Penny Lane Lodge

I see you all had my review removed, well it's back. We booked a room at Penny Lane Lodge at around 9pm 2/6/2015 via Priceline.com, and at around 10:30pm, we jumped into an Uber and made our way down to the lodge. We got to the lodge, pulled up to the gate (which is closed), buzzed the outside intercom and waited, and waited minutes for someone to pick up the phone. After about five minutes, a woman picked up, and we could hear a crying baby in the background. We informed her that we have a confirmed reservation and were checking in, and we gave her our names. She stated that she did not see a reservation for us and proceeded to hang up the intercom. After she hung up, My friend called the lodge but got no answer. She called a second time and a man answered. She again explained we had a reservation and have been buzzing the intercom and have been waiting in our Uber for them to open the gate for the past 15 minutes. He informed her that he would come outside in a few minutes to open the gate. Three minutes later, a man with no shirt or shoes walked towards the gate. As he gets closer, we observe the gate opener in his hand. Once he sees us, two young black females and our black Uber driver he stops at the gate and without saying a word to us, starts pretending the opener does not work. He then proceeds to get on his cell phone, turn around and walk back into the lodge, without even telling us what the problem was or even greeting us. Mind you it's pitch black outside for the exception of a hotel across the street and the headlights from our vehicle. The man came back to the still closed gate and told us the gate key does not work, and even if it did, he doesn't see a reservation for us so he is not going to let us in, as we stood alongside the vehicle still barred from entering the location. He then recommended the hotel down the street (which is supposedly bigger). During this time we made additional observations of this man, who was slurring his words and was a bit unsteady on his feet. My friend asked him if he'd been drinking, his response, Don't insult me. She then responded, your slurring your words and she looked at me and repeated that I think he's intoxicated. I showed him our booking confirmation. He glances at it, from between the bars of the still closed gate, then asked when did we make the reservation. We told him 9pm, after which he said that because we booked it that late, our slot was not blocked off and saved, and that they had a "walk-in" who took the last room, which we had already booked online (it is now 11:30pm). The location is in the middle of nowhere and it's a secure Bed & Breakfast. No one just walks in to make a reservation. We then asked for the owner. He told us that the owner is not on the premises, and that he was just the manager and he couldn't do anything to help us. My friend asked, if he knew that there was a booking after ours, why didn't he call or email us or priceline to notify us at the time it was made that it was no longer available. His response, "We don't have the best internet and it hardly works." (Interesting for a listing that boasts free wifi throughout the location.) A woman (presumably the one who answered the intercom) walks out to the front gate with the crying baby, and stated, that we should try the hotel down the street because WE ARE NOT WELCOME at the Penny Lodge and the other hotel is bigger. I then asked the woman why she initially hung up the intercom, of which she replied "the call dropped." We explained that we had flew from the US, and just flew from Joburg and then drove over 45 minutes to their location and they did not have the decency to open the gate or tell us about how they "allegedly" booked our room with someone who walked in after 9pm. Our Uber driver then made the following statement, "He is a Boer, he was never going to let you two in, that's why I didn't feel comfortable dropping you off alone out here." We had no choice at about midnight, with now a reservation we could not use, but to make our way back 30 minutes into town. This place does not deserve to be in business! What they did was absolutely appalling! They knowingly took our money (we called Amex to rescind the charge), refused us at the gate, with a reservation, told us we were not welcome at their establishment, and placed two young women in a very dangerous and unsafe situation in a foreign country, as they turned their backs on us and walked away. We weren't born yesterday. This blatant form of racism and utter disregard for the well-being of two young women is NOT what those of us on vacation/holiday should be forced to experience. We are smart enough to know this is not a representation of all Caucasian South Africans. We will NEVER forget this experience. I posted pictures of the email confirming our our reservation, as well as a picture of the manager (see album: where not to go while black in Cape Town South Africa).

Until the new owners manage to get the place up to standard. Not the best place to book whilst they in transition. Really well situated in Somerset West. So keep it in mind for when you do need something conveniently placed for work,

Great for the cost. Friendly and efficient. No frills overnight stay. They took our bags to the start and were helpful in all ways. Nothing fancy and quite dated but fine for an overnight stay. Well located.