Plettenberg Bay Hotels with Pools Worth Choosing

This lodge is built around couples, and its raised walkways, private plunge-style pools and quiet atmosphere are better suited to adults than to small children. Families with older teenagers who want a special treat may enjoy a villa, with more space and the same forest views. For families with younger children, the beaches, wildlife sanctuaries and kayaking around Plettenberg Bay are easier to enjoy from a larger resort or self-catering house closer to town.

Hunter's Country House is a five-star property on the Garden Route, 10 km from Plettenberg Bay, rated 9.5. It offers elegant thatched-roof suites and non-thatched rooms, with some suites that have private terraces with pools and gardens. Free WiFi, a spa and a pool are on site, and an outdoor boma with a fireplace gives evenings a relaxed shape. I would recommend it for a quiet, refined retreat rather than a beach-front base.

The Plettenberg welcomes children of all ages, and it does more than tolerate them: there are books and toys, beach cricket and tennis, a puzzle park, films, a cooking class, a children's menu, cots on request and babysitting on request. The lagoon side of Lookout Beach, at the foot of the fynbos path, has calmer water for small children than the open sea. Two points need care with toddlers: the pools are unfenced, and rooms on the upper floors have balconies, so I would book a ground-floor room with children under six. Larger families can take one of the two villas, each with a private pool. The 9.4 score from 676 reviews is a solid sample. Parents who want a fenced pool and a supervised kids' club should look at a family resort; those who want a calm base above the beach will be well looked after.

The Old Rectory has direct beachfront access in Plettenberg Bay, which is the main reason to choose it with children. Rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms. An infinity pool, a spa, a steam room and yoga classes cover the adults' downtime, and the family-friendly restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine with various breakfast options. The area is non-malaria. Guests give it 9.4 across 143 reviews, among the highest scores here.

The Ivory Haus is a four-star hotel in Plettenberg Bay with a sun terrace, a garden, a restaurant, a bar and a year-round outdoor pool. Rooms have air-conditioning, bathrobes, flat-screen TVs and work desks, and some add balconies with scenic views, private pools or outdoor dining areas. A 9.3 rating from 231 reviews is outstanding. I would recommend it to couples first, especially in a room with a private pool.

Lairds Lodge Country Estate is a family-friendly retreat between Plettenberg Bay and the Langkloof Mountains, so the setting is countryside rather than beach. The contemporary rooms all have air conditioning and a private balcony. There is an outdoor pool, a library for quiet afternoons and a restaurant that specialises in seafood and game. Families who want to be on the sand should look at beachfront options instead. Guests score it 9.2 across 150 reviews.

Plett Quarter Apartments is an aparthotel in Plettenberg Bay with a rooftop swimming pool, a sun terrace and a bar. Rooms have air-conditioning and sea views, family rooms are available, and a 24-hour front desk helps with arrivals. Free Wi-Fi and free private parking are included. A 9.0 rating from 225 reviews is excellent. I would recommend it for families who want a rooftop pool and sea views without a large resort.

Seaside at The Dunes is an aparthotel-style stay in Plettenberg Bay, and the highlights point to Keurbooms Beach nearby. Each unit has a kitchenette, air-conditioning, a seating area, a TV, free Wi-Fi, a washing machine and a terrace, which suits a family cooking for itself. A year-round pool, a garden and a barbecue area complete it. The 9.0 rating comes from only 17 reviews, so it is promising.

Sky Villa leans towards couples, with a small plunge pool, a cocktail-focused Sky Bar and a calm, adult atmosphere. Families with older children who enjoy views and quiet evenings can still have a good stay, especially in spring and autumn when Plett is calmer. For younger children, the beaches at Central and Lookout and the wildlife sanctuaries in The Crags are a short drive away, but a resort with more space and a larger pool may suit better.

I would put a family in one of the Luxury Suites, around 38 square metres with a lounge area, which is what the hotel itself recommends for children; the Economy rooms, around 17 square metres and facing the atrium, are sized for a couple. The rooftop pool is the part children will remember, and Central Beach is a walk down Main Street, so you can leave the car parked for most of the stay. Sanctuary, the street-facing restaurant, serves through the day, which helps with irregular meal times. The weak point is that some rooms sit on a lower floor with little light or view, so ask for the floor when you book. Rated 8.6 from 1,193 reviews.

The Cottage Pie Guest House in Plettenberg Bay has comfortable family rooms with private bathrooms and balconies. An outdoor swimming pool, a sun terrace and a lush garden make the afternoons easy, and a restaurant, a bar and outdoor seating serve breakfast options and meals through the day. With an 8.3 rating, I would recommend it for families who want a relaxed guest house with a pool and meals on site.