Cheval Vapeur
Review Summary
Shana S - Nov 2020
Overall score
Had a great weekend.
Lynette F - Aug 2020
Overall score
We enjoyed our stay at Cheval.
Cheval Vapeur's response
Thanks for the review. So pleased you enjoyed your stay and hope to see you again soon, Lynette. Regards, Colleen
Marvin M - Feb 2020
Overall score
Good, but there is an issue of water and a toilet in the house.
Musa K - Dec 2019
Overall score
Not pleasant at all.
Cheval Vapeur's response
We are sorry that Musa did not enjoy his stay. Answers to his specific points are:
• When confirming a new booking, specific directions are always given as shown below;
Directions to Cheval Vapeur
We are off Varkensvlei Road in Philippi, Cape Town. If you wish you can send us an email stating from where you will be coming and we will then send you detailed directions as to how to get here.
Alternatively, you can use your GPS or SatNav systems or Google Maps, but please be careful. Some systems give wrong directions and, unless you have a 4x4 will get you stuck in the sand. You will need to leave the car and travel about 600m down a proper gravel road, at the beginning of that road is a sign saying Cheval Vapeur and another saying Over the Stables and yet another (big one) saying Coirtex. If your system tells you to leave the tar and you cannot see these signs then STOP. You can phone us and we will guide you.
• Cheval is a farm and of course, there are spiders (and other creatures) outside that also sometimes come indoors. But every cottage has a battery-operated automatic fly spray to deal with the problem.
• On arrival, we gave Musa another cottage that was only 15m from the bathroom because he said his partner had a problem with the distance.
• Cheval is a nature experience. The lights from the nearby city give sufficient light (even when there is no moon) to safely find your way around (the sand is also white which greatly assists) and there are a few outside lights some of which provide an unobtrusive and low level of lighting in the general area where Musa had his cottage.
• It is unfortunate that there was a problem with the hot water but do not know what was wrong and we were not informed thereof to correct the situation. The bathrooms have gas geysers which are very effective.
Abdul H - Aug 2019
Overall score
Peaceful and friendly.
This review has been translated,click hereto view the original version.
Rustig en vriendelik.
Ons was 10, maar hulle het uit hulle pad gegaan om vir ons plek te maak. Baie eenvoudig, maar skoon en vriendelike ontvangs. Ons sal definitief volgende jaar weer daar bespreek.
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Cheval Vapeur's response
Baie dankie vir die mooi woorde Abdul!
Sal goed wees om julle weer te sien.
Groete,
Colleen, John en Lesley.
Lydon C - Jan 2019
Overall score
Everything was great, would recommend anyone.
Cheval Vapeur's response
Thank you Lydon.
Hope to see you again soon.
Colleen.
Jeniffer B - Dec 2018
Overall score
The place isn't as advertised.
This review has been translated,click hereto view the original version.
Dié plek is nie soos adverteer word nie.
Dis onnet, onhigiënies, ongerieflik, onveilig en boonop alles behalwe soos dit voorgestel word op die foto's. Groot teleurstelling.
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Johann G - Oct 2018
Overall score
Most peaceful two days of my life.
This review has been translated,click hereto view the original version.
Rustigste twee dae in my lewe.
Ek het dit regtig baie geniet. Dis weg van alles, stil, netjies, alles wat 'n natuurliefhebber wil hê in 'n oord opgesom.
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Cheval Vapeur's response
Dankie baie vir jou mooi woorde, Johann.
Stephanie U - Jul 2018
Overall score
Dit was 'n interessante ervaring.
Zeta A - Jul 2018
Overall score
Awesome.
Cheval Vapeur's response
Thank you for your review Zeta. Hope to see you again soon.
Constance M - Jan 2018
Overall score
Peaceful.
Anneli B - Jan 2018
Overall score
Disgusted.
Read moreCheval Vapeur's response
There is a sign to Cheval on Varkensvlei Road and at the gate itself.
Ablution blocks are locked at all times for privacy and security reasons. Each guest has his/her own key.
All cottages have automatic fly spray dispensers. These need to be replaced when depleted and we need be advised accordingly.
