Top Family-Friendly Stays in Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital of KwaZulu-Natal, a city of quiet suburbs such as Scottsville and Wembley, and it works as a practical base for a family on the road rather than a holiday resort. Six stays here carry the family-friendly label, and three descriptions back it in words: The Sleeping Bao B&B, StayEasy Pietermaritzburg and Thistle Hotel. Golden Horse Hotel, Ascot Inn and The Redlands Hotel carry the label without saying so. Below I say what each one offers a family, from a pool and a shared kitchen to a steakhouse restaurant, and I flag the ratings that rest on very few reviews.
Pietermaritzburg is the capital of KwaZulu-Natal, a city of Victorian-era buildings and quiet suburbs such as Scottsville and Wembley. It is not a beach or resort destination, so a family stay here is about a comfortable base with parking, a pool or a garden, and somewhere easy to eat.
Pools, Kitchens and Family Rooms Compared
Six Pietermaritzburg stays are labelled family-friendly, but only three of their descriptions say so. I put those first, then the three that carry the label without describing family facilities, and I say plainly where it is generous. I rank them by rating and by the number of reviews behind it, and I point out where a high score rests on a single review.
The Sleeping Bao B&B is the one I would choose for a family. It is described as family-friendly accommodation, rated 8.3 from 191 reviews, with private bathrooms, air-conditioning, and views of the garden or the pool. Guests can use an outdoor swimming pool, a sun terrace and a garden, and breakfast comes as continental, buffet or full English or Irish. A shared kitchen, barbecue facilities and free on-site parking make it easy to feed children without eating out every evening. StayEasy Pietermaritzburg lists a year-round outdoor pool, a lush garden and a family-friendly restaurant, with a lift, a 24-hour front desk and free private parking, but its 9.0 rests on a single review.
Thistle Hotel, rated 7.3 from 262 reviews, offers family-friendly accommodation with air-conditioned rooms, private bathrooms, a refrigerator, a microwave, a TV and free WiFi, which helps with children's snacks. It also has a sun terrace, an on-site restaurant serving steakhouse cuisine, a bar and free private parking, and it is described as conveniently located near local attractions and Pietermaritzburg Airport. It lists no pool, so I would choose it for a short, practical stop. Golden Horse Hotel, rated 8.3 from 516 reviews, is tagged family-friendly and has a year-round outdoor pool, a restaurant and a bar, but also a casino, so I would check the atmosphere first.
Ascot Inn, a guesthouse in the Scottsville area rated 8.2 from 411 reviews, and The Redlands Hotel, rated 8.1 from 243 reviews, in the Redlands Estate in Wembley, both carry the family-friendly label, but their descriptions do not mention children. Ascot Inn lists air-conditioned rooms, an outdoor pool, landscaped gardens, barbecue facilities, free WiFi and parking. The Redlands Hotel lists a swimming pool, manicured gardens, a 24-hour reception and individually decorated rooms with garden or pool views. They are pleasant options with space for children to play, but I would ask about family rooms.
The Inn by Ilawu, rated 7.5 from 1,556 reviews, the largest base in town, is not tagged family-friendly but describes comfortable family rooms with air-conditioning, a rooftop pool, an indoor pool, a restaurant and a bar, so it deserves a look. Ratings across the stays run from 7.3 to 9.0 out of 10, so the review counts matter more than the scores. The descriptions give few distances, so I would plan on a car or a taxi, and I would ask each stay whether it can provide an extra bed or a cot.
A traveller's takeI recommend The Sleeping Bao B&B for a family stay in Pietermaritzburg: it is described as family-friendly, with an outdoor pool, a sun terrace, a garden, a shared kitchen and barbecue facilities, and it is rated 8.3 from 191 reviews. For a hotel with a family-friendly restaurant I would consider StayEasy Pietermaritzburg, but its 9.0 rests on one review. Ask each stay about family rooms before you book.
9.0Family-friendlyStayEasy Pietermaritzburg
Comfortable Pietermaritzburg hotel with a pool and family-friendly dining
StayEasy Pietermaritzburg offers air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms, plus an outdoor pool that is available year-round and a lush garden. A family-friendly restaurant is on site, and free Wi-Fi, a lift, a 24-hour front desk and free private parking keep things simple. It is a convenient base in the city. Its 9.0 rating rests on a single review, so I treat it as a tentative signal.
8.3Family-friendlyGolden Horse Hotel
4-star hotel with a spa, pool and casino near the airport
Golden Horse is a four-star hotel with a lot packed onto one site: a spa, a year-round outdoor pool, a restaurant, a bar and a casino. Rooms are air-conditioned with bathtubs, which families with small children will find useful. The airport is only 3 km away, so arrival days stay simple. An 8.3 rating from 516 reviews is a solid score. I would recommend it to guests who want everything under one roof, less so to those after quiet.
8.3Family-friendlyThe Sleeping Bao B&B
Family-friendly B&B with a pool, garden views, and varied breakfast options
The Sleeping Bao B&B in Pietermaritzburg is a family-friendly guesthouse with air-conditioned rooms, private bathrooms and views of the garden or the pool. The outdoor swimming pool, sun terrace and garden give children room to play, and breakfast comes continental, buffet or full English/Irish. A shared kitchen and barbecue facilities help with simple family meals, and parking is free. An 8.3 rating from 191 reviews points to a friendly, practical stay.
8.2Family-friendlyAscot Inn
Comfortable guesthouse with an outdoor pool and gardens in Scottsville
Ascot Inn is a guesthouse in the Scottsville area of Pietermaritzburg with air-conditioned rooms and private bathrooms. An outdoor pool, landscaped gardens and barbecue facilities give families room to relax, and free Wi-Fi and private parking are included. There is no restaurant or spa listed, so it works best as a simple, homely base. An 8.2 rating from 411 reviews is good. I would recommend it for budget-minded family stays in the city.
8.1Family-friendlyRedlands Hotel
Manicured gardens, a swimming pool, and a tranquil setting in Pietermaritzburg
Redlands Hotel sits within the Redlands Estate in Wembley, a northern suburb of Pietermaritzburg, which gives it a quieter feel than a central address. Manicured gardens, a swimming pool and a 24-hour reception frame the stay. Rooms are individually decorated and air-conditioned, with garden or pool views and a private bathroom with bath and shower. An 8.1 rating from 243 reviews is good. I would recommend it for a calm, garden-led stay.
7.3Family-friendlyThistle Hotel
Family-friendly hotel with modern amenities and a Steakhouse restaurant
Thistle Hotel in Pietermaritzburg is aimed squarely at families. Air-conditioned rooms have private bathrooms, a refrigerator, a microwave, a TV and free Wi-Fi, which helps with children. There is a sun terrace, a bar and a restaurant serving steakhouse cuisine, plus free private parking. The airport and local attractions are nearby. A 7.3 rating from 262 reviews is modest. I would recommend it for practical family stops.
Local tips
- The Sleeping Bao B&B has a shared kitchen, barbecue facilities and a pool, useful for feeding children at your own pace.
- Read the 9.0 of StayEasy Pietermaritzburg with caution: it rests on a single review.
- Thistle Hotel has a refrigerator and a microwave in the rooms, but no pool is listed.
- Golden Horse Hotel has a casino; check the atmosphere and the family rooms before you book.
- Ask Ascot Inn and The Redlands Hotel about family rooms; their descriptions do not mention children.
- Free parking is listed at The Sleeping Bao B&B, StayEasy Pietermaritzburg, Thistle Hotel and Ascot Inn, useful with luggage and children.