Royal Palm Hotel
8 Palm Boulevard New Town Centre, Umhlanga Ridge, Umhlanga Rocks 4320 South Africa
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Avg. R 1,552 /night, 3/27 - 3/28
R 1,735
per night
R 1,416
per night
R 1,096
per night
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Reflects recent average nightly prices reported by our partners, and may not include estimated taxes or fees. Price at checkout may differ.
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About
#10 of 15 hotels in Umhlanga Rocks
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Royal Palm Hotel Umhlanga, Durban is ideally located for both business and leisure travel. This spectacular hotel offers 94 luxury apartments, which include penthouses, luxurious executive suites, spacious executive deluxe rooms and two-bedroom suites. Our apartment style suites are ideal for guests who want to maintain their work and personal routines while staying at the hotel for longer periods of time. Royal Palm Hotel is located in the centre of Palm Boulevard directly opposite the Gateway Theatre of Shopping on Umhlanga Ridge. Other near-by attractions include the beachfront, Mangrove Swamps, Umhlanga Lighthouse, Hawaan Forests, and Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Trail. King Shaka International Airport is a 15-minute drive away. Our conference centre offers modern equipment and can accommodate up to 80 delegates. THYME@Royal Palm Restaurant, located onsite, offers patrons a meal extravaganza creating an absolute masterpiece of culinary delights. Wild Thyme Bar is located within the restaurant and offers delicious finger foods and exotic cocktails. If you prefer relaxing in your room after a long day you can order room service that is available from 11h30 until 22h00 daily.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Yoga room
Free breakfast
Business Centre with Internet Access
Conference facilities
Steam room
24-hour security
Parking
Wifi
Sauna
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Complimentary tea
Kids' meals
Outdoor dining area
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Baggage storage
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
First aid kit
24-hour check-in
24-hour front desk
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Room features
Air conditioning
Desk
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Kitchenette
Microwave
Cable / satellite TV
Walk-in shower
Room service
Safe
Seating area
Telephone
Wardrobe / wardrobe
Bottled water
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Hair dryer
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
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
Centrally Located
Modern
Location
8 Palm Boulevard New Town Centre, Umhlanga Ridge, Umhlanga Rocks 4320 South Africa
Getting there
Good for walkers
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.
Grade: 88 out of 100
88
King Shaka Intl Airport
13.6 km•
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Pietermaritzburg Airport
65.3 km•
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Car Hire
79 Restaurants
within 0.5 kilometers
Reviews
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Detailed Reviews
Lovely hotel. Close proximity to Gateway mall.
Spacious room. Like that there is a separate lounge area in the room.
Room had a shower and bath and double vanity. Secure parking was included in our booking.
The room also offered a bar fridge, microwave and kettle with teas and coffees.
Spacious room. Like that there is a separate lounge area in the room.
Room had a shower and bath and double vanity. Secure parking was included in our booking.
The room also offered a bar fridge, microwave and kettle with teas and coffees.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: August 2022
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 stayed in the penthouse and the lounge upholstery needs a proper deep clean. They couch, chairs and ottoman has terrible stains. We also found cigarette buds in the crevices of the arm chairs. Furthermore, the scatter cushions need cleaning and the zippers replaced as the cushions were coming out of the covers. The information booklet needs to be updated, as dinner service and bar were closed due to lack of customers. The hotel is located in a prime spot as it is literally across from Gateway shopping centre. The rooms are spacious with all the required amenities. Hotel parking is located in the basement therefore providing ease of access should it be raining.
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Date of stay: September 2020
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.
Really enjoyed this hotel once again. The location is in the heart of Umhlanga, right opposite the Mall. The beach, Pearl Mall & Oceans Mall are less then 5 kilometers away, a quick Uber ride.
The room is always lovely, very spacious. A separate room & lounge area, with a balcony as well.
For the price, this hotel was a real bargain.
The room is always lovely, very spacious. A separate room & lounge area, with a balcony as well.
For the price, this hotel was a real bargain.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled on business
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.
Response from Royal Palm Hotel, Owner at Royal Palm Hotel
Responded 19 Apr 2023
Dear Valued Guest , Many thanks for your time taken and feedback its most appreciated. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay with us. Wishing you a lovely week ahead - and looking forward to welcoming you back in the near future. Kind regards, Team Royal Palm
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I have been a frequent visitor at this hotel for long durations due to work commitments. My stays have always been filled with issues and drama due to the lack of communication. But this time has topped it all off.
After confirming my departure date with the team they decided to give my room away on Comrades weekend 4 days before my departure date and then blamed me for not rebooking despite me paying weekly for 6 weeks previously which was agreed by the management upon arrival. The manager stormed into my room at 11am on Friday and informed me that I had 2 hours to vacate the room. You have to remember that I literally moved into this place for 6 weeks and had 3 suitcases to pack. No apology despite them knowing of my departure date. In fact the manager blamed me for not continuously reminding the reception staff. Not sure how that works.
