Guest reviews Oyster Box, Umhlanga Rocks

by UncleDom London, United Kingdom

5 star hotel with service to match

The Oyster Box is possibly one of the finest hotels I have ever stayed in all my travels around the world. Thanks to the BA nonstop flight from London, the KwaZulu-Natal region is now within easy reach. From the moment you checked in you knew you were somewhere special, the welcome glass or 2 of sparkling wine to the orientation tour showing you where your room and everything was, service was exemplary, sadly as the flight arrived so early the room was not yet serviced but the luggage was stored and delivered to the room when it was available. I loved the signature red carnation in everybody’s uniform, the little touches made all the difference. The room was a garden loft and while there no sea view, it was not an issue, a the sea view was minutes away. The room itself was very spacious and luxurious, the bed was amazingly comfortable to sleep in , the finest cotton bedding, lots of wardrobe and drawer space to unpack and feel at home. The bathroom was as big as my dining room , two wash basins, separate shower and toilet cubicles and a tub ! The toiletries were all sourced from SA, sea salts for the bath, lovely bars of soap and gels, all refilled and replaced after use. 2 choices of robes to wear in the evening when you retired back to your room, turndown was done every evening and a chocolate left on the side with some water. Just superb service. The housekeeping team also deserve an award for working so quickly and efficiently, doing a great job like super ninjas. Breakfast was absolutely fabulous and the most perfect start to your day. Sparkling wine, different kinds of juice , smoothies you were spoilt on what to choose. Everything you could possibly want was available, eggs benny, oysters (obliviously) smoked salmon to the full English, omelets, pancakes , pastries , where do I end? The cold cuts of meat and fruit selections were awesome too. Beware of the monkeys ! The whole hotel was so very well maintained and managed, the staff were all excellent, nothing was too much, smiles and service was the order of the day, you just did not want to leave. The pool area was spotless , there was also loungers on the lawns so you could enjoy the sea views from there, sadly the famous lighthouse on the beach was covered and undergoing repairs so I missed the iconic view. The location is perfect, numerous bars and restaurants with a few minutes walk away from the hotel, a Spar and PicknPay nearby, the walk along the promenade in either direction was great exercise and the you could enjoy the lovely sand and warm sea waves of the Indian ocean. It knocks spots off the Beverly Hills hotel next door, it is in a different league. Sad to see that the hotel is closed temporarily due to the CVD-19 virus but on reopening , do go and visit and it’s a gem of a hotel.

by amyp123 Guernsey, United Kingdom

Delightful

We arrived at The Oyster Box on 29th February for a 4 night stay. There was a slight mis-hap on arrival, and the car wasn't at the airport to transfer us (mis communication with flight arrival time) but after a quick call to the hotel, the car was with us less than 10 minutes later. On arrival at the hotel, concierge could not be more apologetic. All was forgiven during check in with a glass of bubbly, followed by a beautiful lunch at the Ocean Terrace. Our room was a Luxury Ocean View. I'd love to say it was spacious, but because we had so much luggage, it was hard to tell! The bathroom was absolutely huge, and after travelling for nearly 24 hours, the shower felt amazing. The gardens at the hotel are perfectly manicured, the pools are a lovely refreshing temperature, and the staff are wonderful (especially Kishan on concierge) Breakfast every day was something to look forward to...sat outside at the Ocean Terrace, the menu is vast, and champagne is available. As we're not big eaters at lunch, we'd just have a pizza on the terrace. All meals we had were delicious. One evening, we really weren't very hungry, so we just went to the Lighthouse Bar for a drink and snacks, and it was lovely. All in all, a wonderful, relaxing stay at the start of a very busy trip. Would we return? Absolutely!

by maraisbarries

Honeymoon Dinner

Thanks to Jean at the Oyster Box restaurant for making our honeymoon dinner so special! Food was of top quality and of very decent size! Will recommend for everyone! Scenery is great, and the lighthouse bar makes for a great pre-drink spot!

by Ian V Durban, South Africa

My wife and I felt like spoiling ourselves and visited the Oyster Rocks hotel High tea one afternoon

I great treat with great service and selection of eats ranging from delicious savories , including samosas and sandwiches , to scrumptious pastries and cakes . Followed by endless cups of fine teas and cappuccinos . We really enjoyed this time out and did the many guests !

by MandM_Dunbar Durban, South Africa

Superb Once Again

My wife and I spent 2 nights celebrating out wedding anniversary. We have a great ground floor sea facing room. The room as large with a massive shower and was very clean. The service received from all the staff was excellent and nothing was to much trouble for anyone. A special thank you to Nonku at the main pool. She really was superb and made the few days that's much more memorable. Juan (spelling) and Thobani at the ocean terrace were also fantastic. It really is like stepping into a different world when you are at the Oyster box, and it really is a pleasure staying there.