Stayed here as a result of a last minute booking which meant that several of the hotels we wanted to stay in were already full.

While I can't really say that there was anything WRONG with the hotel, there was nothing particularly nice eiher. It is a bit drab and miserable, with manky carpets, tempramental air-con, sad-looking bathroom......you get the drift. In their flyers they claim to be a 4-star "boutique" hotel. Trust me, it's neither of those.

For breakfast make sure you get there early as they don't restock the breakfast or clear up any of the tables during the entire morning!

While it was certainly a budget alternative, given the fantastic range of accommodation in South Africa generally, you would be much better off spending your pennies elasewhere.

My daughter booked this hotel through Octopus Travel in the UK for her mom (me) and dad and herself as she was visiting us in Johannesburg over the festive season and we went to Cape Town for a short break.

At first we thought the cost of Stg 358.00 for a triple room with breakfast for 5 nights was pretty cheap and we worried a little as to the standards. But it did say it was a 4 star city hotel so we reckoned it would be OK.

We arrived on the Monday night after two hour flight from Jhb - we found it quite difficult to find the place as it's in the centre of town - however, husband forgot to take his GPS with him and he won't accept directions from anyone..... we arrive at the hotel - no real welcome from the receptionist - just the handing over of the keys etc. with the usual check-in procedures.

When we go into the room, it was a fair size for three adults - two double beds and an en-suite bathroom - bedding was spotless and you could see the room had recently been refurbished. We had a slight problem with one of the windows - the lock wouldn't lock and there was a long balcony outside which ran the full length of the hotel and to our mind, easy access from the street as we were on the first floor.

The dining room was nicely furnished and there were facilities to sit outside on nice days - it looked onto a cobbled square where mounted policemen rode by from time to time to give their horses a drink from a trough - in fact, I think the hotel staff kept the trough full of water. Breakfast was adequate - if a little 'samey' every day. The breakfast staff were very friendly and the person who appeared to be in charge was on hand to make sure that guests' were attended to, cups of tea and coffee etc etc.

I think we were there for one day when I noticed a cockroach in the bathroom when I was getting ready for bed. Didn't say anything to the daughter - she's been in the UK for a few years and has gotten used to not seeing the kind of insects we get here. I mentioned it to hubby the next morning and he said he saw a couple when he got up during the night to go to the loo. Didn't really mind them in the loo as long as they stayed there!

However, that wasn't to be because we saw a couple on the dressing table as well.... Granted, the local newspaper had a small story on the front page one day saying that cockroaches were on the increase in Cape Town (you expect them in Durban because of the tropical climate, but in CT?) - anyway, the reason was because of the change in the climate - warmer weather, global warming etc.

The first morning we got up my daughter said she had been woken up with noises below us - banging etc. I pooed pooed it away and said she was imagining things. But the second morning, the same thing happened and I also heard them. We realised that our room was above the kitchen and they were obviously preparing themselves for breakfast duty. Maybe the reason for the cockroaches as well?

Anyway, we let it go because we were out all day and weren't too worried.

Then one night we got in quite late after being out for dinner - I think it was the Friday evening - the next day we were leaving to go back to Jhb.

As we were preparing for bed - around 11.30pm or so, I heard scraping noises coming from the room next door - or at least it sounded like next door. We phoned downstairs to ask if whoever was making the noise would please stop it - we were tired and wanted to go to sleep. The man on duty said they were fixing a leak which was going down into the kitchen and they were 'just about finished'. We gave it another 15 minutes or so and the scraping became banging noises - not particularly loud but loud enough to disturb someone trying to get to sleep. We phoned down again and they said they had to do it then because they would disturb the guests in the dining room if they did it during the day. Well, I am sorry but what about disburbing their guests going to sleep! There are hours in between breakfast, lunch and dinner when repairs could be done. So we thought this was a little ridiculous.

Anyway, overall I thought it was a pleasant stay except for the couple of things mentioned below - my daughter on the other hand was a little embarrassed at having booked us into 'the hotel from hell' - slight exaggeration.

In fairness though, we actually didn't mention the cockroaches or the broken lock on the window to management - we actually should have and then at least they would have had the chance to make it right; we did however mention the banging and scraping noises and they appeared to take that with a pinch of salt.

Oh - another thing was on a couple of occasions, there were not enough bath towels for three and we called down - one one of those occasions, a very surly housemaid knocked the door, scowled at me, shoved the towels into my hand and left.

When we checked out, none of the two receptionists on duty asked us if we had enjoyed our stay - they just handed us the account for parking and we handed over our keys.... Incidently, the young men who manned the 'tourist' desk appeared to be very friendly and imagine they would have been extremely helpful had we need any assistance.

We stayed at this hotel for a week over Christmas with a package tour and could not really fault it. The staff were always pleasant and helpful and our room was superb. We had a large room on the 3rd floor with a double bed and two singles pushed together. The bathroom was huge with a large walk in shower. It was always kept spotlessly clean. Not a hotel with views from the window but you don't spend much time in your room anyway. On Christmas Day morning we had a little gift hung on our door and was served with pink bubbly at breakfast. The breakfasts are very good and there is something for everyone. Cereals. fruit, pastries, toast, yoghurts and freshly cooked food. In the evening the restaurant serves a good selection of food and wine. The hotel is about 20 -30 minutes stroll to the Waterfront which you can safely do in the daytime. Take a taxi at night for 30 - 40 Rand or use the hotel shuttle bus at 10 Rand a person. Also in the daytime the Hop On Hop Off red tour bus stops just around the corner. There is a small bar in the hotel but it does stop serving at 11pm.

Just returned from a 10 night stay at the Hollow On The Square. When we checked-in we were allocated a room on the 1st floor, this room was tired and we asked to change rooms. We were then given a suite in the hotel next door, this room was very tired looking and in need of a re-ferb. Once again we asked to move and were given a room on the 4th floor in the Hollow On The Square, which had been renovated :o) This room was clean, comfortable and airy, with large shower, sat TV and a/c. This room I would rate 3 - 4 * and was EXCELLENT value for money, this made for a nice stay. The hotel staff were VERY FRIENDLY and booked restaurants etc for us every evening and could not do enough to help. The buffet breakfast was OK, but very little variation in choice of breakfast items. The location of hotel is excellent, at the bottom of Long St, Virgin Active a 2 minute walk and the Waterfront a 10 minute walk. It also felt safe enough. We had a hire car and parking is available at the hotel for 40 ZAR per day. All in all a good stay, great value for money and would go back to a RENOVATED room.