Hotel Girl

It's no surprise that having to pay for wireless internet has topped the list of hotel pet peeves on Gadling.com.

People compained about all kinds of things, from thin towels to unexpectedly early housekeeping visits, but none could complete with worries over Wi-Fi.

After all the griping going on about these extortionate charges, it's amazing that hotels haven't realised how much this is getting on guests' nerves.

Although, it looks like some hotels are catching on. On my trip to Miami last week, The Betsy, The Setai (pictured) and Little Palm Island in the Keys thankfully all gave free internet access. But Hotel Chatter has plenty of horror stories of hotels charging up £25 a day. Shame on you W and DoubleTree.

What's the most you've ever paid for Wi-Fi?

Many trendy hotels claim to give guests a 'sense of place', but the Cape Grace genuinely feels steeped in its Cape Town surroundings.

At first it's hard to put your finger on why, but a closer look reveals little unique details that do the trick. It could be the handpainted fabrics in the lobby featuring sketches of South African landmarks.

Or it could be the Huguenot chocolate from Franschhoek left on our pillow each night, or the locally-produced Charlotte Rhys toiletries.

The Cape Grace is an iconic hotel and has a location to match. The hotel is two minutes' walk from the Victoria and Albert waterfront and has the imposing Table Mountain as its backdrop.

Our 'rooftop terrace' room was large and elegantly designed with South African art and antique furniture. The terrace overlooking a working harbour, Green Point Stadium and Table Mountain was an idyllic spot for sipping coffee in the mornings.

However, the most memorable feature of the Cape Grace is its staff.  The concierge didn't just book our restaurants for dinner, she booked a car to take us there and back. Chauffeur service is complimentary for guests going anywhere within a 20km radius.

All the staff spookily knew our name and had intimate knowledge of everything from my nut allergy to which day we planned to go up Table Mountain.

It's this type of service that ensures the Cape Grace still stands tall among the other luxury hotels popping up in the city.
Capegrace.com

Like many hotels in this economic climate, the Dream South Beach has been plagued by a series of delays.

When I visited the hotel a few weeks ago, it was starting to take shape - but looked like there was still a way to go.

The hotel is made up of two buildings joined together - Palmer Hotel and Tudor House - in a fab location on Collins Ave.

Some of the rooms were open and sporting the same gorgeous blue and white decor as the Dream New York.The dim lighting is perfect for sleeping off a hangover. 

Standard rooms are small so it's worth paying the extra for an upgrade. The lobby was still pretty bare, and the rooftop pool and lounge still under contruction.

From what I saw, it's going to be great addition to the SoBe hotel scene, so let's hope the hotel keeps its promise of a June opening date. And with opening rates of $179 night, it's a dream come true.