Durban - The Three Cities Riverside Hotel & Spa, which overlooks the Umgeni River, recently had a revamp which resulted in a fresh, contemporary yet timeless appeal. The renovation included a new look for the porte cochere and the rooms.
When thinking about Durban hotels, most people picture tall buildings overlooking the Indian Ocean, the bustle of a seafront with street vendors, restaurants and bars, thousands of people milling, swimming, sunbathing or surfing. It’s busy, vibrant and wonderfully hectic, but far from relaxing.
In contrast, the four-star Riverside hotel strikes a balance and offers both the convenience of being five minutes from the frenetic Durban’s Golden Mile and Moses Mabhida Stadium and a chance for peace and relaxation.
The Riverside Hotel prides itself on good service, offering great family accommodation and business facilities. There’s a gym and the hotel is popular with sportsmen, particularly teams taking part in the Dusi canoe race and Comrades Marathon.
All those weary muscles can take advantage of the adjoining Riverside Spa which offers a range of body treatments, with beauty and massage therapists trained to ease aches, pains and stress.
Step through the reception doors into a stylish, spacious lobby and let your eye lead you down to the lower level and out to the courtyard garden with its tall palms, where guests can soak up the sun, dine and enjoy the chilled Durban vibe with a snack or a drink from Mojo’s Cocktail Bar, which overlooks the swimming pool.
Mojo’s is ideal for casual get-togethers, corporate celebrations and meetings, or Friday afternoon happy-hour drinks with colleagues, and is open to hotel guests and the general public.
In the evening, guests can dine overlooking the pool or indoors at the sophisticated Café Bali. The Hops and Barley, with regular live entertainment, offers a traditional pub environment.
The hotel has 169 rooms with various configurations and luxury levels, but all rooms are en-suite with semi-kitchenette facilities that include microwaves and bar fridges. A desk and wi-fi are standard, ideal for businessmen and women who require a work area after hours. The business centre in the hotel has laptop and internet access, and the eight options of conferencing venues available make it an ideal choice for a conference.
The hotel is within easy walking distance of Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve. Boardwalk trails take people over the muddy channels to the sanctuary for thousands of fiddler crabs and the mud skipper fish. There’s also a bird hide from which to look out for curlews, water dikkops, mangrove kingfisher and various other waders – even the fish eagles that frequent the area.
There are some top golf courses about a five-minute drive away. Windsor Park Golf Course lies on the bank opposite the hotel. Beachwood course runs along the coast and is considered one of the more challenging courses in the country.
The Durban Country Club is the only African course to make Golf Magazine’s top 100 golf courses in the world. The par-five third hole is considered to be the best in the world. - Sunday Tribune
For a mix of style, fun and quiet relaxation, call 031 563 0600, e-mail [email protected], visit www.riversidehotel.co.za to find out about special offers, or like the Facebook page- www.facebook.com/RiversideHotelandSpa.