Sanctuaries filled with kindness and lovely people

During this unprecedented time of lockdown and travel bans, we invite you to discover our modest collection of fresh, family-owned sanctuaries, virtually mind you. We are proud to walk you through each of our characterful properties over the next few blog posts. Over the upcoming weeks, we share with you a bit about our life's work and what keeps us jumping out of bed in the morning at The Last Word Intimate Hotels.

Our getaway-from-it-all hideaways are cornucopias of invigorating, curated experiences designed to inspire and engage our guests on every level. Here, enjoy healthy, hyper-local cuisine. Explore and revel in the crisp, clean air of our iconic destinations—experience first-hand our ethos of filling lovely places with lovely people.
If we've had the pleasure of having you stay with us before, these edits are a tribute to the warm memories made with us. If you've not yet visited, we look forward to hosting you when the time is right. For now, allow us to take you by the hand and walk you through our modest collection of gracious residences. Right now, while the world is sheltering-in-place, you've still got your virtual passport to dream. And the best news is, it never expires!

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Where less is more with The Last Word

Like siblings in a family, The Last Word Long Beach, The Last Word Constantia, The Last Word Franschhoek, and The Last Word Kitara are individuals. Each of our unique sanctuaries, however, share some character traits. The ties that bind if you will.

The Long Beach is the ultimate seaside escape and enjoys direct beach access to Kommetjie beach, undeniably Cape Town's most beautiful beach. The Constantia is an elegant retreat in the oldest wine region of South Africa. The Franschhoek, the very heartbeat of the gastronomic capital of South Africa, in its namesake town of Franschhoek (the French corner). The Last Word Kitara, the darling and the newest addition to our family of hotels, is the best-kept safari secret yet, located in the majestic Klaserie Private Nature Reserve.

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Living (and loving) la Vida 'local' ‍

Our upscale properties, situated in areas of South Africa steeped in natural beauty and historical value, offer a hospitality experience referred to as 'Beyond Boutique'. In this edition, we want to shine a light on the golden threads that weave through the fabric of our hotels.

• The activities curated at all our properties are local-led discoveries. Explore the stunning South Peninsula, historical Winelands (our footprint extends to two superb terroirs) and, the vast beauty of the bushveld, with the help of our informative, experienced guides.
• Enjoy an immersive, hyper-local experience. Our team embraces this concept wholeheartedly. The Last Word champions sustainable tourism and supports our local communities. We have forged long-standing relationships in aid of a home-grown supply chain.
• Home-spun cuisine reflects the character of each residence, its provenance and the talent of our celebrated chefs. Tucking into a sunset dinner on the deck overlooking one of the Cape's most beautiful beaches is beyond compare. Traversing our established garden in Constantia, unearthing many botanical treasures, some which may infuse your meals and cocktails, during your stay with us. Taking lunch on the elevated deck overlooking the Winelands paired with our recommendation of your favourite vintage, unforgettable.
• We celebrate South African traditions. And, we love to share these with our guests. One of the best-loved of all? Sundowners, for sure. The soft light at this time of day reveals a particularly exceptional quality of our surrounds—worth a toast, we say. Cheers!
• Our lovely team delivers extraordinary kindness and transformational travel experiences wherever you find us. We've gone to great lengths to find these special characters who exemplify the values of The Last Word. We're lucky to have them.

A sweet escape ‍

We hope you've enjoyed this edition as much as we've enjoyed collating it. Although travel is currently on pause, we think it is vital to keep the dream alive. We believe in the value that tourism brings to the world—tolerance, understanding and conservation, to name a few.
If you'd like to learn more or, if you want to connect with us on any topics covered in this edition, we'd be delighted to hear from you. Until next time, please stay well. We're thinking of you.