Johannesburg: Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa

Usually when I start a story with “I felt like I was in a movie!” I mean more of the comedy type. This was something else entirely. After a 30 minute drive from the Johannesburg airport, a quick check in with the gate guards, my driver took me up the driveway, through groves of trees, branches hugging each other overhead making the most lovely of entrances. I leaned forward in my seat, peaking ahead, ready to take in the first glimpse of the Saxon. I believe I said “holy…moly.” My driver said, “yes madam, it’s one very beautiful place, I think you will enjoy yourself.” Please read that last quote with the sweetest South African accent possible. Even he was smiling when he said it. 

I arrived early in the morning and the hotel was quiet. I sat out on their terrace waiting for my room to be ready, sipping cup after cup of wonderful coffee. Mostly just because I could and I also knew I would need the energy when trying not to nap later. The staff had come by a second time, asking me if I was sure I didn't want a blanket or a heater nearby my table. I laughed because the weather was absolute perfection. Just a light crispness was still hanging in the air, but you could tell the day was still just heating up. For them, the locals...this was chilly! 

I did a quick 30 minute work out in their beautiful gym, which is not how I would describe the gym I go to normally. Afterwards, I walked passed their pool, which tempted me to take off my sneakers right there and to just jump in. I resisted and checked into my suite. Yes, you heard that right, because The Saxon is an all suite hotel. Each of them have a sitting area with large over stuffed chairs, a desk, a terrace or balcony, large king size beds and the bathroom of your dreams. At least the bathroom of my dreams! 

With this property having a fabulous spa, two restaurants, a bar, the swanky cigar lounge and several different outdoor seating options...I can see why people may just want to add an extra night here to enjoy the hotel and all that it has to offer. 

Though you can get a little bit of an idea of what the hotel and it's gorgeous grounds are like from my photos, what I would really like to shine some light on, is the service level of the hotel. Whoever trains the staff at the Saxon, they do a vey good job, it's something that really stuck with me after I left the hotel. I was always asked if I needed anything, asked if they could assist me with my bags, they even asked if they could carry my drink from breakfast back to my room for me. These genuine and warm smiles from the staff made me settle in very quickly. Staying in a hotel like this, it could easily go on the stuffy side of things, but the servers, the front desk agents, the room attendants, they are the ones to bring life to this property. 

I know some interior designers that would go absolutely crazy for these details- crazy in a good way of course!

The breakfast- which I remember being very annoyed that I wasn't hungry enough to fully enjoy!

This was the first hotel that I stayed at during my time in South Africa. I specifically remember saying to my mom on skype, that this was either the best start to a really good vacation or the worst start, because how could other hotels be as fabulous as this one was to me?! I look forward to sending clients to this hotel and I am confident that they will be well taken care of, just as I was. 

Dubious about Dubrovnik

I wasn't sure I was going to love it, but I was open minded. As the hotel lobby doors slid open, I began walking straight to the back side of the lobby, to where the floor to ceiling windows beckoned me forward. I was halfway there when I realized I hadn't even unloaded my big bag yet, so the view would have to wait just a few more minutes. I decided to quickly check into my room and then go and take the view in afterwards. Fast forward to me running across my room to my balcony, clumsily dropping my bags just past the door when I entered.

From my balcony this was the view to the left of the hotel -->

And this was my view to the right-->

This was the moment that I realized I had overthought things. I completely overthought the fact of what makes this city wonderful-and I hadn't even been inside the city walls yet! I would look passed the crowds, the tourist shops and appreciate what the city is and how it still stands. It's like when people tell me they didn't enjoy Rome...how can you not appreciate Rome?! 

Dubrovnik surprised me. It gave me joy to wander it's streets and it really made me think about the old way of life here. It also made me walk with extreme care- those darn streets are slick, I can't imagine what it's like when it rains there! Something I also underestimated was how big the walls of the town were. I urge you to read up on the history of the walls before heading up to walk the length of them and to circle around the city. They've withstood a great deal and a trip to Dubrovnik requires a walk around on it's walls!

Get yourself to Croatia during the shoulder seasons (April-May and September to November). Timing your travels can save you money and sanity as I tell my clients! My trip was in October and we truly lucked out with the weather, it was phenomenal. I had packed boots, sweaters, tights and even scarves! What I really needed was good shoes, light pants or a dress and just a cardigan. In the evenings it cooled off, but we still sat out in the squares, enjoying taking our time, ordering dessert just because we were on vacation and a bottle of wine, because we had no where to be! 

In the evenings it cooled off, but just barely. We took to the stairs which lead us to the next level of the city and walked the alleyway of restaurants that flowed into the walkways. We went from restaurant to restaurant, reading the menus and waiting until we found the one that most appealed to us. We enjoying taking our time, ordering a local bottle of wine, finishing it slowly- after all, we had nowhere to be! Then somehow we always made room for dessert, our excuse for that, was that we were on vacation (calories don't count). Slow travel is the cool, new, hip thing to enjoy, so slip your phone into your purse, sit back in your seat and take in your surroundings. 

I do wish I had made some time to kayak around in the area. The water is absolutely gorgeous and each day we saw groups of kayakers out and about in the area. 

Some of my favorite photos of the town, yes, two of them involve cats! Croatian cats!

