12 Oceans Hotel and Conference Centre Review

The 12 Oceans Hotel and Conference Centre, nestled in the vibrant city of Durban, South Africa, offers a unique blend of accommodation, conference facilities, and entertainment, notably featuring a casino. Based on recent guest feedback, it presents a mixed but largely positive experience, often highlighted for its culinary offerings and dedicated staff.

Overall Experience and Key Features 🌟

This establishment functions primarily as a hotel and conference venue, but its inclusion of a small casino makes it a versatile destination for both leisure and business travelers. Guests frequently appreciate its beautiful location, with many enjoying decent sea views from various parts of the property. The overall atmosphere is generally described as positive and welcoming.

What Guests Loved 🥰

• Exceptional Service:

  A consistent and highly praised aspect of the 12 Oceans Hotel is the excellent customer service. Staff members such as Star at reception and Theresa in dining have been specifically commended. Star was noted for her outstanding personal touches, including arranging alternative rooms when needed and personally showing guests around. Theresa received accolades for going out of her way to ensure excellent dining experiences for guests, contributing significantly to a welcoming stay.

• Delicious Dining 🍲:

  The food receives widespread approval from guests, whether for eat-in meals, takeaways, or catering for meetings. Descriptions often highlight the dishes as good, fresh, and very tasty, with decent portions. The mutton curry and mutton bunny were particularly singled out as delicious and highly satisfying meals, suggesting a strong culinary offering.

• Entertainment & Amenities:

  For those who enjoy gambling, the hotel features a small casino, adding an entertainment dimension to the stay. Beyond the gaming, guests can also unwind at any of the three bar areas, many of which offer picturesque ocean views, enhancing the overall experience.

• Welcoming Atmosphere:

  Many reviewers expressed feeling warmly welcomed by all staff members, contributing to a pleasant and enjoyable stay. The general sentiment often conveyed is one of "loved the place" and finding it to be a "beautiful place."

Points to Consider ⚠️

• Maintenance and Room Issues:

  Some guests reported specific issues within their rooms. One instance cited a lack of hot water in the shower, although the issue was promptly resolved by the staff arranging an alternative room. Other feedback mentioned a weak shower and the absence of basic amenities like tissues.

• Cleanliness Concerns 🐜:

  A significant concern raised by one guest was the discovery of cockroaches in their room on multiple days, despite requesting pest control. This suggests an area where the hotel may need to enhance its cleanliness and pest management protocols to ensure consistent guest comfort.

Summary & Recommendation ✅

The 12 Oceans Hotel and Conference Centre in Durban offers a compelling package, particularly for those who appreciate good food and exceptional customer service. Its unique inclusion of a small casino and multiple bar areas with sea views adds to its appeal as a leisure and business destination. While there are some areas for improvement concerning consistent room maintenance and cleanliness, the overwhelmingly positive aspects, especially the culinary delights and the dedication of staff members like Star and Theresa, often make for a memorable experience. For a combined hotel, conference, and casino experience with a strong focus on hospitality and flavor, it could be a worthwhile choice, provided potential guests are aware of the noted room issues which the hotel may be actively addressing.