Reviews from guests who stayed at this hotel, shared by our hotel supplier. Score based on the latest 40 reviews.
Asmal
South Africa · Group of friends · October 2026
“I will not return merely because because of the hosts ryde, vulgar and racist attitude.”
+Didn't have breakfast.
−Very disappointing attitude from the host. We checked in at 15:00 on the 1 October 2026. Our 5 guest helpers who were African and went to Serena to sleep at 23:00 ( please note check in is until Midnight ). The host was very rude and vulgar. He swore the gentlemen and asked them to leave the premises immediately. I called as well and received the same rude and vulgar response. Unfortunately we couldn't find another accommodation at this ridiculous hour. Booking.com refuses to give us a refund for that one night although no one was allowed onto the premises and use the accommodation for that particular night.
Inthran
South Africa · Group of friends · August 2026
“Value for money, quiet place away with great hosts.”
+Very neat and clean. Friendly hosts and cleaners. This is an excellent accommodation for quiet time away. Fully equipped kitchen. A good supply of wood to keep warm.
Pillay
South Africa · Solo · August 2026
+Peace and quiet. Clean facilities. Spacious house. Considerate host.
−It was 20km away from The Windmill. Potholes in the road were hectic to navigate
Thomas
South Africa · Family · May 2026
“Great farmhouse stay, peaceful and tranquil. Clean home with all the necessary comforts of home”
+Responsive and flexible host. Great property
−Slightly over priced compared to some properties in the area
Logni
South Africa · Group of friends · April 2026
“Beautiful stay, but let down by poor communication and hidden costs.”
+Serena Cottage is set in a beautiful part of the Midlands Meander and offers a lovely, peaceful setting. The cottage itself is well presented, bright, and airy, creating a comfortable atmosphere. We especially enjoyed the friendly dog, who added a warm, welcoming touch to our stay. The staff were pleasant, and the rooms were clean and comfortable.
−An additional cleaning fee of R1000 is added to the total upon payment. It would be more appropriate for this cost to be clearly highlighted upfront, rather than appearing as a small, easily overlooked note beneath the listed rate. Greater transparency in this regard would improve the overall booking experience. There was also no hot water in the main ensuite shower. I reported this to Thobeka, who advised that I contact Brett directly for quicker assistance. Unfortunately, despite sending a message, there was no response, and the issue remained unresolved during our stay.
Pillay
South Africa · Group of friends · March 2026
“Serena Cottage -Tranquility”
+The place was warm, Fireplace, electric blankets, and facilities was very clean and tidy, The service was amazing and the owner Brett was absolutely accomodating and understable, hospitality at its highest...Will defnitely recommend this place to anyone that loves the farmstyle living.
−The potholes on route to get to Serena Cottage, the area was very dark and not enough lights on getting into the property, very safe though.
Joey
South Africa · Group of friends · February 2026
+Breakfast was not included........ Host was very friendly and apologetic - because he was not notified by booking.com of the booking.
−Not happy with the whole experience..........Booking.com overcharged us for cleaning services etc. The price that was advertised wasn't the price we paid. Will be very carefull in future to book through booking.com Misleading information, and I brought it under the attention of the owner.
Cassey
South Africa · Group of friends · January 2026
“It was beautiful. Amazing location”
Susan
South Africa · Group of friends · January 2026
“Peaceful spot, but disappointing catering/cooking facilities”
+Serena Cottage is in a peaceful location, and we felt very safe and secure. The beds were all really comfortable and there was good quality linen. The bedrooms were spacious.
−Several of the facilities did not meet our expectations, unfortunately. In particular, the kitchen was not sufficiently stocked with crockery, cutlery, etc. to accommodate 6 people preparing and eating several meals consecutively (without washing up) eg supper and then breakfast. (only 1 of each item per person). Additionally, some basic cookware was missing, which made food preparation difficult. The braai/bbq facility available was not the Weber/kettle braai shown in the photos. The fridge is small, so we struggled to fit in the food and drinks we had brought for the 2 days. There was nowhere to store "dry" groceries. Considering the nearest stores and places to eat are about 15km away, along a poor road, this could be a challenge as "popping out" is not practical. It is a pity there is no outside seating area for all 6 guests overlooking the hills - only a small verandah with a couch - as early morning coffee or sundowners are always a highlight of a KZN midlands getaway. We were not greeted by anyone on arrival (key in the door), but did receive a call from the owner the next day. Please note that I share this information to be useful to other travellers - I will provide more d
Tashin
South Africa · Group of friends · January 2026
“Beautiful little cottage in the midlands perfect for a getaway”
+Beautiful surroundings, much larger than the pictures and rooms and bathrooms were spacious
−WiFi didn’t work well