”Are we there yet?” yelled my three-year-old from the confines of his baby seat. “Almost”, I uttered for the umpteenth time. We'd been driving for more than four hours. Our destination: Lake Pleasant Living in Sedgefield.
For the hubby and I it was supposed to be a weekend to unwind after the hectic week we'd both had. An added bonus was bringing the little one along because the real test of holiday accommodation touting itself as being “family friendly” is to, well, see if it meets the expectations of its most difficult client - kids.
Situated on the banks of Lake Pleasant, the establishment forms part of the Mantis family, which owns five-star properties across the globe. Lake Pleasant Living previously marketed itself as a boutique hotel, but after closing its doors in 2005 for extensive renovations, it then re-opened and positioned itself in the self-catering section as a five-star self-contained establishment.
And self-contained it is...
Our suite consisted of one massive bedroom with a king-size bed, en-suite bathroom, open-plan lounge and kitchenette, along with a guest bathroom.
The patio overlooks the man-made pond and the lake, which gave the little one ample space to run around.
Hotel manager Roy Stedman took me around for a further tour of the property, while giving me a brief history of the original building and how Mantis came up with the idea to sell off each suite as sectional titles, but how they still manage to keep conformity throughout the property.
The overall decor of the hotel is old-world charm combined with modern-day conveniences such as the LCD TVs each suite is furnished with, and a fully-stocked kitchenette. Luxurious wood panelling and muted tones work together in this environment, so the two don't compete for dominance in the living space. I also liked the fact that they commissioned original art work to adorn the walls and was told by Roy that a couple from a little Eastern Cape dorpie made all the antique-looking pieces in each of the suites. The headboard in our bedroom was a labyrinth of fabrics drawn together like a curtain. Dutch manor maybe? Not exactly to my liking, but somehow it works in this room.
Lake Pleasant Living offers an array of options when it comes to accommodation - 1 and 2-bed suites. And for those who value their privacy while footing the bill, there's the villas - complete with private plunge pool. Because the villas are recent additions to the establishment, they offer a modern take on creature comforts and have fully-fitted kitchens and laundry rooms.
Because Lake Pleasant Living is in the heart of the Garden Route, there's a hive of activity. Knysna and Plett are just a mere hour’s drive away, and Sedgefield itself (dubbed SA's only slow town) has its organic foods market every Saturday morning. The market is stocked with all essential ingredients needed to make a healthy meal, so get there early if you want the best of the crop, literally speaking.
As far as the kids are concerned, there's lots to do on the property itself. So you don't need to wonder far off to keep them occupied. Isa's days consisted of playing in the kiddies pool and water slide or wondering around the well-kempt gardens in search of the resident tortoise. There's also a jungle gym and a beach volleyball net for the older ones. My only concern is that the kiddies pool is not exactly built with smaller kids in mind - the first step was the only place he was allowed to waddle about. Any deeper and he would have been in trouble.
The thing that I really liked about Lake Pleasant Living, is the fact that they have designated adults-only areas. So even though they pride themselves on being a child-friendly establishment, grown-ups don't have to deal with the discomfort of whining toddlers or screaming babies. The Mantis Spa, sauna, gym and indoor swimming area are also there for adult enjoyment only.
For those who can't be bothered to make lunch or dinner, the Bistro on the Lake offers a fuss-free relaxed environment that has hearty portions on its menu, minus the price of a fine-dining restaurant. But I would have liked to see a kiddies menu as well and maybe a bigger selection of local produce.
Lake Pleasant Living prides itself on being a home away from home. It's a place for living without the air of exclusivity one would get at a five-star hotel. Their suites are also fairly well-priced (R1800 for 1-bed suite per night, including breakfast) for the type of service and amenities on offer.
And as far as the three-year-old jury is concerned? “I love it! Can we stay?”
If you go:
Lake Pleasant Living is a 4-hour drive from Cape Town on the outskirts of Sedgefield on the Garden Route
Room rates: R1800 (1bed), R3200 (2bed)
Each suite is fully equipped as a self-contained 5-star unit
Visit the official website for specials and reservations: www.lakepleasantliving.co.za - IOL