Frequently Asked Questions

No. They are two separate properties in East London, owned and run by the same family, so please check which one you are booking before you travel.

The Guest House is at 10 Harewood Drive in Nahoon, near Nahoon Mouth, centrally placed for Nahoon's shops, restaurants and attractions.

The Self-Catering Apartments are at 5 Webb Street in Southernwood, closer to the centre of East London.

They are two different kinds of stay, run by the same family.

The 4-star Guest House is fully serviced. Every room has a private en-suite bathroom, housekeeping services the room daily, and there is an outdoor pool and lounge areas to relax in. The rooms do not have kitchens, though most have a bar fridge. It suits business travellers, couples and short leisure stays.

The 3-star Self-Catering Apartments are built around independence. Each apartment has a full kitchen and a living area, so you can cook, work and keep your own routine. They are not serviced daily. They suit families, contractors and anyone staying a longer period.

In short, book the Guest House if you want to be looked after, and the Apartments if you would rather manage your own space.

Because they are graded against two different checklists. They are not better and worse versions of the same thing.

The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) assesses guest houses under its Guest Accommodation category. That checklist looks at serviced hospitality: the standard of the bedrooms and bathrooms, food and beverage provision, daily servicing and the warmth of personal guest care. A 4-star result means excellent comfort and consistently high standards across furnishings, service and attention, one tier below the top luxury bracket.

Self-catering units are assessed under a separate Self-Catering Accommodation category. That checklist is built around exclusive-use units with their own cooking facilities, where guests are largely self-sufficient and a host simply needs to be reachable rather than present. It looks at how well equipped, clean and secure the unit is, and the value it offers. A 3-star result means a very good, dependable standard for that kind of stay.

In short, each property is graded well against the standard written for its own category. You can read more on our Why the Star Ratings Differ page.

The Self-Catering Apartments do not include breakfast or meals. Each apartment has a full kitchen so you can cater for yourself.

Meal arrangements at the Guest House depend on your dates and your group, so please ask our reservations team when you enquire and we will confirm exactly what we can offer you.

Every Guest House room has a private en-suite bathroom, a TV with DSTV and free Wi-Fi. Most rooms also have a bar fridge and air conditioning.

Beds vary by room: a super king in the Diamond, a double in the Pearl, a queen in the Gold and the Silver, and a queen plus a sleeper couch in the Platinum.

The Diamond, Pearl, Platinum and Silver rooms all have sea views and their own private balcony. The Gold Room looks onto the swimming pool. The Diamond, Pearl and Silver rooms are upstairs, and the Gold and Platinum rooms are downstairs.

Each room page lists exactly what that room includes, so it is worth a quick look before you book.

For a honeymoon or a special occasion, the Diamond Room. It is our most private and most spacious room at 35 m², with a super king bed, a bathroom with both a bath and a shower, a study, a private lounge and its own private dining area. It is on the upper level with sea views from a generous balcony and outdoor furniture to sit out on. It sleeps two.

If there are more than two of you, the Platinum Room has a queen bed and a sleeper couch, so it can take an extra person.

For families or groups who need more space and their own kitchen, the Self-Catering Apartments are usually the better fit. Tell us who is travelling and we will suggest the right combination.

There is an outdoor pool at the Guest House, along with comfortable lounge areas, which is a good place to unwind after a day of business or sightseeing.

Wi-Fi is free and available throughout both the guest house and the apartments, so you can work, stream or stay in touch at no extra cost.

There is secure on-site parking, so you can arrive and settle straight in, and both properties have 24-hour security. Peace of mind is something we take seriously, and it is one of the reasons corporate and long-stay guests keep coming back to us.

Yes. The Self-Catering Apartments are built for exactly that, with full kitchens, living areas and a practical, home-like setup.

We regularly host contractors, relocating families and people who need a proper base in East London for weeks or months at a time. Tell us how long you need when you enquire and we will work out an arrangement with you.

Yes, and we host a lot of them. Church groups for conferences, retreats, choirs and conventions. School and sports groups travelling for fixtures and tours, including coaches and parents. Corporate teams. We also work with SETA-accredited training and internship groups in hospitality, tourism and customer service.

Group stays are best arranged directly with us, so send through your dates and numbers and we will put something together.

Send us your dates and we will come back to you.

Call 043 732 5033 or 043 735 1665, or speak to Unathi in reservations on 073 081 4131. You can also email info@jewelsguesthouse.co.za or use the enquiry form on our contact page.