Overall Rating:
3 1/2 to 4 Stars
Just spent a few days at the Perna Perna “Resort” in St. Lucia. We used RCI points to book unit 14 and were there the first week in June 2015.
Overall I would give the resort three and a half stars. My wife thinks it should be four. Following is the assessment.
The Staff: Five stars. Can’t say enough about the staff. One guy looked a bit scary but the rest were friendly and accommodating from the manager at reception right the way through. Great folks!
Ambiance: Four stars. Clean, neat, well maintained. Very welcoming. They even had a small parrot greeting guests at the reception. I give it four stars because it was a bit dated. Comfortable, but old in style and age.
General: Three and a half stars. On paper the recreational facilities sounded great: pool, play ground, braai’s/barbecues, DStv, laundry, bicycles, etc.
But everything was muted. It was tight or limited. There were only four bikes: two for adults and two for children.
You got the sense they added features to create a better image, probably at the urging of RCI.
Security: Three and a half stars. Entry and exit gates were automatic. There was a lock-up garage but it was a tight fit. I noticed one 
vehicle was too long to close the door. A narrow driveway required a three-point turn to back in.
I chose to park in the overflow area (also gated) to avoid the tight squeeze, but we were out of season. Not sure that would work in high season.
The one glitch was the sliding door. The security bolt at the top of the door was missing. Without that bolt the door can be breached easily. The fact that our primary latch was wobbly made it worse. They did change the latch during out stay but the missing bolt was concerning.
Access: Four stars. The resort is situated on a main road, Mckenzie Street, so finding the place is easy but the entrance was narrow and steep. Not a deal killer but be aware. You might need a running start to get up and through the gate. It’s a small resort. There’s only one driveway, and it’s one way.
On a positive note, you could walk to most places in town, and the main gate was fitted with actuator buttons so pedestrians can come and go easily.
Accommodation: Three star. Our unit had two and a half baths but it wasn’t what you think. The main bedroom had a shower but no toilet or 
sink. There was a dressing table and mirror but it had very little lighting. The nearest toilet and sink was down the hall.
No one could make a midnight visit to the loo in skivvies. There was plenty of facility but it wasn’t conveniently located.
Our unit was a two bedroom six sleeper, which means the couch doubled as a bed. The L-shaped couch probably met minimal standards but I doubt anyone over four feet could manage the short leg.
Final Thought: Would I stay there again? Yes, probably, but I might call the resort and see if I can book a unit with a full bath in the master bedroom :).
Resort Details:
125 Mckenzie Stree
St. Lucia 3936
Far North Coast, Kwazulu-Natal
South Africa
Ph. 035 590-1105
Fax 035 590-1244
https://www.pernapernast.co.za
Directions:
- Take the R618 from Mtubatuba approximately 25km to St. Lucia.
- Cross the bridge to the first traffic circle.
- Turn right at the circle and travel 800 meters to Perna Perna on the left – just past curio market on right.
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