The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Durban

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to Durban

Durban, South Africa Durban, South Africa

Are you looking for a hotel for your first trip to Durban, South Africa? With plenty of activities and sites, this is a great destination for first-time visitors. So if you're deciding where to stay on your first trip to Durban, don't worry, we've got you covered. We've analyzed the hotels in Durban to find out which are the best for first timers based on price, amenities, location, reviews, and guest ratings. In this guide, we'll be showcasing the best hotels for first-time visitors in Durban, taking into consideration all of these important factors. Whether you're traveling solo, with family, or with friends, there's a hotel that caters to every traveler's needs to make the most of your first trip here. So, if you're visiting Durban for the first time, the hotels below will be great options, as many of them have pools, breakfast, and plenty of comforts to help you relax. So, here they are, the best hotels in Durban for first time visitors.

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

The Edward Hotel

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $88 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at 149 OR Tambo Parade, The Edward Hotel has great rooms from $88 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a casino, a water park, and a restaurant. It has a terrific 8.80 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 2.2 km from the city center, first time visitors will especially love a fitness center, scuba diving, snorkeling, a bar, and parking at this relaxing hotel. The service at the restaurant is terrific, and so is the food.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms


View hotels on the map:

Blue Waters Hotel

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $82 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Durban
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Blue Waters Hotel which has nice rooms starting at $82. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a casino, a restaurant, and snorkeling, it also has a great guest rating of 8.50 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 175 Snell Parade. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a bar, parking, laundry services, golf, and city views which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 2.1 km from the city center. Everyone loves a nice indoor pool, and the one here does not disappoint!

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool


Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $91 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Family-Friendly

We found Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $91. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.10 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 63 Snell Parade. You'll also find scuba diving, snorkeling, a bar, parking, and child care which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 1.8 km from the center of town. Don't miss the pool bar which offers drinks and a fun area to unwind.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Garden Court South Beach

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $77 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.

With terrific rooms from $77, Garden Court South Beach, at 73 Marine Parade provides an outdoor pool, room service, a casino, a restaurant, and a fitness center. Its terrific guest rating is 8.10 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers a bar, parking, child care, laundry services, and city views. It's located just 2.4 km from the city center, too. The pool here was very nice, relaxing, and fun. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator


Protea Hotel by Marriott Karridene Beach

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $73 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Durban
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.

Protea Hotel by Marriott Karridene Beach has a great guest rating of 8.40 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. The great rooms here start at $73 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at Old South Coast Road. Furthermore, it also offers child care, laundry services, a game room, a spa, and a child pool, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 34.8 km from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. You'll enjoy relaxing while having room service delivered. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Child pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Playground


Coastlands Skye Hotel

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $76 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

The great guest rating of Coastlands Skye Hotel is 8.80 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $76, and it's located at 2 Vuna Close, Ridgeside, Umhlanga. We also love the parking, rooms with kitchenettes, child care, city views, and a spa which are great for visitors. And since it's just 14.5 km from the center of the town, the location is great, too. We find the kitchenette here to be a great way to get a good breakfast and save time and money. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool


Beverly Hills

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $305 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Durban
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

A cool place is Beverly Hills because it has great rooms that start at $305. It has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 54 Lighthouse Road. Only 15.3 km from the city center, travelers will especially love scuba diving, snorkeling, a bar, rooms with kitchenettes, and child care at this convenient hotel. You'll love relaxing in the heated pool after a busy day exploring.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Breakfast in the room


The Travel Inn Durban

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $49 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

The Travel Inn Durban offers an outdoor pool, room service, a water park, scuba diving, and snorkeling which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $49 (before taxes). It's located at 20 Cunningham Road Umbilo and has earned a guest rating of 9.50/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers parking, hiking, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, and child care which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 5.9 km from the city center. The kitchen in the room is great, because you can cook your own meals to save time and money. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


The Riverside Hotel

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $80 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Durban
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

Located at 10 Kenneth Kaunda Drive, The Riverside Hotel has great rooms from $80 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a casino, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 8.40 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find snorkeling, a bar, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, and golf which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 5 km from the center of town. You'll love relaxing in the hot tub at the end of the day, too. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


City Lodge Hotel Durban

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $73 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.

A great place to stay is City Lodge Hotel Durban which has nice rooms starting at $73. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.30 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Cor Brickhill And Old Fort Rds. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers child care, laundry services, free parking, laundry facilities, and bicycle rental. It's located just 1.5 km from the city center, too. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Breakfast in the room


Also, take a look at the first time trip hotels in nearby destinations: Durban, Ballito, Umhlanga, Pietermaritzburg, and Amanzimtoti.

For more terrific hotel ideas in Durban, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Durban, Best Luxury Hotels in Durban, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Durban, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Durban, Best Hotels for One Week in Durban, Best Hotels for One Night in Durban, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Durban, Best Adults Only Hotels in Durban, Best Hotels for Scuba Diving in Durban, or Best Business Hotels in Durban.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Durban?

Durban Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$81

Travelers to Durban, South Africa will have a large number of terrific first time trip accommodation options with a variety of great prices. The price of first time trip hotels here can vary by amenities, dates, and the neighborhood. Based on thorough data from 75 first time trip hotels, their average price is a very reasonable $81. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Durban.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $123
  • 4-star hotels: $82
  • 3-star hotels: $71
  • 2-star hotels: $55


Budget Your Trip
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. On this website you can also find travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
Share This Page

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.