LONG BEACH // The Last Word

Within the small lobster fishing village of Kommetijie is a small stretch of unspoiled white sand beach known as Long Beach.  People come to Long Beach for easy strolls, dog walking and to ride the waves.  The view of Chapman’s Peak is divine.  

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It was one of those days where nothing goes the way you planned.  I’d successfully gotten lost even while using a GPS.  My shortcut ended up being a wrong turn.  I dropped everything I touched.  I was running late.  Machines were rebelling. My nerves were shot and my patience was wearing thin.

Finally on the correct path, I turned down the road to The Last Word: Long Beach. My eyes met the sea and I felt a tiny bit of tension release.  By the time I stepped onto the hotel’s balcony, everything bad had melted away.  The manager, Hayley, offered me a cool sparkling water.  With every sip I sank further into my chair, more and more relaxed.  I never wanted to leave this spot.

But lucky I did! Once I reached my room, I felt whole again.  I had a perfect view of rolling waves and distant mountains.  My bed overlooked the same view, and much to Hayley’s excitement, so did the shower.  Like Lawhill, this room boasted an open floor plan, something I’ve always wanted in a hotel.  I forgot all about my “terrible day”.  

The Last Word: Long Beach surprised me with its site-specific details.  All Last Word properties aim to maintain a familiar style of service, comfort, luxury and décor and they have succeeded in forming a reliable brand.  But, The Last Word: Long Beach goes the extra mile: the flowers on the bed and towels have been replaced with seashells, and each room has a woven beach basket complete with sunscreen, beach towels and sun hats.  Genius.  

The intimate details continued into the lounge and dining area.  Tables were adorned with glass tubes filled with sand and shells, and two sets of binoculars were waiting in the lounge for anyone who wanted to watch the mountains, dogs or surfers with more advantage.

The dining room is adjacent to the balcony making it possible to enjoy your breakfast or dinner outside.  Either way, you can take advantage of the amazing view.  And if you arrive in season, you can catch your own rock lobster from the sea and the kitchen will prepare it however you like.  Or if you want to keep your feet dry, I highly recommend ordering the seafood braai- a specialty of The Last Word: Long Beach.  It’s a collection of fresh-caught linefish and shellfish cooked over an open flame, served with salad and other varying sides.  If you love seafood, this is a must.

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During my stay here, I felt not only completely catered for, but cared for.  The entire staff did everything in their power to make sure I was having the best experience possible.  Surprises kept showing up at my door; a DVD basket, chocolate mousse, malva pudding, afternoon tapas tray.  And when I hadn’t made a reservation or come up for dinner later in the evening, they came to my room asking if they could be of service.

They were always smiling, happy and this in turn made me happy.  As I drove away, the entire staff came out to wave me off.  Even after only two nights, I felt as if I was leaving friends.