Hotels with a Swimming Pool in Gqeberha
Gqeberha, which some sources still call Port Elizabeth, is a coastal city where a hotel pool is a real advantage, because the sea is not always the place to spend the day. This page lists four properties tagged for pools: The Capital Boardwalk, Bishops Lodge, Ahoy Boutique Hotel and Terra Nova Suites and Spa. Three of them describe a swimming pool in their facts, and the fourth is described as a spa hotel with a sauna and a hot tub. I explain below what each one lists, because the review counts are small and the descriptions are short.
Gqeberha, renamed from Port Elizabeth in 2021, lies on Algoa Bay and is known as the Windy City for the breezes that sweep its beachfront. Most hotels sit in Summerstrand and along Marine Drive, near Hobie Beach and the Boardwalk. Addo Elephant National Park is about an hour's drive north. On days when the wind makes the beach uncomfortable, a hotel pool is the easier option, which is why I would look closely at the pool setting of each stay here.
Where to stay
Year-Round Pools, Sun Terraces and Spas
A pool in Gqeberha comes in three styles: a year-round outdoor pool at a beachfront hotel, a pool with a terrace and garden at a lodge, and a pool with a sun terrace at an adults-only boutique hotel. One of the four properties describes a hot tub and a sauna instead of a swimming pool. The selection is small, so details matter.
The Capital Boardwalk is the largest property in the group. It has a prime beachfront location with direct access to a private beach area, sea views from its rooms and a year-round outdoor swimming pool. It also lists a spa, a fitness centre and a casino, together with family-friendly amenities and modern accommodation. Its guest rating is 8.4 out of 10 from 39 reviews. I would look at it first for a family or a group that wants the pool, the beach and several facilities on one site, and I would ask the hotel about the pool's opening hours in the evening.
Bishops Lodge is quieter and more traditional. It lists comfortable family rooms with air conditioning, private bathrooms and modern amenities, a buffet breakfast, a traditional South African restaurant and a bar. Its year-round outdoor swimming pool is joined by a terrace and a lush garden, and the hotel describes itself as ideal for a relaxing stay. It has a guest rating of 8.3 from 22 reviews. I would choose it when the priority is a pool in a green setting rather than a beachfront address, and when the family wants a restaurant on site.
Ahoy Boutique Hotel is a beachfront boutique hotel with direct access to the sea and panoramic ocean views. It has an outdoor swimming pool, a sun terrace and a spa and wellness centre, and its air-conditioned rooms are soundproofed, with options for self-catering. It is an adults-only property that describes itself as ideal for honeymoons, so it is not a choice for families with children. Its rating of 9.3 is the highest of the group, but it rests on only 11 reviews, so it is a promising option more than a proven one, and I would read recent comments.
Terra Nova Suites and Spa needs an honest note. Its description lists air-conditioned rooms, free WiFi, a spa and wellness centre, a sauna, a hot tub, a restaurant and bar and free on-site private parking, but it does not mention a swimming pool. Its rating of 9 comes from a single review. I would therefore treat it as a spa hotel, not as a pool hotel, and I would ask the property directly whether a swimming pool exists before booking it for that reason. For a spa day with a restaurant and free parking on site it can still work well, but the sample is tiny.
A traveller's takeI recommend The Capital Boardwalk for a family stay built around a year-round outdoor pool, a private beach area and sea views. For a quieter pool with a terrace and a garden, I would choose Bishops Lodge. For a couple, I would look at Ahoy Boutique Hotel, which is adults-only and has a pool, a sun terrace and a spa, but I would ask Terra Nova Suites and Spa whether it has a swimming pool before choosing it.
9.3PoolAhoy Boutique Hotel
Beachfront boutique hotel with ocean views, a pool, and a spa for adults
Ahoy Boutique Hotel is a five-star, adults-only boutique hotel on the Gqeberha seafront, so it is not an option for families with children. For adults, it has direct access to the sea, panoramic ocean views, an outdoor swimming pool, a sun terrace and a spa and wellness centre. Rooms are air-conditioned and soundproofed, with self-catering options, and a modern restaurant is on site. Guests score it 9.3 across 11 reviews.
9.0PoolTerra Nova Suites and Spa
Comfortable suites with a spa, sauna, and hot tub near the airport
Terra Nova Suites and Spa in Gqeberha offers air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms and free Wi-Fi. The draw is the spa and wellness centre, with a sauna and a hot tub, plus an on-site restaurant and bar and free private parking. It reads as a restful, adult-leaning stay more than a family resort. Its 9.0 rating comes from a single review, so I would not rely on it yet.
8.4PoolThe Capital Boardwalk
Beachfront luxury with sea views, a spa, and family-friendly amenities
The Capital Boardwalk is a five-star beachfront hotel in Gqeberha with direct access to a private beach area, and rooms have sea views. A year-round outdoor swimming pool, a spa, a fitness centre and a casino are on site, with family-friendly amenities and modern accommodation. The casino makes the atmosphere livelier in the evening. Guests score it 8.4 across 39 reviews.
8.3PoolBishops Lodge
Family-friendly lodge with a pool, spa, and South African dining
Bishops Lodge in Gqeberha has comfortable family rooms with air conditioning and private bathrooms. A year-round outdoor swimming pool, a terrace and a lush garden give children outdoor time, and spa and wellness facilities are there for parents. Parents who want a simple routine will find a buffet breakfast, a traditional South African restaurant and a bar covering meals without leaving the lodge. Guests score it 8.3 across 22 reviews.
Local tips
- The Capital Boardwalk and Bishops Lodge both list a year-round outdoor swimming pool, so they suit travel outside the summer months.
- Ahoy Boutique Hotel is adults-only; families with children should look at The Capital Boardwalk or Bishops Lodge instead.
- Terra Nova Suites and Spa lists a sauna and a hot tub but no swimming pool, so ask whether a pool exists before booking it for that reason.
- If you want a beach as well as a pool, The Capital Boardwalk and Ahoy Boutique Hotel are the two beachfront options.
- Bishops Lodge has a terrace and a lush garden next to its pool, which suits a slow afternoon more than a lively one.
- Review counts are small, from 1 to 39, so read recent guest comments and not only the rating.