Ruanda B - Dec 2017
Overall score
Baie rustig en gemaklik.
Cheval Vapeur's response
Thank you for your kind comments. We do sometimes have a problem with people trying to find us, we will change the wording on the various websites to warn people not to use their GPS or Google maps which sometime give inaccurate directions but to rather get directions directly from us.
Willie J - Dec 2017
Overall score
Uiters teleurstellend.
Cheval Vapeur's response
Good day,
Thank you for your feedback.
You have mentioned our listing is misleading, however, we feel differently. TravelGround themselves came and visited Cheval a few months ago and took the photos you see advertised as well as wrote the content for our Cheval listing. Because TravelGround came here, we feel they have accurately represented the information you see on our listing today. The cottages do have zinc roofs and during strong winds eg South Easter Gale certainly the roof will rattle. However, the roof is not loose as such and does not blow off or leak. The guest's cottage is set up for 5 guests, your party consisted of 4 guests. There is a 4 seater table and bench chairs available at the cottage as well as a large cane table (glass top) with 1 cane chair. The cane chair, unfortunately, must have got wet at some stage, started to deteriorate and we had not noticed. Therefore there was sound seating for 4 guests. We have removed the cane chair subsequently. After you had left we found the round gilded antique mirror frame had been broken and the broken pieces were lying under the bed.
Ann J - Nov 2017
Overall score
Baie rustige plekkie en laat die mense jou baie welkom voel, baie bedagsaam. Regtig waarde vir geld en voel baie veilig.
Cheval Vapeur's response
Thank you so much Anne. Much appreciated!
Hope to see you again soon.
Regards,
Colleen.
Rishaad A - Nov 2017
Overall score
Very nice farm experience.
Cheval Vapeur's response
Evening Rishaad,
I am so pleased you enjoyed your stay at Cheval.
It was an absolute pleasure hosting you and your family. Please thank your Aunt for her support during a difficult time for me.
These are the things that make all the difference in life.
Very best regards,
Colleen.
PS. John is now fully recovered.
Kristin A - Oct 2017
Overall score
Interesting farm experience.
Anton J - Sep 2017
Overall score
Ongelooflik sleg.
Cheval Vapeur's response
I am indeed sorry that Anton did not enjoy his stay with us. I know that he got badly lost for over an hour on his way here, and that might have soured his experience. We have 2 ablution blocks - the first is 56 m and the second 98 m from, the front door of the cottage he stayed in and not, as he states, a few 100 m further.
Jane P - Aug 2017
Overall score
Value for money, rustic, getaway.
Cheval Vapeur's response
Thank you so much, Jane.
Looking forward to seeing you again, soon.
Regards,
Colleen.
Mariette W - Apr 2017
Overall score
Heerlik rustig om weer jou siel te vind.
Charmaine A - Mar 2017
Overall score
Absolute disappointment.
This review has been translated,click hereto view the original version.
Absolute teleurstelling.
Foto's op webtuiste en wat werklik daar is, is baie bedrieglik, sal dit vir niemand aanbeveel nie.
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Cheval Vapeur's response
This guest stated they were perfectly happy with the establishment when they arrived. The following morning the gentleman came to door explaining that their relatives in Cape Town wanted them to stay with them. He asked me for his money back. I referred him to the cancellation policy. He did not like that.
Tebogo R - Feb 2017
Overall score
Excellent!
Françoise B - Jan 2017
Overall score
A lovely farmstyle adventure.
Cheval Vapeur's response
Thank you, Francoise.
We started Cheval as a Job Creation (for the indigent), Horse rescue and Wetland Birds' Restoration Tourism project, on our retirement from the actuarial profession.
We are so pleased you appreciated what we offer!
Hope to see you again (with more improvements) soon in the future.
Regards,
Colleen.
Dolf C - Jan 2017
Overall score
An interesting experience.
Lettithea B - Dec 2016
Overall score
Uiters swak en teleurstellend. Verdien geen sterre net minuse!
Gretha F - Dec 2016
Overall score
Ek is baie vertroud met plase maar het nog nooit soveel vlieë beleef nie.
