Ten years ago my husband and I were newly married and life was an Ed Sheeren-worthy montage of candlelit dinners, surprise flower deliveries and naughty weekends away. But sometime between 2008 and 2018, life happened. It wasn’t a sudden event. More like a slow creep…longer working hours, a bond, a dog, another dog. And before we realised what was happening, we had settled into a routine as comfortable as the bum-shaped indentations on the couch where we spend Friday evenings watching series. Now, “Netflix and chill” is a literal phrase – there’s no “cock block” quite like a 25kg Africanis on your lap – and dinner is an opportunity to see all those friends we’ve been meaning to catch up with for ages.
A Romantic “Getaway” In Your Own City
When the Cape Milner Hotel invited us to try their romantic couples’ special, it was the perfect excuse to spend some QT together as a couple. We hired a dog sitter, packed a bag and drove all of 14km to our home for the night: Room 405. It felt like we were checking in for a clandestine rendezvous. Very sexy. The room had been strewn with rose petals and a bottle of bubbly was waiting on ice with chocolate brownies and berries on the side. A little on the cheesy side, sure, but what the heck? A week before, we’d committed to “Dry January”. That commitment lasted about as long as it took to pop the cork.
A bottle of bubbly on ice was waiting in the room.
Table For Two
The package includes dinner, with a menu that changes depending on what day you book for. If you book for V-Day itself, you’ll get the Valentine’s set menu – a choice of crispy oysters or venison carpaccio for starters and lamb or sole for mains. Dessert was a smorgasbord of homemade ice-cream, tiramisu and macarons to share. And there was more bubbly. Soz, Dry January. We spent the night feasting like kings and giggling like teenagers. And there was no 25kg Africanis back in the room….
Dessert is a platter of treats made for sharing.
Couple’s Treat
It’s way too easy to get bogged down in routine and forget to make time for your relationship. Just one night of luxury away from chores, other people and commitments reminded us how much fun we have when it’s just us. I thought staying just down the road from home might detract from the experience, but actually it was a relief not having to worry about a long trek home the next day. We slept in, had coffee in the room while we got ready and then enjoyed a leisurely buffet breakfast (there was rye bread, goat’s cheese and soya milk!) before hitting the road.
The luxury room is spacious and comfy.
WIN This Experience For Yourself
The romantic couples’ package, including dinner, bed and breakfast for two, is valued at R5 520 per person, but for the month of February, you can book it for just for R2 950 per person. Subject to availability, your standard room will be upgraded to a luxury room, like the one we stayed in, which was bigger than our first apartment (#CityLiving). And you’ll get all the special bells and whistles, including the bubbly and treats in your room.
Keep the romance alive beyond Valentine’s Day! We’re offering one lucky reader the opportunity to win this experience for herself and her partner. The winner will get one night’s accommodation at the Cape Milner Hotel, a welcome bottle of bubbly and treats in the room, three course dinner for two and breakfast for two the next day. To enter, simply fill in this form and your name will go into the lucky draw.
This competition is now closed. Congratulations to the winner: Haley Abrahams.
Ts and Cs
Competition closes at noon on 20 February 2018. The winner will be notified the same day via email or phone. The judges’ decision is final. Prize may not be exchanged for cash. The prize does not include flights. Winners must arrange their own transport to and from the hotel. Prize not open to employees of Media 24, the Cape Milner Hotel and their advertising agencies. Stay must be booked before 31 March 2018.
