Scores reflect the Overall AI Score for each category
Based on recent customer reviews, Sun International presents a sharply divided picture. A small group of guests describe unforgettable stays at The Palace and Meropa, yet the dominant pattern is service breakdown. Customers consistently report unanswered emails, unavailable managers, hygiene failures in rooms and unresolved refunds. A recurring theme is that the resort brand promise is not matched by day to day delivery across hotels, Vacation Club and Sunbet.
Top Strengths:
- •Travel Experience & Reliability: The Palace of the Lost City, refurbished Vacation Club apartments and Meropa draw genuine praise for comfort, cleanliness and activities. However, Travel Experience & Reliability (1.6) is dragged down by cockroaches, broken aircon and littered grounds elsewhere.
TrustIndex
2.2
NPS Score
-80
Recommended: Unlikely
Nov '25 - Oct '26
Frequently Asked Questions About Sun International
What do customers say about Sun International?
Based on recent customer reviews, Sun International presents a sharply divided picture. A small group of guests describe unforgettable stays at The Palace and Meropa, yet the dominant pattern is service breakdown. Customers consistently report unanswered emails, unavailable managers, hygiene failures in rooms and unresolved refunds. A recurring theme is that the resort brand promise is not matched by day to day delivery across hotels, Vacation Club and Sunbet.
What is Sun International's biggest strength?
Sun International's biggest strength, according to Hellopeter's AI analysis, is Travel Experience & Reliability. The Palace of the Lost City, refurbished Vacation Club apartments and Meropa draw genuine praise for comfort, cleanliness and activities. However, Travel Experience & Reliability (1.6) is dragged down by cockroaches, broken aircon and littered grounds elsewhere.
What are the most common complaints about Sun International?
The most common complaint about Sun International, based on Hellopeter's AI analysis of recent customer reviews, is Booking, Changes & Cancellations. Booking, Changes & Cancellations (1.0) is a persistent pain point. Guests report room types allocated that differ from what was booked online, breakfast inclusions dropped, app details that cannot be amended and timeshare season rules changed mid contract.
Is Sun International trustworthy?
Sun International has a TrustIndex of 2.2 out of 10 on Hellopeter, based on 58 reviews in the last 12 months. Hellopeter has tracked Sun International across 1,434 total reviews. How is the TrustIndex calculated? →
Recent reviews (58)
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Share Your Experience1 reviews | Active since Dec 2017
Very poor service.
They gave our cabana away and said we had cancelled in April. Why would we do that. We went earlier to the vacation club desk to ask for the valley of the waves passes so we. Old go and swim and were ignored by the 7 people behind the desk, and then told we can't check in till 2. We didn't want to check in . We host a golf competition here every year for the past 41 years and book way in advance. They kept us waiting for almost 2 hours and had to find us another chalet. Then they were rude to us like it's our fault. We asked for proof of the phone call that cancelled the booking. Food is so expensive. Drinks even worse. Rooms have been renovated beautifully but the drains were blocked again. Golf is now too expensive for the guys to play. Chasing all the regulars away.
1 reviews | Active since Dec 2017
Very poor service.
They gave our cabana away and said we had cancelled in April. Why would we do that. We went earlier to the vacation club desk to ask for the valley of the waves passes so we. Old go and swim and were ignored by the 7 people behind the desk, and then told we can't check in till 2. We didn't want to check in . We host a golf competition here every year for the past 41 years and book way in advance. They kept us waiting for almost 2 hours and had to find us another chalet. Then they were rude to us like it's our fault. We asked for proof of the phone call that cancelled the booking. Food is so expensive. Drinks even worse. Rooms have been renovated beautifully but the drains were blocked again. Golf is now too expensive for the guys to play. Chasing all the regulars away.
