Riviera On Vaal Resort

Watching the storm and sunrise from our room was a treat, and the staff were welcoming and gave excellent service throughout. Riviera on Vaal Resort has a beautiful riverside setting and a relaxing atmosphere, with plenty of potential. The rooms let it down, though. They felt dated and needed better upkeep and upgrades for the standard the resort aims for. The location and hospitality are already there, but the room quality needs attention.

I'm disgusted by the poor service and by how this place handled criticism. My mom, mother-in-law, and aunt had a terrible time at your Mother's Day buffet. I left a respectful comment about it, but it was deleted instead of addressed. After I pointed that out, the comments were closed. That says plenty. The food was apparently terrible, the service was poor, and there weren't even enough spoons. Guests had to wait while spoons were washed and passed between tables, despite the premium buffet prices. Completely unacceptable and embarrassing. My mother-in-law was visiting from outside the Vaal and it was her first visit. Instead of a memorable Mother's Day, the whole experience was disappointing. Deleting negative feedback instead of taking responsibility is unprofessional and shows how little the customer experience matters.

We booked a self-catering room at Riviera on the Vaal, but within minutes of entering the room and kitchen we had killed more than five cockroaches. It clearly wasn't a one-off, and the staff member at reception didn't seem surprised when we asked for another room. The replacement wasn't much better. The bathroom and shower were in a state that would be hard to accept even at a budget one-star place. Cleanliness and maintenance were lacking throughout. The online photos made the hotel look comfortable and well maintained, but the property was clearly in poor shape and hadn't been properly maintained for years. The facilities were very outdated, while the rates suggested a quality establishment. The photos don't reflect the current condition, and guests are paying premium prices for a standard far below what is advertised. Guests should know before booking, and management needs to deal with the hygiene and maintenance problems.

The river cruise was great, with plenty of parking and excellent facilities. The Vaal view from the riverbank is majestic, especially from the top-floor, fifth-floor rooms. The room-opening app is a little complicated, so don't let your phone battery die. Otherwise, I'd definitely recommend this hotel.