travelking123
Google
I stayed at Cape Town Hollow Boutique Hotel in late May 2025. The property itself is well-located, the rooms are comfortable, and the breakfast was excellent. I also found the staff to be friendly and helpful, particularly in how they initially received me.||Unfortunately, my overall experience was marred by how the hotel handled a difficult and distressing situation. I had booked my full African safari tour, including this hotel, through a South Africa-based travel agent who turned out to be fraudulent. On arrival—after a long international journey—I was informed that my reservation had been canceled due to non-payment by the agent, despite me having paid the agent in full well in advance.||To their credit, the hotel did reinstate my booking after I paid directly, and they expressed empathy when I explained I had been defrauded. However, what left a sour taste was the rate they charged me. Despite my situation and request for some flexibility, I was charged 3–4 times the rate that was available online. At the time, I was too overwhelmed to check for myself, but after leaving the hotel and reviewing the prices, I was shocked at the markup.||This was the first stop of my trip, and while the stay itself was pleasant, the lack of fairness in pricing during what was clearly an unfortunate and exceptional situation was disheartening.||Advice to future travelers: The hotel is a great place to stay if you book online in advance. Avoid booking at the desk or through intermediaries without verifying payment status. Booking directly online will likely get you a far better rate.