Elegant Desert Lodge

我在xc上預訂了該酒店，6月13日晚入住，但最終沒能睡在酒店的床上。原因竟然是前台晚上8點後就不工作了，也就是説，到了20點，酒店工作人員就下班了。你可以有理由説，酒店已明確告知預訂酒店的住客前台衹接待到晚上8點。但你有沒有想過，萬一住客晚到怎麼辦？萬一住客晚上身體不舒服或發生意外怎麼辦？難道你不可以在醒目的地方，同樣安民告示酒店工作人員離開前台時的聯繫方式、晚上8點後酒店值班人員的房間號碼？我到了酒店，尋遍工作人員可能工作的場所，沒找到一名工作人員。這家酒店地處荒野，沒有手機信號，無法聯繫平台。在不得已的情況下，斗膽敲了一間還未熄燈的住客的房間，一對澳大利亞老年夫婦主動幫我們也在酒店尋找工作人員，但毫無結果，最後我們身子在旅館，卻衹能坐在車裡熬夜，那對澳大利亞夫婦怕我們晚上受凍，特地拿了兩條毯子給我們。第二天清晨，酒店方得知情況後，安排我們吃早餐，讓我們進房間休息，可我們怎麼能休息呢？我們的行程是既定的，預訂的旅館無法更改，當天還得趕到下一個景點和住宿地。雖然酒店方為我們準備了途中的點心，我們也感受到了酒店方的歉意，但是真正的歉意是退還我們的住宿費，因為我們根本沒入住，而且是在車裡熬了一夜，一夜未能躺平、伸直雙腿的煎熬酒店方能體會到嗎？我們的遭遇，平台非常同情，多次與酒店交涉，拿到錢的酒店卻一分錢也不願吐出來，最後是xc全額退還了我們的住宿費。我覺得該酒店的所謂規定，既不人道，也不合理，還缺乏應有的補救措施。 圖一，酒店地處荒野，附近幾公里範圍內，沒有人煙、沒有商店、沒有旅館。 圖二，酒店距著名的死亡谷景點有一百多公里，住客若是要欣賞死亡谷的晚霞，恐怕晚上8點前趕不到酒店。 圖三，死亡谷的紅色沙丘。

We stayed at the camp rather than the lodge itself, which is about 6km (but part of the same business). We were warmly welcomed and shown to our luxury tent - only thing tent about it was a canvas roof. Huge room, huge bathroom with indoor and outdoor shower. Bed on wheels, so you could roll it out on the patio to watch the stars - we didn't bother as there was a large beanbag type affair on the pation which did the job every bit as well. Did the game drive with Bullet who knew the terrain and the wildlife like the back of his hand and was so informative and the sundowners were amazing - what a location! Back for dinner in the walled enclosure with fires to keep us warm while we ate - absolutely delicious. The highlight though was an afternoon dip in the pool with a chilled glass of beer - what a location. Hint: you have to climb a few steps to get up to it on top of the hill, but what a view (and what a beer). As for the morning - not every day I wake up to see zebra and eland walk in front of the window. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Thank you for making it amazing.

Perhaps the name doesn’t exactly reflect the fact that some rooms are a bit outdated but overall still a good experience to be around the Dunes not too far away for early morning outings. We had breakfast and dinner there. Food was not bad and breakfast selection ok although not huge. Dinner was set so we didn’t get to choose!! ☹️ Our waiter during dinner was good but the one during breakfast was not exactly our favorite. Reception staff is always friendly and helpful. There’s also a tea/coffee station by the receptionist….great for very early morning outings before breakfast is served. Cookies/cakes avaible between 6-7am and after 3pm. Outdoor bar seatings are also relaxing after a day’s out in the heat. The pool is just small but ok to lay in the lounge chair to wind down before dinner. The courtyard is professionally designed and the landscape is maintained well and is wonderful to watch the full moon as it rises. Tips: We have room 12 just across the lobby which is the only place for WIFI…..so we occasionally have WiFi on and off and is better than our other family member in another room further away from the lobby. Room 12 also seems to be the place where the jackal passes by at night. I woke up at 2 am and opened a bit of the curtain (without turning on the main light) to appreciate the stars….and 2 seconds later…a jackal just strolled leisurely in front of me without noticing me staying indoors watching it!! The next day I went out to the porch to see outdoors and found the jackal’s poo around so he did visit us and that seemed his favorite place judging by the amount!!😂