East London is one of South Africa’s best kept secrets with a multitude of attractions but still maintaining that small town feel. The Hemingways Hotel is situated adjacent to the Hemingways Casino and Hemingways mall. It affords easy access to all the major highways, national roads and the airport. Inspired by Ernest Hemingway, this sub-tropical styled hotel offers a unique island lifestyle break, right in the heart of South Africa.
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
Modern
Business
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans, Xhosa
Location
Western Ave Hemingways Mall, Ocean View, East London 5200 South Africa
Hemingways Hotel
467 reviews
Getting there
Car recommended
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.
The service was very good I received value for money. I enjoyed my stay in your hotel. The service I received from your staff was of a high quality they know how to cheer guest up. I would love to stay in your hotel again
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Review collected in partnership with Tsogo Sun Hotels
Date of stay: March 2020
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip 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 Ian Mackay, General Manager at Hemingways Hotel
Responded 25 Mar 2020
Thank you for taking the time to review your recent stay and for your kind words. We are thrilled that you enjoyed your stay with us. We look forward to welcoming you back to Southern Sun Hemingways in the near future. Warm Regards Ian Mackay General Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Professional and superb facilities and service from check in to restaurant staff. The room and bathroom was clean, fresh linen and importantly the inside of the kettle had no residue in it. Staff were smiling and the chef made me a special dessert.
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Date of stay: February 2022Trip 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 Ian Mackay, General Manager at Hemingways Hotel
Responded 06 Feb 2022
Thank you for taking the time to review your recent stay and for your kind words. We are thrilled that you enjoyed your stay with us. We look forward to welcoming you back to Southern Sun Hemingways in the near future. Warm Regards Ian Mackay General Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Great, friendly and efficient service make this a very welcoming place... not forgetting the bountiful and sumptuous breakfast. The porters too always at hand to help even beyond the call of their specific assignment. The front desk too efficient and very professional.
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Review collected in partnership with Tsogo Sun Hotels
Date of stay: December 2019
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip 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 GloryanneHa, Manager at Hemingways Hotel
Responded 08 Jan 2020
Dear Mr. Xayiya Thank you for the positive feedback. It is always wonderful to host you and we look forward to you next visit. Kind Regards Gloryanne
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The Presidential suite was very unimpressive.. meagre amenitites , wen one showers the door doesnt seal so the entire bathroom floor has water running. Really bad room servce - over an hour for the food , dessert was served 15mins BEFORE the main course. Some really courteous staff members in the breakfast room.
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Date of stay: December 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
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 Ian Mackay, General Manager at Hemingways Hotel
Responded 28 Dec 2021
Thank you for taking the time to complete a review and appreciate you bringing to our attention your concerns with a few points that you experienced during your stay at Southern Sun Hemingways. Please accept my sincere apology and I will be addressing all the points that you raised and assure you that this is not our usual standard. We appreciate you bringing these comments to our attention, as we need to see the service from our guest point of view, as we strive to meet our guest’s expectations. Thank you for deciding to stay with us and we hope to see you in the near future. Warm Regards Ian Mackay General Manager
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We are a group of 8 Government Officials, on business in East London staying at Southern Sun Hemingways Hotel for four nights. Our booking arrangement includes dinner, bed and breakfast. Due to our tight schedule, on the third night we all decided to book room service for dinner whilst rushing back to the hotel. some of our colleagues arrived at 8pm only to be told there is no food. I literally called the hotel on 043-707 8000 and the reception kept on transferring me to the room service department. For 13 minutes I was on hold whilst driving to the hotel until I arrived at the reception. On my arrival I met my other colleagues being attended to by an Indian middle aged man who told them the kitchen is closed and there is no more food. Whilst the call was still active, i showed him the screenshot taken after 12mins of waiting to be transferred. To my surprise, I found a disgusting attitude and response from Clinton who claimed the above number did not belong to him. Explaining to him that the number indeed is not his but the hotel, he kept on refusing until we all decided to go out looking for places to eat. For such a hotel and kind of business we give them, people like Clinton who clearly has no concerns of customer services satisfaction has now ruined the image of this hotel. He left us hanging and called for security claiming that I was threatening him when I told him I will write this review. This is just the beginning, I still have to flood the social media for this attitude that stinks.
