Musgrave Avenue Guest Lodge is the budget choice on this list, a guesthouse at 8 Musgrave Avenue in the leafy Berea and Musgrave area, away from the beachfront. It stands about three minutes on foot from the Musgrave Centre and about ten minutes from the Durban Botanic Gardens, and the beach is a short drive away. The lodge has a garden, barbecue grills and laundry services, and rooms range from standard and superior doubles to a self-catering garden loft and a standard villa that sleeps six. Guests rate it excellent overall, with praise for cleanliness and amenities, although only a handful of reviews are shown. It suits travellers who want a quieter residential base, a lower price and the option to self-cater, and who are comfortable using taxis to reach the sights.
Location and getting around
Musgrave is a shopping and restaurant district on the Berea ridge above the city, with the Musgrave Centre a three-minute walk away and restaurants and cafes within about fifteen minutes on foot. The Botanic Gardens are about ten minutes on foot, and the Durban University of Technology is a two-minute drive. The beachfront is a short drive away, and King Shaka International Airport is about thirty-seven minutes by car. You will want taxis or ride-hailing cars for the beach, uShaka and the city centre, particularly after dark.
The rooms
The lodge lists nine room entries, including a self-catering garden loft for two, deluxe doubles with a queen bed, superior double or twin rooms, standard double rooms and a standard villa of about 1,292 square feet that sleeps six, which suits a family or a group. Rooms have air conditioning, heating, a safe, a plasma television with satellite channels, a tea and coffee maker and daily housekeeping. Bathrooms have showers and free toiletries.
What costs extra
Breakfast, self parking and in-room WiFi are all available for a surcharge, and the amounts are not stated, so check them when you book. There is no pool listed. Check-in is from two in the afternoon and check-out is at ten in the morning, which is earlier than most hotels, and pets are not allowed.
Who it suits
Independent travellers on a budget, longer stays that benefit from self-catering and anyone who wants a quiet base near the gardens. Reviews are strong but few, and the most recent displayed is from April 2024, so confirm availability and recent guest comments before booking. If you want to be on the sand every morning, choose a beachfront hotel instead.
Why stay here
- ✓Garden
- ✓Barbecue grills
- ✓Self-catering garden loft and villa
- ✓Air conditioning and heating
- ✓In-room safe
- ✓Tea and coffee maker
- ✓Laundry and dry cleaning
- ✓Breakfast available for a surcharge
Good questions
Is breakfast included at Musgrave Avenue Guest Lodge?+
No, breakfast is available for a surcharge. Self parking and in-room WiFi are also charged extras.
Is it near the beach?+
It is a short drive from the beachfront rather than within walking distance. The Musgrave Centre is about three minutes on foot and the Botanic Gardens about ten.
What times are check-in and check-out?+
Check-in starts at two in the afternoon, and check-out is at ten in the morning. Pets are not allowed.
