We arrived at around midnight. The manager who said he would be there ISN'T! So, we wait for a while, and watch a rat scuttle across the street. Welcome to Cape Town!
After some 'phone calls, someone DOES arrive, and very pleasant he was too. He struggles with the door then lets us in. Apparently, he's a friend of Mercure Paizee who rents the place out. Then, when he lets us in, his face drops too.
He makes some calls, and says he'll fetch a maid. He should have fetched a demolition squad! The place is SQUALID!
We look around, and take in the delightful fragrance of urine stained beds, dirty ashtrays, and filthy laundry.
We particularly liked the garden oasis that was so inviting on the website: only this oasis looked like it was imported from the Sahara in a drought!
We bathed in the sound of the cars and bikes reversing into the drive and revving their engines before racing back down.
Now, if you've ever been to Cape Town over Christmas and New Year, you'll know: it's a busy busy place. It's not easy to find accommodation. But, we were NOT going to spend the night there!
The Manager, Mercure Paizee could not give a DAMN! He will agree to meet you some four days later (no sooner – you can go to Hell until he’s finished his holiday) and generously offer you the first night for free, and no return of deposit.
When you DO meet him, he'll threaten you, and tell you that he wants full payment - that HE is owed money that the deposit would NOT be returned!
This place is just disgusting. We moved to Woodstock, as we couldn't find anything in town. Woodstock? Yes, many taxis won't even go there: they say it's not safe - but we preferred to stay in Woodstock rather than the filthy squalor of 121 Loader Street.
Our holiday was RUINED: it truly was an horrendous experience. Don't let yours be the same.
DON'T pay your deposit
DON'T think that you have credit card protection
DON'T trust Mecure Paizee
DON'T be taken for a ride as we were.
Shame on you Capestay
Shame on you Mercure Paizee
Shame on you Petra Devidan
Shame on you Cape Town Tourism - you didn't exactly help!