Escape to Paradise: 23 On Glen's Port Elizabeth Getaway
Escape to Paradise: 23 On Glen - My Port Elizabeth Getaway (Or, How I Accidentally Found Heaven)
Okay, buckle up, because this isn't your cookie-cutter travel review. This is the unfiltered, slightly-obsessive, wonderfully-imperfect truth about my recent stay at 23 On Glen in Port Elizabeth. I'm still riding the high, and frankly, I'm not entirely sure I want to come down. This place… it’s different. It’s more than just a hotel; it’s a vibe. And I, my friends, was absolutely there for it.
First Impressions & Accessibility - Or, Am I Too Clumsy To Breathe?
Getting there was a breeze. Airport transfer? Spot on, punctual, and didn't judge my luggage situation (which, let’s be honest, was a bit much). The car park? Free, on-site, and I didn’t have to circle aimlessly praying to the parking gods. Gold star already!
Now, for me, "accessibility" is a big deal. I have a friend who uses a wheelchair, and I always want to know that a place caters to everyone. 23 On Glen hits it for the most part. Facilities for disabled guests are clearly a priority, but I didn't personally use any, so can't provide granular detail. The elevator was a godsend (my calves thank you!) and the general layout felt spacious and easy to navigate. They seem to get it.
Rooms: My Sanctuary (And Where I Accidentally Ate All The Lindt)
My room… oh, my room. Let’s just say I fully embraced the "Available in all rooms" amenities. Air conditioning blasting (because, hello, South African sun!), free Wi-Fi that actually worked (seriously, thank you!), and a desk that became my temporary office/snack station.
Here’s where it gets real. The mini bar. Oh, the mini bar. Fully stocked, of course. But also…it's just me and a box of chocolates, which I'll fully accept no matter how bad it potentially gets. I’m not judging. No one's judging. I'm already on the high floor I asked for, looking out at the view and just… sigh. The bed was an extra-long bed, which was a HUGE plus for a restless sleeper like me. I slept like a baby. Well, technically, I slept like a giant, slightly-stressed baby with perfect sheets. The bathrobes? Seriously, if I could’ve lived in one, I would have. The separate shower/bathtub was another win, even if I mostly just opted for a quick rinse.
And that damn Lindt. I ate the whole box. The complimentary tea wasn’t enough to offset the guilt. But hey, it’s the little things, right? I mean, what are rooms for if not for accidental chocolate binges?
Cleanliness & Safety: Feeling Protected (Even From Myself)
Right. I’m a bit of a germaphobe (don’t judge!), so cleanliness is paramount. And 23 On Glen nailed it. Anti-viral cleaning products, daily disinfection in common areas, rooms sanitized between stays…they were taking no chances. I found myself actively trusting the environment, which is a huge win for this anxious traveler.
The hand sanitizer was everywhere (a welcome sight), and the staff seemed genuinely committed to keeping everything spotless. Staff trained in safety protocol? Yep. CCTV in common areas and outside property? Double yep. Frankly, I felt safer there than I do in my own home!
Dining, Drinking & Snacking: My Stomach's Happy Place
This is where things got utterly fabulous. Seriously.
- Breakfast [buffet] Was. Ridiculous. I'm talking buffet in restaurant with everything from the usual Western breakfast fare to… wait for it… Asian breakfast options. They even had freaking fresh fruit on offer. Glorious!
- Coffee/tea in restaurant? Yep, unlimited. My caffeine addiction was very pleased.
- Restaurants? Plural. A la carte, too. I'm not going to lie, I ate almost everything. The salad was phenomenal. The soup was a hug in a bowl. And the desserts? Oh, the desserts. They haunt my dreams, in the best way possible.
- Poolside bar? Yes! Sipping a cocktail by the swimming pool [outdoor] as the sun set… pure bliss.
The only downside? The happy hour was temptingly timed. Let's just say, I may have overdone it on the cocktails one evening…but hey, I’m on vacation!
Things To Do, Ways to Relax & Spa Shenanigans (My Attempt at Zen)
Okay, I am NOT a spa person. I get antsy. But the allure of Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]…It all got to me.
- The Spa was a haven of calm (even if I wasn’t quite feeling it).
- The massage was… well, it was life-changing. I may or may not have snored. Don’t judge!
