Avalon Springs by Dream Resorts

Avalon Springs is known to be busy so we arrived early on a public holiday weekend! There are 3 pools higher up, and 4 further down. Two of these warm pools can take a max of 4 people. The warm pools wee warm enough. The slide was good fun. As the day progressed, it filled up, but everyone was generally considerate. Staff were friendly, and welcoming. The slight let down was the food - the vetkoek order took long, and there must have been some slip up on the order resulting in cold/dryvetkoek....pity. Good day out!

So we booked online for a day visit at Avalon Springs and by the looks of it on the website, we are more than looking forward to day. We made an online booking and made paynent. Website clearly states no coolerboxes, alcohol, etc etc. No problem as you can buy everything there. To our disappointment. When we got there, there were ONE q at the gate, for pre bookers and late sleepers who want to come. While standing in the q, there is no controle over guests. You start at the front and work backwards. 1 person standing in the q, and the rest of the 50 that came with them just push in. By the time you get in front and enter, the whole place is packed, what is the point for the online booking then. People arive there with their coolerboxes, plastic tables, looks like they have packed in their whole kitchen at home and clearly states on Avalon Springs website, no coolerboxes with food or alcohol. Those people are let in. There is a restaurant inside, with a option to buy braai meat. Avalon can't even keep with their own rules and regulations Limited pool access as there's only 3 small pools, like realy small and obviously a water slide. The cocktail bar where you can buy cool drinks are closed. The place was so packed no where to sit, as shades are a problem and tables not much. We just count or loses and left within 10 min. We spoke to the manager but I don't think thats going to make much of difference for furure. Not returning very soon. Not a day visit recommended place, unless you don't care and do as you like.

They certainly redid the outside pools and this is beautiful, however the hotel is most definitely not upgraded at all and needs it. The rooms are old and shabby, old worn carpets, linen quality is poor, sheets did not even fit the bed, the aircon is so old and noisy we were unable to use it during the night for warmth on a freezing cold stay in winter, there was no other heating. The room needs repainting, paint scrapped off the bathroom door let alone patchy walls, chipped floor tiles in the bathroom, lighting is poor. This is a 2 star hotel in my opinion, not 3 star. The indoor pool used to be an adults only sanctuary, this is now overrun with screaming children splashing and making what was a relaxing spot away from the main pools unusable. The bar/lounge did not even open although they advertised a warm fire in winter etc. The hottest pool was only 33 degrees, that being the unusable indoor pool, not the 36 degrees as stated. This makes a big difference in winter. We have being coming here for over 20 years, sadly we will never return as we have watched the hotel itself run down further and further. It is such a great pity that no attention was given to the hotel itself or your long standing guests comforts in the hotel. Everything seems geared for the time share and day visitors.