Durban - Four-star Boulevard 44 Boutique Hotel is in Umhlali, 30 minutes or so from Durban. Fringed by elite golf courses, it is also only minutes from the North Coast beaches.
The chief appeal of the North Coast remains its laid-back lifestyle and unhurried atmosphere, as well as its natural beauty, so while Boulevard 44 was designed to host functions, special events, weddings and conference groups, it is also for leisure guests looking to relax.
Burgeoning Ballito with its retail therapy is close by. On the other hand, so are several beautiful beaches (Ballito, Shaka’s Rock, Salt Rock) and the hotel is well situated for day trips to a wide choice of game reserves and other natural and cultural drawcards. They offer a shuttle service to and from local destinations including Albert Luthuli Museum or to tour the nearby Sugar Mill. Umhlali Golf Course is but two minutes away and Zimbali a further three minutes.
This three-year-old hotel has exquisite and stylish attention to detail in its decor, which combines such natural elements as stone to create a very 21st century look.
The hotel is made up of multiple buildings with accommodation consisting of two double rooms to a building. The 36 luxurious standard bedrooms are impeccably appointed in beautiful landscaped, manicured gardens, providing a tranquil atmosphere with spectacular views over the hills of sugar cane fields. Each room is bungalow/villa style and comes equipped with flat-screen TV, free wi-fi, dual rain showers, and a private patio area.
Room service is available 18 hours daily (with a tray charge of R15) and it would be easy to spend your stay in your room or relaxing around the pool (heated in the colder months).
The hotel’s restaurant should entice you, however. The Green Food Studio in the main building is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with light meals in between. The Green Food Studio Bar is open daily from 10am to 11pm.
The restaurant is an open-plan, 80-seater, a la carte food studio – modern, funky and able to suit a multitude of occasions. Sylvester Joseph Nair is executive chef. The Green Food Studio is renowned for their fresh fish, seafood and exotic Indian cuisine.
Signature dishes are a B44 seafood platter, which is a selection of fresh seafood and shellfish. Sunday lunches in the restaurant or around the pool are also popular.
The on-site Mangwanani Boutique Spa has earned a fabulous reputation and provides a selection of African infused treatments, which revitalise and help you unwind in treatment areas that provide aesthetic satisfaction and relaxation.
Boulevard 44 specialises in weddings, private functions and conferences. The boardroom conference area can also serve as a private dining venue for up to 16 people, while the banqueting conference venue facilitates 120.
They tailor weddings to the bride and groom’s wishes, so have no standard formula, costing or menus. Boulevard 44 is proudly represented by African Insignia Hotels. Call 032 947 1660, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.boulevard44.co.za - Sunday Tribune