Filled with all the plush creature comforts you could need for a relaxing break, a swimming pool and a large well-maintained garden, it really is paradise!

Where is it?
Swellendam, Western Cape

Why stay there?
Country Paradise House is a fantastic spot for a large group of friends or families to enjoy a stylish, but affordable break. Think four-poster beds, comfy couches and chandeliers, along with a large garden and swimming pool. You’ll find it hard to leave!

How much does it cost?
From R4 500 per night, sleeps eight people.

Is it pet-friendly?
No

Can I take the kids?
Yes – they will love exploring the garden and swimming in the pool. There’s also DSTV and Netflix to keep them entertained indoors.

Contact details
Telephone 079 200 9098, www.oena.co.za or follow their Facebook page.

What’s in a name? In the case of Country Paradise House, a lot! Filled with all the plush creature comforts you could need for a relaxing break, a swimming pool and a large well-maintained garden, it really is paradise!

When you first arrive at the gates of Country Paradise House you are greeted by a large manicured lawn with an outdoor table and chairs, flanked by well-maintained flowerbeds filled with indigenous plants. The only sound is birds tweeting and chatting to one another from the trees and shrubberies. An instant sense of peace will wash over you… until you set off the alarm, like we did!

While the garden area is beautiful, it’s when you open the front door that you will truly feel like you’ve arrived at a home straight out of a glossy magazine. The main lounge is filled with plump-cushioned couches (the kind you want to immediately plonk down on), antique lamps, chandeliers and beautifully restored antique furniture. Then there’s the eight seater dining table that just begs for a big get-together over a delicious meal with lots of laughter and wine.

The kitchen is perfect for large groups as it has plenty of space to move around and I just loved the little wooden kitchen table – what is a kitchen without a kitchen table that invariably ends up being the central spot! There’s also an island with more seating (in case the kitchen table gets too full)  and you’ll find everything you need to rustle up a home-cooked meal. There’s also a separate scullery area with washing machine and dishwasher  – which we didn’t use much except to hide our wine glasses from the night before!

Then there’s another lounge! Also filled with more plush couches covered in an assortment of scatter cushions, this one’s the “TV lounge” where you can watch DSTV and Netflix. There’s also a fireplace, so on chilly winter evenings this is very likely to be the most popular room in the house. But don’t worry if there’s eight of you, there’s plenty of room!

When last did you sleep in a four-poster bed? If you are the first through the front door, head down the short passage on your left and bag the room at the end! Not only will you have a four-poster queen-size bed with a view of the front garden, you will also have your own TV and a huge bathroom with a shower and sunken bath (I don’t envy the staff cleaning this one but it’s wonderful for a soak).

There are two more double rooms (down the same passage) and then there’s a fourth bedroom tucked away at the end of the passage to your right with two single beds and an en-suite bathroom with a shower.  While the four-poster bed definitely steals the show, all the rooms have lovely linen and their own unique decor and furniture.

If all that’s not enough, there’s a swimming pool and a braai for sunny days and balmy evenings. Even though we were there towards the end of winter, we still spent a lot of time out there – enjoying a gin and tonic and wishing it was hotter so we could have a dip! The lawns are perfect for children to run and play and also make for a great spot to play croquet or have a private yoga session – we did this and it was a super way to start the day!

It’s unlikely you will want to stray far from the plush sofa or your comfy bed, but if you do want to get out and explore Swellendam (it does have a lot to offer), then Country Paradise House is perfectly situated for you to do so, being a short two minute drive from the main street of the town. Or you can go for an amble through the neighbourhood to the main road if you don’t feel like driving.

All in all, Country Paradise House is a fantastic spot for a large group of friends or families to enjoy a stylish, but affordable break. Even though the furnishings, chandeliers and antiques make you feel like you’re staying in a home straight out of a glossy magazine, it’s still very much a family home and you are encouraged to relax and put your feet up – yes, even on the swanky sofa!

Inside information
Country Paradise House may not be budget accommodation, but if you get a group of eight people together and book a stay during the “off season”, R560 per person per night is very reasonable for accommodation of this standard. You definitely get much more than what you pay for!

Published October 2019 | Hosted by OENA Escapes