Marilize P - Jan 2016
Overall score
Wat 'n teleurstelling!
Cheval Vapeur's response
Afternoon Marlize,
In response to your review, Cheval Vapeur is not located in an informal settlement. On the contrary, the establishment is surrounded by vegetable farms who sell under contract to various supermarkets and thus do not fertilize with human waste. The nearest informal settlement is approximately 3 km away from the establishment.
We have reviewed the pictures on our listing to ensure that guests are not under the wrong impression when they book accommodation at Cheval Vapeur, as has Cape Town Tourism & the TEP(Tourism Enterprise Partnership), who have also vetted us we are members thereof, and confirm that our pictures are accurately representative. I do have to mention that you were under the impression that you booked the Mews Apartment, but in actual fact, you booked the Club Cottage which isn't nearly as luxurious as the Mews Apartment.
Regards,
Colleen
Jaco V - Dec 2015
Overall score
Gemaklik en rustig.
Cheval Vapeur's response
Baie Dankie Jaco vir jou besoek en wonderlike review.
Ek is altyd so bly as mense dit geniet.
Dan voel ons lewens vol waarde.
Hoop my taal nie te snaaks is nie.
Johannes J - Oct 2015
Overall score
Plattelandse aardsheid en "rustic".
Rudy B - Jun 2015
Overall score
Besonders aangenaam.
Cheval Vapeur's response
Evening Rudy,
Thank you for the positive review. Much appreciated!
Hope to see you again sometime in the future.
Regards,
Colleen
Megan D - May 2015
Overall score
Glad nie soos verwag nie.
Cheval Vapeur's response
Good day Megan,
Thank you for your review. We do our utmost to give guests exactly what we promise. I will try to address each of your points.
Our listing details specify – wooden cottages and horse farm, in seasonal wetlands. The pictures are an accurate representation of the establishment. One should not be surprised to find a field mouse (or a horse or a duck) on a farm, or floor levels that are not exactly 90 degrees to the ground.
On the night of 2/5/15 (during your stay) a group of 6 guests stayed over. Unfortunately this group created much disturbance, behaved badly dispite our quitening them down several times. There was also excessive drinking. Because of this, we now specify in our quotes that we do not allow partying, raucous behavior and excessive drinking when quoting for groups of 5 guests and over. We apologize for this night’s disturbance and offer a refund for that night. As can be seen from the various other reviews, this is not usually the case but rather the exception.
The property is constantly and continuously cleaned. One guard dog, Shine, obviously disturbed by the behavior of the 6 guests, ran around pulling over rubbish bins that night which then caused a certain amount to be strewn around. This was then sorted out and Shine has subsequently been re-homed.
Our average rating for value for money is 4 star, even including your 3 star rating.
I am sorry you did not enjoy your stay. I am happy to refund you for the night of the 2nd May 2015.
Regards,
Colleen Beak
Lisette G - Apr 2015
Overall score
Gevoel van kamp met styl.
Read moreCheval Vapeur's response
Goeie Dag Lisette,
Baie dankie vir die positiewe woorde en sterre. Ons is baie dankbaar daaroor. Alles van die beste en ons hoop om jou weer te sien!
Groete,
Colleen en John
Theuns D - Apr 2015
Overall score
Verblyf was baie lekker en die natuur baie mooi.
Cheval Vapeur's response
Goeie Dag Theuns,
Dankie vir jou mooi woorde in verband met Cheval. Baie gaaf van jou! Ons hoop om jou gou weer te sien!
Groete en lekker dag verder,
Colleen
Tertia G - Dec 2014
Overall score
Great experience!
Cheval Vapeur's response
Enening Tertia,
I've only just realized I can reply to you!
Thank you so much for your Extremely Positive Review you gave Cheval after your stay.
Very much appreciated.
Hope to see you again at some time in the future.
Regards,
Colleen
- Capacity: 53 people
-
Check-in: 14:00 to 19:00
Check-out: 10:00 - Address: Varkens Vlei Road, Phillipi, Cape Town, 7808, Western Cape
- All ages welcome