Background
The Fusion Boutique Hotel has been open for just over a year and is already considered to be one of the top spots in this busy little part of the Limpopo Province. It is frequented by top corporate executives as well as the odd leisure traveller.
What’s it Like?
While the hotel is fairly new on the scene, it operates so smoothly that you would think it has been around for decades. The owner, staff and developers have looked at every part of the guest’s experience and found a way to make it as pleasurable as possible. The look of the hotel is the perfect blend of modern and French Renaissance, which is where the name ‘Fusion’ stems from. Each of the levels is a different colour yet all of the floors offer the same luxurious experience.
Where is it?
Fusion is located just off one of the main streets that run through Polokwane, so is quite convenient for business and leisure purposes. It is close enough to get where you need to in a short drive, yet far away from the hustle and bustle of the ‘inner city’.
Room Facilities
The rooms available include 30 Junior suites, and three popular executive suites with that extra bit of character, called the Kiss suite, the Bollywood suite and the Hollywood suite. While coffee and tea facilities are in the standard suites, a 24-hour coffee service is offered to guests in the executive suites. The rooms have flatscreen TVs with selected DStv channels, DVD players (with a selection of DVDs available at reception), work desks and all the normal amenities. Some nice extras include underfloor as well as towel-rail heating. The luxurious bathrooms have both shower and bath, and the Kiss suite features a spa bath. Other extra touches offered to make you feel totally spoilt are the pillow menu and the bath menu. I was treated to the romance option, so when I returned to the room after dinner I was met with a warm bath prepared with bubbles, salts, candles and rose petals.
Restuarants and bars
The hotel’s on-site restaurant, Saskia is impressive to say the least. It seats up to 220 guests in total and features four private dining areas, outside terrace, bar, coffee and wine bar, Zen garden and the Titus Wine Cellar. The food, like everything else at the hotel, is just superb. The menu offers a wide variety but somehow manages to distinguish itself with its unique meals. The Rembrandts Bar is part of the restaurant and offers a delicious selection of cocktails and other beverages, including the Fusion cocktail which is a mixture of three differentflavoured cocktails. There is also a breakfast room where a fivecourse breakfast is served. You may wonder how breakfast can be divided into five courses, but the fifth is dessert, if you can believe it! Guests are also offered sparkling wine with breakfast.
Business and Meeting Facilities
There is a decent-sized ballroom on the property that can be adapted to various sizes of conferences, meetings and events. The ballroom has a door leading to an outside deck and there is also a bar positioned just outside of the venue which is used exclusively for bigger functions. The private dining areas in the restaurant are also suited to smaller informal meetings. Wi-Fi is provided in the rooms and in the lobby, but is not complimentary.
Verdict
While I’m sure the hotel is pricey for many, it is well worth it. The staff provided absolutely flawless service, the hotel looks great, the rooms are luxurious and comfortable in every way and everything just works the way it should. It definitely deserves all five stars it has been awarded by the Tourism Grading Council. I did get the feeling that the staff were going just that little bit extra because they were all aware of this review, but I have no doubt in my mind that other guests are treated with as much respect and warmth. My only criticism would be that the rates charged by a five-star hotel could surely cover the cost of Wi-Fi access for its guests, but this is something many South African hotels have yet to realise.
Contact
Tel: +27 15 291 4042
Website: fusionboutiquehotel.co.za
Chana Viljoen