”I want to live in a hotel.” This was the heartfelt wish from my young son and his mate as we hit the road back to Joburg sums up our weekend stay at Riverside Resort on the Vaal River near Vanderbijlpark recently.
Geared for family getaways, especially during the warmer months, the only nicety this hotel could improve upon – as far as the boys were concerned – was to offer more entertainment channels on the TV next to the dressing table, which was stacked with welcoming snacks when we arrived. I would also venture that a bed in the swimming pool would mean utopia for any child.
Any child, that is, who doesn’t get lured to the nearby River Rascals (kids-club) Den, where they can watch movies, do crafts or play games under supervision.
And besides the bright-blue friend magnet that was the pool, where parents lounged while sipping drinks brought to them from abar a few metres away, the welcoming aromas that came with the vastness of delectables offered by the buffet reignited this frenzy of full-throttle fun that the boys felt would never end.
Why would kids care for the beauty and calm of the lush garden, with little streams and bridges, stretching all the way down to the river? The only interest they had in anything closer to the river was a delightful sunset cruise.
That’s when the reality of a promising weekend struck them as they stepped on the boat, dazzled by the extravaganza of hundreds of lights reflected off the mansions that line the smooth artery, with the sun taking centre stage as it settled people into amiable respite from a week’s work.
Scrumptious snacks served on the cruise were to be the eating highlight of my weekend, with Saturday night’s hotel dinner the only (very) low point of our stay.
Needless to say, a media launch of the resort’s new logo (having recently joined the Southern Sun Lifestyle Brand) on our arrival, which involved speeches and a tree-planting ceremony, went straight over the heads of the 11-year-old explorers – and almost mine too if I had followed my first impulse to switch off to what appeared to be a standard PR exercise.
But paying close attention, I sensed instead a true commitment behind words such as “uplifting and empowering the community”, “attention to our environmental impact” and training and developing staff to communicate the brand promise of “a lifetime experience”.
And if my observations weren’t sufficiently fine, I could’ve waited for the handing over of a cheque to the Helping Hand and Taaibos School – the donation was initiated by and collected among staff members to ensure a merry Christmas for underprivileged youngsters.
Or I could’ve let the weekend unfold to reveal the warmth, efficiency and sincerity eagerly extended by every one of the resort employees, to ensure an unexpectedly carefree and happy family getaway.
l For more information or to book at the Riverside Resort, telephone the resort on 016 982 7300, e-mail riverside@southern sun.com or visit the website at www.southernsun.com