Livingstone Villa, Western Cape:

Livingstone Villa, Western Cape: Terrible Experience – Would Not Recommend

Our stay at Livingstone Villa was extremely disappointing and distressing, especially considering it was meant to be part of our honeymoon. When we arrived, the staff assigned to hand over the villa not only took two hours to finish — despite us confirming our arrival time well in advance — but also left the bathroom smelling awful, as if it had just been used.

Once inside, we discovered a large spider in the bathroom, which we tried to tolerate, only to later find a scorpion in the second bathroom. This was completely unacceptable and terrifying, especially given the claim that the villa had been cleaned and checked before our arrival. The windows were shut, yet there were signs of insect and spider infestation.

When we contacted the owner, rather than taking full accountability, we were met with emotional manipulation — being told that this villa was her only source of income. This, after we had paid a substantial amount to stay there. My wife was so disturbed by the situation that we had no choice but to cut our honeymoon short and pay out-of-pocket to stay elsewhere.

The owner eventually agreed to a full refund, but almost a year later, we are still waiting. Booking.com has been unable to retrieve the funds, and the owner continues to avoid responsibility.

We paid over R10,000 for a ruined experience. If you care about cleanliness, safety, and honest service — I strongly advise against staying at Livingstone Villa.