The PortsWood

Portswood Road PortsWood Square, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town Central 8002 South Africa
Lounge
Traveller (324)
Panorama of the Captains Suite at The PortsWood
360
Panoramas (13)
Miscellaneous
Room & Suite (187)
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About

4.0
#48 of 117 hotels in Cape Town Central
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Everyone needs a place to lay their weary head. For travellers visiting Cape Town Central, The PortsWood is an excellent choice for rest and rejuvenation. Well-known for its quiet environment and proximity to great restaurants and attractions, The PortsWood makes it easy to enjoy the best of Cape Town Central.

Rooms at The PortsWood provide a flat screen TV, a refrigerator, and air conditioning, and guests can stay connected with free wifi.

In addition, while staying at Portswood Hotel Cape Town guests have access to 24 hour front desk, a concierge, and room service. You can also enjoy a pool and free breakfast. Need a place to park? Parking is available at Portswood Hotel Cape Town.

Given the close proximity of popular landmarks, such as The Cape Wheel (0.2 km) and Cape Town Stadium (Green Point Stadium) (0.7 km), guests of The Portswood Hotel can easily experience some of Cape Town Central's most well known attractions.

If you like Spanish restaurants, Portswood Hotel Cape Town is conveniently located near Fork Restaurant, La Parada - Bree Street, and Hallelujah.

Cape Town Central is also home to Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, a popular that is not too far from The PortsWood.

Whether you’re travelling for business, pleasure or both, The PortsWood is sure to make your visit to Cape Town Central one worth remembering.

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Property amenities
Paid private parking on-site
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room
Pool
Free breakfast
Video game console
Babysitting
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Parking
Wifi
Pool / beach towels
Outdoor pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Kid-friendly buffet
Airport transportation
Taxi service
Business Centre with Internet Access
Conference facilities
Meeting rooms
24-hour security
Baggage storage
Concierge
Currency exchange
Newspaper
Non-smoking hotel
Doorperson
24-hour check-in
24-hour front desk
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Ironing service
Room features
Air conditioning
Housekeeping
Room service
Safe
Minibar
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Seating area
Iron
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to TGCSA - Tourism Grading Council of South Africa.
HOTEL STYLE
Classic
Business
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans

Location

Portswood Road PortsWood Square, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town Central 8002 South Africa
4.0
1,059 reviews
Reviews summary
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
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The PortsWood hotel garners praise for its hospitable staff and the warm ambiance they create. Its location is a standout feature, offering guests the ease of exploring nearby attractions with a sense of security. Travelers appreciate the value provided, highlighting the sumptuous breakfast and facilities, though a few note the laundry service can be pricey. Guests are pleased with the hotel's amenities, including the luxurious baths and relaxing pool, although some report minor Wi-Fi issues. While the rooms are generally found to be clean and comfortable, occasional noise complaints are mentioned.
Location
Central
Atmosphere
Inviting
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Clean
Service
Friendly
Amenities
Well-appointed

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Detailed Reviews
Bigglestraveller wrote a review Mar 2020
Biggleswade, United Kingdom
The Portswood is a small hotel styled in a maritime theme in a great location only a 5 minute walk from the V&A Waterfront.

Our room (337) was small and comfortable, with tea/coffee making facilities, hairdryer, fridge and a safe. We would've liked a bit more storage space though. The room was a bit noisy being above the main road entrance with a loose drain cover on the drive that clanked loudly everytime a vehicle drove over it . Also there were a lot of doors that slammed at all hours. The A/C was effective but very noisy and when the thermostat kicked in sounded like a jet engine starting up !! If it wasn't for these points The Portswood would've had 5 stars.

The staff were all very friendly, one girl on the travel desk needs to be a bit more helpful we felt but on the whole the staff were all very helpful .

Breakfast was very good with plenty of choice and the restaurants Cape Malay special buffets on a Wednesday are great value. Here the waiting staff were very good, perhaps a bit too efficient at times clearing plates cutlery and napkins up too early whilst up getting another course, returning to find you need these items again.

The bar was a great place to chill at the end of the night, Tarquin deserves a special mention here, a very talented and engaging young man who will go far in the industry.

We would definitely stay in the Portswood again, it is a friendly, comfortable property in a great location.
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from LisaHufkie, Front Office Manager at The PortsWood
Responded Mar 12, 2020
Dear Valued Guest, Thank you for your positive comments, we are pleased that you had a good stay overall. However, we apologize for the inconveniences that you experienced during your stay. Please be assured that the issues raised has been escalated to the relevant departments. It's definitely a boost for us every time we hear positive reviews such as this. We will be sure to let Tarquin know that he made an impact during your stay. We hope to welcome you back to the hotel soon! Yours Sincerely, Lisa Hufkie Front Office Manager
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IanHutton1066 wrote a review Jan 2020
Valletta, Malta
Well we would like to thank all the staff at the hotel. They are so friendly and helpful.

