Glenda Thompson explores an exciting new venue at the coast
There is no indication of exactly what to expect when you drive through the gates of Coco De Mer, the latest addition to Ballito’s accommodation network. Will it be little bungalows with bedrooms overlooking the sea? Thatched chalets with a beachy feel, or simply a standard hotel with musty little rooms leading off a carpeted passageway?
The reality is something entirely different. Designed in modern Bali style, Coco De Mer is the epitome of boutique hotel elegance. It towers gracefully over Compensation Road, overlooks the beach and manages to retain a certain amount of rural charm as it nestles against a backdrop of thick coastal forest vegetation.
The hotel is owned by the Durocher-Yvon family: Patrice, his wife Cynthia and their son Fabien. Fabien’s girlfriend Sara Barendse is also involved in the running of the establishment. Why Coco De Mer? we asked Fabien.
“My father comes from Mauritius, and the coco de mer, or ‘fruit of the sea’, is a palm tree endemic to one of the Indian Ocean islands close to the Seychelles.” The tree is special and unique, which is how the Durocher-Yvon family see their hotel.
Hailing from Johannesburg (Patrice still runs an engineering business there), the family holidayed in Ballito for many years before moving down permanently. “During our holidays, we’d look at the properties for sale here, and although this one wasn’t on sale at the time, it caught our eye more than once,” Fabien says. “When it came up for sale we immediately put in an offer and also bought adjacent land. Our intention was to start a guest house, and the boutique hotel concept simply grew from there.”
Meticulous detail has gone into the finishes of this 16-bedroom sumptuous establishment. From the extraordinary chandelier dominating the hallway, which at first glance resembles a bundle of giant garlic cloves, but is, in fact, a conglomeration of huge glass jelly fish, to the massive four metre fish tank in the foyer that blends with the “Bali chic” furnishings.
The bedrooms are either sea or forest facing and very little traffic noise penetrates the rooms.
Fabien wants to establish the hotel as a unique wedding reception and conference venue. The hotel has Wi-Fi throughout and can cater for up to 20 delegates. There is a well-stocked wine cellar in the basement, and the family is putting the finishing touches to a large airy restaurant which will shortly be open to the public and will cater for a wide range of tastes. The hotel is not graded yet.
“Our intention is to achieve a 4 or 5 star grading,” says Fabien.
The move from Johannesburg clearly suits the family well. Fabien and Sara have a toddler, Rafael, who thrives in the laid back atmosphere of Ballito. “The quality of life is so much better down here, and we wanted our son to be able to grow up in this wonderful, carefree environment,” they say.
We understand completely!