Accommodation at one of the world's best hotels now at affordable prices

To alleviate the effects of COVID-19 on its operations, boutique hotel La Residence in Franschhoek is offering its suites at hugely discounted prices, making it affordable for more South Africans. Brian Berkman writes.

- Brian Berkman

Set against the lower slopes of the Drakenstein mountains in Franschhoek in the Western Cape is a hotel voted one of the world’s best by the readers of the most prestigious global travel magazines. It is also a working farm that produces olive oil and wine for sale, as well as fruit such as plums, citrus, kumquat, quince and pomegranate for use in the hotel’s kitchen.

With 650 plum trees, the sweet scent of the fruit perfumes the air. Cabernet and Shiraz grapes hang heavily on the 4,8ha of vines, which produce about 42t of grapes annually. The farm harvests one ton of olives a year, which are used to produce 250â„“ of extra virgin olive oil, and roses also abound.

The planted areas of La Residence, an exclusive and luxurious boutique hotel which is part of The Royal Portfolio of properties, occupy most of the venue’s 12ha.

Standing at the hotel’s entrance, with its giant Indian crystal chandeliers above, the visitor can admire a quite superb view. It stretches beyond the covered stoep with its Iranian handknotted carpets to the mirrored rows of palm trees that focus the eye towards the rim-flow pool, olive groves and vines, and onwards to the mountains.

Like all businesses in tourism and hospitality, the Royal Portfolio has been hard hit by the effects of COVID- 19. To mitigate this, the owners of these hotels are offering highly discounted rates to make a stay here more affordable for South Africans.

While La Residence has always been open to walk-ins, the menu has changed from prix fixe to à la carte, with each item individually and affordably priced.