Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani Hotel, Durban (South Africa) - Deals & Reviews

great ocean views but issues with attentiveness and cleanliness

The location is perfect, right at the beach, offering stunning ocean views. However, I experienced delays with getting towels and there were cleanliness concerns. The rooftop pool is a wonderful spot!

Waking up to a breathtaking ocean view from my room on the 21st floor was a highlight. The breakfast buffet was exceptional, with an array of tasty dishes that kept impressing me. I particularly loved the lamb chops and seafood selections.

Unfortunately, some service interactions felt off, and I faced long waits when needing assistance from the front desk. Early morning showers had weak pressure, making for a less pleasant experience.

The breakfast offered a delightful variety, surely a highlight of the stay, complementing the spacious standard room with a sea view, though windows could use a thorough cleaning for optimal enjoyment of the scenery. On the downside, accessing the lobby could be challenging without porters available, as well as dealing with outdated amenities and occasional mechanical issues with bathroom locks. Dining on yummy pork belly was another culinary treat that contributed positively to the experience, making the overall stay quite memorable despite a few hiccups.

The breakfast buffet had an impressive variety of dishes.

Unfortunately, my experience included some significant disappointments. The bar fridge in my room was broken, rendering it useless, which was quite inconvenient. Additionally, the TV frequently lost signal, disrupting our downtime. While I enjoyed many aspects of my stay, these technical issues overshadowed some of the positive moments.

Room for Improvement, but Potential for Greatness

While the ocean view from my room was stunning, the overall experience was dampened by a few communication hiccups with staff and room service. I recommend trying the seafood restaurant nearby for a delicious dinner—just be mindful of timing as they can appear impatient. Overall, there's promise here if they address customer service issues.

Had a family birthday celebration that ended in chaos. The kids were all excited for the pools, which were supposedly heated, but they were freezing, and my son couldn't swim at all. The staff didn’t even help when my son accidentally broke a plate during breakfast.

It wasn’t inexpensive, but it was still a mess regardless.

The views from my room were stunning and the restaurants had special events. Just a heads-up, the room's a bit on the smaller side, but cozy enough for a family stay.

Communication about the dining options was confusing, and I ended up at a dinner I didn't reserve—awkward! Also, low water pressure in the morning made me feel like I was in a water-saving contest.

Nice view and friendly staff, but slow lifts made getting around frustrating.

the service was an absolute mess. room service was unresponsive, and I couldn't even have a simple conversation, quite lovely! Also, the breakfast options, just like their staff, were consistently dull. Honestly, for what I paid, I expected some complimentary treat for my troubles, but alas, just regular treatment. I almost wrote a good review, but just couldn’t.

the rooftop pool has a stunning view of the ocean for relaxing. the wifi connection was unreliable and frustrating to use.

the hotel was just lovely! the ocean view was really somethin special, especially at dawn. breakfast was tasty, with lots of yummy options and the rooftop pool was a perfect spot to chill. the staff were super cool and friendly, making me feel right at home. plus, it's right by the beach, so easy to get my toes in the sand!

but the wifi kept actin up and was really slow, which was annoying. also, the shower pressure was weak, making it kinda frustrating to wash up.

the staff were super friendly and welcoming, made me feel right at home. the free wifi and free cocktail on check-in was a nice touch, too! the views from my room were stunning, really can't beat that. the seafood restaurant had some of the best food i had during my stay. i felt like royalty just chillin at the beach access.

The room was spacious with an amazing ocean view and the housekeeping was exceptional. Loved the breakfast variety and poolside service made everything feel so relaxing. Staff always provided prompt service with a smile

We loved the amazing ocean views and enjoyed the diverse breakfast selection each morning. The kids had fun splashing around at the pools, and the quick access to the beach was perfect for family outings and activities nearby like uShaka Marine World.

My wife says that the air conditioning could be better.

The location is stunning, with beautiful ocean views and a dining experience that includes a well-loved breakfast variety. The cleaning staff provided excellent service, though the elevators frequently malfunctioned, making movement inconvenient. Overall, the ambiance was pleasant, but some aspects seemed too casual for the price.