Rose Cottage, Barlands Farm, Dargle, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

As soon as you turn up the avenue of trees, you feel like you are in another magical world. The white picket fence and roses all around the unit add to the feeling of being in a fairy-tale!

We were instantly in love with the Rose Cottage and knew it would be one of  the places we returned to again and recommended to all our family and friends.

Besides for the incredibly beautiful and peaceful surroundings, the cottage itself is top notch. Lovely clean kitchen, fire-place in the lounge which opens onto a little wooden deck, neat bathroom with a shower and the fluffiest, puffiest bath mats we've ever had under our feet, cosy bedroom with lots of cupboard space, a super comfortable bed and fresh linen (we could still smell the sunlight and fabric conditioner). 

In addition to be so impressed with how well maintained and clean the unit was, the owner had also left us a bunch of fresh flowers on the table, a packet of biscuits and milk! When we opened the cupboard there was also a variety of spices including salt and pepper, a coffee plunger and coffee, as well as instant coffee and tea, even rooibos. We were overwhelmed, we've never experienced self catering like this before!

We spent most of the first day indoors around the fire because it was raining but when the sun came out the next day we took a walk around the farm. The garden is incredible, perfectly manicured with a variety of different flowers and plants. There is also a pool, trampoline and a tennis court with a basketball hoop - plenty to do if you are feeling energetic! This is one of the best places we've stayed at. 

Great features:

* Absolute peace and quiet - you'll have the best sleep ever!

* Lovely, comfortable accommodation

* Beautiful surroundings

* All the added extras you would never expect - what a treat!

Not so great features:

* The mattresses on the day beds are best suited for children

Price: Very reasonable for what you get (Less than R500 per person)

Would we go back: Most definitely!

Recommended for: Couples or a small family (2 children max.)

The host/s: The owner was fantastic, over email and face to face. She knows how to make you feel welcome!

For more information and bookings:
www.wheretostay.co.za/barlandcottage

Kitchen

Bathroom

Fresh flowers left on the table

Outside deck and garden

View from back of unit

Lounge

Bedroom

Driveway leading to the cottage

Fish Eagles Lair, Albert Falls Dam, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

This is definitely the most rustic place we have ever stayed - as close to camping as we'll get on this journey of ours. It is probably the most memorable too - we absolutely loved it!

We were supposed to stay in The Owl's Nook but were 'upgraded' to The Fish Eagle's Lair - a double storey wooden structure with tent flaps as walls. 

There are two bedrooms - upstairs has a double bed and an amazing view of what used to be the dam but is now a green meadow where farm animals feed. Downstairs another bedroom with a double bed and bathroom, kitchen area, fireplace and two single beds. 

The surrounding area is absolutely beautiful and amazingly peaceful. All you will hear is the occasional moo from a cow, the birds and at night, just the insects. We slept like angels with the tenant flaps rolled up and the cool breeze flowing through the room - it was bliss!

We had lots of fun waiting for the kettle to boil (it takes about 20 minutes on the gas stove), sitting in the sun looking at the birds (there are loads of them on the fields), taking walks where the dam used to be and adding wood to the fire (both inside and outside - to heat the geyser).

This really is a magical little place and the ideal spot to go to when you want to forget about all the daily stresses of modern life. 

Great features:

* Stunning view 

* Lots of birds and farm animals

* Peace and quiet

* No locks on the doors. No doors to be specific. Just zip down the flap and sleep peacefully

* Fireplace for those chilly nights

* No tv, radio or wifi - the perfect place to forget all the technology and get in touch with your soul and nature

* You can laugh and have fun with all the 'Not so great features' listed below, these are what make Fish Eagle's Lair unique and made the trip even better and more memorable for us!

Not so great features:

* The bathroom is really tiny, you can brush your teeth and wash your face while you are on the loo and you'll bump your elbows more than once in the shower.  

* No hot water pressure (we're not sure if this is because of the drought or because the outdoor geyser is at the same level as the pipes instead of above them). Take a bucket and a sponge so you can you clean up in the shower. Ladies - leave the liquid face-wash at home and pack in some facial wipes.

* There is no electricity - the stove and freezer are gas and all the lights are solar powered - take a torch and or a lantern for at night because it gets quite dark inside and you will need it when you make your way up the steps to the top bedroom

* There is no fridge - only a chest freezer which will freeze your food and milk. Take a cooler box and ice-trays/those blue blocks and keep the food you don't want frozen in there.

* The kitchen sink is really low. Let the shortest person do the dishes to avoid back-ache. On that note, we only found half a broom so they will have to do the sweeping too. 

* The gas stove is on the counter and really high. Get the tallest person to do the cooking as they will be able to see what's going on in the pot. 

* The mattresses upstairs and on the single beds downstairs cave down in the middle. We put the ones from the downstairs beds on our bed for extra support - this did not help! One of you has to help push the other one out of the hollow first and then they can give you hand from there. Regardless of this though, you will have the best sleep ever!

Price: Very reasonable. We think so anyway. (Less than R500 per person)

Would we go back: Definitely! Next time though we want to stay in the smaller unit The Owl's Nook - perfect for couples and has an outdoor shower so you won't bump your elbows :-)

Recommended for: Couples / families / anyone who really appreciates nature and the simple things in life

The host/s: The owner is wonderful. He has such great energy and was very welcoming and kind to us. 

