This was our second time staying at the Old Rectory, the first being a short stay shortly after they first opened 2017/2018. We had been so impressed with their service, hospitality, and practical location just steps from the beach and a short walk into town that we decided to stay for over a week this time, and base to further explore the broad stretch from Tsitsikamma to Plettenberg Bay. It was refreshing to see many of the same familiar faces, like Johnny, who I believe holds the fort, and Lolli, who always has a smile and time for any little query from any guest big or small, even if she really doesn't. Manager JP (or is it PJ?) is amazing, dedicated, professional and exuding warmth -- he's like the modern soul of this beautifully restored historic place. We had some great service from some staff "new" to us, like Vuto (maybe wrong spelling? I think she's pregnant) and Kush -- it's nice to see more diversity in the management levels down in this part of ZA. (We actually don't go to the place we used to stay because of their continuing plantation-style mentality and segregation of labour by race). One big highlight this time was a message at the spa with Vuyi, who really knows muscular anatomy and is gave one of the best swedish massages I've ever had -- I highly recommend booking specifically with her in advance, and often! (The spa is nicely priced at a fraction of what one would pay in Europe or USA so that's feasible, though availability is another challenge!). The service as a whole is, however, unfortunately inconsistent across staff and has come down a bit, particularly in the kitchen and housekeeping attention to detail (Kush already knows the details). The room size is very generous, the closets and storage areas well-designed. We appreciated also that laundry costs were not exorbitant so that we were actually encouraged to use the service there -- practical for a family after doing safari. I encourage the hotel to continue this politic. I still miss that there's no gym in the hotel: a nice apot for a small one (stationary bike & weights?) would be behind the pool where hardly-used tables and chairs are placed, and a back entrance to the restaurant building appears to be located. However that would mean either removing or accommodating for some trees there. Jogging outside is relatively safe, though there are no sidewalks even on a road very popular for beach traffic, and my husband trod on some broken glass somewhere on his path. The hotel succeeds in being an upscale family-friendly refuge as well as a relaxing enclave for those without. Our kids love the pool (although unheated), the beach within rolling-out-of-bed distance (we love that the hotel provides beach toys, umbrellas and beach towels for free!...and that we don't need to struggle with finding beach parking, especially as this little patch of beach is as nice as Robberg beach, though slowly being taken over by a watersports company), the copious games by the fireplac
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