“Lovely friendly hotel, Knysna is beautiful”

We had the joy of staying at St James during our trip to South Africa. We were warmly welcomed and given lots of useful information about places to eat and visit during our stay. Brenton on Sea was beautiful, long stretch of beach to walk along, and I’m sure on a warmer day the sea would have been a great swim. The restaurant here, The Blue Butterfly was amazing, highly recommend for lunch or dinner

“Very friendly and helpful staff in a waterfront location. A real treat.”

“Wished I had stayed two days rather than one”

Great location and very attentive staff

“Beautiful hotel with great views”

Beautiful hotel overlooking the Knysna lagoon. Spacious rooms with great views and lovely hotel gardens. Really good breakfast included, really enjoyed the range of pastries and fruit. Would highly recommend and stay again if coming to Knysna.

“Excellent hotel, we would highly recommend it..”

Its location by the lagoon and the view from the room. It was extremely comfortable.

“We loved staying at this hotel, and lots of good memories made”

Of the four 5* hotels we have stayed in on our holiday this was our favourite. Our suite was light, airy, very tranquil and with a lovely outlook over the lake. The breakfasts were by far the best in comparison to the other hotels, but what really made it so special were the staff who were all exceptional and could not do enough for us. We look forward to returning before too long.

Location is excellent and breakfasts are great

“Brilliant hotel in a fabulous location”

Lovely hotel in a perfect location. Our suite was gorgeous with a lovely view of the lagoon - we did see a seal catching his dinner from our balcony. Sandy and her team are very attentive and make you feel welcome. And the complementary boat trip with Alex was perfect.

“Lovely accommodation and great golf course”

Great location

“Lovely room in a very dated property.”

The whole property is very dated and from a time gone bye. Having said that the suite we had was perfect - large and modern and very clean. The hotel is hanging on to the past - limited food options and leaving no alternative but to eat in the waterfront in town.

“I am a traveler who values freedom, respect, and kindness — unfortunately, my stay at this hotel was deeply disappointin”

I am a traveler who values freedom, respect, and kindness — unfortunately, my stay at this hotel was deeply disappointing and uncomfortable. The atmosphere created by the front desk staff, a man and a woman, felt hostile and unwelcoming. Their attitude toward local guests seemed warm and friendly, but toward outsiders they were noticeably cold, dismissive, and even mocking, which left me feeling discriminated against. The main issue occurred when I called to ask if rooms were available. I was told there were none, yet Booking.com showed available rooms. When I arrived, I asked if I could book a cheaper Room 1 but be upgraded to Room 8 after the staff confirmed with the manager. He later told me it was approved, so I proceeded with the booking and payment only to be given the key to Room 1 and told that no upgrade had ever been promised. When I asked for a refund so I could stay elsewhere, they became unfriendly and uncooperative. After a long and unpleasant interaction, the upgrade was finally given and an apology was made. However, the next morning, the white female manager spoke to me in an extremely condescending and disrespectful way — as if talking down to a child — insisting “You have to listen to me,” which made the experience feel even more humiliating. Although I eventually received the room I was promised, the lack of respect, professionalism, and fairness was unacceptable. I hope sharing my experience will help future travelers make an informed decision, and I sincerely hope the hotel reflects on its attitude toward guests and improves its staff training and behavior.

Nice location by the lake. Very friendly service.

“The rooms are very specious, there is secure parking. They have the best customer service.”

I was given a complementary boat ride. The picnic was the the cherry on top

“Delightful in a beautiful spot and made to feel very welcome”

Arrival met with a glass of champagne and thoroughly enjoyed the trip on the boat. The suite we booked was absolutely fantastic. We enjoyed the use of the courtesy trip to the waterfront

“Excellence in a nutshell”

Very neat and clean and very convenient. I loved the convenience of the boat as an alternative to a taxi.

“Excellent Stay”

Incredible views. Safe, secure and plenty of parking. Friendly staff. Excellent breakfast, including a large variety of fresh fruit and hot breakfast to order. Two swimming pools. Gym. Fairly priced drinks. The free boat trip was a highlight. Nice running/jogging options directly from the hotel.

“First class service in beautiful location.”

Beautiful location, massive rooms, tasty breakfast and exceptionally attentive staff. First class.

“Great couple of nights in Knysna”

The staff were amazing. The room size was great and very comfortable. The grounds were lovely and well kept. The service was definitely a highlight - made to feel really special and felt at home. The complimentary lagoon cruise was a memorable touch.

“Wonderful stay at Saint James hotel”

The staff is super welcoming and helpful, the hotel facilities are amazing and the view is really nice. The stay was really enjoyable and everything is made to make you feel comfortable, I would definitely come back next time!

“Excellent hotel to enjoy Knysna.”

Great location, staff and comfort