This may sound dreadfully practical, but to ensure a hazard-free weekend it is well worth checking out a few minor details before committing yourself – after all, this website is not about standardised Big Mac Quarter Pounder accommodation. Most of the practical stuff you can get over the phone or from the establishment’s website. Even where we do provide detail, you should verify this before heading out.
Match the getaway to your needs
Be very clear about the type of accommodation you are booking into. That 'cute self-contained cottage close to all amenities' you read about in the glossy brochure could end up being a pokey room, with nothing but chipboard standing between you and your host. If that's what you want, fine, but it probably isn't. (This, by the way, is also why we give semi-detached granny flats a fat miss.) Getaways perfect for one segment of the population (e.g. children and groups) are also not necessarily suited to others (e.g. romantic couples).
Read the small print
Is the cottage 'equipped', a murky term meaning different things to different people? Best gauge your host's personal understanding of the word before setting out. What about those seemingly arbitrary items, like dishwashing liquid, braai grids and the all-essential Blitz? If in doubt, take your own. Are linen and towels provided, and if so, do you find sleeping between second-hand sheets akin to wearing a stranger's underwear? Even where linen is provided, it's not a bad idea to take your own duvet in winter, as some country folk attach a different meaning to 'bloody freezing'. Most establishments expect you to bring your swimming own towels. A further detail worth noting is the availability of grocery and other useful facilities in the area. Request a brochure by fax or e-mail; most getaways have fax, e-mail and brochure. And of course, detailed road directions are especially handy come late Friday night in the middle of God-knows-where
Arrival and departure times
These can have a nasty sting in the tail - such as finding yourself hounded out of town early Sunday morning. The majority of getaways have arrival times between 2pm and 4pm, and a departure time of 11am. Generally, the official departure time only applies if new guests are expected on the same day.
Check the bill
Before leaving home confirm the price and preferred method of payment as you don't want to be left high and dry. You also don't want an otherwise perfect weekend marred by a silly misunderstanding. As stated above, the rate indicators on this site are estimates only; request the exact amount, upfront and in writing. Most getaways demand a 50% deposit to secure a booking, with the balance to be settled on arrival or departure. In a few cases the establishment may ask for full payment to confirm a booking, though this is rare.