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It was an absolute privilege to be able to stay in the three-bedroom vineyard suite. Part of the collection of luxury hotels and lodges that make up The Royal Portfolio, there are five Vineyard Suites in total. Each is tastefully decorated in a way that manages to blend luxurious comfort with a homely feel. The best part for us - children of all ages are welcome. As a family of five, it was refreshing to find luxury accommodation where children are not only accepted, but loved and cared for in a way we have not experienced previously. When we were still finishing up our breakfast our children were each given a little canvas and paint brush, and made their own art works to take home. The mini bar in the suites are well-stocked, Nespresso coffee can be made from the rooms, and the restaurant is a stone's throw away (breakfast is included). Another plus were the complimentary transfers into the village of Franschhoek, which meant a boozy lunch was not out of the question. It was unfortunate that it rained for most of our stay, but this is where the thoughtfulness of the staff was evident again: upon collection from lunch at Monneaux, they had brought us umbrellas. We were sad to leave after our two night's stay, and will definitely be back.

Our stay at La Résidence in Franschhoek was a mix of positives and disappointments, leaving us with an overall underwhelming impression of this highly-rated resort. To start, the laundry service was a major letdown. A brand-new T-shirt, worn only once, was returned to me completely ruined, covered in bleach stains, and rendered unwearable. I had provided the hotel with photos of the T-shirt before sending it to the laundry to show it was in perfect condition, but this made no difference. For a hotel of this caliber, such carelessness is unacceptable, and no satisfactory resolution was offered. Another major disappointment was the food. Given the reputation and price point of La Résidence, we expected a high culinary standard. Unfortunately, the food fell far short of those expectations. While the ingredients were fresh, the dishes lacked flavor and creativity. The meals were bland, flat, and entirely unremarkable – far below the standard you would anticipate from a hotel of this level. In fact, we chose to eat out at other restaurants in Franschhoek every evening, where we enjoyed far superior dining experiences. This speaks volumes about the underwhelming quality of the food at the hotel. Additionally, we traveled with our children, but it was not made clear before booking that children are not welcome in the main building of the hotel. Instead, families are housed in a separate section, described by the hotel as “more suitable for children.” In practice, this policy felt like an attempt to minimize any potential inconvenience children might cause to other guests. While the facilities in the separate area, such as a dedicated pool, were good, the overall setup felt segregated and not particularly welcoming. We strongly believe this policy should be communicated more transparently on the hotel’s website to avoid misunderstandings. While the resort’s surroundings are undeniably beautiful and some facilities are excellent, these issues overshadowed our stay. Families should be aware of the hotel’s policies regarding children and consider whether the setup aligns with their expectations. Additionally, the food and laundry service both failed to meet the standard one would expect from a luxury property. For the price point and reputation, La Résidence did not deliver the exceptional experience we had hoped for.