Nothing but the very best will do for the rich and famous. And KwaZulu-Natal has the facilities to cater for their expensive tastes this holiday season.
The Oyster Box Hotel in uMhlanga boasts a presidential suite which costs R50 500 a day. Moving inland, Karkloof Spa, outside Pietermaritzburg, has luxury villas at R9 000 per person per night, while R6 685 will get you a four-day pamper package at Fordoun Spa on the Midlands Meander.
Overlooking the Indian Ocean, the Oyster Box’s presidential suite is split over two levels and has private access and a lift. General manager Wayne Coetzer said the suite featured plush furnishings with white timber floors, marble and white Caesar stone throughout, and a Venetian glass chandelier in the dining room.
The latest technology, including an iPod docking station, entertainment centre and six flat-screen TVs, are also featured.
The suite, which Coetzer said was frequently occupied, has a private rim-flow swimming pool on a secluded patio with unfettered sea views, provides privacy and a perfect place in which to entertain.
Those wealthy enough to book the suite have all meals prepared by an executive chef and the services of a butler and valet service, and individually embroidered gowns.
A chauffeur-driven Mercedes-Benz is available as part of the package.
Durban KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau CEO James Seymour said no matter the star rating of its establishments, the city and province had always been value-for-money destinations compared to the Western Cape, where renting a luxury villa in Clifton could cost up to R50 000 a day.
He said KZN offered a variety of good upper-end products to choose from. Research showed that middle to upper income earners tended to visit the North Coast, homes of resorts such as Prince’s Grant Golf Estate, he said.
North Coast establishments tended to run at 100 percent occupancy from December 15 to January 15, said Seymour, adding that reports from the South Coast for the current holiday season were also positive.
In Durban, those with money to spend could choose from establishments on the Golden Mile, while Suncoast Towers, which featured five-star rooms, also had a good reputation.
“Let’s not forget the Hilton Hotel which has an excellent reputation,” he said.
Inland, a popular choice was Fordoun Spa Hotel and Restaurant in Nottingham Road.
According to its owner, Jon Bates, guests preferred to book packages which included spa treatments. One such package is Essence of Africa, which costs R6 685 per person for a four-night stay and includes nine different spa treatments. - The Mercury