MYSTERY SHOPPER
Oyster Box Hotel & Spa, South Africa
T
he fact that Prince Albert II of Monaco and his bride, Princess Charlene, chose to stay at Te Oyster Box following their lav- ish wedding this July, gives an
indication of how high-end this hotel and spa offering is. Beautifully situated in the Umhlanga area of Durban on the Indian Ocean coastline, the historic property began life as a lighthouse cottage in 1869 and was converted into a hotel in 1947. It re-opened in 2009 following an extensive, zar450m (us$59m, €42m, £37m), two-year resto- ration. Te rebuilt 86-bedroom hotel is a mix of colonial elegance – original features include hand-painted tiles and wrought-iron
Tis hotel and spa in Durban recently hosted the Prince of Monaco on his honeymoon. Lisa Starr sees if it really is suitable for royalty LISA STARR » SENIOR CONSULTANT » WYNNE BUSINESS
balustrades – and plush, modern finishes. Facilities include six restaurants, meeting and banquet rooms and two pools. Tere’s also a new purpose-built, three-
storey spa and fitness centre, which was voted the Best Luxury Wellness Spa in South Africa in this year’s World Luxury Spa Awards; as well as Best Hotel Spa 2010 by Les Nouvelles Esthetique South Africa. Te Oyster Box is part of the Red Carna-
tion Hotel Collection, which has two more properties in South Africa – Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness Retreat, Cederberg; and Cape Town’s Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa – as well as other four- and five-star boutique hotels in the UK, Guernsey, Switzerland and the US.
THE VISIT
The offer Te Oyster Box Spa covers 578sq m (6,222s ſt) and has seven treatment rooms – including one with a hydrotherapy bath and another with a Nuvola dry floatation and colour therapy bed by Technodesign. Tere’s also a plunge pool, grooming lounge, locker rooms, pre- and post-treatment lounges, a small spa café, an authentic hammam and well- equipped fitness room supplied by Matrix. Te product houses are Africology, Der-
malogica, Elemis, Mama Mia and in-house range B|Africa and there are around 40 treat- ments with notable differences including the Ionithermie slimming treatment, a good range of beauty services, a small selection dedicated to men and hammam rituals. Te five signa- ture experiences are very creative and in a nod to the local culture incorporate tools such as African rungu (a traditional wooden baton), bamboo cane and lava shells. Price points are among the highest in the area – an entry- level 60-minute massage costs zar495 (us$63, €46, £40) – but are consistent with what you’d expect from similar world-class facilities.
VITAL STATISTICS
Address: Oyster Box Hotel & Spa, 2 Lighthouse Road, Umhlanga Rocks 4319, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa Contact: Spa manager Jackie Avis,
javis@oysterbox.co.za Times: 8am to 8pm daily To book: +27 (0) 31 514 5070
The hotel and spa are beautifully situated on the Indian Ocean coastline 50 Read Spa Business online
spabusiness.com / digital SPA BUSINESS 4 2011 ©Cybertrek 2011
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