Pender House Cottage Melrose

It was quiet and peaceful, close to activites making it easy to do things and get around. Penny and Derek were friendly and good hosts.

Breakfast was not what we expected, but it can be improved to be more consistent. For long stays, the washing line to dry clothes can be improved.

The hosts were not only lovely, helpful and caring, they are also super interesting people with great stories too tell. The location is central to Houghton, Melrose, Rosebank, Sandton and safe. Spacious apartment, basic kitchen needs are provided and if you forgot anything, they will be happy to help out. Clean bedings and towels, no bad smell in it.

I can't think of anything

The cottage was really spacious: large living room, large room. It felt safe. Derek, Penny and their housekeeper were all three very welcoming. We felt at home away from home. Even their 2 dogs became good friends during the 2 weeks we stayed there. Abbotsford is well situated at a convenient distance (10-15 minutes drive) from Sandton, Rosebank or Melrose Arch. 2nd Street is a blind alley leading to a Hindu temple but it is calm and peaceful even when there are ceremonies in the temple. Good security throughout our stay. Internet was fast and stable. There is an air conditioner in the living room for warmer days.

Nothing to complain about.

The accommodation that they moved us to on the second night was better. The bed was comfortable and so was the lounge. Big open plan kitchen and lounge with lovely patio. The hosts were very kind and friendly.

We booked accommodation with a bath and shower only to discover on arrival that the room they put us in only has a shower. They offered us a smaller room with a bath and shower, so we moved our luggage to the smaller room the same night. The bed was very uncomfortable and my husband slept on the couch and I woke up with back ache. The fridge leaked onto the kitchen floor and the glass water bottle they gave us had cracked from being in a deepfreeze for too long. On arrival we were given a litre of milk and some muesli with two small joghurts for breakfast and nothing else for the two days, this despite me paying extra for a "good breakfast" when booking. I do not consider that to be a good breakfast. In the morning I tried to run a bath and the tap opened but wouldn't close despite both my self and my husband battling to close it. We requested to move back to the original room so we could at least sleep in a comfortable bed on the next night despite me giving up the bath option. They gave us that room as it wasn't booked. We extended our stay for an extra night as we had extra business to attend to and were very disappointed when we were presented with an extra charge for the linen we used in the room that they put us in which had a bath that we actually booked for. It was the establishment's fault that the bath tap was faulty and had to be repaired, the bed was uncomfortable and the fridge was leaking. We had no choice but to move therefore they were at fault for charging us for linen. Not providing a good breakfast as promised and paid for by us was also disappointing. The owners were very likeable but they did not deliver on customer satisfaction.