Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to TGCSA - Tourism Grading Council of South Africa.
HOTEL STYLE
Mid-range
Ocean View
Room types
Ocean view
Location
329 Umhlanga Rocks Drive, Umhlanga 4319 South Africa
Coastlands Umhlanga
625 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Now why has Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel become a home away from home for us? No doubt, it is a hugely popular choice for travellers visiting the Umhlanga or Durban north area but it has come to mean so much more to us after many memorable stays and the staff who always make us feel like we belong there.
Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel is conveniently located close to the Gateway Theatre of Shopping and other attractions, including great restaurants and The Arch which incorporates the Legacy Yard; and this makes it an ideal spot for both leisure and business travellers.
With more than 120 rooms, most of which are incredibly well proportioned, this hotel is a must-visit if you have not done so already. We have often stayed in the suite, including the Premiers Suite which is wow but all rooms are spacious, clean, comfortable and well-equipped with modern amenities, including minibars and flat-screen televisions.
With superb views over Umhlanga and partial sea views over the majestic Indian Ocean, it has so much to offer. The staff are professional, friendly and helpful and consensus; and always ready to go the extra mile to ensure your stay is memorable.
Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel features the Saffron Restaurant on the 4th floor which offers a range of dishes and is frequented by patrons from far and wide. It arguably offers the best buffet in all of Durban, with top quality offerings of an unimaginable variety.
The hotel boasts a range of facilities, including a convention centre, making it suitable for business events and conferences, business centre, cocktail bar, a beauty and wellness spa, a fitness centre, pool and dinner/dance events on special days.
The hotel offers great value for money, considering its location, amenities, and overall quality of service, under the expert management of Farouk and his team.
Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel is a sterling choice for a quick getaway or a long, leisurely, comfortable stay in a top location like Umhlanga. The hotel management is highly attentive and committed to meeting the expectations of its guests to ensure a pleasant experience.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
From the ease of booking to super friendly staff at check-in to the thrills and frills of our presidential suite, it was a wickedly wonderful weekend to reflect on at Coastlands Umhlanga. Andre and his team do a fine job of making guests feel special and we certainly received the royal treatment. Best of all was dining at the ever popular signature Saffron Restaurant which serves the most amazing local dishes as well as international cuisine that will keep you going back for more. A host of divine food is prepared by the hotels top chefs and the overall service is second to none. From appetizers to mains and desserts to after-dinner coffees, we had a five star dining experience. It was a recreational, rest and relaxing experience of note, with spacious well proportioned rooms, comfy beds, bathroom with all amenities and fashioned in true presidential style. Coastlands has got to be one of the true gems on the north coast of Durban and we will keep returning to this superb hotel for its sublime experience.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Firstly lets say this is a nice older style hotel not an old building just the style of hotel. The rooms are nice and big but again not up to date with technology. The room aircon goes off if the keycard is removed so it also takes a long time to cool the room from a muggy 31 degrees.
The breakfast wast very good as well
So now to the other side. The Website offered R880 per night, on booking it was only R1400 per night available. Then on arrival the parking was another R60 per day according to the gent at reception. On the second day i noticed the complimentary water had not been replenished and as i was at reception i asked for this to be done. I was then told it is only on arrival when it is complimentary thereafter there is a charge.
These incidents of extortion of a guest left a very unpleasant flavour to what could have been a great experience.
Because of this I would rather choose another venue to stay over at in an area where there is an abundance of different accommodation venues to choose from across all cost spectrums.
This was an unfortunate experience for me, given that on business i like to identify a location for regular use, and after an extended abstinence due to covid this could have been an opportunity to find a new regular location to stay at. But i think i will rather test another site before even considering this one again
Read more
Date of stay: April 2021Trip type: Travelled on business
Room Tip:I wont bother again
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Marketing Manager, Marketing at Coastlands Umhlanga
Responded 10 Jun 2021
Thank you for choosing Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel. We apologise for the inconvenience experienced during your stay. Your comments and feedback assist us tremendously to improve and maintain our facilities and service and we hope that we will be granted another opportunity to welcome you again soon as we would like you to experience service and facilities of the highest standard which we are renowned for.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The food was okay, however the level of service is absolutely disappointing. The waiters don't clear the tables on time. We were eating with stacks of dirty dishes on the side of our table. We are a family of 5. We had to continually request for new cutlery. The bottles of water we ordered, came with no glasses, no ice or lemon. For a 4.5 star restaurant, I expected a way better experience. The staff are not friendly or welcoming. The one waiter came to our table and literally said "yoh" when she saw the plates. As if we were eating too much?! They don't greet you or even look at you. The staff need serious training. We also paid R16 for 320ml waters, that look like they are the complimentary waters from the hotel. How is that? The buffet area is very unorganized. It's too small and cramped and should be better spaced out for the number of people they cater for.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2022
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Do not do the buffet
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This review relates mainly to one specific issue, but it was the reason that I selected this hotel over the other choice I had. I run but do not like running on the road in cities I do not know. I therefore selected Coastlands as it has a fitness centre. My other option didn't.
