The most bizarre items forgotten in hotel rooms

Have you ever forgotten something in a hotel room?  Well it seems to be quite a common occurrence but what are some of the stranger items left behind?  In this article, it seems that the variety is wide and the value high!  This article is taken from:  Summer24

Breast implants, an engagement ring worth R137 700 and a live python are a few of the weirdest forgotten items a popular British budget hotel group found in their rooms last year.

The Telegraph reports that Travelodge claims that each of the items were found by housekeeping staff during routine room cleaning procedures.

However, that’s just the very tip of the iceberg. Other bizarre lost and found items include: a winning Euromillions ticket, a bucket of live crabs, a set of four Power Rangers costumes, a spare car wheel, the keys to a Bugatti, a Persian Chinchilla kitten and a diamond-encrusted iPhone.

A spokesperson for the hotel group said that conversations with customers revealed that the fast pace of life, and having to get from point A to point B quickly, often led to costly possessions being forgotten.

More common forgotten items include teddy bears, phone chargers, toiletry bags and books. In 2012 more than 7 000 copies of EL James’ 50 Shades of Grey were found by staff, making it the most discarded novel of the year.

Kagga Kamma: We're going Green!

Come stay with us!

We have some beautiful views
to share with you!

Augusta de Mist has successfully launched StreetSmart in Swellendam.

Responsible giving made easy! Dine at a StreetSmart restaurant and donate directly to street children programmes.

With the help of our guests, we raise funds for vulnerable children programmes in the Swellendam region, together with our StreetSmart partners

The mission of StreetSmart is to raise funds for curative and preventatives programmes either for children on the street or those who are vulnerable and at risk of becoming street children.

De Zeekoe: Carte Blanche Surprise!

Octuplets were born to Oudtshoorns meerkats - as far as it is known, there are no documented octuplets ever born to meerkats in the wild, or in captivity.

Big was the surprise to local meerkat tourguide & researcher Devey Glinister, when he was busy with the filming of a clip for M-net's Carte Blanch...

While filming the group of babysitters (a group of meerkats from the little family that stay behind to look after the babies), eight babies made their appearance.

Read the full story here.

Rockwell Hotel: Meet our Executive Housekeeper, Yolanda

Meet Yolanda Frans!

Yolanda Frans is The Rockwell's Executive Housekeeper.  She has been at The Rockwell for the past 3 years and takes great pride in her job.  With previous experience at the Cullinan and Mount Nelson Hotels, Yolanda knows exactly what guests need and how to keep them happy.  Yolanda manages a team of 18 housekeepers (2 men and 16 women) and says her staff are fantastic.  The best part of her job is seeing happy guests and the worst part is guest complaints – although these are rare!

Yolanda’s favourite place in the hotel is the lobby because it has such a relaxed and happy atmosphere.  There is always something going on in the lobby and it feels like home away from home.

Yolanda encourages her team to do the best they can and reminds them that they are there creating a future for their children.

Augusta de Mist reviewed as: “It's the food!”

Guests rave on TripAdvisor about the food and more.

Wow. We never expected this, although my friends who stayed here before said it was special. And what a treat. We enjoyed every second of our two-nights in Swellendam, and this is the reason why. The "Kitchen" is the best we had in South Africa (beating out all the other top places we tried in and around Cape Town). Yes, they are not open every night for dinner (all the the work and passion they put into it is the reason why). These two guys are hot.

We did have a good walk around in Swellendam (thanks to their personalised brochures!) and they are perfectly situated in the middle, but on 3 acres close to the big church.

When someone says stay for two nights, there is a reason why. It's for the food. And you really feel like you are with friends. I couldn't possibly rate the other restaurant or lunch places we ate at on the same level, or anywhere else. My husband and I are spoiled for life! 

Thank you Henk for creativity, and thank you Michel for letting us understand SA better.

Villa Belmonte: A Quick Description

We here at Villa Belmonte welcome you over this festive season - If you haven't heard of us before, here's a little description:

Built in 1903 in the Cape Dutch Colonial style, Villa Belmonte is an exquisite 5-Star boutique hotel situated in Oranjezicht, a quiet, exclusive residential suburb framed against the backdrop of the world-famous Table Mountain, with magnificent vistas across the port city of Cape Town stretching towards Table Bay. Set in beautiful gardens dominated by a large, heated swimming pool with water features, the Villa is a tranquil oasis, yet is finely located for visits to all areas of the Cape Peninsula and wine lands and is in walking distance to the city centre and close to the waterfront.

