Port Elizabeth’s main accommodation strip runs along the Summerstrand beachfront, 3–5 km south of the CBD. This is where most visitors stay: hotels and guesthouses backed by the beach on one side and the Boardwalk complex on the other. Richmond Hill offers an alternative cluster of boutique guesthouses in the upper city. A third option — staying near Addo Elephant National Park itself (75 km north) — is worth considering if the park is the primary purpose of the visit.
Budget (R800–1,400 per night)
Chapman Hotel — Humewood
A well-run, family-owned guesthouse a short walk from Humewood Beach. The rooms are modest but clean and well-maintained; the owners are knowledgeable about Port Elizabeth and Addo logistics, which saves time for first-time visitors. Secure parking, braai area, and a good breakfast included in the rate.
- Price: From approximately R900–1,200 per night as of 2026
- Rooms: 12 en-suite rooms; standard doubles and family rooms
- Best for: Budget-conscious couples; families; Addo day-trippers who want to base in the city
Pine Lodge Resort — Summerstrand
A self-catering resort complex with chalets set in a forested area behind the Summerstrand dunes. Not a traditional hotel — more a collection of standalone chalets sleeping two to six people, with kitchen facilities, braai areas, and a communal pool. The forested setting is unusual for a beachfront destination and keeps temperatures noticeably cooler in summer.
- Price: From approximately R1,000–1,400 per night for a standard chalet as of 2026
- Rooms: 80+ chalets; studio, one-bed, and two-bed configurations
- Best for: Self-catering families; longer stays; groups who want separate living space
Kelway Hotel — Humewood
A reliable three-star property on Beach Road in Humewood. The rooms are straightforward and comfortable — nothing remarkable, but clean, well-located, and consistently reviewed well. The Beach Road location puts you a two-minute walk from the beach.
- Price: From approximately R850–1,100 per night as of 2026
- Rooms: 58 rooms; standard and superior configurations
- Extras: Pool, restaurant, secure parking
Sanlam Inn — Newton Park
A clean, unfussy option in Newton Park for visitors who don’t need to be on the beachfront and prefer a quieter residential-suburb setting. Newton Park is 5 km from Summerstrand. Good for travellers who are in Port Elizabeth primarily to drive to Addo and want a clean, cheap base.
- Price: From approximately R750–950 per night as of 2026
- Best for: Transit visitors; Addo day-trippers on a tight budget
Mid-Range (R1,500–2,800 per night)
Radisson Blu Hotel Port Elizabeth — Summerstrand
The most professionally managed mid-range hotel on the beachfront. Part of the global Radisson Blu chain, with consistent international standards: comfortable rooms (those facing the bay have the better views), a good breakfast buffet, outdoor pool, and reliable Wi-Fi. The in-house restaurant is solid without being exciting.
- Price: From approximately R1,800–2,400 per night as of 2026
- Rooms: 168 rooms; standard, deluxe, and suites; bay-facing upgrade worth requesting
- Extras: Outdoor pool, restaurant, bar, gym, secure underground parking
- Best for: Business travellers; families who want chain reliability
Hacklewood Hill Country House — Hacklewood
One of Port Elizabeth’s most consistently praised accommodation options — a nine-roomed property in a restored 1890s colonial house set in 3 hectares of gardens 5 km from the beachfront. The rooms are furnished with antiques without feeling stuffy. The five-course dinner (available to non-residents by reservation) is one of the best meals in the city. Personal service — the hosts know Addo and the Eastern Cape intimately.
- Price: From approximately R2,200–2,900 per night including breakfast as of 2026
- Rooms: 9 en-suite rooms; each individually designed
- Best for: Couples; honeymooners; guests who want boutique character over chain consistency
No5 Boutique Art Hotel by Mantis — Richmond Hill
A boutique hotel in Richmond Hill’s creative neighbourhood. Each of the 11 rooms is designed around a different South African artist’s work — the art is original, rotating, and for sale. The breakfast is excellent; the owners’ knowledge of Port Elizabeth’s independent food and arts scene is well above what you’d get from a chain hotel concierge.
