Tintswalo At Boulders

With spectacular views of beach and sea, vegetated hillsides and mountains on all sides, the aspect from all corners of the hotel will leave you in awe of your surroundings. The owners have captured those views in the design, from the long wooden tables in the indoor and outdoor dining areas to the luxuriously furnished patios and terraces (yes, the rugs are Persian!), and the lovely ocean-facing pool. The lounge's fireside seating includes plush couches and armchairs – utter comfort.

The villa's nine luxurious suites and one children’s room accommodate 20 guests in total. Each is uniquely decorated and, true to the location near Simon's Town's harbour, named after a famous ship that sailed the Cape seas. The rooms are generously furnished, from their king-sized beds to their large armchairs, antique dressing tables and thick carpets underfoot. Some have private balconies with additional seating, and all have deliciously modern en-suite bathrooms. The villa may be booked on an exclusive-use basis.

Stroll a few steps to Boulders Beach and its comically waddling penguins. These winsome creatures are pretty used to sharing their beach with humans (they may even try to share your towel). Simon's Town harbour is worth a visit, as is Kalk Bay, a nearby harbour village. Both have quaint cafes and great local fish 'n chips joints. Operators offer snorkelling, diving, guided sea kayaking and, between July and November, whale-spotting. The concierge service will happily assist with arrangements.