We had a fantastic week-long stay at The Ultimate Group House in Somerset West at the end of 2014. The house really is large, with seven bedrooms, very spacious and comfortable shared areas, a beautiful mature garden and lots of parking. It is located in a gorgeous, quiet and very safe residential part of Somerset West with easy access to everything you need.
Unusually, all but two of the bedrooms are filled with bunk beds - the owner uses it to house big teams of people on work trips when it's not being rented out during the holidays - and every bedroom either has its own bathroom (most en-suite) or shares with just one other bedroom. (Note though that there is only one bath in the house; good showers everywhere else).
The way it is arranged makes it ideal for big groups who want to share accommodation but still have lots of privacy. There are 3 discreet areas with bedrooms and bathrooms, arranged all around the communal area. One 'wing' is completely separate from the rest of the house, with its own front door and stairs, a decent-sized lounge and kitchen, and beds for up to 18 people (all in bunks). This section is upstairs and also has a lovely veranda with patio tables and chairs outside each of the bedrooms.
The communal kitchen downstairs is huge with everything you need to prepare and serve meals for lots of people. There is also a big lounge, two dining areas, a laundry room and a separate lovely big TV room overlooking the pool. Everything feels comfortable and lived-in which makes it a great place to relax. Lots of sliding doors in all the communal areas open up onto the pool area and garden, creating great open-plan inside-outside living space.
The garden has lots of birds and squirrels and many nooks and crannies which the kids loved exploring, and the BBQ by the pool works very well - we ate outside every night, lovely!
Although the house is in a quiet and sleepy suburb the location is perfect if you want to explore the area - Cape Town, the winelands of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek, and many wonderful beaches from Camps Bay to Betty's Bay and beyond, are all less than an hour away (but you definitely need a car). Also, don't miss the Helderberg nature reserve next door - the entrance is a 15 minute walk from the house - which has beautiful walking and cycling trails.
Booking process was smooth and efficient; owner provided a comprehensive guide to the property with lots of useful local information; friendly local host was there to welcome us and show us around; and all our questions were dealt with swiftly.
We would love to return to the house on a next trip to the Cape.