Saldanha Bay Hotel

You stay at Saldanha Bay Hotel for the water. The hotel sits on the edge of the bay, with some rooms facing the sea and others looking over the garden or pool. The saltwater pool is large enough for laps, and the jetty lets you step straight into the bay. Families use the playground and putt-putt course; business groups book one of four conference rooms that hold up to two hundred and fifty people.

The Mussel Cracker Restaurant serves seafood with a view of the water, and the bar pours drinks for guests and locals. Rooms range from standard doubles to suites with king beds and lounges, all with air conditioning and tea trays. The universal access room has wide doors and grab bars in the bathroom.

Saldanha is ninety minutes by road from Cape Town, close enough for a weekend but far enough to feel separate. The hotel has been family-run since 1920, growing with the fishing town around it. Power backups keep the lights on during load-shedding.