Berea hotels & places to stay

Good: a very nice room, clean, a comfortable bed, decent shower/toilet, and tea/coffee-making facilities. Manager and staff were helpful and friendly. The building is a wonderful old colonial structure. The location is convenient, yet quiet. Bad: I can find no indication on Agoda that the establishment is now halaal: no bar facilities, no wine, no standard breakfast. I have no problem with this, but it should be disclosed on the booking site. Sad: A hotelier once told me that owning a hotel is a great tax dodge, but that you'll see the signs when an owner is not a true hotelier: poor maintenance, inattention to detail, etc. He said too that a hotel that is not constantly trying to improve deteriorates. I knew the St James well and the signs are there: a bare light bulb on the staircase, dead bulbs in the reception chandelier, a rusty newsstand on the patio, wires hanging out of the room safe, cheap adapters. And the breakfast was heavy and greasy despite being pork-free.

From the moment we booked until we checked out we received a tailor made customer service experience. The room was as exceptional if not better than what we saw on the internet. My fiance and I were looking to find faults but couldn't. The breakfast was delicious, we also made use of their steam room and jacuzzi both were lovely. A big thank you to the staff from the security to the kitchen staff especially Sindy and Nobuhle they were impeccable hostesses, the wifi was awsome as well. We will definitely be coming back to the Executive suites @ 555 next time we in Durban and would recommend it to friends and family

Really great location, especially for younger visitors to Durban, for easy walking access to restaurants and bars all around. I felt fine walking until late because there were so many other people out and about. The unofficial parking guards may tail you a bit, thinking you are going to your car when you walk back to the hotel, but they're just looking for their tips. Service is generally quite friendly and personal. Managers and senior staff were usually around during breakfast and very eager to help. Breakfast itself is wonderful. There is a small, but varied cold buffet selection and a hot menu. The menu is a little underwhelming based on the many breakfast mentions I saw in reviews of the hotel, but the food was very good. The rooms are not too big, and the bathroom is small, but both are functional and comfortable. The bed was just about perfect to me, and I slept well every night. The shower is another attribute that stood out and contributed to the relaxing atmosphere of the room. TV options are a bit limited, but the wifi was consistently strong and reasonably fast. I was able to video Skype with no problems. Despite the active nightlife on Florida Rd, I didn't get much street noise at night. While my room was toward the middle of the hotel and somewhat shielded from the street, the immediate area around the hotel doesn't have as many night spots, so I'd imagine even the rooms closest to the street are fine. All-in-all, it was a wonderful stay. I fueled up in the mornings with a full breakfast, headed out during the day for some sight-seeing and beach time, came back to regroup before walking down the street for a late dinner and drinks, and then retiring to the room for a restful sleep.

It was so much closer to the airport than my last place near uSkaka Marine Park, Chris and his staff are very friendly which is always nice. The room was simple, I believe all are ensuite and the bathroom was clean. I was able to park my car in a secure lot, there is a centre across the street with a grocery and bottle store and quite a few shops to wander through. Florida street was two blocks away but it is only advised to go during daylight hours if one person but they do have a food delivery menu if you do not want to prepare your own dinner. The kitchen was probably recently upgraded as it was very clean and modern. If I had to point out a flaw, my sheets did not seem freshly clean, so I just turned everything over/inside out and was satisfied; if given the energy to get up and ask for new bedding I'm sure they would have had corrected it immediately.

My group of ladies booked a smoking room... upon arrival we were told we have to smoke on the roof which was very far from our room! The air-con was not working in the heart of summer! We suffered in that hot room, they gave us a small fan which did absolutely nothing! The room was neat and clean, comfortable beds and staff were friendly. The hotels location is perfect for a night out on Florida Road.

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I enjoyed my stay. The room was large and had everything I needed. The included breakfast was wonderful (more than I should have eaten but it was so good). The only problem I had is that it is very much our of the way. There is no public transport near this property and every taxi driver I hired had difficulty finding it. It is on a small street that is not well travelled. If I return to Durban, I will probably return to this facility.

the rooms are very nice, BUT, 1. the TV wasn't working for the 4 nights I was booked there, the owner couldn't get someone to sort it out. 2. the showers are beautifully tiled, BUT, very mouldy due to lack of ventilation in the bathroom, the "xpel air" installed in the bathroom is not cleaned, clocked with mould n dust and there is a smell of mould. 3. the refreshment station isn't cleaned properly that includes the glass dining table in the room - which is an excellent idea. 4. the PARKING IS A MESS, TORTURE TO ANY GUEST AND QUITE INCONVINIENCE AND DISTURBING....:):):) 4.atering is DISGUSTING, with cold meat, dry mince and cheap wors in one bain marie insert. the mickey mouse "CHEF" could make an omelette. on our first day there were 10 muffins, then every day the same muffins were served, by the day we left there were 2 muffins left, never replenished, no other flavour etc. the same goes for the juice which I suspected will give us diarhea. the coffee maker was never cleaned too.

Soulhouse is a lovely alternative surf style type guest house. The owner was lovely and helpful. The rooms upstairs are beautiful with a communal kitchen and lounge. Well equipped. Very centrally situated close to the stadiums. Duncoast casino and Ushaka and the beaches just a couple of minutes away. All the surf shops and factory outlets literally 500m up the street. WiFi and safe parking. A great place to stay for a holiday or a big sporting event.