Plettenberg Bay is one of South Africa’s top beach holiday destinations, with no less than six blue flag beaches to brag with. Not to mention the impressive wine route (which I was recently introduced to), hotel stays that could only add to the experience, and an increasing number of good quality restaurants to dine at. In addition, Plettenberg Bay is a destination that does not limit you to a bum-on-the-beach-only kind of holiday. In fact, there is so much more than just the beach to explore. Even when your vacation gets showered with rainy days, there is no reason for you to be bored. There’s ample to do in and around this seaside town, with The Plettenberg gallantly posing as the ideal base to explore Plett from.
This Liz McGrath Collection property – our very own White House by the beach – is the epitome of elegance. With its white walls and ocean-inspired décor, The Plettenberg’s elegant ambiance is something that has always been linked to its founder and her collection of hotels. The late Liz McGrath – fondly known by her team as Mrs M – was one of very few women worldwide to own not one, but three hotels. That includes The Plettenberg, as well as the Hermanus-based The Marine and Cape Town’s iconic The Cellars-Hohenort Hotel & Spa.
A love story
Liz had a long and happy marriage with husband, Gerald McGrath, who sadly passed away too soon after suffering a heart attack. Losing the love of her life pushed her to do something extraordinary. After many years of overseas holidays and staying at grand Relais & Châteaux hotels with Gerald, she decided to change the old Lookout Hotel (which they owned) into an exclusive, small Country House Hotel.
After undergoing extensive changes and refurbs, the hotel reopened in 1988 as The Plettenberg and since then has become a member of the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
A never-to-forget experience
Staying at the 5-star The Plettenberg hotel is a special experience, to say the least. It’s a stay I consider worth saving for, offering incredible ocean and mountain views, beautifully decorated suites, immaculate cuisine in a tasteful, yet simplistic restaurant setting, and the opportunity to walk down to the beach in a matter of minutes.
While the beach is mere metres away, you can also spend lazy days at one of two hotel pools – both with ocean views. As enticing as a beach walk might sound, so is a poolside cocktail or even a book (from one of the many book-filled cupboards scattered around the property) in the summer lounge.
If that’s not enough to get you to unwind, a back, neck and shoulder massage at the on-site Fresh Wellness Spa will certainly speed things up.
Highlights of The Plettenberg
With all hotel stays, there is always something that stands out for me personally. It usually depends on my mood, my state of mind and my personality. Some of the highlights of my stay at The Plettenberg included:
The view from my suite – a corner suite with 360-degree views of the Indian Ocean – and the beautiful sunrises and sunsets from my balcony.
I also loved how they placed a bottle of Bonnievale Wine on my coffee table, with a note, welcoming me to the hotel. (Ideally it should have been one of the wines from the Plett Wine Route, but we were treated to some fine wines from the region for lunch when we arrived, as well as at dinner in the hotel restaurant).
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Dinner at The Plettenberg’s restaurant, with a wine tasting with Kay & Monty. The winery’s bubbly is all you’d want to drink when you visit Plett next and Chef Kyle’s magic had me in awe. Even the plating was done beautifully.
Did you know?
Plettenberg Bay is home to South Africa’s smallest wine growing region and the country’s most easterly cultivar. The Plett Winelands stretches from the Garden of Eden in the west to The Crags in the east. It consists of eighteen wine farms, including Lodestone, Kay & Monty, Newstead, Bramon, That Wine, De Villo, Bitou, Plettenvale, Luka and Packwood. The Plett Winelands is very bubbly orientated and is often referred to as the bubbly route.
The bed. Oh, the bed in my corner suite was one of my favourites! Not only because it was so huge, but the matress was of the best quality, and I slept like a baby!
The attention to detail. Confession time… I am very bad at any form of Nespresso-type gadget and I never know how to work the coffee magic in fancy hotel rooms. I normally end up drinking instant coffee or tea, because I’m scared that I might break the expensive-looking coffeemaker. Needless to say, when I saw the Nespresso machine instructions in my suite, I was beyond grateful and I indulged in good quality, in-room coffee more than once.
Breakfast with a view! I mean, who wouldn’t want to have their croissants and coffee while looking out over the Indian Ocean and the Tsitsikamma Mountains?
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Look Out Beach was another highlight – even if it was just a quick morning stroll. I could sit there for hours, watching the waves roll in. The fact that it’s a quick hop and trot to get there also helps, plus there are on-site guards who offer to walk with you if you’re uncomfortable. I told you, it’s The White House by the beach!
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