Escape away to a weekend of luxury, leisure, and ocean views. We explore this iconic getaway, and experience all it has to offer.
We’re getting out of town. Dust off that road trip playlist and pack some swimsuits and flip-flops. Just over 40 minutes out of Umhlanga, The View Boutique Hotel & Spa in Amanzimtoti offers a chance to get away without excessive travel time. The drive there cuts through the residential area, making it feel like a well-kept secret. On arrival, the helpful staff checked us in and then took us on a tour of the property. We followed our guide closely as he took us on a winding path through the hotel’s different sections and facilities, with the view of the ocean following us. Aside from the hotel and spa, they also have conferences, events and wedding facilities, and a restaurant, Giorgio’s.
After our tour, and getting our steps in while climbing and descending stairs, the staff helped us with our luggage and showed us the way to our rooms. We were greeted by views of lush greenery and the ocean in the distance. The combination of the king-sized bed, mood lighting, and a generously-sized bathroom makes it a perfect space to spend a romantic weekend, though we made a girls’ weekend out of it. They have a variety of rooms available, depending on your reason for escape: luxury rooms, suites, family rooms, self-catering options, and a villa. After gushing over our rooms, we decided to grab a bite to eat and realised that we didn’t need to leave the hotel this weekend, everything we needed was right there.
The next morning, we decided to have a little bit of a late start before making our way to breakfast. Choosing from their dedicated breakfast menu was difficult; there were so many things we wanted to try, with the pancakes stealing the show. The outdoor seating area offered an opportunity to sip on your delicious coffee while looking out at the ocean with a cool morning breeze passing through.
Blessed with good weather for the weekend, we decided to take full advantage of it and spend some time at one of their six pools. It was time to get those tans in while sipping on refreshing drinks. The water was chilled, a nice way to cool off from the heat. Then, it was time for our treatments at the spa. After a long week, we were all looking forward to this. We each chose a treatment which suited our needs best, from a hot stone back and shoulder massage to a Lamelle facial. The staff left us feeling like we were floating out of the rooms. They also have a steam room, jacuzzi, and a hydro bath. The detoxifying salts and dark room are a sanctuary for your senses, cleansing you while you float in the warm water. Returning to our rooms, we got ready for the rugby game and spent our evening unwinding and reflecting on the day we had.
We almost didn’t leave the next day, but we had to return to the real world, eventually. We were thoroughly spoiled by the amenities and attentive team who checked in to see if we were comfortable. It’s easy to see how they won the Service Excellence award at the Durban Tourism Business Awards. Exclusive and family-run, the attention to detail and quality was not missed. It was a wonderful weekend away, and we’ll be dreaming of going back for a while.
Words: Cristina Govender