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Date of stay: August 2021
Value
Service
Trip type: Travelled on business
Room Tip:Â "Rooms on the south side are quieter"
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 Ian Mackay, General Manager at Hemingways Hotel
Responded 20 Sept 2021
Thank you for taking the time to review your stay and appreciate you bringing to our attention your concerns with a few points that you experienced during your stay at Southern Sun Hemingways. With regards to meal times unfortunately the curfew times did seriously effect our operation. In July and August to allow to meet the Gazetted times our last orders were taken a 19h00 at level 4 and 20h00 at level 3 to allow our staff to get home prior to Curfew starting. Please accept my sincere apology and I will be addressing all the points that you raised, this is should have been handled better and assure it not our usual standard. We appreciate you bringing these comments to our attention, as we need to see the service from our guest point of view, as we strive to meet our guest’s expectations. Thank you for deciding to stay with us and we hope to see you in the near future. Warm Regards Ian Mackay
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Waited 10 min for a waiter to come to our table at dinner, another 15 minutes to receive our cool drinks, over an hour to receive food that was not great. In the morning, my breakfast was partially burnt. I raised this and asked to take a croissant on the go and the restaurant manager asked that I pay for it even though pastry’s was part of the buffet. Pathetic service.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip 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 Hemingways Hotel Tsogo Sun, General Manager at Hemingways Hotel
Responded 08 Jul 2023
Dear Guest Thank you for taking the time to share a review of your time at Hemingways Hotel. I firstly apologise for the late response and secondly for the poor service rendered to you. I am sorry that we failed to meet your expectations. I assure you of our best intentions and that I will make every effort to ensure such lack of service does not occur again. Once again thank you for being in touch and please do let me know when you travel to East London again. I would want to personally assist with your reservation requirements and welcoming you back to Hemingways Hotel. Warm Regards Gloryanne Abrahams
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Southern Sun is a brand I usually trust. East London is hot and humid in summer, and the room air conditioning is of no use at all. Room service did not have 2 of 3 items I ordered from their limited menu. The point of a limited menu is to ensure availability. The rest of the hotel experience is adequate.
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
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 Hemingways Hotel Tsogo Sun, General Manager at Hemingways Hotel
Responded 08 Jul 2023
Dear Guest Thank you for taking the time to review your experience at Hemingways Hotel. I firstly extend my apologies for the delay in responding to you and secondly for the poor service you received from us. I want to assure you of our best intentions and that I endeavor to resolve any such issues in the future. Please do contact me should you be travelling to East London again. I will be happy to assist with your reservation requirements and welcoming you back to Hemingways Hotel. Warm Regards Gloryanne Abrahams
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kindly remove Carpet , it is not easy to sleep because of stuffiness. The dinning area is too congested . There is no Bar literally. Generally the Hotel is fine and well located next to the mall. Thank you.
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Review collected in partnership with Tsogo Sun Hotels
Date of stay: March 2020
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip 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 Ian Mackay, General Manager at Hemingways Hotel
Responded 25 Mar 2020
Thank you for taking the time to send us your comments and suggestions. It is great hear that you enjoyed your stay with us. We appreciate you bringing these comments to our attention, as we need to see the service from our guest point of view, as we strive to meet our guest’s expectations. We will take your suggestions into consideration for any future plans or refurbishments We look forward to welcoming you back to Southern Sun Hemingways in the future. Warm Regards Ian Mackay General Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We have stayed at Hemingways before and the stay was excellent. The staff were very professional however our room was not up to standard. The air conditioner barely worked for the first two days and then stopped. Could not be fixed , yet the maintenance person came twice and said it was fixed...... So we had to move. The key card was problematic right from the start. Had to keep going back to reception to have it re coded. It was not kept by my cell phone. There was a terrible smell coming up from the drain in the shower. We had to buy dettol. Very disappointing The breakfasts were excellent.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Location
Cleanliness
Service
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 GloryanneHa, Manager at Hemingways Hotel
Responded 07 Feb 2020
Dear Guest Thank you for taking the time to complete a review on your recent stay with us. We further thank you for taking the time to meet with our Front Office Manager and Duty Managers to discuss your concerns. I once again extend my sincere apologies for the discomfort you experienced during your stay. As we operate with technical and mechanical fittings, we were unfortunately not able to preempt the faults with these units. We endeavour to promptly assist our guest should any issues arise, and are pleased that we were able to assist you and extend a gesture of good faith to you for the inconvenience caused. We thank you again Kind Regards Gloryanne
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Reservations for my next stay are already in process, that is to simply elucidate my pleasant stay at this hotel. If all was possible, my stay would be extended, but duty calls.Gratitude to the masses with the welcoming received from this Hotel.
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Review collected in partnership with Tsogo Sun Hotels
Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
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 GloryanneHa, Manager at Hemingways Hotel
Responded 08 Jan 2020
Dear Mr Bongo Thank you for your positive review. We are pleased that your stay was an enjoyable one and are looking forward to you next visit. Kind Regards Gloryanne
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
There are more places to choose from in the East London area.
PRICE RANGE
RÂ 1,750 - RÂ 2,070 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Hemingways Hotel - East London
LOCATION
South AfricaEastern CapeEast London
NUMBER OF ROOMS
108
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.
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