Beverly Hills is the splurge choice in Umhlanga, an 88-room luxury hotel on Lighthouse Road graded five-star by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa. Its position is its strength, with the Umhlanga Lighthouse two minutes away on foot, Oceans Mall three minutes and Umhlanga Main Beach about eight. The hotel has an outdoor pool with sun loungers, umbrellas and a poolside bar, a full-service spa offering massages, facials, manicures, pedicures and reflexology, a gym, a garden and a terrace. There are two restaurants, Elements Cafe Bar and Sugar Club, as well as a bar and lounge and a snack bar and deli, and a free full breakfast is served each morning. For couples, special occasions and travellers who want a polished base away from the busy beachfront, it is the most upmarket hotel in this roster.
Location and getting around
The hotel sits on Lighthouse Road in the heart of Umhlanga, so the promenade, the lighthouse, the shops and the cafes are all within a short walk. The Gateway Theatre of Shopping is about four minutes by car, and King Shaka International Airport is about twenty-two minutes away.
An airport shuttle is available on request for a fee of 500 rand per person each way. Free self parking and free valet parking are offered. Central Durban is a longer drive south, so plan taxis or ride-hailing cars for city sightseeing and day trips.
The rooms and services
The property has 88 rooms, with free WiFi in the rooms and some public areas, air conditioning and round-the-clock room service. The front desk is staffed twenty-four hours, and there is a business centre, meeting rooms and a banquet hall, which is why the hotel is also popular for weddings and conferences. Express check-in and express check-out are available.
Policies and practicalities
Check-in starts at two in the afternoon, check-out is before eleven in the morning and the minimum check-in age is eighteen. Pets are not allowed, though service animals are welcome. The hotel accepts credit cards but not cash. Who it suits: couples, honeymooners and spa lovers, and visitors combining the promenade, whale-watching season and dining in Umhlanga with a few days of relaxation.
It is not close to the Golden Mile or uShaka Marine World, so choose a beachfront hotel in the city if those are your priority, and keep Umhlanga for a quieter, upmarket stay.
Choosing it well
Ask for a room that suits your priorities, such as a quieter room away from the pool bar or one with a view, and let the hotel know about special occasions in advance. The spa is worth booking early in busy periods, and the free breakfast makes it easy to start slowly. Because the hotel is in Umhlanga, you will want a car or ride-hailing for the city sights, so factor in transport costs for the days you spend in central Durban.
Why stay here
- ✓Free full breakfast
- ✓Outdoor pool with poolside bar
- ✓Full-service spa
- ✓Two restaurants and a lounge bar
- ✓Gym, garden and terrace
- ✓24-hour room service
- ✓Free self and valet parking
- ✓Free WiFi in rooms
Good questions
Is breakfast included at Beverly Hills Umhlanga?+
Yes, a free full breakfast is served daily from half past six to half past ten in the morning.
How far is the beach?+
Umhlanga Main Beach is about eight minutes on foot, and the lighthouse is two minutes away.
How far is the airport?+
About twenty-two minutes by car. An airport shuttle is available on request for a fee of 500 rand per person each way.
