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Review : AC Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Waterfront | Marriott Bonvoy

Review : AC Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Waterfront | Marriott Bonvoy

Note9/10

Hotel
AC Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Waterfront
Country
South Africa
City
Cape Town
Room Type
Suite
Loyalty Program Status
Titanium
Points Per Night
From 15,000 points
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Our review of the AC Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Waterfront

After a first week spent in the Kruger Park area, here we are in Cape Town. For this 4-night stay in the city, we chose the AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront, a Category 3 hotel within the Marriott Bonvoy program (during our stay).

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Location

The AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront is centrally located to explore Cape Town, close to the Waterfront (about a 10-minute walk, otherwise use the hotel’s free shuttle)!

Its location, at the edge of a canal, makes it very quiet and in a well-secured place.

Its address: Dockrail Road, Foreshore, Cape Town 8001 South Africa

Arrival

Our flight from Johannesburg arrived late in the evening. After taking possession of our car rental at Cape Town Airport and about 20 minutes drive, we arrived at the AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront around 10 pm.

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This brand new hotel is undoubtedly one of the finest Marriott hotels in Cape Town.

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Close to reception is the hotel’s « convenience store » with various local products.

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We had two rooms in the hotel (my mother travelling with us): for one of the bookings, I used five credits for a suite upgrade that I had left at the end of the year (a Titanium status perk – also available for Platinum members). A few days before arrival, I received confirmation that one of the two bookings had indeed been upgraded to a suite.

We gave the suite to my mother and our children. For Audrey and I, it’s going to be a standard room. These two rooms are on the 3rd floor.

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The Suite

Let’s start with a tour of the suite that my mother and our children will share, beginning with the living room. We appreciate the choice of materials between modern and classic. My mother enjoyed her morning coffee there while the children were sleeping in the room.

On the living room table, we found a welcome gift.

Note: the sofa is NOT a sofa bed.

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The bedroom is enormous and occupies the corner of the hotel. The King-sized bed comfortably accommodated my mother and our two children.

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There is an office in this room, as well as plenty of storage for luggage. On this desk, we found pieces of information about the hotel and the city, a Nespresso coffee machine and a kettle. A refrigerator is also there. Practical – especially for the « great milk lovers » accompanying us!

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In the bedroom entrance, a small closet in which you will find an ironing table as well as the safe.

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The bathroom

The suite has 2 bathrooms:

  • In the bedroom
  • In the living room

My mother will get one while the children will take ownership of the other!

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These two bathrooms are identical and consist of a large shower.

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The toiletries are of high quality.

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The second bedroom

On our side, with Audrey, we had a more classic room, one you could get by redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points.

The bathroom (composed of a shower) and the accessories are identical to those of the suite (Nespresso coffee machine, kettle, Bluetooth alarm clock).

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Hotel amenities

Gym

The hotel has a gym on the 2nd floor. Very lovely with exceptional brightness and quality machines.

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The pool

The pool is close to the hotel’s outdoor terrace and offers views of the docks. Unfortunately, the weather was not favourable during our stay, and we were not able to fully enjoy it (only our daughter did some dives).

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Breakfast

Breakfast is in the hotel restaurant, at the lobby level.

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With the kids, the best seats are the tables with benches!

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Coffee machines are available in self-service.

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Breakfast is a buffet, and AC Hotels are renowned for the quality of their breakfasts. The one at AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront will not deviate from the rule: it is EXCELLENT!

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Here are all the options on the salty side:

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In all AC Hotels (a Spanish origin), there is a machine to cut ham:

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Here are some other options on the salty side:

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And now the options offered on the sweet side:

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Review : AC Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Waterfront | Marriott Bonvoy - 83
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Review : AC Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Waterfront | Marriott Bonvoy - 86

Bottom Line

AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront is an excellent brand new Cape Town hotel. If you are staying in the city, we highly recommend it.

We particularly enjoyed various details:

  • The kindness of the staff, and especially Daniel, really attentive to our needs and those of our children!
  • The hotel shuttle to the Waterfront (at fixed times)
  • The possibility of having free access to a boat shuttle (ask the Concierge for tickets)

This hotel is at the heart of the action while being a little out of the way! Getting to the hotel from the Waterfront is very safe (access is made possible from the back of the gas station; otherwise, an additional ten minutes of walking would be required! )

Finally, we recommend you try the hotel restaurant which has won multiple awards! Absolutely delicious!

