What I loved about DAISY DARLING by Di Brown aka The Roaming Giraffe

#HelloDarling

On a recent adventure to Darling to explore the theatre and markets of this little slice of the West Coast Way Tractor Route, I spent a night at Daisy Darling: accommodation with a difference. Hosts Dave and Fran are seasoned travelers who enjoy meeting new people. When they set up Daisy Darling Bed & Breakfast, they made sure it was a place that they would want to stay at.

When travelling, your accommodation becomes your home and should be a space where normal activities are easy to perform. Daisy Darling got it right, and I was thrilled to find all my personal travel needs were met. The hairdryer was located at a plug and a mirror, the coffee, tea station was easy to access and regularly restocked. There was ample storage space and a full length mirror. Well placed plugs and tables met all my charging needs. The bathroom was spacious, and the shower required no fiddling. The bed was possibly one of the most comfortable ones I have ever slept on. No compromising on the linen either, great quality 100% cotton all the way.

Meet Dave and Fran Burger – founders and hosts of Daisy Darling

Dave and Fran are around if you feel like a chat or some company when you are relaxing with a drink out at the pool, but they are not in your face if you want quiet time.

The breakfast that is served in the covered area overlooking the pool is excellent, starting with fruit, yoghurts and cereals, but don’t fill up on this. Dave bakes the most amazing rolls early every morning and they are the perfect accompaniment to the cooked breakfast of your choice, served with juice and endless coffee. What a way to start the day.

The accommodation and facilities.

Daisy Darling is a 100 year old house on the quiet Main Street in Darling. It has three spacious double rooms, all with en suite bathrooms, a large lounge and dining area and a charming little pool and outdoor space. Security is good and garages for cars is available if required. For added peace of mind the hosts live on site, so you will never be there all alone.

The Wow Factor, Evita’s Room.

Evita’s Perron is a theatre / restaurant / apartheid museum brainchild of Pieter Dirk Uys and it’s a huge visitor drawcard to the area, for Pieter’s shows and for local musicians and comedians who perform there.

Dave and Fran recently decided to dedicate one of their rooms to the iconic Evita Bezuidenhout, the alter ego of Pieter Dirk Uys, and the most famous woman in South Africa, and this room is a delight.

They discussed their idea with PDU and he was so thrilled that he donated photographs and memorabilia. The result is fabulous, from the pink covered headboard and the over the top hat on the side of the wardrobe, to the photos of Evita with Nelson Mandela, this room takes hours to fully explore and absorb.

Dave and Fran are such big fans of Darling that they have a wonderful offer of 2 complimentary tickets to any show at Evita’s if you book a stay for 2 nights or more. This is their way of saying that Darling has plenty to keep you entertained.

Here is the line up for upcoming shows at Evita’s se Perron http://evita.co.za/programme/

There are plenty of spaces and activities to keep you busy in Darling. Learn about Darling by connecting to their social media channels on  @HelloDarling. Or better still read this:

https://theroaminggiraffe.co.za/10-reasons-to-hit-the-west-coast-and-say-hello-darling/

Cat lovers welcome.

Various cats have adopted Dave and Fran over the last 2 years, so guests are warned to keep their bedroom doors closed to avoid returning to their rooms to find a moggy or two asleep on the bed. The cats love to lie in the sun and most are available for a bit of attention if you are missing your pets. They certainly add to the home away from home feeling at Daisy Darling.

Get lost in the art.

Every inch of space on the walls and floor of the main area are covered with paintings by Fran and other local artists. Landscapes, abstracts and Fran’s cat portraits are all available to be admired, enjoyed and purchased.

Mere steps from Daisy Darling is a coffee shop, a wine shop, a restaurant and an award winning artisanal cheesery. Evita’s, The Darling Sweet Shop, a pub and a small supermarket are also within easy walking distance, while a very short drive will take you to a craft brewery and wine estate or two.

Find Daisy Darling on the West Coast Way Culture Route and Tractor Route.

Open 7 days a week
Where: 9 Main Street, Darling
Contact: +27 (0)492 2092 | [email protected] | www.daisydarling.co.za

The Roaming Giraffe is Di Brown. Travel writer and blogger, mother, grandmother, avid reader, tourism professional, learner photographer, social media influencer, Twitter fan and lover of Instagram.

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