There are two treadmills in the fitness centre, both essentially unusable. The one is stuck in about a 3 degree incline and cannot be flattened. The other had a dilapidated running belt that was torn and which kept "sticking" or "stalling" every third or fourth step of my left foot. I've never seen such dilapidated equipment at any other hotel I've stayed at.
There were also button covers missing and buttons that did not work.
While the room was clean and nice, there was no lighting above the desk which made working on a laptop difficult. The water spout control on the bidet was broken. The plug on the sink leaked water at a rapid rate.
Read more
Date of stay: June 2024Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andre Van Wyk, Marketing at Coastlands Umhlanga
Responded 16 Jul 2024
Dear FC. Thank you for taking the time to write a review regarding your recent stay at Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel. We value your feedback and would like to share with you that your comments regarding the fitness centre and equipment have been escalated to the management of the hotel for urgent attention. We apologize for the inconvenience as a result of the unusable facility. We are please to see that you enjoyed the cleanliness of our rooms. We have addressed the maintenance issues of the room with the relevant department. We look forward to welcoming you again soon.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I was happy when the reservation staff was able to provide me with a room with a view. They were able to accommodate my need to check in early because we were having an event at the hotel. Nothing is better than getting up to a breathtaking view of the ocean. I was disappointed with the bathroom as the shower lacks safety handles. It was a family room so safety is of ultra importance. The shower floor tiles were smooth and slippery. The beds are comfortable and has an ironing board and iron at your disposal. There is adequate cupboard space for a family of 4. Room service was a disappointing a you pay a additional tariff for room service. It took over 45 minutes to have our food delivered on both occasions. The food arrived cold. I requested if we could checkout of the room later, the receptionist allowed us to do so. I was disappointed with the taste and quality of the breakfast. It was mediocre. The plus on the stay was that the food is Halaal, prepared in a fully Hallal kitchen and there was a Halaal Chef present. He accommodated my vegetarian dietary. needs. Also compliments to the staff from Banqueting who handled our event. They were outstanding. Hats off to Nompumelelo Mfeka, Thuthu Mbatha and Chef Precious Ngcongo for exceptional service, understanding our needs and good communication. - from Banqueting Department. The reservation staff and the reception staff provided me with excellent service.
Read more
Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We spent one night at the hotel as part of a spa special we bought. There were some highs and some lows in our stay. We arrived to discover we had to pay for parking!!! and there was no other place to park. The elevator was an interesting trip into the hotel, the lights on the control pad went off the lady who worked there and was in the elevator with us started to frantically press the alarm saying the elevator was stuck! it finally opened on the 11th floor we were just trying to go from the basement to ground floor. She then called another staff member who took us down in the same lift informing us how he had gotten stuck for 4 hours in the lift before. The corridor to our room has 2 vacuum cleaners left there that remained there the whole time. The room and linen were perfect, the bed was comfortable, and the room was clean. The Tv only had sports channels and mnet which was a bit disappointing. At 9.45pm we were disturbed in bed by a knock on the door from house keeping!!! Apparently our room was meant to have 4 towels and it only had 3 so housekeeping insisted on delivering the 4th towel. Before 5am we were awoken by much banging and clunking from the hotel gym which was 3 rooms away! This went on till around 6am. Breakfast was divine, the buffet had a large variety that would suit all dietary needs. Again at 8.15am we had house keeping come knocking, this time it was to collect the large towels.
Read more
Date of stay: March 2022
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Stay far away from the 3rd floor! The GYM is there and very noisy when in use.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Great room - very spacious, large safe, extra large shower, king size bed, very clean. The street below is noisy in the early morning (traffic), so having a room on a high floor really helped.
