When Seychelles and Bali seem too far away for you, know that there is an island you could vacation at, closer to home.

Despite the multitude of local vacation offers, fluctuating seasonally from interactive Summer adventures, to laid-back Winter #Staycations at different price points, people are still not talking about their travel budgets the way they vehemently discuss their vibrant vaca’ photos and killer holiday wardrobe.

I’ve decided to spend my winter as a solo traveler – engaging the unspoken curiosities, as well as the online discussions underway, concerning the reimagined idyllic hospitality experience.

The hospitality game is being evolved thanks to AirBnB, HomeAway, Bookings.com and other such options. I have been riveted with getting into the mind of a consumer, to figure out how they weigh up their travel choices.

Century City is a multi-use development which plays right to the unspoken crux, it seems, of anyone’s travel plans: Budget Vs. Experience.

The swarming development, nestled within the bounds of Cape Town, uses its residential, retail and entertainment components, to provide visitors a bustling experience one can tailor on-the-go.

Rating|Architecture|Decor|Design

Luxury…that’s kind of the dream for any vacation, right?!

With 4-star hotels such as The Colosseum Hotel and The Island Club Hotel, within the vicinity of Canal Walk (the resident mall), one can experience reasonable city/island luxury with a view, for a fraction of the excess rates steadily maintained within the constrained Mother City.

The Island Club Hotel & Apartments, is not an establishment to consider solely for price – though that is a delightful vibe in and of itself!

Walk the terracotta brown premises reminiscent of grand Spanish haciendas, with any of the friendly, well-informed Island Club Hotel staff, and you’ll be amazed at the sheer scope and meticulous ‘island retreat’ design which defines this property and its purpose within the man-made Century City world.

“…it is the business traveller’s dream and the shopper’s paradise.” – The Island Club Hotel

Guests to the hotel, have the choice of a:

• Deluxe Room – Think of the archetype of business travel, and all it’s welcome compact conveniences.
• Superior Deluxe Room – Warm paradise at a room with a view; Rather ideal for soaking up fresh air from the Canal, and people-watching from ones peaceful balcony.
• Suite – Island Club Hotel’s prime rest & relaxation quarters, which are endowed with spaces to lounge about in, or enjoy a bubble bath from – with the Canal views in sight.

Having solidified their 4-star status with the room choices one can happily vacation in, The Island Club Hotel elevates itself from the rest of the Century City hospitality brigade, by offering visitors fully-furnished 1 and 3-bedroom apartments.

 “These are personalised spaces, where a business trip becomes a pleasure and a family stay is a carefree one.” – The Island Club Hotel

I am not a fussy traveler.

I crave simple pleasures, and a good bathtub is one of them!

The deluxe suite I was situated in, allowed me the comforts of hotel living (i.e: a BIG tub facing copious amounts of natural light), without –blessedly – dealing with the logistics of clean-up.

In addition, the hotel cares for its guests enough to place a few snacks about your suite for easy nighttime nibbles, or bath time indulgence.

In the business of hospitality, every subtle care cues a memory for happy guests to retain – The Island Club Hotel has finessed this impressively!

Food & Drink

So they don’t  have the likes of The Colosseum Hotel‘s CinCin Restaurant, at The Island Club Hotel.

For lunch and dinner, the hotel will be more than helpful in solidifying  guests with reservations to some of the Canal Walk restaurants which match the hotel’s island retreat aesthetic.

Breakfast is a bright and efficient affair here – not overly imaginative, but satiating none the less.

Forgo dining among people and bookshelves, at the hotels ground-floor cafe, and have a refreshing breakfast (of scones and fruit perhaps?!) in your room should you wish to continue your #staycation in bed.

Much like The Colosseum Hotel , The Island Club Hotel makes itself trusted because of its:

• Room option availability – offering rooms & suites
• 24-hour hotel access
• Ever present on-duty staff
• Meeting venue space
• Secure parking
• En-suite bathrooms

The pinnacle of the hotels additional facilities, includes:

• Functioning gym with a view
• Two decently sized swimming pools – one indoor pool (fit for competing), and one outdoor pool (fit for luxuriating)
• Luscious green gardens spanning a meters around the property
• Secret (guest-only) zen water feature, you’ll have to book a hotel stay here, to experience

The Island Club Hotel and Apartments does away with:

• Capped Wifi
• In-room lunch & dinner menus

The Island Club Hotel is elevated as a unique 4-star establishment, due to its:

• Location – While residential options within Century City exist, the hotel is one of very few in this suburb.
• Apartment/Suite(s) which is available to be rented.
• Equipped Kitchenette
• Perfectly controllable Air Conditioning.
• Expansive Work Desk
• Huge bath tub with sequestered toilet and shower facilities.
• Diligent hotel staff

Value for Money

You get what you pay for, in: the discreet service, pristine facilities, warm room comfort…and the bathtub, of course.

One gets their value for money also due to the size of the interior spaces.

…More bottled water in the rooms, would not hurt though!

As far as being a Solo Winter #Staycation option in Century City: It’s worthwhile for a night!

The Island Club Hotel & Apartments

North Bank Lane, Century Boulevard, Century City, Cape Town, 7441

Tel: +27 (0)21 528 7000
Email: reservations@islandclubhotel.co.za

Website: http://www.islandclubhotel.co.za