June 2020 - Highway Durban

A Perfect Stay ... armchair travel has never been this luxurious
We’re sure you, like us, are just
longing to travel. To escape for a
few days from our (albeit lovely)
homes, and enjoy some time out
somewhere gorgeous – and taking
full advantage of the joy of allowing
someone else to spoil us. Not quite,
but almost as good as the real thing,
is settling down and dipping into
this incredible glimpse of the Royal
Portfolio. A collection of luxurious
South African destinations created by
Liz Biden and owned by her and her
husband, Phil, the collection started
with renting out a few rooms of the
couple’s family home in the Kruger,
a project started by Liz when she
retired, and which resulted in the
opening of Royal Malewane almost
21 years ago. She then went on to
renovate and open up more of their
private properties – a beach house
in Hermanus, then a wine farm in
Franschhoek. The Silo Hotel in Cape
Town’s V&A Waterfront completes
the portfolio ... this one purchased
because, as Phil pointed out, ‘holiday
homes are one thing – but we didn’t
want to give up our family home too’!
A Perfect Stay is a peek into each
hotel, at the glamorous lifestyles,
the guests (Sir Elton John and David
Furnish are regulars, and rave in the
book’s foreword), the hospitality. ‘Our
hotels are not just about the beautiful
spaces. Our hotels are soulful,’ writes
Liz. Soulful, relaxing, luxurious spots in
iconic SA locations. Just perfect. R800
from theroyalportfolio.com
Beat lockdown calories
... these Fitch & Leedes
Sugar Free mixers are
low in calories (less
than one in a can of
the Indian Tonic, while
the Pink Tonic and
Bitter Lemon have just
five calories) but taste
superb. Amazing for
a guilt-free G&T, but
they make refreshing
Quarantini mocktails,
too. You’ll find them at
your local supermarket
for around R48 for
a six pack, but can
buy online too, on
fitchleedes.co.za
Compiled by KYM ARGO
June 2020 Get It Highway • Berea • Durban North 09