- The pool with view? Insane. And made even more special by the cocktails.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Make a Big Difference
This is where 23 On Glen really shines. They’ve thought of everything.
- Concierge? Helpful, friendly, organized.
- Laundry service? Sorted.
- Dry cleaning? Yep.
- The doorman was always there with a smile.
- Daily housekeeping kept my room pristine, even with my mess.
- The gift/souvenir shop was a lifesaver when I realized I forgot to buy gifts for my loved ones.
- Car park [free of charge] and even a car power charging station? They thought of EVERYTHING!
- Invoice provided? Yep. For business travelers out there, this is gold.
Beyond the Basics: The Good, the Bad, and the Slightly Confusing
- Internet? Amazing. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Thank you, 23 On Glen!
- Business facilities? They have them, but I spent most of my time relaxing. Oops.
- For the kids? Seems pretty family/child friendly. Didn't personally use the babysitting service or the kids facilities, but they looked well-equipped.
The Quirks (Because No Place is Perfect, and That's Okay!)
- I was a little confused about the shrine. It seemed lovely, but I wasn’t sure where it fit into the overall vibe.
- The smoking area was clearly marked, which I appreciated (as a non-smoker).
- I wanted to check out the Couple's room, but I didn't arrive with a partner.
Food Delivery, Alternative Meal, And More!
Since the stay, I find all these additional options in the provided text: Alternative meal arrangement, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant, Food delivery - I had no idea I had missed so much.
The Verdict: Would I Go Back?
Without a doubt. Absolutely, unequivocally, yes. 23 On Glen is more than a hotel; it’s an experience. It's the feeling of being pampered, cared for, and utterly, wonderfully relaxed. It’s where I found my inner zen (and my inner chocolate fiend). It's a place that’s clearly been thoughtfully designed with guests in mind. It's a place that made me feel like I could be myself, even the slightly-chaotic, chocolate-loving version.
SEO & Metadata (Because, You Know, Gotta Be Practical, Too!)
- Keywords: Port Elizabeth hotel, Eastern Cape accommodation, South Africa travel, luxury hotel, spa hotel, accessible hotel, 23 On Glen, best hotels PE, South Africa vacation, vacation, travel, review.
- Title Tag: 23 On Glen Hotel Review: My Port Elizabeth Paradise! (Honest & Unfiltered)
- Meta Description: My honest review of 23 On Glen in Port Elizabeth! Discover the accessibility, amenities, and all-around amazing experience of this South African gem. (Warning: May contain chocolate-related cravings!)
- H1: Escape to Paradise: 23 On Glen's Port Elizabeth Getaway (A Review)
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Okay, buckle up, buttercups. Here's my (highly subjective and probably slightly manic) itinerary for 23 On Glen Guest House in Port Elizabeth. Prepare for a rollercoaster.
DAY 1: Arrival and Initial Panic (Followed by Unexpected Delight)
- 14:00 - Arrival and Check-in: Landed at the airport, adrenaline pumping because I'd completely forgotten to pre-book a ride. Found some guy with a beat-up bakkie, haggled the price down to something resembling sanity, and prayed he knew where he was going. We finally arrived at 23 On Glen. First impressions? Lush! Like, seriously lush. My room? Divine. Sun streaming in, a four-poster bed (yes!), and a bathroom bigger than my entire apartment back home. This is what I call living the dream. (Okay, maybe the dream before the trip was a little more…luxurious, but I'm on board.)
- 15:00 - Settling In & Minor Crisis: Opened my suitcase to find…a mountain of crumpled, possibly still-damp clothes. Apparently the dry cleaner lied to me. Cue internal shrieking. Fixed it with a pep talk, a stiff drink from the complimentary bar, and the realization that I'm on holiday - who cares about wrinkles?!
- 16:00 - Initial Exploration and A Chocolate Revelation: Wandered the guesthouse grounds. The pool area is gorgeous, but I'm too self-conscious to put on a swimsuit yet. Found a tiny, hidden garden with a swing. Started swing, and suddenly I'm a carefree child again! The house is filled with little nooks and crannies and art. I think I am more interested in the space than going for the standard tourist activities. Then, a small plate with some chocolates sitting on the bedside table. It was a good start, I thought (and a good chocolate).
