This property is no longer a “hotel” in the true sense and really should not be sold as such - it is verging on misrepresentation. It was clearly once a very attractive place but has been seriously neglected and is being turned into a downmarket timeshare resort. On checking in we were told that a) there are no restaurants, no room service and no bars other than a pool bar that opens only during the day. b) the only restaurants were at the Zimbali Fairmont - 3 km away, within the same estate, but that a transfer service was provided (as if this was a benefit!). We found this completely unacceptable and asked if we could upgrade to the Fairmont, but there were no rooms. As we were only there for one night and had had a long drive we weren’t really in a position to start looking for another hotel in the area, but did at least manage to get some lunch in a cafe in nearby Ballito. We would never stay there again in any circumstances and frankly Expedia should be ashamed of marketing it as a “hotel”.
I’d be happy to give you a very long list of observations about this dump (including the utter farce of the dinner “arrangement” which didn’t include the ability to sign for the meal-cash or card was demanded. Most tellingly of all, ex Lodge staff who worked at the Fairmont told us it was embarrassing to see a once luxury resort run down like this,