The photo below was just nearing the end of our time on the walls, which was as the sun was setting, the light was fantastic. We saw the people from the Windstar cruises getting back in line to head back to their boat for the night. Things really quieted down in the evenings. Apart from the guitarists that take their stand outside of the restaurants and sing love songs to the patrons, hoping for a little tip to be thrown in their hat after each song. 

I'll end this post with a little game, something that you must find when traveling to Dubrovnik. If you find the strange and oddly placed gargoyle, which is set just a couple of feet off of the ground and on an old wall, here is your challenge: 

You must stand on the gargoyle, facing toward he wall, keep your balance! And take your shirt off. Call me crazy, but legend has it that if you can pull this off, luck in love will follow. Though I'd like to mention that I do wonder when the whole "take your shirt off" thing was added into the legend... 

The "Got to have it" - Gift Guide!

Confession, I absolutely love reading through gift guides. Though by the time I get to the last thing on the page, I realize that I completely scanned through everything and pretty much only thought about what I would really like to buy for myself. Oops.

I've decided to create this list, because I'm a terrible gift giver. Even with all the grand ideas out there and all of the crazy advertising, I'm pretty well known for simply gifting a nice bottle of wine, for all occasions! So read on, be inspired and get your credit card ready people, oh have I got some ideas for you. (Or you can get these things for me- just message me for my address, hah!)

But wait! One more thing before we start, I'd like to say that it is so cliche' to only "give back" during the holiday season. Why not give whenever you can? I'm going to suggest it on here and remind you to either find a charity to donate to or even maybe a place to volunteer. With all of the fires happening in California at the moment and the floods that happened recently in Texas, find someone that is helping these families get back on their feet! Whether it's domestic or somewhere foreign, find where you can be of help and you'll realize that there are all types of ways to give back, all year round! You my dear, can make a difference. 

Even if you start by going through your cabinets, your garage and your closet, finding things that you don't use or haven't even maybe ever used. Don't be shy, us ladies will keep an item of clothing in our closet for years with the tag still on something, until we realize it's just time to let go of it. Find a drop off for the Salvation Army in your town and donate what you already have on hand. 

Speaking of starting local, shopping local is a really nice thing to do as well. Remember that cute boutique shop that you always pass by and never walk into or maybe your friend has started a business and you'd like to help them out- now is the time! 

1. Foraged Home - Created by Tiffany Del Bosco Siladke, also the owner and creator behind Foraged Floral, this gal is obviously a crafty person! When she travels she will bring back goods from markets that she goes to or finds. For example you'll find in her shop some beautiful and unique looking wooden spoons and a round marble slab. These are just a couple of items that she brought back from her recent trip to Japan! I've subscribed to her newsletter and I can't wait to see what else she brings to the table...or the shelves! Get it? 

2. Simple Fish Wines - Gifting wine isn't the easy way out, if it's GOOD wine. So I'm helping you out here. I'm introducing you to Simple Fish Wines, owned and created by Jeff Fisher in Santa Barbara, California. Right now, if you buy 3 bottles (any of his bottles), you can have a free t-shirt, tank top or a hat! Keep the hat for yourself and gift out the 3 bottles? Just an idea! I'm asking Santa for another bottle of the Grenache, because I'm almost out!

3. La Rousse Shoppe - Let's start out by saying these are the cutest things ever, but also so so so timeless! Want to give a gift that someone will really and truly want to show off right after they unwrap it? Well that would be this ladies and gents, a Glass La Rousse Box (you can pick out the color and even add on glass etching!). Go through your your countless photos of you and your best friend and print off a handful of them (which you can print out at Costco for so incredibly cheap and easy these days) and purchase one of these glass boxes! Et voilà, you've not only given a thoughtful gift, but something your friend will hold onto forever. And I just have to say, this is also a fabulous gift to give to your mother- she'll probably cry, which is bonus points!

4. Lakeside Paper Co - For those of us that appreciate art, but can't craft anything with our own hands, we should simply buy art! Or gift yourself something... I'm not here to judge. Emily Maner, is the founder and owner of Lakeside Paper Co. As she says on her Instagram account she is "Inspired by nature and the places we call home". Once you look through her Etsy shop, you'll love how she brings nature to life in her work. Santa should bring me her acorn thank you notecards!

5. C. Leather Goods - Leather purses, belts, wallets, sandals, cute keychains, yes- all leather! Though I'll be asking Santa for the leather necklace, it's adorable and I know it would be so nice to travel with something as light weight and fashionable as this piece. Go take a gander at Clare Hazlett's creations, I'm sure you'll find more than one item that you want to scoop up! C. Leather Goods is based in Bologna, Italy, so you can tell your friends your purse really is from Italy, even if you didn't go there and grab it yourself! 

6. Caudalie Favorite's Set - I may or may not be adding this in, so my boyfriend can get the hint. This is packaged up love! Travel sized things, are the best and you don't have to buy the worst stuff (Target...ya need to up your game) for while you are traveling. So I bring you, the wonderful Caudalie Favorite's Set. For your traveler friend or for you! 

7. Seek Paper Co. - Create a memory, while creating something with a gal pal! Or even better, make this a fun day for you and your mom or sister to enjoy together. Seek Paper Co. is hosting a Beginner Modern Calligraphy workshop in January, which gives you plenty of time to gift this day, plan it and go for it! Hey, you might even see me there, if Santa gets it right this year. 

Have any local crafters, creators or characters that you'd like to share about? Leave a comment below, I'd love to hear about more people here in the community. Or just places that you like to support!