- 19:00 - Dinner at the Guest House (Unprepared for Perfection): Okay, I wasn't expecting much from a guesthouse dinner (usually they're trying to be fancy, but ending up being subpar), but the owner, a lovely woman named Sarah, cooks. She cooked a feast. A lamb shank that melted in my mouth, vegetables bursting with flavour, and a dessert the size of a small planet. (I might have eaten the whole thing. Don't judge me.) Sarah is the perfect host! I feel I will become friends with her before I leave.
- 21:00 - Sleep: Passed out in a content food coma.
DAY 2: Beach Bliss and The Great Coffee Conundrum
- 07:00 - Wake Up (The Struggle is Real): That wonderful bed, though… it nearly swallowed me whole. The sun is trying to seep in between the window to wake me up!
- 07:30 - Breakfast Bliss: The breakfast spread is incredible. Fresh fruit, eggs cooked to order, and, most importantly, unlimited coffee. (Here's where the cracks begin.)
- 08:30 - The Coffee Dilemma: Okay, here's the problem. The guesthouse coffee is so good, I drank three cups. Now I am bouncing off the walls. I'm going to need a serious crash course in caffeine management.
- 09:30 - Beach Bound: Decided to brave the beach. Port Elizabeth has some great ones. Took a walk on the beach, it was beautiful. I spent about an hour just listening and enjoying the beach. So I thought. It turns out I need to be careful getting too close to the surf! I somehow managed to step into a wave that knocked the wind out of me. Almost lost my hat!
- 13:00 - Lunch and the Quest for the Perfect Fish: Found a small restaurant for lunch that was close to the beach. Asked the waiter for the recommendation on the fish dish. I tried whatever the waiter recommended and it was amazing.
- 16:30 - The Dreaded Afternoon Slump: The lovely people at the front desk shared a list of activities to do during my stay.
- 17:30 - Pre-Dinner Drinks: Back at the guesthouse, this time to start the drinks before dinner. The bar is fully stocked and the atmosphere is so comfortable. Sarah started sharing stories of her experiences traveling
- 19:00 - Dinner Part Two: The dinner tonight was another triumph.
DAY 3: Wildlife Wonders (Or My Brush with a Baboon)
- 07:00 - Breakfast, Take Two (With Caffeine Moderation, Hopefully): Okay, I'm going to try the coffee thing again. This time I will have one cup and then a few cups of tea.
- 09:00 - Addo Elephant National Park: This was supposed to be about elephants. Turns out, I was more fascinated by the baboons. So many baboons. They are the absolute apex predators of the parked cars. And I saw them doing things. Things I never imagined baboons did. (Alright, I'll spare you the details, but let's just say they were very interested in a picnic basket.) One even eyed my car with a disconcertingly intelligent glint. I felt like I was living in National Geographic.
- 13:00 - Lunch with the Critters (Relatively Safe): Ate lunch at the park's restaurant, nervously watching the baboon battalion from a safe distance. Decided the park was the perfect place for my first attempt at a South African braai.
- 16:00 - Back to 23 On Glen and Reflection: Back at 23 On Glen. Sarah was so helpful with her suggestions for activities. I'm going to call and ask about booking.
- 18:00 - Another Amazing Dinner and Conversation: Dinner was, once again, delicious.
DAY 4: Relaxation and Departure (With a Hint of Regret)
- 08:00 - Breakfast and the Slow Goodbye: Sat on the porch, watching the sun rise. Tried to savor the last of that perfect coffee.
- 09:00 - Packing and the Sad Reality: Packing. Sigh. I'm going to miss this place. And I'm probably going to need to buy a new suitcase to fit all the souvenirs I now feel obligated to get.
- 10:00 - Final Stroll Around: One last walk through the guesthouse, soaking it all in.
- 11:00 - Departure: Said fond farewells to Sarah, promising to return. Got into the taxi.
- 12:00 - Airport - Thoughts: On the plane, I can't help but compare my experience with the other people I meet on the plane, who share that this is their first time in Cape Town. I could honestly tell them that they should have stayed one more day to enjoy the guesthouse!
- Forever - Reflecting. What makes this place so special? Honestly, it's the people. The owners who genuinely seem to care, the relaxed atmosphere, and the feeling of being welcomed into a real home. It wasn't a perfect trip, but it was real. And that's what made it so memorable. 23 On Glen, you have a piece of my heart (and probably a small dent in my bank account from the extra chocolate). Until next time!
