you located?
- We are located in the Cape Town suburb of Fish Hoek, in the Southern Peninsula of the Western Cape, South Africa.
- Our Co-ordinates for GPS are 34° 08’ 04.64 South. 18° 26’ 07.77 East
How do we find you?
- Follow the directions on our Find Us page.
- We are approx. 45-60 minutes from the Airport, depending on traffic and local area knowledge.
- There is also a sketch map of the Cottages layout, once you reach the complex.
Do you do airport shuttles?
- We offer an Airport Shuttle service through our associated 'Care Transport' operation. Please refer to the Tours/Travel page.
Do you do car hire?
- We can recommend suggested car hire operatives, but we do not operate our own Car Hire service.
Enquiries and Bookings
Do you have any references from guests?
- We have many guest comments which appear in our Visitor's Book, a selection of which also appears on our Guest Comments.
Do you do long lets?
- We are primarily a holiday accommodation establishment and are not geared to long-term tenancy. Exceptions to this may be made in the light of special circumstances, but this would be only ever in the Low Season (winter months), from May to October in any year.
- Long lets would normally be subject to stringent credit and I.D. checking.
Are there minimum booking nights?
- Yes
- During the Low and Mid seasons (May to November) the minimum number of nights is 2 (two).
- During the High and Peak seasons (December to April), the minimum number of nights is 5 (five).
What is the enquiry and booking process?
- The Cottages are of course offered for holiday accommodation subject to availability.
- We require the Arrival and Departure dates and the number of adults/children.
- Please refer to our Enquiries page and complete the form with details.
- Or a direct enquiry can be made by Email to info@28seasidecottages.co.za
- Upon receipt of your enquiry, we provide an 'Offer of Accommodation and Pro-Forma Statement of Account', with a Quotation for the period required and all the other information, including contact numbers and banking details.
- We request a 25% deposit payment to secure your booking, with the balance of the account payable before or on arrival.
- When your deposit is received, we provide you with a confirmation that your booking is secure and forward to you a
'Confirmation of Booking and Statement of Account'.
THIS IS OUR GUARANTEE TO YOU THAT YOUR BOOKING IS FULLY SECURED. - The Account should be settled either before or on arrival, or by mutual arrangement beforehand. Failure to do this may jeopardise the provision of the keys.
- We provide you with a signed receipt for any payments made.
Do you do credit cards?
- We regretfully do not provide credit card facilities. Direct deposit of EFT into our account is preferred, prior to arrival. We also accept cash or cheque at the time of arrival.
What do we do on arrival and what about the keys?
- We request that you advise us of your approximate time of arrival on the day booked, so that we can be on hand to greet you with keys, etc. and to show you around.
The Cottage Accommodation: Inside
Is it self-catering or Bed and Breakfast?
- Strictly self-catering, we are unable to offer B&B facilities.
What must we bring with us?
- Only yourselves and your consumables of choice.
- All other needs are provided for, including fully fitted kitchen facilities.
- Bed linen, towels, kitchen cloths and cleaning items are included.
Can you accommodate and provide for young children?
- Yes of course, we are a family holiday accommodation establishment.
- We can provide a cot, high chair and inflatable mattresses if needed.
- Upon request we can also provide plentiful toys for the children to play with.
- There is an ample play area for the children in the surrounds of the Cottage and the sea / beach is within a few seconds walk.
- We do advise caution when the children are playing ball games, we like to avoid broken windows!
What is the maximum sleeping capacity?
- Bedroom (1) has a double bed, sleeping two.
- Bedroom (2) has a double bunkbed and a single bed, sleeping a total of three.
- We would thus quote a maximum of five, but if there are additional young children, there is the optional choice of up to 2 extra inflatable mattresses, which can be used at the discretion of the guest.
- There are extra blankets and hot water bottles for those chilly evenings.
Does it have Satellite DSTV?
- A TV with normal SABC programmes is provided as standard. DSTV satellite reception is available on request. The antennae dish and wiring is in place, the connection to DSTV just needs to be activated and decoder installed. We would need to know in advance the dates on which to activate/deactivate the service, with a minimum of 24 hrs notice.
- A DSTV service charge of R30.00 per day would be payable and would be charged separately.
- Alternatively, you may bring your own DSTV decoder with Smartcard and just plug in
- A DVD player is also provided, with a resident library of 100 DVD’s for your choice.
- There is also a local VIDEORITE Hire Shop in Fish Hoek Main Rd. Lost or damaged DVD’s would be for the guest’s account.
Is the Cottage serviced daily?
- The Cottage is not normally serviced during your occupation, unless special arrangements are made for the guest by us (for the guest's own account). Security is another motivation for this policy.
- The Cottage is cleaned after exit, for which a nominal charge is included in the original quote to the guest.
Is there a laundry facility?
- In the interests of preserving as much space as possible, the Cottage is not fitted with a washing machine. However, close by in the Laundry Room, there are washing machines for use by guests. This facility is provided by the Cottages Office and tokens for the machines may be purchased at the Office, Cottage No. 31. The Laundry Room keys are also available from the office.
- There are also Laundry facilities available nearby in Beach Road (Floody’s, just across the railway crossing, next to Barracudas restaurant) and Laundry Corporation in Fish Hoek Town Square.
What about security and the safety of valuables and vehicles?
- There is a safe installed inside the Cottage, providing for the safety of valuables.
- There is a lock up garage with remote control operation. It is recommended that vehicles are locked away at night, or when not in use.
What are the checkout times?
- We normally request that guests vacate by 09h00 on the day of departure. However, should there be no further guests arriving on the same day, the departure time can be at any time during the day.
Can we extend our stay if we want?
- Yes, this can be negotiated, but it would be subject to Cottage availability and no other confirmed booking/arrivals imminent.
