Having The Last Word, again

The Last Word, a collection of three intimate hotels, is a good example of this: once you've paid your room rate, breakfast, afternoon tea, snacks at sundowners and all beverages are included in the price.

Lunches and dinners are available too, by special order in the morning of your stay, but they are billed separately.

We have stayed at all their properties - in Constantia, Franschhoek and on Kommetjie's Long Beach over the years and they have successfully maintained the high standard of comfortable yet unfussy furnishings.

Our most recent visit, to The Last Word, Long Beach, reminds me what I love so much about their hotels.

The team of staff is small enough to remember the names of people we interact with and they, in turn, note and share guest's personal preferences so that drinks arrive with the your preferred number of ice cubes and, in my case, the low-carb snacks I prefer and that I like pouring cream in my coffee.

Truth is, the plainest of rooms overlooking the beach and onwards to the Hout Bay mountains, would be wonderful and yet the travertine-tiled floors, neutral-coloured furnishings in natural fabrics and crisp white linens all add to the light and space that takes full advantage of its position.

The open-plan bathroom, raised on a dais behind the bed, provides even better views of the sea while being sufficiently recessed to give total privacy from prying beach goers.

There is also a fully stocked in-suite bar and refreshment station that includes the snacks of your choice and rather than simply a chocolate on the pillow at turn-down, they leave decadent, full-sized dessert portions - creme brulé the first night and chocolate mousse the second.

If you'd like to meet and interact with other guests, staff facilitate this by offering sundowners in the lounge and making introductions. Because there are never more than eight of you at a time, a stay here feels more like a stay at a good friends home.

While in Kommetjie use it as your base to explore the nearby Imhoff Farm with its brilliant deli, restaurants and guided camel and horse-riding experiences. We booked the 90-minute fynbos and beach horse excursion one morning and it was a truly memorable experience.

Later in day, armed with picnic goodies from the deli, we headed to Cape Point Nature Reserve to climb the 240 meters to the historic Cape Point lighthouse and then down to the most Southern Point of the Peninsula - The Cape of Good Hope and onwards to find a seaside spot for our picnic. It couldn't have been more glorious. Take Chapman's Peak Drive simply for a joy ride or through to Hout Bay and its wonderful weekend Bay Market. And, for wine lovers, The Cape Point Vineyards is worth a visit while lunch at The Food Barn in neighbouring Noordhoek is a must.

For more, go to www.thelastword.co.za, email az.oc.drowtsaleht@ofni or call +27(0)21 794 6561.