Okay, so "Escape to Paradise: 23 On Glen's Port Elizabeth Getaway"... what *is* it, exactly? Sounds kinda... fancy, doesn't it?
Alright, let's be real. "Escape to Paradise" is maybe a *slight* overstatement. It's not like I'm jetting off to a private island with unlimited champagne. 23 On Glen is a guest house in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Think: charming, but not necessarily a Kardashian-level escape. Think more... comfortable, maybe a little quirky. It's like, your aunt's house after she won a tiny lottery and decided to get into the hospitality business.
The main draw? It's the perfect spot to explore Algoa Bay. (Or, at least I *thought* it would be.)
What's the actual address? 'Cause, you know, gotta find the place.
I'm not going to give you the exact address. Google it! (Though, full disclosure: Getting there wasn't *always* easy. My GPS, Brenda (yes, I named her), kept trying to send me down what appeared to be someone's lawn. Brenda, you are a menace!) Trust me, you'll find it. It's in [Mention the general neighborhood, but not exact]. Keep an eye out for a slightly crooked sign that says "23 On Glen"…or maybe it’s the neighbour’s cat, who seemed to own the place.
So, let's talk rooms. Tell me about the rooms!
Okay, the rooms… were... clean. Which is a huge win, right? I’m not a germaphobe, but I appreciate a decent level of cleanliness when sleeping in a bed that isn’t my own. I stayed in [Mention the room if you want - or skip]. It was... cozy. Maybe a little *too* cozy. Think: a double bed that took up approximately 90% of the floor space, and the only other thing that could fit in was my backpack.
The shower was a bit of an adventure. The water pressure was a bit temperamental. One minute a gentle trickle, then the next, a full-on monsoon. Learning to operate the thing took almost a day. But hey, at least the hot water *was* hot... eventually!
Breakfast. Always the most important question. Was it any good? Did you eat all of it?
Breakfast… ah, breakfast. It was included, which, again, is a win in my book. I am not a breakfast person, normally. But every day at 23 On Glen was a feast of some sort. On the table, fresh fruit – I'm pretty sure it *was* fresh - a variety of cheeses, and a selection of muffins.
One particular morning, the host (who, by the way, was incredibly lovely) baked a batch of scones. Freshly baked! I ate three. Probably shouldn't have, but the sheer joy of a warm scone, slathered in butter and jam... totally worth it. I may or may not have licked the plate clean. Don't judge me.
What about the staff? Were they nice? Did they try to sell you timeshares?
The staff, bless their hearts, are a family, and they’re awesome! No timeshare shenanigans here. Just genuine hospitality. They're genuinely helpful, and they can offer insights into the city if you're a confused tourist. They also have this really chill dog.
It wasn't perfect. There was one minor issue with the WiFi, and I'm pretty sure I left a sock under the bed. Oops. But overall, the service was great.
What was the best part of staying at 23 On Glen?
Oh, man… the *feeling* of being there. That’s the best way to describe it. There was this incredible charm and relaxedness. It felt very… relaxed - which I needed after a stressful week. And don't laugh, but the quiet. Absolute bliss. Honestly, sometimes, just sitting on the patio, listening to the birds chirp and breathing in the sea air… pure magic.
And what about the *worst* part? Gotta have some downsides, right?
Here's where I get honest. The location, while generally fine, was a little…far from the action. Port Elizabeth is big. Driving would take long. (Okay, my sense of direction is terrible, so maybe that's on me.) The neighbourhood was fine, but I did encounter some scary potholes.
What are some cool activities around 23 On Glen?
I'm not your tour guide but here's my perspective: Definitely explore the beaches. The beaches in Port Elizabeth are stunning. I spent a whole afternoon there. My favorite? [Insert your favorite here]. Also, go to the city center. [Insert activity here]. It’s where I spent more time than I should have.
Would you recommend 23 On Glen? Be honest!
Look, if you're expecting a five-star resort, you'll be disappointed. But if you're looking for a comfortable, friendly, and charming place to stay while you explore Port Elizabeth, with the charm of staying in a comfortable house, with a lovely kitchen, then yes, absolutely. It's not perfect, but it's got heart. And sometimes, that's all you need. Just don’t expect Brenda to get you there without a few detours.