Is smoking allowed?
- No. We are a non-smoking establishment, smokers do it outside and leave no trace!
Is it animal friendly?
- We regret that we do not provide an animal friendly environment. This is in deference to guests following the departure, who may experience fleas, lice, etc.
Rates & Terms:
What do the rates include?
- The rate quoted is for the whole Cottage, regardless of the number of people in residence (normally maximum 5, unless there are also small children).
- We do not charge per person.
- The Cottage is fully equipped for self-catering holiday accommodation. Everything you might need is there, all you have to bring are your consumables of choice.
- We have tried to make it as home-from-home as we possibly can.
Are the rates seasonal?
- Yes, very much so. Please refer to our Rates for a break-down of the seasons and relative rates.
Do you do discounts and specials?
- The rates we quote are always our best prices.
- We are prepared to negotiate flexible rates if there is sufficient motivation to do so. This could include returning guests, length of stay and seasonal availability, for example.
- We do offer winter season specials from time to time.
What is the deposit to secure the booking?
- We request a very reasonable 25% in advance to secure the booking.
- This is best paid after booking confirmation, to avoid disappointment.
Can we pay in U.K. Pounds?
- YES! For residents of the United Kingdom, we offer the convenience of GB Pounds Sterling payment directly into our UK bank account. This enables you to know in advance exactly what you are spending on accommodation before you leave home. Then you can forget it!
- Avoid the uncertainty and variations of commissions/service fees charged by Bureau de Change agencies and banks.
- If you have a UK bank account, we provide you with a Quotation in both SA Rands and GB Pounds, converted at the exchange rate of the day as quoted by the widely recognised financial website XE.com. We honour the rate quoted on the day, regardless of the fluctuations which might subsequently occur.
Are there any disclaimers or conditions?
- Yes
- The owners do not accept responsibility for theft of goods or injury to guests whilst on the premises or Cottage surrounds.
- The guest agrees to depart at the specified time which appears on the Booking Confirmation form.
What are the cancellation terms?
- In the event of a booking cancellation after a deposit has been paid, the following refund conditions apply:
- More than 3 months ahead of arrival time: Full refund.
- One to 2 months ahead: 50% refund.
- One month or less: No refund unless the accommodation is re-let for the period booked.
- Special consideration will be given to circumstantial situations.
- Important: Please note that all transactions carry a R100.00 levy to cover costs.
Do you cater for special needs?
- If you have particular special needs, please advise us and we will try to help if we can.
Do you levy a breakages charge up front?
- Not as such…BUT:
- We request that our guests treat the facilities as if it were their own home.
- If breakages occur, we need to be advised before departure and the damage assessed and covered then by the guest.
- Any serious breakages (e.g. windows), would be for the guest’s account.
Are there any hidden costs?
- Not to our knowledge. With us, what you see is what you get.
Cottage Position
How far is it from the beach?
- Cottage 28 is within 60 secs. walking distance of the beach, across flat lawn and pathways.
Are there any steps?
- No. From the access road parking, the Cottage may be reached by crossing a flat lawn. With care, wheelchairs can also negotiate this approach.
- On the route from the Cottage to the beach, there is a small slope prior to reaching the beach.
- Please refer to our Find Us page for a plan of the area.
Does it have sea view?
- There is no direct sea view.
- The location of the Cottage, facing the sea, is with the dunes between the Cottage and sea.
- This positioning provides welcome protection against the wind when it is blowing from the south-east and enables the outside area around the Cottage to be used regardless for recreation, with the wind passing over the top of the Cottage.
Is there dedicated parking and a lock up garage?
- Yes. There is a dedicated parking space within sight of the Cottage, marked with a sign 'No. 28 Only', and there is a lock-up garage, with remote control operation, also marked '28'. Both are only a short walk from the Cottage.
- We recommend that vehicles are locked away at night or when not in General use.
- In this day and age in which we live, we recommend vigilance regarding personal possessions. This applies everywhere these days.
- Generally, we experience very little serious crime, but there is always the possibility of petty theft if the opportunity is presented, e.g. goods left in unlocked cars with easy visibility.
Is it near the railway line, can you hear the trains?
- The railway line passes by the Cottage complex on the far side of the garages, approx. 100 metres away. Schedules of course depend on the time of day and the day of the week.
- On arrival, a faint rumble might be heard as the trains pass, but this will become unnoticeable after a short time.
- There is no level of noise which could be described as disturbing, certainly not to the point of preventing sleep.
Are there other cottages nearby?
- Yes. Cottage No. 28 is part of a holiday accommodation complex.
- Please refer to our Find Us page to observe a plan of the complex.
What about public transport and walking distances into Fish Hoek town?
- The nearest public transport is at Fish Hoek railway station, where trains to Cape Town or Simon’s Town can be boarded.
- Allow 10-15 minutes for a brisk walk to the station.
- Being practical, the availability of a car for shopping in town is a big help, unless you are young and energetic and like exercise!
The Surrounding Areas
Can we get tours to the local and wider areas?
- Yes. Please refer to our Tours and Travel page for a selection of tours which are run by 'Care Transport' proprietors Steven and Susan Fowkes.
What about restaurants (Dining Out)?
- Please click on this very useful link: Dining Out - It lists 51 restaurants around the False Bay area.
- The nearest restaurants to Cottage No. 28 are nearby the railway crossing and in Fish Hoek Main Road.
What else is there to do in Fish Hoek and surrounding areas?
- Apart from enjoying the pleasant and relaxed atmosphere around the Cottage and nearby beach, the Far South Peninsula offers an abundance of recreational activities to suit all ages.
- Explore the Cape at large with the aid of these selected links for every kind of activity:
