The Marine Hermanus
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Hotel Details
Location
The Marine Hermanus · Hermanus, South Africa
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Expert Review: The Marine Hermanus
The Marine Hermanus, a Michelin Key Selected property, consistently earns high praise for its breathtaking clifftop location, exceptional service, and elegant atmosphere, establishing itself as a premier luxury destination in Hermanus, South Africa.
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment
The general consensus for The Marine Hermanus is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently rating it as "Exceptional" or "Wonderful." Review scores are consistently high across various platforms, often above 9 out of 10. The hotel is widely regarded as a luxury experience, offering first-class splendor and elegance.
2. Key Highlights
Guests consistently rave about several standout features:
- Location: The hotel's unrivalled clifftop position overlooking Walker Bay is a major draw, offering spectacular sea views, especially for whale watching between July and November. Direct access to the famous cliff path and public tidal pool is also highly valued.
- Service & Staff: The attentive, polite, and exceptionally friendly staff receive frequent commendations for their professionalism and willingness to go the extra mile. Personalized touches, such as being greeted by name, hot water bottles in beds during turndown, and complimentary car washing, are often highlighted.
- Design & Ambiance: The hotel, a "Grand Old Lady" with over 121 years of history, combines old-world charm with modern amenities and sophisticated comfort. Its interiors are often described as beautifully decorated, classy, and clean.
- Amenities: The heated outdoor saltwater pool, full-service Carchele Beauty Spa offering various treatments, gym, and relaxing Sun Lounge with ocean views are popular amenities.
3. Room Quality
The rooms at The Marine Hermanus are described as comfortable, spacious, and elegantly designed. They often feature soothing tones, sometimes with highlights of blue and green, inspired by the natural surroundings. Key features include comfortable beds, premium bedding, clean bathrooms with excellent water pressure, mini-bars, refrigerators, and air conditioning. Many rooms boast magnificent views of the sea, mountains, or the hotel's internal courtyard and gardens. Some suites offer private balconies, fireplaces, and separate lounges. Sound insulation is generally good, though some noise-sensitive guests have noted street noise in certain rooms.
4. Dining Experience
The dining experience at The Marine Hermanus is highly regarded.
- The Pavilion Restaurant: This elegant restaurant offers breakfast and dinner, with a focus on fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients from the Overberg region. Breakfast is consistently praised as generous, high-quality, and delicious, featuring an incredible spread of fresh fruit, baked goods, and hot à la carte options. Dinner menus include fresh seafood, such as signature fishcakes, bouillabaisse, and lavish seafood platters, alongside land-based options like wagyu burgers and steaks, and a selection of vegan and vegetarian dishes.
- The Sun Lounge: Overlooking Walker Bay, it's an ideal spot for drinks, snacks, and a highly recommended afternoon tea.
- General: Guests appreciate the option to dine al fresco on the terrace with sea views. The restaurant also boasts a glass wine cellar stocked with top South African wines.
5. Service & Staff
The service at The Marine Hermanus is consistently highlighted as exceptional. Staff members are described as attentive, polite, friendly, helpful, and professional, making guests feel welcome from arrival to departure. The hospitality is compared favorably to other high-end properties, with managers actively checking in with guests. Special touches like turndown service with hot water bottles and complimentary car washing further enhance the guest experience.
6. Location & Accessibility
The Marine Hermanus boasts a "perfect" and "fantastic" central location in Hermanus City-Centre. It is perched directly on the cliffs overlooking Walker Bay, providing unparalleled views and opportunities for whale watching from the hotel itself. The hotel offers direct access to the famous cliff path, ideal for walks. Many restaurants, shops, and local attractions like Village Square, Old Harbour, and the Whale Museum are within a short walking distance. The hotel offers free, gated, and guarded parking, with staff assistance for maneuvering and unloading. Cape Town International Airport is approximately a 1 hour 15-minute drive away.
7. Value & Pricing
While The Marine Hermanus is recognized as a luxury experience, guest opinions on its value and pricing are mixed. Some guests find it to be a premium price and "not worth its value" or simply "expensive", suggesting other places might offer a similar experience for less. However, many others consider the exceptional service, stunning location, and overall luxurious experience to be well worth the cost. Room rates vary depending on the season, occupancy, and length of stay. Standard double rooms and luxury doubles with sea views are available. As of recent data, a room at The Marine was booked for as low as $391 on KAYAK, with Friday typically being the most expensive day. Rates usually include a full English breakfast.
