https://travelground.imgix.net/AAEAAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAA8YlajH8fQI64LO0yMVUga0mNAEKKkvaHP6qtjhfyNBSzsSk2Sc?w=1440&h=960&fit=crop&auto=enhance,format,compress&q=80
From R2 900 per night (sleeps 8)
83
5
1
5
138 Malherbe Street
Clarens
9707
Free State
021 344 2440
14:00-19:00
10:00
-28.52075910688
28.419303119049
The Nelsbells Cottage
The Nelsbells Cottage
The Nelsbells Cottage
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The main house comfortably accommodates 6 guests in 3 upstairs bedrooms. The first bedroom with a double bed leads out on to a wraparound balcony, while the second bedroom has 2 single beds and the third bedroom a queen-size bed. There are 2 bathrooms in the main house, the first situated downstairs with a bath and toilet, and the second upstairs with a shower and toilet.
The open-plan living area comprises a comfortable lounge with a fireplace for those winter evenings, and a cosy reading corner which leads out on to the wraparound verandah. The kitchen is equipped with a kettle, fridge, gas and electric combo stove, microwave, washing machine, tumble dryer, cutlery and crockery. A DStv premium bouquet package is available as well as a DVD player. The property includes braai facilities, secure parking and pets are welcome.
In addition to the house guests have access to a garden flat, which has a queen-size bed comfortably accommodating 2 adults, tea- and coffee-making facilities and a shower and toilet. Flashlights are provided for loadshedding.
The village of Clarens has become known as the 'Jewel of the Free State', attracting artists, photographers and nature lovers. The town is known for the many Art and Craft shops, offering a wide range of curios and original artwork, the sandstone buildings add to the picturesque atmosphere of the village. Clarens has become the ideal getaway for city dwellers from Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, and Durban, as these cities are all approximately 300 km away.
The main house comfortably accommodates 6 guests in 3 upstairs bedrooms. The first bedroom with a double bed leads out on to a wraparound balcony, while the second bedroom has 2 single beds and the third bedroom a queen-size bed. There are 2 bathrooms in the main house, the first situated downstairs with a bath and toilet, and the second upstairs with a shower and toilet.
The open-plan living area comprises a comfortable lounge with a fireplace for those winter evenings, and a cosy reading corner which leads out on to the wraparound verandah. The kitchen is equipped with a kettle, fridge, gas and electric combo stove, microwave, washing machine, tumble dryer, cutlery and crockery. A DStv premium bouquet package is available as well as a DVD player. The property includes braai facilities, secure parking and pets are welcome.
In addition to the house guests have access to a garden flat, which has a queen-size bed comfortably accommodating 2 adults, tea- and coffee-making facilities and a shower and toilet. Flashlights are provided for loadshedding.
The village of Clarens has become known as the 'Jewel of the Free State', attracting artists, photographers and nature lovers. The town is known for the many Art and Craft shops, offering a wide range of curios and original artwork, the sandstone buildings add to the picturesque atmosphere of the village. Clarens has become the ideal getaway for city dwellers from Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, and Durban, as these cities are all approximately 300 km away.
Features
Reviews (83)
83 guests' feedbackWe had a great stay! Will say the only feedback is the shower water which was sometimes cold with very low water pressure. Also very nice place!
When we got there, the owner opened for the wrong person but it was not so bad. I only have a couple of things that were wrong. 1. The house was not clean; some of the toilets were not clean. 2. Dishes were not clean, full of dust. 3. The deck on the top looked like it had not been cleaned for a long time. We never used it because it was too dirty. 4. We were never notified that the dishwasher was not working or there. 5. One of the beds did not have an electrical blanket.
The door handle in the upstairs bathroom is broken. Can't open door from inside. Bathroom above short work.
Bathroom door does not have a handle on the inside. An alarm system battery must be used as a door stopper to keep the door closed. Basic hygiene is lacking - toaster is rusty, some kitchen appliances are greasy. Carpets, sofa and chair cushions, blankets and curtains are dirty. Towels are coarse and do not tumble dry. Dish soap spills due to unusable container. Place shows well but very different from photos.
We went to get away from all the hustle and bustle and experienced the tranquility there.
The atmosphere is fantastic with the fireplace on the ground floor, making even the upstairs bathroom warm and cozy. What I would recommend is that a new boiler be provided. Other than that, everything is as desired. The owners provided good customer service.
Definitely value for money. Clean, spacious, tidy, nice view, quiet and safe.
