This four-star Protea hotel offers a good range of facilities and a breezy berth on Cape Town’s Atlantic coast. Seagulls wheel above the circular pool and fountain, and waves crash against Queen’s Beach at the end of the road. Table Mountain is not visible in this neighbourhood, but you get views of the tooth-like peak of Lion’s Head instead, and ocean-going tankers are almost close enough to wave at the sailors.

Facilities include an in-room spa service, offering massages, facials, waxing and body treatments; a souvenir shop selling beadwork and ostrich eggs; and a business centre, hair salon, transport and tour desks. The copious breakfast is particularly impressive, featuring an omelette bar, a mountain of croissants, waffles and pastries, and tables of cold meats, cheeses and fruit. Given this glut of amenities, the hotel has the feel of a self-contained resort, with many package-holiday and tour-group guests. The bar buzzes with middle-aged American and British couples at night, clutching pints of lager and flirting. If you do wish to venture beyond the boom gates, Bantry Bay is prime sunset territory, and the Waterfront and chichi Camps Bay neighbourhood are both nearby.

Rooms are undergoing renovation, so ask for a new room when you book. We stayed in a suite on the second floor, which was yet to be refurbished and badly needed it. The bland furniture screamed homesickness and the carpet pattern was a cross between a Jackson Pollock and a petri-dish. On the plus side, there were two bedrooms, a kitchenette with fridge and microwave, 500MB of free wifi, and a lounge with sofas, writing desk and 20 channels of DSTV. If you visit Cape Town with your family or a group of friends, you will likely enjoy the president’s facilities and seaside location; couples seeking a romantic getaway may wish to look elsewhere.