THE GRANDE DAME OF THE GOLDEN MILE
LOCATION
If it’s central Durban you’re after, you hands-down will not get a better location than the Elangeni and Maharani, two adjacent properties which are run as one hotel, soaring into the sky right across from North Beach, on the famous Golden Mile stretch of beaches.
That puts the best views and all the best attractions of this 7km seaside promenade — including uShaka Marine World, the Time Warp Surfing Museum, Funworld, with rides for kiddies and romantics, and several bars and restaurants — within easy walking distance.
STYLE
With 734 rooms altogether, this is a behemoth of a hotel, full of clean lines and neutral tones, clearly intended to appeal to as wide an audience as possible. Business and pleasure travellers are equally at home here.
There are also a whopping 10 room types to choose from, from standard to presidential. My “luxury suite” was enormous with an open-plan lounge and dining table (there is 24-hour room service), a private balcony and a separate bedroom.
The star decor element, however, is all natural — every room has views from the wide windows over the lovely lawns that stretch away to the roiling surf right across the street.
FACILITIES
Guests of either hotel also have access to the neighbouring hotel’s facilities — so from the Elangeni, where both pools are on the second floor — one by the public bar; the other for the exclusive use of hotel guests, you can go and take a dip in the sky at the Maharani, where the small pool is, amazingly, on the 32nd floor. There are also two gyms, two spas, conference facilities, and a hair salon.
SERVICE
A bit slow in the Panorama Bar at cocktail hour — it’s busy because it’s beautiful — but otherwise slick and mostly with a smile.
ACTIVITIES
If a big rush is your thing, then do head out to the Moses Mabhida Stadium for the Big Swing — an (almost) heart-stopping leap from a platform (pictured right) 87m above the ground into the stadium bowl. I did it, and found myself instantly in a love-hate type of situation (see story below).
Only slightly less exhilarating is a Segway ride, which you can do all the way from the stadium — along a concrete path — to uShaka Marine World at the end of the promenade.
TIME TO EAT
Even if you don’t look beyond the hotel at all, the hardest part about eating here is narrowing down your choices. Counting the bars too, you have a whopping six options. The Ocean Breeze Restaurant serves the fullworks breakfast with a side order of sea views. The Panorama Bar, with a heated pool and more amazing views, does cocktails, and light meals including burgers and pizzas. I ran out of time for trying the Japanese restaurant, but did have perhaps my best steak ever at The Grill Jichana, which has a dimly-lit, special-occasion feel and promises premium cuts from the best local producers.
RATES
Sunbreaks Winter public rates from R1,555 per room, B&B. Valid until August 15. A minimum two-night stay applies.
CONTACT
tsogosun.com. Sleith was a guest of Tsogo Sun