The house has a lot of space and the garden is big, the children had a lot of fun playing outside.
Nice stay, the house was clean and tidy and we enjoyed the balcony.
We had a great stay at The Nelsbells Cottage and received very friendly service from Veronica. The accommodation is located pleasantly close to Clarens' attractions. Would recommend to anyone looking for accommodation in the Clarens area.
Cleaning services not up to standard. Two single beds' bedding was not fresh and duvet full of food/vomit. Cleaning lady just kept it in cupboard. No coffee, tea, sugar and milk powder.
The Nelsbells Cottag is a very nice, cozy house. Everything one needs.
The stairs are unsafe for young children, with the space at the top of the stairs being too open, making it too easy for a young child to fall from the top floor to the bottom. We blocked the space with items of furniture we found in the house. The other concern, which the owners should be aware of is the loud music coming from the informal settlement area to the east of the house. It was noisy all night long for both the nights we stayed at the cottage. Perhaps they can take it up with the community leaders? When visiting a 'country' destination like Clarens, you want peace and quiet, unfortunately with this blaring music we didn't have that experience.
We enjoyed our stay. We had a couple of issues which we will convey to the owners. But all in all we were happy.
The couple who invited us to stay with us has a 4 month old baby. We arrived there at 1:50 p.m., because the baby started to have trouble in town. The cleaner was there and we asked if we could come in for the time being. She simply said, "You can wait". She didn't finish until 16:00 and there were probably items such as pizza boxes and so on still lying around from the previous guests that we had to ask her to please remove. Nelsbells is perfectly located and the owners are extremely friendly, helpful and professional. Unfortunately, they did not bother to do upgrades and maintenance to the house. The bedding is old and tired and the shower is still not user friendly, even though we reported this on our last visit two years ago. We went back to Nelsbells with an open mind, but are disappointed that our previous recommendations were not heeded.
The kitchen's cutlery is not to our liking, if you have sleeping space for 8 people then you must also have cutlery for 8 people. The place is old and short but works but it's right over the informal area and the gate didn't work and then it was mentioned that the battery gave in over the load shedding, so we had security issues precisely about the gate. Furthermore, very nice if you don't expect too much, for example the pillows are very soft and old and so are the bed linen and the place needs renovation and then they will be able to charge more for the unit as well. Nelsbells is just not what we expected. Owner contacted me but the location is a big problem and especially from the settlement side and the noise at night on weekends is also a big problem.
Very nice house and very comfortable.
It was incredibly fun!
We as a family had a wonderful few days at Nellsbells and would definitely recommend.
Very well equipped, pleasant house. The fireplace is fantastic and the camping cot was a hit. Everything was just too good, nobody wanted to come home. Thank you very much, Clarens was the perfect gift for my daughter's 21st, but The Nelsbells Cottage was a hit, and in every way provided so many precious memories for us as a family. We will definitely see you again. Precious memories for me and my children and grandchildren, so much fun and laughter around the barbecue on the stoep and cozy fireplace, the most delicious morning moments when the sun shows its face from behind the mountains, sitting on the stoep, drinking coffee and greeting the most beautiful autumn days. The time we spent at The Nelsbells Cottage and in Clarens just bonded us as one, moments we can treasure, thank you.
Great visit with friends.
The apartment was perfect for grandma and grandpa while the children and grandchildren enjoyed the house.
An absolutely beautiful place to stay in with everything you need and more. There are even items in that kitchen that I don't even have in my own home. The garden is a loop court and our dog had a great time frolicking around. I just wouldn't say it's walking distance from town (unless you're a keen hiker whose hiking boots were packed). I will definitely stay here again!
Loved the house, lovely open plan and social, clean with a well stocked kitchen and nice furniture. If anything my mattress was uncomfortable and possibly more outdoor furniture? But we really loved the house and its atmosphere would definitely stay there again.
We and our dogs felt very welcome in the house. The apartment is ideal for dogs or older people who cannot climb stairs.
A second shower would be very handy in the house - even a hand shower in the downstairs bathroom. But a very pleasant stay.
Very well equipped kitchen. Comfortable beds. We really enjoyed our stay.
Spacious house with large living area. 10 min walk from licorice. Nice view.
Changed owner and service was great when we picked up a problem with power but unfortunately Eskom couldn't sort it out the evening after load shedding. We know Eskom. A little love then the place will be great, good luck to Veronica.
Granny cottage hot water was a bit of an issue.
