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Archive for August, 2012


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Why choose a hotel resort above a guesthouse? As the very curious RiverBlogger, I have done some research on the matter and came across the following findings:

  • Most hotels in South Africa, including the Riviera on Vaal Hotel and Country Club, have a lot more to offer, especially when it comes to family activities.
  • With hotels accommodating so many guests at a time, they are compelled to provide a wider variety of menu items on their breakfast menu. Therefore, chances are that you might just find exactly what you want for breakfast.
  • Hotels’ prices have decreased over the years in order to compete with guesthouses and bed and breakfasts which have become more popular to South African locals. You might just pay less for a family of five when staying in a hotel than at a guesthouse.
  • Guests on business might also prefer hotels to guesthouses, as they are there on business and may not want to chit chat with the guesthouse’s owner during breakfast. Yes, on holiday it is interesting and fun to meet and mingle with people from other places and get to know their culture, but when you are on a business trip, chances are that you prefer the eat, work and sleep routine.
  • At a hotel you are also sure to have your own separate table for breakfast, where at many bed and breakfasts you are required to share the table for eight with fellow visitors. Again, on holiday this might be fun, but on a business trip you might want to have your cup of coffee in peace.
  • Hotels operate 24/7 so should you wish to indulge in midnight snack from the room service menu, while finishing off that all important business proposal, all you have to do is pick up the phone and place your order.

Many people have the misperception that hotels are cold and impersonal. Time and again the Riviera on Vaal Hotel and Country Club and many other South African hotels tend to prove this statement wrong. With water sport, a wedding venue, seven conference venues, an onsite spa, three restaurants, a floating restaurant and a golf course, no guesthouse will ever be able to measure up with the Riviera on Vaal Hotel and Country Club.

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It’s been quite an exciting day at Riviera on Vaal Hotel and Country Club, as the hotel is 85 years old today. During the month of September Riviera on Vaal will be celebrating this milestone with a multitude of birthday promotions:

  • Visit Matthews Restaurant on Friday evenings during the month of September for a buffet dinner at only R85 per person.
  • Take advantage of the special anniversary rate of R850 per room at the Riviera on Vaal Hotel (Monday – Thursday) with kids under 12 staying free. Make your reservations early to avoid disappointment as the offer is subject to availability.
  • Inyama Grill House offers the perfect complement to a round of golf – baskets selling at R8.50 each (valid Mondays and Tuesdays 15:00 – 16:00). This offer is available for non-golfers too – treat the kids after a long day in the classroom.
  • Riviera on Vaal would also like to invite anyone who got married between 1927 and 1937 to a complimentary stay at the Riviera on Vaal Hotel.
  • Friday check-in times have been amended to 13h00, which extends the weekend with at least three hours of special experiences for special people at the Riviera on Vaal.

Photo competition:

Riviera on Vaal Hotel and Country Club has also launched a photo competition. Locals, guests and visitors are encouraged to share in this trip down memory lane by submitting photos of their experiences at the Riviera on Vaal Hotel spanning the past 85 years. The prize up for grabs is a 2 night stay in a luxurious Garden Suite at the Riviera on Vaal Hotel inclusive of all meals. Photos will be evaluated on uniqueness and the special experience that they reflect. Submit your entries via email to mdpa@rivieraonvaal.co.za, Facebook or hand deliver them at Riviera on Vaal Hotel’s reception. The winner will be contacted telephonically so be sure to include your contact details when you post your entry. Also remember to add the phrase, 85 year photo competition, to your entry as reference. Terms and conditions apply: Submitting your photos automatically gives Riviera on Vaal Hotel and Country Club the permission to use the photos in future. The competition closes on 30 September 2012.

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Living on Vaal is an experience to remember for life. The Riviera on Vaal Hotel and Country Club is one of the few accommodation facilities on Vaal with a view over the Vaal River from all its rooms. This gives them a head start with regards to special experiences for special people.

Living:

We often forget what living is all about. At Riviera on Vaal guests are reminded that romance is part of living with picnics on Vaal, romantic moonlight cruises on the Petit Verdot, a wedding venue and much more.

On Vaal:

The Riviera on Vaal Hotel is situated on the banks of the Vaal River, which in itself boasts a very romantic atmosphere.

Experience:

The hotel makes it its top priority to ensure that their guests have a special experience to take home with them.

Romantic options on Vaal:

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Riviera on Vaal’s country club has quite a lot of stories to tell.

The Riviera on Vaal Country Club Today

The Riviera on Vaal Country Club Today

Isaac Lewis, one of Vereeniging’s founders, purchased the country club’s grounds from the company, Anglo American in the late 1890s. There he built his own residence, which we know as the Riviera on Vaal Country Club today. The Riviera Hotel was erected near the residence at a later stage.

Roy Lewis, Isaac Lewis’s son, lived in the residence for some time and when he left for the UK, Louis Marks repurchased the house and grounds for Vereeniging Estates. Subsequently the house was converted into the Vereeniging Country Club.

The Lewis House, which was converted into a clubhouse for the Vereeniging Country Club

The Lewis House, which was converted into a clubhouse for the Vereeniging Country Club

The Country Club was taken over by the Municipality in 1948 and it was agreed that the council and the judicial managers will contribute equally to the former Club owner, Mr. A.D. Bobby Locke. He was retained as the club’s resident professional golfer.

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What is golf etiquette? I’ve often wondered about what rules apply on a golf course. Can I walk on the greens wearing any type of shoes? What shoes should I be wearing? I don’t know; I’m just the RiverBlogger.

So I Googled it and have thrown together a few tips that other non-golfers (like me) might find interesting:

  1. It seems like common sense to me, but just for in case: do not swing your golf club unless you know your fellow golfers are at a safe distance. Also, don’t hit the ball until you’re sure the group ahead of you is out of range. And yes, it is good golf etiquette to be quiet and stand still when someone else is playing. No cellphones!
  2. Maintain a good pace. Don’t make groups behind you wait for too long. The golfer who is “away” hits first. It could be agreed upon by all players to “ready play.” This means that if the golfer who is “away” is not ready to play, the ones that are ready to play may go ahead.
  3. Know your golf clubs and look after the course. You must know which clubs to use and you should repair your divots on the putting green. You are responsible for raking the sand bunkers to erase your footprints and ball damage.
  4. With regards to footwear: Golf shoes are not a necessity, but obviously high heels or your favourite pointy shoes would be tremendously uncomfortable and it might damage the golf course. It is advised that players wear shoes with a good “grip” which will prevent you from sliding during your golf swing.
  5. Walking on the greens? Well yes, off course you may – bit tricky to sink that putt otherwise. But, no carts are allowed on the greens, as their wheels might damage it.

So there you have it, a few basic golf etiquette tips to abide by when visiting the Riviera on Vaal golf course. I believe I’ve got some more research to do before I can approach golfing as my new hobby but learning about golf etiquette is certainly a good place to start.

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