Situated on the Umhlanga beachfront, The Beverly Hills Hotel was the perfect place for us to spend two nights of downtime. Dan and I had both hit that mid-year slump and let’s be honest, there isn’t much more therapeutic than the sound of the crashing waves, is there?

The peachy-pink building that is The Beverly Hills Hotel is an iconic landmark in Durban, and has been since it opened its doors in 1964. The hotel boasts 89 gorgeous rooms each with a private balcony and sea views, 2 world class restaurants, heated pool and business centre, amonst other amenities. But of course, the most stand out feature is the fact that you are a hop, skip and a jump from the beach.

Dan, Aria and I spent two nights the The Beverly Hills Hotel and it was just wonderful. The warm welcome from the reception and concierge staff when we arrived was just the beginning of our incredible stay. They were so kind and accommodating, making sure that we had everything that we needed. And that included making sure Aria was comfortable in our room; this meant that she had a super cozy camp cot set up in our room complete with a snuggly blanket and fluffy pillow. Safe to say that she fell straight to sleep both nights that we were there… although the fresh ocean breeze wafting into our room from our balcony could also have had something to do with that.

Other than Aria’s fabulous bed, the room was really great and the perfect size for the three of us to use as a home base for the two days that we were there. The beds were so comfortable, the bathroom was gorgeous with more than enough amenities and the view, well that was just next level incredible. It was such a treat having morning coffee watching the waves crash onto the shore. Although Aria much preferred having her tea and chocolate biscuits in our bed, because that’s the kind of thing you do when you’re on holiday, right?

Although we didn’t have dinner the The Beverly Hills, we did enjoy two incredible breakfasts. I’m a big fan of scrumptious hotel brekkies, it just makes me feel like I really and truly am on holiday. The Beverly Hills didn’t disappoint: there is an impressive spread to pick and choose from ranging from fresh fruit, pastries, cold meats and cheeses, and of course bubbles. What’s a holiday breakfast with champagne?! There is also a menu full of hot breakfast choices. The pancakes are so yummy that both Aria and I had them on both mornings. The best part about breakfast is probably sitting on the sunny balcony that overlooks the beach, I couldn’t think of a better way to start our morning before heading out on our adventures. Speaking of which, The Beverly Hills is so conveniently located that everything is pretty much on your doorstep or a maximum of 30 minutes away. We spent our mornings on the beach or the heated pool where you can order snacks and drinks. If you have kids, this is such a treat as you can laze back and take in the view while still keeping an eye on your brood while they explore the rock pools and burn off their energy.

If you’re headed to Durbs and are in a little bit of a “treat yo’self” mood, definitely give The Beverly Hills hotel a go; the staff are incredible, the facilities more than sufficient and the rooms absolutely divine. You won’t regret it, we certainly didn’t!