Background
Three Cities is a Durban-based hotel group with a selection of properties in South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, comprising city hotels, resorts, safari experiences, and a hotel school. It is particularly strong in the Umhlanga area to the north of Durban, with four properties in the form of the Square Boutique Hotel & Spa, the Gateway Hotel, the Royal Palm Hotel and the Urban Park Hotel & Spa.
Where Is It?
The hotel is located on Umhlanga Ridge, in close proximity to the rapidly-expanding Umhlanga business hub. It is about 15 minutes’ drive from King Shaka International Airport and about 20 minutes from Durban’s International Convention Centre, Moses Mabhida Stadium, and the Durban CBD. Umhlanga’s beaches are nearby and there are two substantial shopping malls in close proximity. There are also several golf courses, including Mount Edgecombe, in the vicinity.
Rooms
The hotel has 50 rooms, made up of 43 Superior rooms, six Deluxe rooms and one Honeymoon Suite. My Superior room had a modern and stylish bathroom with separate bath, shower and all the requisite bathroom conveniences. The room itself was incredibly comfortable with an extra-length king-size bed and some nice modern touches around the room. They included a large, flat-screen TV with a good bouquet of channels, a small writing desk and chair, tea and coffee-making facilities, in-room phone and large mirror. If you want to work in your room, Wi-Fi vouchers are available for purchase from the front desk.
Restaurants & Bars
Being a boutique hotel, this property has only one restaurant, Cosmopolitan, which offers cuisine of a ‘Fusion’ and ‘Contemporary’ nature. The lunch was excellent. It consisted of a buffet which offered a wide selection, although I opted for the curry, as it’s difficult to beat a Durban curry! It was a wise choice and I’d gladly re-visit the hotel just for the curry. The dessert menu was also well-varied and the malva pudding was delicious. The Cosmopolitan is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Unfortunately, I only had time on this particular trip to try out the lunch, but dinner is top of the list for my return trip! Room service at the hotel is daily until 22h00.
Meeting &Conference Facilities
The hotel can do banquet-style seating for 250 and 100 delegates schoolroom-style. There is also boardoom seating for 40 delegates and a U-shaped configuration for the same number. I arrived at the hotel with little time to spare for a conference presentation that I was about to give, and the staff assisted me with setting up the equipment in the conference room. The banqueting staff were extremely accommodating, particularly as we had more guests than anticipated at the event. Extra chairs were rapidly provided, and the presentation went ahead without a hitch.
Leisure Facilities
True to the name of the hotel, the Aqua Spa dominates the leisure offering, and can be found on the third floor. It is open to the public and offers a number of different treatments, including spa packages ranging from aromatherapy massages to manicures, pedicures, full-body massages, body scrubs and wraps, ocean sensation baths and facials. Bookings for the spa are essential. Three Cities Square Boutique Hotel & Spa also has a modern gym, sauna and steam room, and there’s rooftop pool and deck. Additional facilities include 24-hour reception and underground parking.
Verdict
Three Cities Square Boutique Hotel & Spa is a great venue for both leisure and business travel, particularly if you prefer a more intimate hotel experience with personalised service. I was also very impressed with the food on offer, and the accommodation ticked all the boxes. An excellent Umhlanga option.
Lance Rothschild
Contact
Address: 250 Umhlanga Rocks Drive
Tel: +27 31 536 6600
Email: ceres@threecities.co.za
Web: www.threecities.co.za