After rushing to pack to leave at the 1pm deadline I requested for 15 minutes to pray my Friday prayers at a mosque which is literally just opposite the hotel. This request was denied and I was told to vacate the room.
When I eventually came down to the lobby there was no queue, no rush and the cleaner normally gets to my room around 4pm so my request could have easily been accepted. I informed in no uncertain terms how I felt about the way I had been treated and made sure everyone else knew as well. It was an absolutely disgusting way to be treated and should never be accepted.
The manager was condescending and rude and literally didn’t give a damn about my grievances.
To be fair the hotel is great value and that’s the reason I kept returning despite my issues on previous stays. The manager also knew that I am due back at the end of this month for another extensive stay of a month so she clearly doesn’t care about my custom.
A truly forgettable experience and the management in this hotel should really get some training on customer care and satisfaction.
It’s a shame but the staff do make the hotel experience either bad or good. The staff at the hotel were overall decent but the management team have no customer service skills or any skills of note to be honest apart from the main manager who wasn’t there on the day but hasn’t contacted me either so I’m assuming he doesn’t care either.
After confirming my departure date with the team they decided to give my room away on Comrades weekend 4 days before my departure date and then blamed me for not rebooking despite me paying weekly for 6 weeks previously which was agreed by the management upon arrival. The manager stormed into my room at 11am on Friday and informed me that I had 2 hours to vacate the room. You have to remember that I literally moved into this place for 6 weeks and had 3 suitcases to pack. No apology despite them knowing of my departure date. In fact the manager blamed me for not continuously reminding the reception staff. Not sure how that works.
After rushing to pack to leave at the 1pm deadline I requested for 15 minutes to pray my Friday prayers at a mosque which is literally just opposite the hotel. This request was denied and I was told to vacate the room.
When I eventually came down to the lobby there was no queue, no rush and the cleaner normally gets to my room around 4pm so my request could have easily been accepted. I informed in no uncertain terms how I felt about the way I had been treated and made sure everyone else knew as well. It was an absolutely disgusting way to be treated and should never be accepted.
The manager was condescending and rude and literally didn’t give a damn about my grievances.
To be fair the hotel is great value and that’s the reason I kept returning despite my issues on previous stays. The manager also knew that I am due back at the end of this month for another extensive stay of a month so she clearly doesn’t care about my custom.
A truly forgettable experience and the management in this hotel should really get some training on customer care and satisfaction.
It’s a shame but the staff do make the hotel experience either bad or good. The staff at the hotel were overall decent but the management team have no customer service skills or any skills of note to be honest apart from the main manager who wasn’t there on the day but hasn’t contacted me either so I’m assuming he doesn’t care either.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: May 2024Trip type: Travelled on business
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.
Response from James Theunissen , Owner at Royal Palm Hotel
Responded 29 Jul 2024
Dear , 966ibrah Many thanks for your time taken and feedback, it's most appreciated. Please accept our sincerest apologies for the concerns raised regarding poor customer relations We will discuss as a team and implement changes where possible so as to avoid a repeat going ahead. We also thank you for your positive feedback regarding Wishing you a lovely week ahead - and we do hope to welcome you back in the near future. Kind regards, Team Royal Palm
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cold ambience. Receptionist and reception area unwelcoming. No handrails in bathroom and shower. No shower curtain and no drainage on bathroom floor so it soon gets flooded and slippery. The water leading into bath and the hand-held shower passes through a metal tube in which it gets heated. This tube becomes scalding hot. Restaurant: Burgers, wraps, pizzas. Nothing on the menu suggests an evening of fine dining that one might expect from a 4 star hotel. No chair at the dressing table. Bedroom window when opened, looks directly across a short gap into an office in which people were working.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: December 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.
Rooms need to be maintained, size is good. Carpets are filthy! Hotel needs TLC! Old and not cleaned
I was charged R20 for toothpaste at housekeeping for 2ml size with the disposable toothbrush, this is usually complimentary at 4 star hotels.
I was charged R20 for toothpaste at housekeeping for 2ml size with the disposable toothbrush, this is usually complimentary at 4 star hotels.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: December 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.
The staff were rude, the rooms were apparently cleaned but to my dismay the table in the room was covered in dust, the shower floor needed a good scrub, the rooms smelt musty and aggravated my allergies.This hotel is clearly not maintained the way it should be, I am sure it was previously deserving of its 4 stars but after this most recent stay it certainly is not.
My colleagues room had a blood stained matress, my roommates bedding had holes in it and when she requested new bedding (on arrival) she was told housekeeping went home and theres nothing they can do until the morning. When we questioned whether the room was actually cleaned, the receptionist told her that she was wrong as if we were checked in that means the rooms were cleaned... does this mean the poor state of the room is the standard of cleanliness?
The overall impression of the service and staff was unfriendly, unmotivated and lazy.
