~Soulful Travels~ Feel at Home in Foreigners Friend Guesthouse

Foreigners Friend Guesthouse is found in Pretoria, in the Gauteng province of South Africa. This busy city has a lot to offer and is a great place to spend a few nights after landing in South Africa. Since it is quite close to the airport, most use Pretoria as a base to visit and see the surrounding area. If you are looking for the simple comforts of home while staying somewhere new, then Foreigners Friend is the place for you. Set in the beautiful, upmarket suburb of Lynnwood, this charming guesthouse will feel like a home away from home. Located in a secure neighborhood, on a large property with lush gardens and with the most accommodating hosts. The owners, Francois and Petro have created a mini oasis in the middle of a bustling city. We spent a night at this stunning guest house and this was our experience.

Arriving at Foreigners Friend Guesthouse

The great thing about this guesthouse is that it is quite centrally located and very easy to reach. We drove from Johannesburg via the highway and it took us just under an hour. Since the airport is located in the East of Johannesburg, the drive should take no longer than an hour from there as well. Once you get off the highway, there are only two turns before you reach Foreigners Friend. Another option if you are coming for the airport is to contact the guesthouse and they will happily arrange for an airport transfer for their guests. This minimizes the stress of driving in a new country and this will make your stay even more comfortable.

The Rooms

There are a number of different rooms with a few subtle differences in color scheme and style. Every little feature is carefully thought out and beautifully arranged, making you feel relaxed and welcome. Expect thoughtful treats in your room such as rusks, chocolates, sweeties and chips. The fridges are stocked with bottles of water and milk for making tea or coffee. These personal touches make all the difference and results in an excellent experience, especially at self-catering accommodation. Each room is spacious, comfortable and the bathrooms have showers and some have hot-tub baths. Towels, bathrobes and great smelling toiletries are provided. Every room has a kitchenette with appliances like ovens, microwaves, fridges, kettles allowing you to cook your own meals. Additionally the rooms have desks and comfortable chairs in case you need to do some work. The room we stayed in had a lovely seating area and all have TV’s.

Amenities

You will find everything you need at Foreigners Friend Guesthouse in terms of amenities. There is safe and secure parking within the property. Free Wi-Fi is provided to all guests and can be accessed anywhere on the property. They provide a 24hr front-desk service and there is even a phone at the reception that can be used to contact the hosts at night. In each room you will also find a file containing all the necessary information for your stay. Within you will find some recommendations for dinner; their best suggestion is a restaurant that is just around the corner and within walking distance. Make sure to ask the hosts about this and get your 10% discount voucher as well. A delicious continental breakfast is included in the cost of your room and is served in the Lapa area next to the pool, where you can admire the beautiful garden.

My Final Review

What I loved about Foreigners Friend Guesthouse is how much effort has been made by the owners to give their guests the best possible experience. This little sanctuary in the middle of the city feels so peaceful and yet is so close to some of the best shopping malls and restaurants in the country. Whatever experience or activity you are interested you can find in and around Pretoria and feel free to view some of my neighborhood suggestions here. As Petro mentioned to me, this is a place that welcomes all guests, whether you are a foreigner to the country or just foreign to Pretoria or Lynnwood…