1 reviews | Active since Apr 2010
Rude and unfriendly security staff at the Valley of the Waves (Sun City)
Currently staying at the vacation club (***). Spent a truck load of cash fotr the accommodation and food/entertainment at the resort. Today, basically our last day at the resort, we decide to go to the valley of the waves. It is absolutely empty - not much people. So we decide to get seating in a totally empty island. After about 10min of total enjoyment and peace, we get humiliated by rude security staff and ordered to vacate the "empty" island (since it us only for Palace residents)?? Go figure. The room/suite I booked is probably three times the cost of that of the palace! I just left the valley of the waves now, and will not return. I will take my hard earned cash elsewhere in future
1 reviews | Active since Apr 2010
Rude and unfriendly security staff at the Valley of the Waves (Sun City)
Currently staying at the vacation club (***). Spent a truck load of cash fotr the accommodation and food/entertainment at the resort. Today, basically our last day at the resort, we decide to go to the valley of the waves. It is absolutely empty - not much people. So we decide to get seating in a totally empty island. After about 10min of total enjoyment and peace, we get humiliated by rude security staff and ordered to vacate the "empty" island (since it us only for Palace residents)?? Go figure. The room/suite I booked is probably three times the cost of that of the palace! I just left the valley of the waves now, and will not return. I will take my hard earned cash elsewhere in future
1 reviews | Active since Nov 2017
Bad stay experience
Dear Sun City Management, I would like to formally raise a complaint regarding our recent three-night stay at Leopard Resort. Unfortunately, the service and overall experience during this stay were extremely disappointing, especially considering that we have visited Sun City more than five times before. On the first night, at around 10:30 PM, we discovered that the air-conditioning remote controls were missing from both of our rooms. We contacted the front desk, but it took approximately 40 minutes before someone finally brought the remote controls to us. The following morning, we discovered that the sliding door leading to the backyard was extremely difficult to open and appeared to have a problem with the mechanism. Later that evening, at around 7:00 PM, we noticed that the lights in the outdoor braai area were not working. The light inside the braai itself was also not working. We contacted the relevant staff, and after waiting for more than an hour, the outdoor light was eventually repaired, but the light inside the braai was still not fixed. Fortunately, I had brought a flashlight with me; otherwise, we would not have been able to properly use the braai that evening. On the third day, the situation became even more frustrating. Another vehicle had parked in our designated parking space. We had to drive all the way to the reception/front desk to report the issue and then return to our accommodation to wait. It took almost an hour before the staff were able to locate the owner of the vehicle and resolve the situation. I genuinely feel that these kinds of issues should not be happening at a large and internationally recognised resort such as Sun City. None of these problems individually may seem major, but having to deal with one issue after another throughout a three-night stay significantly affected our overall experience. We have been coming to Sun City for more than five visits, which is why it is particularly disappointing to see the level of service and guest experience declining to this extent. We sincerely hope that management will take this complaint seriously and review the way these issues are being handled. Guests should not have to spend so much of their holiday time following up on basic accommodation facilities, maintenance issues, lighting, or parking problems. We would appreciate it if management could investigate these incidents and provide us with feedback on what steps will be taken to prevent similar situations from happening to future guests. We look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards, Tony
1 reviews | Active since Nov 2017
Bad stay experience
Dear Sun City Management, I would like to formally raise a complaint regarding our recent three-night stay at Leopard Resort. Unfortunately, the service and overall experience during this stay were extremely disappointing, especially considering that we have visited Sun City more than five times before. On the first night, at around 10:30 PM, we discovered that the air-conditioning remote controls were missing from both of our rooms. We contacted the front desk, but it took approximately 40 minutes before someone finally brought the remote controls to us. The following morning, we discovered that the sliding door leading to the backyard was extremely difficult to open and appeared to have a problem with the mechanism. Later that evening, at around 7:00 PM, we noticed that the lights in the outdoor braai area were not working. The light inside the braai itself was also not working. We contacted the relevant staff, and after waiting for more than an hour, the outdoor light was eventually repaired, but the light inside the braai was still not fixed. Fortunately, I had brought a flashlight with me; otherwise, we would not have been able to properly use the braai that evening. On the third day, the situation became even more frustrating. Another vehicle had parked in our designated parking space. We had to drive all the way to the reception/front desk to report the issue and then return to our accommodation to wait. It took almost an hour before the staff were able to locate the owner of the vehicle and resolve the situation. I genuinely feel that these kinds of issues should not be happening at a large and internationally recognised resort such as Sun City. None of these problems individually may seem major, but having to deal with one issue after another throughout a three-night stay significantly affected our overall experience. We have been coming to Sun City for more than five visits, which is why it is particularly disappointing to see the level of service and guest experience declining to this extent. We sincerely hope that management will take this complaint seriously and review the way these issues are being handled. Guests should not have to spend so much of their holiday time following up on basic accommodation facilities, maintenance issues, lighting, or parking problems. We would appreciate it if management could investigate these incidents and provide us with feedback on what steps will be taken to prevent similar situations from happening to future guests. We look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards, Tony
