The Oyster Box Hotel, Umhlanga

We loved our stay in this very grand hotel, set within private gated grounds in Umhlanga. Upon check in we were greeted with staff offering us a refreshments and staff ready to take our bags to the room. It was great to receive free bubbly on arrival to start your holiday! We were introduced to what's on at the hotel, and explained where to find the different restaurants, shops and bars nearby (within walking distance). The hotel feels huge, but it is easy to navigate.

We stayed in the Luxury Sea Facing Room, and it was a perfect, offering a large bathroom with his and hers mirrors, a big open bath and a huge walk in shower. The room décor was bright, fresh and had a clean feel to it. The room also featured a beautiful balcony that looked out towards the Indian Ocean and offered views to the left of the famous Umhlanga Rocks Lighthouse. On our first morning we opted for breakfast in bed - the food was served clean, wrapped and still warm and was set up on our balcony allowing us to enjoy the room and the views itself. A must!

The pool area was spacious and split over two levels, with plenty of space to find some peace and quiet or private time away from guests eating behind on the terrace.

We had snacks and cocktails around the pool which were reasonable priced, offering plenty of choice, and then decided to eat dinner at the rooftop terrace. This allowed us to sit and enjoy the lighthouse beach views looking out to the ocean. It was beautiful to see the moon appearing in the evening from the rooftop - a huge burst of orange.

Personally, two nights didn't feel like enough time here to enjoy everything the hotel has to offer; I would go for three if you have the time! It is a particularly good place to either start with or end with on your holiday, being such an ideal place to relax.

They have a private cinema with multiple screenings daily which is a cool feature and perfect for a cosy night in at the hotel.