Fodor's Expert Review Valley Lodge & Spa

Although it's too big to be called a hideaway, this beautiful lodge on a 250-acre nature reserve with a stream running through it also has a bird sanctuary. Rooms are spacious and private, the surroundings are peaceful, and the spa is glorious. The lodge is popular with corporate groups, but it's big enough for you to find a quiet spot if there's a large group in attendance (the Nature Rooms offer the most privacy). It's also one of few hotels in the area that accept small children, so it remains popular for independent travelers and those from Johannesburg who are going out to the country for the weekend. Rooms have small sitting areas and some have four-poster beds and fireplaces; all have covered patios.