For more information and bookings:
www.fisheagleslair.co.za 

View from front 'door' 

Boma

Front of the unit

Kitchen

Fireplace / lounge

Downstairs bedroom

Bathroom

Upstairs bedroom

View from upstairs bedroom

Washing line

Geyser

View from the back

Owl's Nook

Road to the dam

View of the dam

Everwood Cottages, Dargle, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

We visited as two couples in September 2014 and had a brilliant weekend, despite the freezing cold the first day we arrived. Thankfully there is a fire-place in each unit which warmed us up quickly. 

The next day was a perfect sunny day and we couldn't believe the amazing view from the back-door of the units - you look straight onto the Inhlosane mountain!

The units were comfortable and clean - we stayed in the Duck and Guinea Fowl cottages which are right next door to each other. Both are open plan downstairs with the bed, kitchen and bathroom (which thankfully does have a door) and an upstairs loft area with two single beds. 

The cottages are situated on the owner's farm so we had a great time watching the horses and sheep grazing and also went for a walk to the nearby dam. This is a perfect place to just relax completely and appreciate the beautiful surroundings. 

Great features:

* Amazing view 

* Peace and quiet

* Fireplace for those chilly nights

* Lovely wooden deck outside the back door for enjoying your coffee while you look at the mountain and countryside

Not so great features: 

* No stove in the unit - we ended up heating our mac 'n cheese in       front of the fire!

* Tiled throughout - bring your warm slippers if you visit in winter!

* Only a bath in the Guinea Fowl(Duck cottage has a shower only)

Price: Very reasonable (Less than R500 per person)

Would we go back: Yes!

Recommended for: Couples or a small family for the Duck and Guinea Fowl cottages, there are larger units available for bigger families / groups. 

The host/s: The owner was very friendly and kind to us and made us feel welcome.

For more information and bookings:
www.wheretostay.co.za/everwood

View from the front of the cottages

One of the sheep

Birds on the dam

Duck cottage bed

View from the loft - Duck cottage

View from the back door

Guinea Fowl bedroom 

Dam

View from outside

Loft area

Heating mac 'n cheese in front of the fire-place

Outside

Inhlosane Mountain

The Sand Dollar, Melville, South Coast, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

The Sand Dollar is situated on the owner's property, a short drive through a beautiful garden takes you up to the two storey unit. 

The upstairs has the main bedroom with a bathroom, kitchen and the undercover wooden patio. We spent a lot of time sitting on the patio staring at the sea - the view was amazing! 

Downstairs is a lounge area with 2 sleeper couches, another large bedroom (with a double bed and two singles) and a second bathroom with a bath and shower. 

The third level - the sunroof - is not much to write home about, it's a small area with no chairs and you cannot appreciate the view unless you are standing up (it is walled all around). A couple of loungers would make it great for lying in the sun if the beach was too windy. 

A walk through the property and over the railway line takes you to the beach, otherwise you can drive to one of the other beaches nearby. We ended up spending most of our time at the pool because it was very windy on the beach.  

We stayed here in November 2014 and at the time they were building another unit next to it. We have not been back again but the second unit is very close to this one so I would imagine you would not have much privacy if there were strangers staying in it. 

The pool is situated right in front of the second unit so this might not be ideal if there were strangers renting out the second one. However, if a large group or two families that knew each other took both units, it would be ideal.  

Great features:

*  Great ocean view from wooden undercover patio

* Comfortable bed and nice sized bathrooms

* Lovely splash pool 

* Close to the beach

* Lots of beds for a family stay

Not so great features:

* The kitchen is really tiny and not much space for preparing meals, especially for a big family (really only the top of one small table)

* Couches in the lounge a bit old and saggy

Price: Reasonable (Less than R500 per person)

Would we go back: Maybe

Recommended for: Couples / group / family

The host/s: Lovely - friendly and welcoming. Allowed us a later check-out on the day of departure. 

For more information and bookings:
www.wheretostay.co.za/thesanddollar

View from sunroof

Kitchen

Bathroom for main bedroom

Downstairs bathroom

Downstairs bedroom

Lounge

Beds in lounge

Bathroom - main bedroom

Main bedroom

Undercover patio

Paw Paw Place, Melville, South Coast, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

Another one that looked so lovely on the website but failed to deliver in reality. We should have run the other way when we turned down the seemingly deserted, eerie road and arrived at the white and rust(ed) gate!

The entire house is in desperate need of maintenance - the locks on the doors are all so rusted we were surprised they had not fallen out yet. The downstairs smelt like 3 dogs had been sleeping in the bedrooms. 

Although it is within walking distance to the beach, you are also right by the railway line. 

I hardly slept at all here because of the area it is situated in. We normally sleep with windows wide open for air but we didn't feel safe doing that here. 

There are no burglar bars on the upstairs windows, only an alarm for security. As you have to lock yourself in from the downstairs (with the rusty doors you'd never be able to open in a hurry), you pretty much feel like there is no escape if anyone did decide to break in. 

The best feature was the patio, you could see a patch of sea here and there through the trees (not one paw paw!) and bushes. 

Great features:

* Spacious undercover patio

* Plenty of beds if you are travelling in a group

Not so great features:

* Location and condition of the property 

Price: If you are travelling as a big group, great for a                                  budget break.

Would we go back: No. Never. (Yes this is the other one of the two places we'll never go back to)

Recommended for: A big group of friends looking for a cheap holiday. I think you'd sleep better if there were more people to keep an eye and ear open.

The host/s: The owner was friendly enough over email, we never actually met. I didn't appreciate that he took over a week to return my deposit when we left the place cleaner than when we found it.

For more information and bookings:
www.wheretostay.co.za/pawpawplace 

View from patio

Kitchen

View from kitchen

Lounge

Bathroom

Lounge

Steps up to 'sunroof'

Patio

Rusted front gate

Patio furniture

Main bedroom