We arrived 7 hours before check in on Sunday and they had a room ready for us in under an hour. The reception staff couldn’t do enough for us after travelling for the last 12 hours. We were offered tea and coffee and made to feel like returning customers who came back every year. This may well be the case going forward, would highly recommend the hotel and we will be back, at some point.

When we got to our room there was a bottle of champagne on ice, they knew we were on honeymoon, but didn’t expect that, another loverly touch from the staff.

When we returned to the hotel that evening they had turned down the room and made it look fantastic with flower petals and towel sculptures. Little things like this make the world of difference when thinking about returning somewhere.

Breakfast great, facilities great and location couldn’t be better. On the V & A Waterfront but far enough away to enjoy the piece and quite of the Portswood surroundings.

Please keep up the good work, it was a real pleasure to stay here, a home from home.

Many thanks to all the staff.

Ian and Fiona
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from JvanderMerwe, Guest Relations Manager at The PortsWood
Responded Jan 25, 2020
Dear Mr and Mrs Hutton Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your valuable feedback and kind words. We are delighted that you enjoyed your Honeymoon and hope to welcome you back sooner rather than later. Muneeb Eksteen Guest Relations Department
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Alan A wrote a review Jan 2020
St. Augustine, Florida
The Portswood Hotel has a very good location within a short walk of the vibrant Waterfront. The hotel has a small swimming pool and seating area. The staff are very pleasant and helpful. The breakfast was very good with plenty of choice. Our room was on the ground floor, not far from reception. The room had a pleasant decor and was clean and tidy. There was limited wardrobe and cupboards. Our room faced onto the guest drop off area so was quite noisy, and also from the main road. You could also hear noise from reception. In general the hotel could do with an upgrade.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from LisaHufkie, Front Office Manager at The PortsWood
Responded Jan 28, 2020
Dear Valued Guest, Thank you for choosing our hotel as your host in Cape Town, we sincerely appreciate you taking the time to provide us with such detailed feedback about your stay. We are pleased that you found our location convenient and that the service and our facilities were to your expectations. Please be assured that your concerns regarding the noise, packing space and your recommendation of an upgrade has been escalated to the relevant managers. We look forward to welcoming you back to our hotel and Cape Town. Yours Sincerely, Lisa Hufkie
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Mediumsteak wrote a review Mar 2020
Newtownabbey, United Kingdom
We recently stayed in the portswood for our honeymoon on the last week of February. It's an ideal and safe location to allow you to explore Cape town. The rooms are good, breakfast was very good and some of the staff were so friendly especially the young bar maid who worked behind the bar in the evening and the door men. We have since moved on to other hotels along the garden route, I guess why it doesn't get full marks is that we notified them prior to arrival that it was our honeymoon, there was no acknowledgement throughout our stay and we are not the type of couple to beg for anything. Other hotels we have since stayed in on our trip which we also notified have done small touches to add to our honeymoon. It's the little things that make you stand out from the rest! Having said that I wouldnt hesitate in recommending the hotel.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from LisaHufkie, Front Office Manager at The PortsWood
Responded Mar 4, 2020
Dear Happy Guest, Congratulations on your honeymoon!! I am so delighted that you chose to celebrate such a special occasion with us. We hope to have you back in the near future and take part in more of your life's celebrations and milestones.
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Jenn L wrote a review Jan 2020
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
We stayed here for 5 nights in November 2019. The hotel's location is ideal as you can walk 2 minutes to the V&A waterfront where all the shops and restaurants are. The staff is very helpful and friendly. The breakfast was amazing, a variety of hot and cold items as well as beverages. Rooms are clean and quiet.
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Date of stay: November 2019
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from JvanderMerwe, Guest Relations Manager at The PortsWood
Responded Jan 8, 2020
Dear Guest Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your valuable feedback and kind words. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay and hope to welcome you back sooner rather than later. Muneeb Eksteen Guest Relations Department
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Shef wrote a review Feb 2023
Surrey, United Kingdom
We booked our 4 night stay at the Portswood at the front desk after moving over from the CBD and couldn’t have been happier.

Location:

Positioned next to the waterfront - less than a minute walk to the entrance gate, with the walk itself feeling safe (especially in comparison to the CBD). This means most amenities, shops, and restaurants are nearby including the hop on/off bus stop.