1 reviews | Active since Dec 2021
Body shamed by Sibusiso and Kelebogile with my thin body and wouldn't serve me alcoholic drinks while the same restaurant
Dear Sun City Management, I am writing to express my disappointment with the way I was treated at Corona beach Bar in Valley of the Waves. After I had already purchased two alcoholic drinks, I tried to buy 2 more alcoholic drinks for me and my friend and was asked for identification by a bald male staff member by the name Sibusiso and a female staff member name Kelebogile who was the cashier. I am 28 years old, but I understand that staff may need to verify a customer's age. What upset me was that they would not accept a photograph of my *** and I even suggested presenting something else to prove that I'm an adult . I was then refused service, and the interaction felt dismissive and embarrassing. I decided to leave the non-alcoholic drinks I had purchased with the cashier for my friend to collect. During the conversation, the cashier asked whether my friend looked older than me, and I said that she did. That exchange left me wondering whether my appearance had influenced how I was treated. Do I have to look "fat" to be recognised as an adult? I asked whether being thin and looking younger was the reason I was being singled out. I left feeling judged by my physique rather than treated with respect. I would appreciate clarification on your identification policy and why a photograph of my *** was not accepted. More importantly, I ask that you review how your staff handled this interaction and respond to my concerns. I visited Valley of the Waves expecting an enjoyable experience. Instead, I left feeling embarrassed and deeply disappointed by the customer service. Kind regards, Sisipho Madikane
1 reviews | Active since Dec 2021
Body shamed by Sibusiso and Kelebogile with my thin body and wouldn't serve me alcoholic drinks while the same restaurant
Dear Sun City Management, I am writing to express my disappointment with the way I was treated at Corona beach Bar in Valley of the Waves. After I had already purchased two alcoholic drinks, I tried to buy 2 more alcoholic drinks for me and my friend and was asked for identification by a bald male staff member by the name Sibusiso and a female staff member name Kelebogile who was the cashier. I am 28 years old, but I understand that staff may need to verify a customer's age. What upset me was that they would not accept a photograph of my *** and I even suggested presenting something else to prove that I'm an adult . I was then refused service, and the interaction felt dismissive and embarrassing. I decided to leave the non-alcoholic drinks I had purchased with the cashier for my friend to collect. During the conversation, the cashier asked whether my friend looked older than me, and I said that she did. That exchange left me wondering whether my appearance had influenced how I was treated. Do I have to look "fat" to be recognised as an adult? I asked whether being thin and looking younger was the reason I was being singled out. I left feeling judged by my physique rather than treated with respect. I would appreciate clarification on your identification policy and why a photograph of my *** was not accepted. More importantly, I ask that you review how your staff handled this interaction and respond to my concerns. I visited Valley of the Waves expecting an enjoyable experience. Instead, I left feeling embarrassed and deeply disappointed by the customer service. Kind regards, Sisipho Madikane
1 reviews | Active since Sept 2019
Litter and poor,garden maintenance at Sun City!!
Currently at Sun City,the gardens are in very poor condition and as for the litter in these areas absolutely unacceptable.I walked this morning thru,hippo,crocodile and spider walks in very poor conditions!Staying at Lefika Villas litter very,very bad and no - one actually cares!!!
1 reviews | Active since Sept 2019
Litter and poor,garden maintenance at Sun City!!
Currently at Sun City,the gardens are in very poor condition and as for the litter in these areas absolutely unacceptable.I walked this morning thru,hippo,crocodile and spider walks in very poor conditions!Staying at Lefika Villas litter very,very bad and no - one actually cares!!!
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2011
Sun Vacation Club levies department is useless
Sun Vacation Club is the WORST run timeshare. I have timeshare at Sondela, at Umhlanga Sands, Mabula Lodge and Funseekers, yet Sun Vacation Club is the only timeshare I struggle with. They send emails urging you to settle in advance but they never actually send you a statement so that you can pay. They don't respond to emails. Even their manager, Lutchmee, doesn't respond to emails. Thank goodness my second timeshare with them expires this year. Never again!
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2011
Sun Vacation Club levies department is useless
Sun Vacation Club is the WORST run timeshare. I have timeshare at Sondela, at Umhlanga Sands, Mabula Lodge and Funseekers, yet Sun Vacation Club is the only timeshare I struggle with. They send emails urging you to settle in advance but they never actually send you a statement so that you can pay. They don't respond to emails. Even their manager, Lutchmee, doesn't respond to emails. Thank goodness my second timeshare with them expires this year. Never again!
1 reviews | Active since Sept 2014
Noisy guests and no staff to make them quiet
I stayed from 8 to 11 Sept in the Cabanas attending a conference, always beautiful and clean as you would expect. But the night of 10 Sept 2026 there were a lot of guests very noisy outside of the rooms, like in seriously noisy, and not even one staff member came to make them quite. This continued from probably 1/2 am to about 5 am, no sleep at all. I wanted to bring my family to experience this wonderful resort, but I am not going to risk my money to be lost with such a really horrible experience. Sorry Sun International (Sun City resort).
1 reviews | Active since Sept 2014
Noisy guests and no staff to make them quiet
I stayed from 8 to 11 Sept in the Cabanas attending a conference, always beautiful and clean as you would expect. But the night of 10 Sept 2026 there were a lot of guests very noisy outside of the rooms, like in seriously noisy, and not even one staff member came to make them quite. This continued from probably 1/2 am to about 5 am, no sleep at all. I wanted to bring my family to experience this wonderful resort, but I am not going to risk my money to be lost with such a really horrible experience. Sorry Sun International (Sun City resort).