All fifteen air-conditioned rooms are en suite and individually decorated with flair, with superb facilities ensuring every comfort and convenience. The gracious lounge, and its cosy bar stocked with rare Cape ports and single-malt Scotch whiskeys, is a peaceful haven. For gourmets, the Villa offers fine dining with sublime cuisine, specialising in a variety of the freshest seafood (crayfish and oysters are served directly from the hotel’s sea-water tank), enhanced by some of the Cape’s finest wines, served in the charmingly restored dining room and on the vast verandah.

For the businessperson there is a well-equipped conference room accommodating up to 20 persons. Secretarial services, supported by a sophisticated Business Centre with a fast Internet dial-up facility, are available in several languages. Wireless Broadband is available throughout the premises free of charge. The Cape Town International Convention Centre is a mere 3 kilometres away.

Owners, Cliff and Tabea Jacobs, ably assisted by a team of talented, professional staff, offer the kind of warm, personal attention that is never intrusive, always discreetly efficient.

Augusta de Mist reviewed as: “The BEST in Swellendam”

TripAdvisor review tells of great food and great hospitality.

My work brings me to South Africa quite often and I travel to smaller towns as often as I can, when I can. Augusta de Mist is a destination in itself. I have stayed at other places in Swellendam and have always found them a little undefined. This place is different. The location, food, wine, gardens, staff - all just perfect. Henk and Michell are such excellent hosts and everything about Augusta is unlike any other establishment. It is not a 'guesthouse' or 'B&B'. It is a place where spirits are revived and joy infused. I felt as if I was staying with old friends. 

The food is truly excellent - the flavours are bold and adventurous, and the guys really knows their spices - my starter was made with homemade ras-el-hanout and it was as good (or better)than what I have had in top restaurants. Breakfasts are also excellent. A word on the wine: The Augusta red which Henk and Michel blended is in a class of its own. the night I was there a UK wine journalist could not stop talking about how good this wine was. The rest of the wine list is also extremely good. None of the usual - these wines are handpicked and produced by people who the guys know personally. Portions are bourgondisch over dinner. I cannot rate this high enough. They are putting Swellendam on the map!!

Eendracht Hotel: Lazy Fridays Afternoon Harvest

Looking for something to do on this summery day? Visit the Lazy Afternoon Fridays at Harvest, situated at Laborie Wine Farm in Paarl, and enjoy music from 5 - 8pm. The restaurant has charcuterie platters available, a boulle court to enjoy a game with your friends, child friendly environment, and panoramic views from the Harvest veranda.

The family friendly restaurant is only 30 minutes away from our hotel. It seats 80 guests inside and 100 on the beautiful terrace which overlooks the immaculate vineyards of the wine farm. This is the prefect place to get into the relaxed holiday mode.

You can then return to our beautiful hotel and let us wait on you hand and foot!

Augusta de Mist reviewed as: “Classy and revisited”

TripAdvisor:

Any excuse in any season may be good to stay at Augusta de Mist if one need any!!

The friendly welcoming of the guests, the attention to details from the staff and the stunning work of art from the essential piece of furniture to the display of tasteful pieces of art and craft.

None of their rooms looks a like, and everything inside looks unique. So if you had the opportunity to stay again, why not book yourself in another suite?

This time, I stayed for two nights in Honeybush, a vintage renovation of a spacy room with an adjacent spare holding your complementary service of tea and coffee, a mini-fridge, and a sounds system with a selection of their own choice of music. (nothing more peaceful than the sounds of L'amour est un Oiseau...) a chaise-longue... no better place to read a book just by yourself, tuck between old windows, overseeing the stoep and the garden of roses.
 

The en-suite bathroom is very large, with a classical bath tub and a separate shower with glass panels. Since the room is located inside the historical building. It has high ceilings that immediately conveys that sense of space.

Spotless facilities, fresh linen, fresh towels, everything is 100%cotton, soft to the touch, clean, it gives you the impression that your guests are really serious about your comfort and enjoyment.
 

A part from the building, it is absolutely worth to take a walk on the paths around the garden. It is secluded, but safe, and you will be amazed to observe birds, small and larger, toads, pond fishes, butterflies... and maybe even dogs and cats at play!! In any case, with that heat their sparkling pool has a lot of appeal too!

I enjoyed their delicious breakfasts, with some exquisite freshly brewed coffee. And Michel and Henk were very helpful in making recommendations to find suitable eatery places where to taste some delicious food around Swellendam.