Nova Boutique Hotel and Spa

Nova Boutique Hotel and Spa is built for travellers who like their evenings comfortable and their logistics uncomplicated. You have a restaurant, a bar, a heated outdoor pool, a spa and a fitness centre on site, so the day does not have to continue once you have unpacked.

The feel is more boutique hotel than beach resort. That matters if you want Port Elizabeth as a base rather than a property that tries to keep you inside its gates from breakfast onwards. The hotel also welcomes families, with a Family Suite for up to four guests, while couples can choose from several suite categories designed for two.

Private check-in and check-out, concierge service, daily housekeeping and luggage storage keep the practical side tidy. Free WiFi runs throughout the hotel, and private parking is available on site.

The address is 62 Albert Road in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, close to Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport. The airport is about 0.6 miles away by the hotel's location details, with the road transfer taking only a few minutes. Handy after a long flight; less handy if you enjoy pretending airport transfers are part of the adventure.

This is an urban base rather than a hotel on the sand. Kings Beach, Denville Beach and Humewood Beach are all around 2.5 to 3 miles away, while Hobie Beach is about 3 miles away. A car or local transfer makes more sense than planning every beach outing on foot.

Settlers Park Nature Reserve is around 1 mile away, and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum is about 1 mile from the hotel. Fort Frederick and Donkin Reserve are roughly 1.5 miles away. For a wider outing, Addo Elephant National Park is offered as an excursion, and Cape Recife Local Authority Nature Reserve is about 5 miles away.

The room choice is built around suites rather than standard hotel rooms. That gives you space to sit down properly, with a seating area and desk available, instead of balancing a laptop or a glass of water on the only flat surface left after unpacking. Air conditioning, heating and extra-long beds cover the basics of recovering from a tiring day.

For two people, the Superior King Suite, Deluxe King Suite and the larger Presidential Suite are the obvious choices when a generous bed and room to spread out matter. The Presidential Suite is the grandest option at 90 square metres. If four people are travelling together, the Family Suite also reaches 90 square metres and is the room category to investigate first.

A refrigerator, coffee machine and kettle are useful details when you return hot, thirsty or simply unwilling to leave the room again. Bathrooms have either a bath or shower, with bathrobes, slippers, towels and toiletries. Some rooms also have a balcony, while the television offers cable, satellite and streaming services for the evening when the sensible plan is an early night.

Cosmos Cafe is the hotel's main table, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with an international menu. Breakfast comes as a buffet, with fruit, cheese, croissants, cold meats and homemade items alongside an à la carte menu. The choice also covers continental, full English or Irish, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free breakfasts, with a breakfast-to-go option for mornings when the timetable has no interest in your preferences.

There is a restaurant on site, so dinner does not require another drive after you have spent the day out. Room service and breakfast in the room are also available when the most appealing dining room is your own suite.

Space Bar is the place for a drink, a little work or live sport in a relaxed setting. The pool area also has an outside bar, giving you somewhere to sit with a cold drink without turning a swim into a full expedition.

The heated outdoor pool is the main daytime reset button. It is heated to 30°C and arranged in a stand-alone setting with an outside bar, giving the hotel a small-resort feel without requiring you to spend the entire holiday beside the water. Sun loungers and pool towels are available.

Terra Nova Boutique Spa adds a more deliberate way to unwind. The facilities include a steam room, hot tub, spa lounge and relaxation area, with full-body, back, neck, head, foot and couples massages available. For two people travelling together, the couples massage is the straightforward choice; for everyone else, the treatment menu covers the body parts that tend to complain first after a long day outdoors.

A fitness centre is available if you still have energy to use. Beyond the hotel, wildlife observation and cultural excursions are part of the offering, including an excursion to Addo Elephant National Park. Board games and puzzles provide a quieter option when the weather, the legs or both have had enough.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to 22:00, and the hotel asks you to share your expected arrival time in advance. Check-out is from 05:00 to 11:00, which suits an early flight from the nearby airport. An airport shuttle is available, and the hotel also offers shuttle services; arrange the relevant service with the hotel before travelling.

Free private parking is available on site without a reservation. Private check-in and check-out, concierge service, luggage storage and a safety deposit box cover the useful arrival and departure details. Daily housekeeping, room service and laundry, ironing and trouser-press services are also available.

Children of all ages are welcome. Cots can be requested for children aged 0 to 2, and extra beds can be requested for children aged 6 and over, subject to the selected accommodation. The property is wheelchair accessible, with adapted bathroom features, although upper floors are reached by stairs only. Payment can be made by bank card or cash.