Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani

Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani is a large hotel on Durban's Golden Mile and a convenient base for a beach holiday in the city. It occupies two tall towers, the Elangeni and the Maharani, on Snell Parade, just metres from North Beach and the paved beachfront promenade. With 734 guest rooms and 15 conference and event venues, it handles everything from family holidays to large conferences, and it is run by the Southern Sun hotel group.

Facilities are extensive. There are three outdoor pools: a rooftop pool, a smaller pool beside the Mangwanani boutique spa, and a pool and deck at the Panorama Bar, which is the place for a sundowner with a view along the coast. Five restaurants and bars cover most needs. Grill Jichana specialises in flame-grilled steaks, Vigour and Verve serves pizza and all-day dining, and Lingela on the ground floor of the Elangeni tower runs buffets, including a seafood buffet on Friday evenings. Tall Ships is the hotel's bar. Guests also get free uncapped Wi-Fi, a 24-hour gym, 24-hour room service, a business centre, a concierge and an airport shuttle, and the hotel has backup power for electricity cuts.

The hotel suits families, groups, conference delegates and travellers who want to step straight out onto the beach. Ask for a sea-facing room if the view matters to you. Parking is available in and around the towers and can be paid for with the group's loyalty points; book it in advance in the high season, when the beachfront is very busy.

Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out by 11:00. The busiest periods are the summer and winter school holidays, when Gauteng families flock to the coast, so book early for December, January, June and July.

The location is the main selling point. North Beach and the promenade are directly outside, uShaka Marine World is a walk or short ride south along the beachfront, and Moses Mabhida Stadium and the Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World are a few minutes to the north. Walking the promenade is pleasant in daylight; after dark, stick to busy, well-lit stretches or use a ride-hailing app. The hotel's own restaurants mean you do not need to go far for dinner.