Marilyn Boutique Hotel

After a long journey, we got to The Maryland in Durban South at about 12:50 PM on 31st Dec, 2025. We had booked and paid online for Room 24, which was advertised with a terrace and sea views, but reception said there’d been a system problem and that room was already occupied. The replacement didn’t have a terrace or the view we’d chosen and paid for. There was no apology, gesture of compensation, or real acknowledgment of the inconvenience, even though it wasn’t our fault. We were told the rooms had no price difference, which doesn’t seem to match their advertised features. We expected a warm, professional welcome for a prepaid booking, but the experience fell well short. The lack of accountability and customer care made it even more disappointing. I hope they improve their communication, booking accuracy, and guest experience.

We spent a month there. They have laundry service at the hotel, chefs who make breakfast and dinner for guests, and an entertainment center for smaller, intimate main events.

Guests party late into the night and sometimes until early morning, often drunk, and the staff don’t step in. Noise levels aren’t respected at all. It was very noisy.

They may move you into a lower-quality room because they’ve overbooked, and rules can suddenly be explained and enforced the day before checkout. Housekeeping may refuse to clean, transport can be late even though they won’t tolerate you arriving late, and they control how much food you can eat. I absolutely wouldn’t recommend staying here.