Nelsbells is a beautiful place. Unfortunately, there was miscommunication between owner and cleaners, which meant we ended up at a place that hadn't been cleaned yet, and especially with COVID that was unpleasant. The owner also did not communicate directly with us where to retrieve and drop off keys. Furthermore, everything was in place, and nicely equipped. Thanks for a nice weekend.
We did not receive any information from Veronica about where to get the key. This is the first time since we have been using the website that we have had to check in and not have all the information we need. The ad says there are two bathrooms in main house, but the upstairs bathroom had no hot water. The toilets leak and sewage runs out onto the lawn. The location is good and otherwise we really enjoyed the weekend.
Hekmotor het nie gewerk nie. Kaste val uitmekaar. Vloer was vuil.
Nellsbells has everything we needed. Lots of space and neat and clean. Really a nice place.
It's a beautiful house. Had such a nice stay.
Beautiful house and view. Very convenient.
We had such a great stay at Nellsbells, house well equipped, did not require anything more. Really enjoyed the coffee table album (with a tear and a laugh) about the history of the house (especially the paint story on how the color of the house came out blue!) The cosy fireplace and location of the house was also a big positive. Will definitely go back!
Although it is a nice spacious and modern house, towels, bathroom mats and certain duvets will need to be replaced. Some of the door locks do not work.
The shower as well as the bath taps were leaking and spraying in all directions. The shower that was on the upper floor also overflowed and ran down the wall into the lower floor. Doors cannot close if they are not locked. The fireplace was lovely and the braai facilities were nice.
Suggestions: Little hands soaps and mini toiletries in each bathroom would be great, air fresheners in the bathrooms. Wi-Fi is essential these days. All the places we've stayed in Clarens all had Wi-Fi. Maybe little coffee and sugar sachets upon arrival. The flat just needs a mini bar fridge for storing milk when you make coffee there.
A beautiful house, well appointed in a lovely setting.
House full of character, neat and clean and fully equipped for the larger family.
We loved the style of the house with doors opening onto the upstairs and downstairs stoops. Lovely views.
For a travel group of eight with six never being in Clarens before, this plantation style house offered everything you would want for your first experience of this town. Beautiful accommodation, a stunning view of the mountains and ample space for kids to play. We will most definitely be returning again.
Lovely home with everything you need! We enjoyed it very much. Thank you!
Fantastic accommodation. Enough space to sleep. Would definitely stay there again when in Clarens. The bedroom outside with the bathroom is perfect for parents or couples.
We spent the weekend with friends there and enjoyed everything! Will definitely stay there again! Clean, neat and beautiful!
See stars.
Very neat and clean with all the amenities you would expect from overnight accommodation. A nice fireplace for the cold evenings gives a nice atmosphere to relax.
Nelsbells has a lovely old world charm.
We had a lovely stay at Nelsbells Cottage, I only wish we could have stayed longer. The house and garden apartment are well and neatly furnished and there is a nice peaceful atmosphere. We will definitely stay there again.
Cozy little house with everything you need. Clean and tidy.
Beautiful, spacious home. Stairs railing is unsafe for small children. Water was boiling in main house and cold in outside room.
Nelsbells is a neat, well-equipped and cozy house for a weekend getaway. The only negative is that the music of the township can be heard throughout the night.
We literally used the house as a place to sleep. DStv didn't work, but didn't really bother us. The showers were not great, but for the price these are small things that don't really matter. The rest of the house was beautifully clean, and warm beds made the stay enjoyable. Just know the walls and the floor is very thin, so if you want to gossip, other people in the house will certainly hear you.
Neat, big, clean and safe.
Very nice stay. Surprisingly well equipped - even a dishwasher! Can highly recommend the cottage. N.S. The pop-up plug of the upper sink catches in the closed position.
See stars.
The place is a bit run down. New bedding, thicker duvets, extra warm blankets and bigger towels will make it better and better value for money. The house is close to the squatter camp and although there is an alarm we still didn't sleep too comfortably.
Very spacious and tidy home, comfortably furnished with more than one needs. Please give attention to the regulation of hot/cold water tap at shower on upper floor. Shower also very small, little room to move. Lovely living area in relation to kitchen, living and dining room.
As in previous years, we once again had a great time at the house in question. Will book the unit every year for the Clarence Marathon and all my getaway friends already know about the special place.
Stunning cottage with everything you need. Ideal for our family get-together and walking distance from the shops in town. Only disadvantage is that it's not sound proof. We still enjoyed the stay.
Very neat and well equipped. Nice close to the village.