8. Common Complaints
While largely positive, some recurring issues and criticisms have been noted by guests:
- Dining Consistency: Some guests have found the evening menu to be limited or uninspiring, and some have reported fish being overcooked. Issues with booking tables at the restaurant were also mentioned.
- Service Inconsistencies: Isolated reports mentioned inconsistencies with breakfast service and transfers.
- Room Maintenance/Minor Issues: A few guests reported a persistent smell in some rooms, attributed by staff to "city works," and issues with room locks or sash windows not latching properly. One review mentioned shower stalls being at an awkward angle.
- Facilities Access: There was a report of the pool being closed for renovation without prior communication. Another noted a lack of service at the pool. The absence of a lift might be a concern for some guests, especially those staying on upper floors.
- WiFi Coverage: Some guests experienced issues with Wi-Fi not reaching pool or terrace areas.
- Sea View Disappointment: A few guests were disappointed with the sea view from their particular room.
Sources
Points to Consider
- •While largely positive, some recurring issues and criticisms have been noted by guests:
- •WiFi Coverage: Some guests experienced issues with Wi-Fi not reaching pool or terrace areas.
Google Reviews
864 reviews
Recent Guest Reviews
Connie Chan
We stayed two nights in the hotel’s top suite, spending close to ZAR 50,000. The room, facilities, and most of the staff were excellent, which makes this experience even more frustrating. The problem was the lady manager handling check-out on the morning of 3 February. Despite complimentary bottled water being provided daily and a minibar included in our suite, she insisted on charging us for a ...
Response from the owner
Dear Connie Chan,<br><br>Thank you for taking the time to share your review following your recent stay with us.<br><br>I am truly disappointed to learn of the negative service experience you encounter...
Ashley Sasportas
Beautiful location and a very nice room. We had the honeymoon suite. Our bill was about 50k R for two nights. The receptionist was arguing with us about water in the room (we hardly touched the mini bar) and made me pay for one bottle before we left. She seemed to be training a new staff member at the same time. Was quite unbelievable attitude... other staff were nice tho
Response from the owner
Dear Ashley Sasportas,<br> <br>Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback following your recent stay with us. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed our beautiful location and that the hone...
BV
We had to postpone our trip and the team at The Marine could not have been more accommodating. From the very first interaction, everyone was kind, flexible, and genuinely welcoming. We were upgraded to a beautiful ocean-view suite, and it was absolutely perfect. The colours, style, and attention to detail feel so thoughtful and perfectly suited to the setting—elegant, calm, and coastal. The views...
Response from the owner
Dear BV<br><br>Thank you so much for your lovely review and beautiful images. We are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your time with us, and we hope to see you soon again, We agree, this time of ye...
Rob Rossi
We returned to the Marine Hotel after 20 years. Unlike the town of Hermanus the Marine has not changed much. Testimony to the late Liz McGrath’s intuitive hospitality instincts. Location, location was definitely part of her mantra. Reference the Plettenberg, as well. The interior of the Marine is fast reaching the end of its capital amort curve! The dining hall is only missing a row of steel bain-...
Response from the owner
Dear Rob<br><br>Thank you for taking the time to write your review. We look foeard to welcoming you back to The Marine soon again,<br><br>Kind regards<br>The Marine Hotel
Carole W
Starting from our arrival. Nobody at the door to help with the luggages. Our taxi driver had to do it. Then the entrance security called the hotel to help but still nobody. It was 18h30 . So not even nighttime. No excuse The room: The reservation service was good . But the front desk service was unprofessional . We been guaranteed a room with bathtub on high floor and been moreover secured that a...
Response from the owner
Dear Carole W,<br> <br>Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback following your recent stay with us. We sincerely regret that your experience did not meet your expectations.<br> <b...
Donny Browne
From the very moment we go into the parking area at was an absolute pleasure. From Leonard sorting out luggage, to Patrick who took on us on a tour of the hotel, the kitchen staff, those working in the restaurant. What a wonderful experience. Everyone went out of their way to make our stay as pleasant as possible. The staff was so friendly and helpful. This was truly a five star experience. The ro...
Response from the owner
Dear Donny,<br><br>Thank you for your wonderful review and beautiful images. We take pride in always striving for service excellence and glad that you could experience this. We look forward to welcomi...