To earn Marriott Bonvoy points, one of the best solutions is to subscribe to the Marriott BonvoyTM American ExpressMD Card, details of the current offer of which can be found below:

Featured
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$990
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 110,000 points
Ends Sep 22, 2026
Apply Now

on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).

The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card is the best credit card in Canada for free hotel nights.

New Cardmembers can earn up to 110,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points with the current offer:

  • Earn 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on your Card in your first 6 months of Cardmembership.
  • Plus, earn 30,000 points by making a purchase during your 15th month of Cardmembership.

This offer ends on September 22, 2026. The annual fee is $120, and there is no annual fee on Additional Cards, so you can add a partner or a family member at no extra cost.

Every year after your first Card anniversary, you receive an Annual Free Night Award good for a redemption of up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide. At a valuation of 0.9 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point, that certificate is worth roughly $315, which on its own more than covers the $120 annual fee. That is the main reason to keep this Card year after year instead of cancelling it.

To get the most out of the certificate, aim it at a night that would otherwise price close to the 35,000 point ceiling.

The Card also gives you 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. Those credits count toward the next Elite tier, so you begin every year 15 nights ahead of where you would otherwise start.

You move up to Gold Elite status automatically when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card in a year, or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your Card.

Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at 0.9 cents each. On that basis, the 110,000 point welcome offer is worth about $990, and an Annual Free Night Award used at its full 35,000 point ceiling is worth about $315.

Marriott Bonvoy points pull their weight on free nights rather than on gift cards or merchandise, which is why this Card should be judged on the hotel stays it produces.

You earn 5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for free nights with no blackout dates at more than 7,000 hotels around the world.

The Card carries a solid package of coverages: $500,000 travel accident insurance, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage and hotel or motel burglary at $500 each, car rental theft and damage up to $85,000 for rentals of up to 48 days, Purchase Protection for 90 days and a one year Extended Warranty.

Two things to plan around: the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, and the 21.99% purchase interest rate, which makes this a Card to pay in full every month. Like all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is published for this Card, and you can see whether you would be approved before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xMarriott Bonvoy hotels
  • 2xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,437
2nd Year Value$312

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

Go further with Marriott Bonvoy

To maximize your stays and points earning, check our complete Marriott Bonvoy program guide and our best Marriott Bonvoy credit cards ranking. For personal use, see the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card. For business expenses, the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card earns points on every business purchase. And if a points purchase promotion is running, take advantage via our Marriott Bonvoy points purchase guide.

Our featured card

Featured
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$990
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 110,000 points
Ends Sep 22, 2026
Apply Now

on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).

The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card is the best credit card in Canada for free hotel nights.

New Cardmembers can earn up to 110,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points with the current offer:

  • Earn 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on your Card in your first 6 months of Cardmembership.
  • Plus, earn 30,000 points by making a purchase during your 15th month of Cardmembership.

This offer ends on September 22, 2026. The annual fee is $120, and there is no annual fee on Additional Cards, so you can add a partner or a family member at no extra cost.

Every year after your first Card anniversary, you receive an Annual Free Night Award good for a redemption of up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide. At a valuation of 0.9 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point, that certificate is worth roughly $315, which on its own more than covers the $120 annual fee. That is the main reason to keep this Card year after year instead of cancelling it.

To get the most out of the certificate, aim it at a night that would otherwise price close to the 35,000 point ceiling.

The Card also gives you 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. Those credits count toward the next Elite tier, so you begin every year 15 nights ahead of where you would otherwise start.

You move up to Gold Elite status automatically when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card in a year, or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your Card.

Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at 0.9 cents each. On that basis, the 110,000 point welcome offer is worth about $990, and an Annual Free Night Award used at its full 35,000 point ceiling is worth about $315.

Marriott Bonvoy points pull their weight on free nights rather than on gift cards or merchandise, which is why this Card should be judged on the hotel stays it produces.

You earn 5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for free nights with no blackout dates at more than 7,000 hotels around the world.

The Card carries a solid package of coverages: $500,000 travel accident insurance, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage and hotel or motel burglary at $500 each, car rental theft and damage up to $85,000 for rentals of up to 48 days, Purchase Protection for 90 days and a one year Extended Warranty.

Two things to plan around: the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, and the 21.99% purchase interest rate, which makes this a Card to pay in full every month. Like all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is published for this Card, and you can see whether you would be approved before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xMarriott Bonvoy hotels
  • 2xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,437
2nd Year Value$312

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

Our editorial integrity

Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.