Rooms:

We opted for a suite which was on the fourth floor. The room was spacious and clean with a large comfortable bed (photo added). Decor was a fresh nautical style and appeared to have been renovated in the last few years. Water bottles provided by room service daily made for a nice touch, especially if you wanted to be out and about early.

Food:

The food in Cape Town was generally of a very high standard and the Portswood didn’t disappoint either. We only had breakfast here (included with the room) but it was faultless. As for dinner, I can’t really comment much aside to say it smelt fantastic!

Service and Amenities

General service from hotel staff was good and helpful. The pool was quite small and can be in the shade of the hotel at times however, for a city pool you can’t really argue. It should be noted guests can make use of the facilities of their sister hotel next door should they wish. We were quite busy out and about during our time here so aside from a quick dip, didn’t really use it much.

Overall we had a great stay at this hotel and would definitely recommend it going forward.
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lisa Hufkie, Guest Services / Front Office at The PortsWood
Responded Mar 23, 2023
Dear Aaawshef, Thank you so much for this amazing review. We are so glad that you thoroughly enjoyed your stay with us and that to a certain extent we were able to alleviate your concerns regarding the experience in the CBD. Thank you also for recommending us to other travelers. We look forward to welcoming you back to our hotel and Cape Town. Yours Sincerely,
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janetewilkinson wrote a review Jan 2020
Leeds, United Kingdom
My husband and I stayed at this hotel for 5 nights during a recent trip to Cape Town. This is supposed to be a 4 star hotel, but I am surprised at that rating as this is a very tired looking hotel that needs a total refurbishment and a good clean. The rooms on the hotels web site do not bear much resemblance to the reality. The room we were in on the 4th floor was not good and the carpet in particular looked very grubby.

There was a nail sticking up from the carpet just outside the bathroom which would have caused a nasty cut if anyone stood on it. Despite my husband reporting this early on in our stay nothing was done about it. We gave up on breakfast after one morning where both the cutlery and crockery were dirty. There was a sideboard in the dining room that looked like it had not been cleaned for a very long time. The corridor on the 4th floor also had a nasty smell most of the time during our stay.

We did use the pool facilities at the commodore hotel which is part of the same group and that looked a lot better than the Portswood.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from JvanderMerwe, Guest Relations Manager at The PortsWood
Responded Jan 25, 2020
Dear Mrs Wilkinson We have noted your comments which has been raised with the Head of Department/s in order to ensure that corrective and remedial action is implemented. Please be assured that this is not the Standard of Service we pride ourselves in, and it is hoped that this experience does not tarnish your impression of the hotel. We hope to welcome you back sooner rather than later. Regards Muneeb Eksteen Guest Relations Department
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tandb36 wrote a review Feb 2023
Hadleigh, United Kingdom
Stayed at this hotel for 4 nights

Location 5* Just across the road from the V & A perfect for Table mountain etc

Reception 4* Initially very quick and easy, what you need after an 11 hour through the night flight, but local knowledge was poor when asked a question .

Room 5* smallish but well equipped and the best hotel Tv package i have ever had on my travels

Breakfast Food 5* good choice , well cooked and presented
Breakfast Service 2 * Would have been nil after the first two days when the service was abysmal, having to hunt down a member of staff to clean a table so we could eat. However on the last 2 days it was excellent