- Price: From approximately R1,600–2,200 per night including breakfast as of 2026
- Rooms: 11 rooms; each uniquely themed
- Best for: Design-conscious travellers; independent explorers; arts enthusiasts
Ibhayi Guest Lodge — Summerstrand
A well-maintained family guesthouse directly on Marine Drive with views toward Algoa Bay. Not a traditional hotel — personal service, home-cooked breakfast, and the kind of detail that goes into owner-run properties. Secure parking, garden with pool.
- Price: From approximately R1,400–1,800 per night as of 2026
- Rooms: 10 rooms; doubles, twins, and family rooms
- Best for: Couples; travellers who prefer guesthouse to hotel
Luxury (R2,800–5,000 per night)
The Boardwalk Hotel — Summerstrand
Port Elizabeth’s flagship full-service hotel, attached to the Boardwalk Casino complex on the beachfront. The rooms are well-sized and contemporary; the sea-facing rooms and suites have uninterrupted views across Algoa Bay. Two restaurants, full spa, outdoor pool, and direct walkway access to the Boardwalk entertainment precinct.
The service standard is consistently the best in the city — genuine five-star delivery at a price point well below what comparable properties charge in Cape Town or Johannesburg.
- Price: From approximately R2,800–4,200 per night as of 2026; suites from R4,500
- Rooms: 147 rooms and suites; sea-facing upgrades worth the premium
- Extras: Full spa, two restaurants, outdoor pool, casino access, secure parking
- Best for: Occasions; travellers who want the best beachfront option in the city
Windermere Hotel — Humewood
A boutique property on the beachfront that pitches between the mid-range guesthouses and The Boardwalk in scale and service. Twelve rooms, each with either sea view or garden view. The restaurant is small but strong; the pool is private and calm. Attentive rather than corporate.
- Price: From approximately R2,600–3,500 per night as of 2026
- Rooms: 12 rooms and suites
- Best for: Couples; smaller groups who want high service without a large hotel
Staying at Addo (Inside and Around the Park)
If Addo Elephant National Park is the primary purpose of your Eastern Cape visit, consider staying in or adjacent to the park rather than in the city. The advantages are significant: you can be at the waterholes by first light before day visitors arrive, and you avoid the 75-km return drive.
SANParks Addo Main Rest Camp — Within the park, directly managed by SANParks. Options include camping (approximately R300 per site per night), safari tents (approximately R700–900 per tent), two-bed chalets (approximately R1,200–1,600 per night), and larger family units. Book via the SANParks website — occupancy is high year-round and booking 6–8 weeks ahead is advisable for peak periods (July–September game-viewing season, December–January school holidays).
Addo Elephant Back Safari Lodge — Luxury private lodge immediately adjacent to the park’s western boundary. Game drives run into the park with private vehicle access at odd hours not available to day visitors. All-inclusive rates from approximately R3,800–5,500 per person per night as of 2026.
Riverbend Lodge — A private lodge on the Sundays River with guided Addo access. Smaller and more intimate than the SANParks camps. From approximately R2,500–3,500 per person per night including meals and one guided game drive as of 2026.
Practical Notes
Booking windows: Addo SANParks accommodation books quickly for July–September (dry season) and December–January (school holidays). Port Elizabeth beachfront hotels are generally available with 1–2 weeks notice outside peak periods.
Airport transfers: George Swinton Sidwell (formerly Port Elizabeth International) Airport is 4 km from the city centre — approximately R80–100 by Uber. All hotels offer airport pickup at additional cost; Uber is faster and cheaper for most arrivals.
Self-catering: Pine Lodge Resort (above) is the best self-catering option in the city. If you’re staying five or more nights and want to cook some meals, the kitchen facilities at self-catering properties make a significant difference to total trip cost.
Addo vs city decision: If you have three nights — one night at Addo Main (for the early-morning park experience) and two nights in Summerstrand (for city, Route 67, and restaurant access) is the best combination for most visitors.
For more context see the Port Elizabeth city hub and the Eastern Cape travel guide.