The house is located a ten minute walk from town, has a beautiful view over mountains and in the morning and evening the cattle and sheep graze right in front of one's gate. The garden is just as fun for dogs, big or small!
Beautiful house, which gives you an old-world doll house feeling! Well equipped with everything needed for a weekend away, even had a camping cot and kick bike for our toddler.
The house looks cute from the outside, but the house looks old and worn out from the inside. The separate unit that sleeps 2 people is in urgent need of attention. The bed is uncomfortable and old, no hot water, the window doesn't close and we had to tape it up. It costs a fortune to spend the night there and we expected much more.
We had a very nice stay. It was close to everything and the house was very comfortable.
Beautiful house, neat and well equipped. We had a great time where we sat on the patio in the sun with amazing views. Walking distance from town.
Will definitely book again! It was a lovely house and has everything at your disposal!
Fully equipped with all that you would need, we had a lovely stay except for the TV that did not want to change channels, both of the bathroom's toilets leaked and the car gate was set to the auto close option without any "infra red beams" on the gate, almost damaged one of our cars.
It was very peaceful and well equipped accommodation.
The house has everything one needs, from blankets to heaters, fireplace, all cutlery, washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher etc. You only have to take your own food and drinks. We could sit upstairs in the morning and watch the sunrise. Truly a very nice place and very safe!
Everything we needed.
We had a nice time. Spacious, cosy house, well equipped and close to town. We really enjoyed it and highly recommend this place!
The place is big and more than what you need. Everything was there, neat and clean. The rooms and bathrooms are spacious. Tranquil area and safe. Big enough lawn for children to play on.
We would definitely recommend the place. It's neat, clean and walking distance from town. Really a stunning place. You will not regret renting the place!
A well appointed place, with everything you could possibly need. Within walking distance of everything. Definitely a cute place to consider for a group of friends or a family getaway.
Lovely place, centrally located. Had to wait a few hours for it to be cleaned, but it wasn't too clean.
It felt like you were staying in someone's home and not a guesthouse, which was nice! Nice view from nice big porch. Only problem is that there is no bathroom on the 1st floor. Will go again!
However, Clarens is not the peaceful village we expected. The house is practical and big enough. I spoke to the owner ahead of time because I was concerned about the fact that there was only one bathroom in the house. However, I was reassured that there was a second bathroom in the apartment. That would be a challenge in itself, 2 bathrooms between 8 people, but we were willing to accept it given the good price we were paying. However, what the owner did not tell us is that there is only one geyser between the two bathrooms and we constantly had too little hot water. The house itself is located near an informal camp and we had to listen to blaring music until the early hours of the morning. Furthermore, there is a school alarm that goes off every hour which spoiled the whole atmosphere for us. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend the guest house. It goes to show you that a good price can't always make up for bad location, lack of enough bathrooms and so on.
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House rules
Please note that 1 bed does not have an electric blanket.A maximum of 8 guests can be accommodated.
Balance payment will be due 2 weeks prior to arrival.
Guests need to supply their own firewood for the fireplace.
We are pet friendly and allow all pet, however, pets have to be house trained and must not sleep on the beds.
Children aged between 0 and 2 stay free.
Children aged between 3 and 18 pay 100% of the sharing rate.
Camping cots are available on request.
The main house comfortably accommodates 6 guests in 3 upstairs bedrooms. The first bedroom with a double bed leads out on to a wraparound balcony, while the second bedroom has 2 single beds and the third bedroom a queen-size bed. There are 2 bathrooms in the main house, the first situated downstairs with a bath and toilet, and the second upstairs with a shower and toilet.
The open-plan living area comprises a comfortable lounge with a fireplace for those winter evenings, and a cosy reading corner which leads out on to the wraparound verandah. The kitchen is equipped with a kettle, fridge, gas and electric combo stove, microwave, washing machine, tumble dryer, cutlery and crockery. A DStv premium bouquet package is available as well as a DVD player. The property includes braai facilities, secure parking and pets are welcome.
In addition to the house guests have access to a garden flat, which has a queen-size bed comfortably accommodating 2 adults, tea- and coffee-making facilities and a shower and toilet. Flashlights are provided for loadshedding.
The village of Clarens has become known as the 'Jewel of the Free State', attracting artists, photographers and nature lovers. The town is known for the many Art and Craft shops, offering a wide range of curios and original artwork, the sandstone buildings add to the picturesque atmosphere of the village. Clarens has become the ideal getaway for city dwellers from Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, and Durban, as these cities are all approximately 300 km away.