I would recommend this hotel for its location but the management need to revieew the breakfast service
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Date of stay: January 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lisa Hufkie, Guest Services / Front Office at The PortsWood
Responded Mar 23, 2023
Dear Tandb36, Thank you so much for taking the time to provide us with such candid feedback. All feedback received is ultimately used to train our staff in the areas that are lacking and to compliment where they excel. Please be assured that your comments regarding the breakfast room service and lack of local knowledge has been escalated to the relevant managers. We look forward to welcoming you back to our hotel and Cape Town on your return. Yours Sincerely,
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22MoiraN wrote a review Jul 2021
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Enjoyed the ambience with beautiful spacious reception area, great dining room, as well as friendly staff. The bedroom was small but I was on holiday and it was very adequate for my needs. The staff went out of their way to be helpful. My booking included breakfast, which offered a wide variety of options. The hotel was a quick walk to the Waterfront. I was also given free on site parking for myself as well as my visitors. Also easy access to N2 and N1
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Date of stay: July 2021
Location
Service
Room Tip: if you require extra room for work request a bigger room on booking
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lisa Hufkie, Guest Services / Front Office at The PortsWood
Responded Jul 29, 2021
Dear 22MoiraN, Thank you so much for choosing our hotel and for the 5 star rating. We truly appreciate you taking the time to provide us with your review of your stay and are especially happy to hear that our staff and service met your needs and expectations. We look forward to welcoming you back to the hotel in the near future. Yours Sincerely Lisa Hufkie
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Ellen Girardeau Kempler wrote a review Sep 2023
Laguna Beach, California
Wonderful, reasonably priced place with an attentive and friendly staff. The included breakfast is delicious and generous and the location is centrally located, but quiet, with very comfortable beds. Our only problem during our stay was that there was only a single USB port for charging and it was VERY slow. Due to the configuration of the plugs on the desk, we were unable to charge a second phone with an adaptor and an attached charging block. The steam room across the street at the Commodore was an added bonus.
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: There are USB plugs in the back of the t.v. if you need to charge more than one phone
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lisa Hufkie, Guest Services / Front Office at The PortsWood
Responded Nov 4, 2023
Dear ellengirardeauk, Thank you so much for taking the time to provide us with your feedback regarding your stay. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your stay and look forward to welcoming you back soon. Yours Sincerely, Lisa Hufkie Front Office Manager
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Answer from daviddD2632SM
Mold, United Kingdom50 contributions11 helpful votes
There wasn’t an obvious shuttle but I’m sure they could book a taxi for you.
Answer from Eloise H
Greater Johannesburg, South Africa
Good Morning Hope you are well. Could you please give me the dates of your request and your children's ages so that I may recommend the best room types for your family? Looking forward to hearing from you Kind regards Eloise Hyland
Answer from LisaHufkie
1 helpful vote
The hotel's standard cancellation policy is as follows: Cancellation - Seven or less rooms - within 48 hours prior to arrival will be subject to a full cancellation fee of the value of one nights accommodation booked. However, should you have booked via a third party - you will need to cancel your reservation with them as per their cancellation policy
nelly071 asked a question Jan 2019
Stevenage, United Kingdom147 contributions109 helpful votes
How much is airport transfers to or from the hotel please
Answer from jillindenver
Denver, Colorado43 contributions10 helpful votes
We took an Uber from the airport, it was about 350 rand. Return trip was about the same
Julie W asked a question Jun 2018
7 contributions
Can I park my rental car safely at Portswood
Answer from Denise B
London, United Kingdom40 contributions21 helpful votes
Hi Julie, We did not park our rental there as we got it when we left. The car park appears to be underground and the road access was only for the hotel, so it looked pretty secure. The entrance to the car park was also in front of the main doors, which always has at least one doorman in front of them. Kind regards Denise
roscoe39 wrote a tip Apr 2024
new zealand181 contributions101 helpful votes
"avoid room 103 at all costs. The pool is cold but refreshing. The Drink themed cocktails are great and the staff brilliant "
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Victoria C wrote a tip Jan 2024
Seventeen Seventy, Australia9 contributions
"Tips of 10-20% is recommended in CT Get the hop on/hop off bus to see the sites "
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Geraldine02 wrote a tip Nov 2023
Malmesbury, United Kingdom39 contributions40 helpful votes
"Perfect if not relying on WiFi!"
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sharon wrote a tip Sep 2023
Peterborough, United Kingdom9 contributions
"Lots of different ways to reach the waterfront which we discovered ourselves but if asked, suppose would have been directed to the shortest."
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Ellen Girardeau Kempler wrote a tip Sep 2023
Laguna Beach, California54 contributions29 helpful votes
"There are USB plugs in the back of the t.v. if you need to charge more than one phone"
Read full review
Not the right property for you?
There are more places to choose from in the Cape Town Central area.
PRICE RANGE
C$192 - C$292 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
the portswood hotel cape town central, portswood hotel cape town, portswood cape town
LOCATION
South AfricaWestern CapeCape TownCape Town Central
NUMBER OF ROOMS
101
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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The PortsWood - UPDATED 2024 Prices, Reviews & Photos

Frequently Asked Questions about The PortsWood
Which popular attractions are close to The PortsWood?
Nearby attractions include Cape Town Diamond Museum (0.5 km), HintHunt Cape Town (0.1 km), and Watershed (0.1 km).
What are some of the property amenities at The PortsWood?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and a pool.
Which room amenities are available at The PortsWood?
Top room amenities include a minibar, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at The PortsWood?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at The PortsWood?
Yes, paid private parking on-site, paid private parking nearby, and paid public parking on-site are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to The PortsWood?
Conveniently located restaurants include Gibson's Gourmet Burgers & Ribs, Mozambik V & A Waterfront, and Karibu Restaurant.
Are there opportunities to exercise at The PortsWood?
Yes, guests have access to a pool and a fitness centre during their stay.
Does The PortsWood have airport transportation?
Yes, The PortsWood offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are any cleaning services offered at The PortsWood?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Are pets allowed at The PortsWood?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
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