In the middle of the night, we packed our things up as we were not happy with our experience and didn't even receive a professional check out experience and went to a more established hotel down the road.
My colleagues room had a blood stained matress, my roommates bedding had holes in it and when she requested new bedding (on arrival) she was told housekeeping went home and theres nothing they can do until the morning. When we questioned whether the room was actually cleaned, the receptionist told her that she was wrong as if we were checked in that means the rooms were cleaned... does this mean the poor state of the room is the standard of cleanliness?
The overall impression of the service and staff was unfriendly, unmotivated and lazy.
In the middle of the night, we packed our things up as we were not happy with our experience and didn't even receive a professional check out experience and went to a more established hotel down the road.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled on business
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.
It was an awesome stay with very helpful and friendly staff. My check-in process was a breeze, the gentleman at reception assisted to park my vehicle at the underground parking, the room smelled incredibly fresh and it was clean. I had a beautiful and comfortable stay.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: October 2023
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.
Response from James Theunissen , Owner at Royal Palm Hotel
Responded 29 Jul 2024
Dear Angelinalanga2023 Many thanks for your 5 star rating. We do hope to welcome you back soon again. Kind Regards, Team Royal Palm.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The facility appears dated and requires an update to bring it inline with other modern hotels in the area. Basic maintenance can also help to ensure value for money if real. The location is good with proximity to the mall but noise can be a problem both from late night traffic in the hotel corridors and outside noise.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled on business
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.
Response from Royal Palm Hotel, Owner at Royal Palm Hotel
Responded 04 Sept 2023
Dear Michael, Many thanks for your time taken and feedback regarding our property, it's most appreciated. Wishing you a lovely week ahead - and looking forward to welcoming you back in the near future. Kind regards, Team Royal Palm
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Although check-in was a breeze, when we got to the room,we had 2 dstv decoders that were not working in both the rooms. The bathroom sink kept clogging and it got even worse as there was a cockroach in the bathroom. The hairdryer never worked in the main bathroom. When we phoned to tell them, they insisted we checkout at 11 and only sent a guy in to fix it as we were leaving. If you wish to sleep till late, sorry to disappoint but the blockout linings were all torn in the bedroom. I addressed the manager regarding my complaints but never got feedback. Worst stay ever!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: February 2025
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.
Response from James Theunissen , Owner at Royal Palm Hotel
Responded 4 weeks ago
Dear beeha310, Thank you for your feedback, and for taking the time to write about your visit. We have reviewed the issue raised on checkout as well as well as the issues raised once you reviewed your stay. We look forward to welcoming you back to Royal Palm Hotel soon! Kind regards, James Theunissen General Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hello, the hotel is situated near the center of New Town Umhlanga opposite Gateway Hotel.
James
Good day,
Thank you for your enquiry.
Yes, we do have 3 Bedroom Penthouse suites that can accommodate 3 people, each in their own rooms.
Kind Regards,
Hi. This hotel is about 15 mins drive from the Olive Convention Center. You will need a taxi
Dear Kofi
Thank you for your enquiry.
Our hotel is not located within walking distance, and is approximately 25 minutes away from the Olive Convention Centre, when travelling by car.
Kind Regards,
Royal Palm Hotel Management Team
Dear Sesipho
Thank you for your enquiry. Please kindly send me your e-mail address or contact number and I will request our Reservations Department to contact you, alternatively you may contact them on 031 581 8000, and they will gladly assist you with your request.
Yours in Hospitality
The Royal Palm Hotel Management Team
"Don’t be confused by the second old entrance further down the road - didn’t find it adequately signposted"Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
R 1,041 - R 1,625 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Three Cities Royal Palm
LOCATION
South AfricaKwaZulu-NatalUmhlanga Rocks
NUMBER OF ROOMS
94
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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Claim Your ListingROYAL PALM HOTEL - UPDATED 2025 Reviews & Price Comparison (Umhlanga Rocks, South Africa)
Frequently Asked Questions about Royal Palm Hotel
Which popular attractions are close to Royal Palm Hotel?
Nearby attractions include Gateway Theatre of Shopping (0.2 km), The Barnyard Theatre (0.3 km), and Be.UP Park (0.2 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Royal Palm Hotel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at Royal Palm Hotel?
Top room amenities include a kitchenette, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at Royal Palm Hotel?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Royal Palm Hotel?
Conveniently located restaurants include Mugg & Bean, Mozambik Gateway, and Col'Cacchio Gateway.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Royal Palm Hotel?
Yes, guests have access to a sauna and a yoga room during their stay.
Are any cleaning services offered at Royal Palm Hotel?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Does Royal Palm Hotel offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers a business centre, meeting rooms, and a banquet room.
Are there any historical sites close to Royal Palm Hotel?
Many travellers enjoy visiting The Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa Durban (4.9 km).
Is Royal Palm Hotel accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.