Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani

The seafood chef at the buffet remembered a returning guest by name, and the ocean view from the rooms is the real thing. Drainage problems have hit more than one room, so it is worth checking the bath before you unpack.

• The ocean views from the rooms as a standout feature, with one noting she has returned multiple times and never experienced poor service.
• One reviewer highlighted that the seafood chef at the buffet remembered her from a previous visit, pointing to a level of personal attention at the restaurant.
• A reviewer described an early morning beach walk at 5am where people were already swimming, giving a sense of how active and lively the beachfront is directly outside the hotel.
• One woman noted that after flagging a substandard room on arrival, management moved her to the Maharani side of the property, which she said turned the stay around entirely.
• Two reviewers reported room maintenance issues, including a blocked basin and poor shower drainage, while another mentioned arriving to find the room unprepared and the pool under unannounced maintenance.
• Some guests were moved between the Elangeni and Maharani sections due to room condition issues, suggesting inconsistency across the property.
• The hotel offers a pre-packed breakfast to go, but the options are fixed and substitutions from the main buffet are not permitted, which frustrated at least one reviewer.
• At least two guests reported room issues on arrival, but in one case management responded quickly and arranged an upgrade with a follow-up call.
• The hotel sits directly on the beachfront and the beach is walkable, with the seafront described as busy and active from very early in the morning.
• The buffet dinner and the V and V restaurant received positive mentions, though one reviewer found the breakfast buffet pastries stale and not freshly made.

A read of 10,943 guest reviews. These reviews do not record who wrote them, so nothing here is attributed to women.