Practical and functional, the Radisson Blu in Port Elizabeth is a standard business hotel with great views of the Indian Ocean’s coastline. While it lacks any particular charm or intimacy, the hotel’s service is dependable and the ambiance, pleasant. Located directly on Marine Drive, a stroll through the waterfront park takes guests to The Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment World. Restaurants, shops, and bars line a somewhat contrived, but all the while enjoyable entertainment center and hotel. The walk in the park however, should not be repeated after dark. With few lights and limited pedestrian traffic, this area becomes somewhat unsafe.

Within the hotel, it is the small areas of deterioration and the overall lack of attention to detail that keep the hotel from achieving a more sensational review. Peeling paint, leaking showers, water-soaked tiles, and wonky mirrors all detract from what could be a far better experience. Tabú Grill, the in-house restaurant, serves up decent meals, with a heavy dose of oil. The associated room service menu is surprisingly limited but remains sufficient all the same. More broadly, the hotel offers the standard variety of business hotel services, including 3-hour laundry express, ‘grab and run’ breakfasts, unlimited free and fast internet, a 24-hour gym, a spa, a business center, and a one-touch concierge service. The staff is entirely capable at catering to your expressed needs, though rarely do they exceed expectations.

By far the greatest draw to the Radisson Blu is its proximity to the Port Elizabeth Airport, along with the the ease at which transfers are organized. A 15-minute drive will have you at the arrivals hall of this tiny domestic airport, where you will hopefully connect onwards to bigger and better adventures. While Port Elizabeth strives to re-invent itself as a variation on Cape Town, it will likely be years before this renaissance is recognized. Until then, the city remains a mandatory stopover on the Garden Route, and the Radisson Blu a reasonable place to spend a night.