We checked in at 21:00 and found that the towels had not been replenished. There was just one towel in the room. Also, the in-room coffee station had not been replenished. We called housekeeping, who apologised and promptly delivered more towels and coffee and coffee creamer.
We arrived hungry. The in-room info said that snacks and salads are served in the bar 24 hours a day, so we headed there. However, the friendly barman told us that since the Covid pandemic lockdowns, they do not serve snacks in the bar. It was a disappointment. It would be available as room service but we didn't feel like sitting in the room and eat. There was only one chair in the room in any case.
Despite the initial setbacks, we still had a very pleasant overnight stay. It was good value for money.
Read more
Date of stay: November 2020
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip:Higher rooms are more quiet when the morning traffic starts.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Marketing Manager, Marketing at Coastlands Umhlanga
Responded 05 Jan 2021
Thank you for choosing our hotel for your recent trip to Umhlanga. We are pleased that you had a pleasant and memorable experience and that you enjoyed our facilities and service. We are pleased to hear that we were able to act quickly to any requests that you may have had and we apologise that we were not able to serve you snacks at the bar as per the lockdown regulations. We look forward to welcome you again soon.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The location is excellent and the rate per night for the area is really good. The external structure of the hotel is very beautiful and modern. The room that I had was 710 which was spacious and had great views. It was clean and tidy. I do not however recommend this hotel.
I didn't like a lot of things about this hotel. I firstly didn't like that its in a business complex, the reception area is outdated, not welcoming and very cold and stale. The receptionist was not welcoming at all. The furniture is outdated and out of place. The room does not have modern charging USB ports or wireless charging. The plugs are all occupied by lights and non to charge cell phones or laptops. The curtains are very outdated and belong in 1998. The breakfast was terrible and upon asking for a menu or informing the waitress what I would like for breakfast, I was told that "The Chef decides what to serve". I was provided with a cold, stale and tasteless breakfast. I will not be staying in this hotel ever again and will not recommend anyone to stay here.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Don't book this hotel
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Elzette Smith, General Manager at Coastlands Umhlanga
Responded 27 Aug 2020
Dear Ngcebo Thank you for staying at our hotel and for your valuable feedback. We are pleased that you liked the location of the hotel as well as its external look and structure and we thank you for complimenting us on the cleanliness of your room and the views which it offered. We have escalated your comments regarding the receptionist to the General Manager of the hotel for urgent attention as well as your comments regarding the lack of amenities which you mentioned. Furthermore, we will discuss your review at our next directors meeting as it is of utmost importance to us that our guests gave a memorable experience at our hotel and we apologise for the inconvenience which you have experienced. Andre-B van Wyk Group Marketing and Sales Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The suite we had very large with a great view of the coast. The bed was very large and comfortable. We were surprised to find a hole in the fine bedsheet ! We arrived in the late afternoon for a function but could not shower because there was no Cold water in the taps and the hot water was extremely hot. The bath is huge and our grandchildren would have loved it. There is a separate lounge , which must be great for meetings , with a Tv and even a toilet . The function on the top floor of the hotel was impressive. Breakfast was included in our price, which was quite expensive, but was not what we had expected and the lack of bacon or pork products provided the answer. The food was acceptable but bones in the haddock were not. Unfortunately the swimming pools were closed for maintenance. The hotel is situated in a public parking area and one would have hoped that one would not have to pay R60 to park there overnight. If it had not been for the function we needed to attend we would have chosen a cheaper hotel. With strong and weak points my overall impression was average or less considering the price paid.
Read more
Date of stay: November 2021Trip type: Travelled on business
Room Tip:Unless halal food is what you are looking for breakfast may not suit you.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Durban, South Africa150 contributions2 helpful votes
Good morning
No, we do not have a strike on. We have a coffee shoppe, as well as Saffron restaurant in the hotel. Gateway Shopping Centre is walking distance from the hotel which offer a variety of restaurants. Regards, Andre-B van Wyk (Group Marketing and Sales Manager)
Durban, South Africa150 contributions2 helpful votes
Good morning
Yes, all our rooms are equipped with digital laptop safes. Your own security code is created upon arrival and only you will have access to your safe.
There are more places to choose from in the Umhlanga area.
PRICE RANGE
R 1,127 - R 1,718 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
South AfricaKwaZulu-NatalUmhlanga
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.