Meghan Markle’s highly anticipated “Best Life Retreat” in Sydney is off to a rocky start.
Despite the setbacks at the seaside venue, a spokesperson has confirmed that the Duchess of Sussex will still make her appearance, keeping hundreds of attendees hoping for a good weekend.
The three-day luxury inaugural gathering, taking place from April 17-19, promises to host up to 300 women eager for wellness workshops, motivational talks and a front-row VIP photoshoot with the former actress, all for £1,700 per person.
However, the five-star InterContinental hotel, located above Coogee Beach, has yet to finish its main attraction – the oceanfront infinity pool.
The spa, poolside bar, leisure terrace and wellness facilities are still under construction, leading early visitors to describe the scene as “a work in progress” and, less politely, “a blot on the eye”.
Hotel promotions tout “relaxed poolside time overlooking the ocean,” but with pool and leisure amenities incomplete, that dream of enjoying luxury might be more aspirational than attainable.
Officially, the website promises that all the new facilities will be ready by April, although it does not guarantee that they will be up and running in time for the Duchess’ weekend.
And even if the pool is full, swimmers may have other distractions. Coogee has been battling a strange and persistent pollution problem for the past two years.
Tens of thousands of smelly brown balls – a noxious mix of cooking oil, soap scum, hair and human waste – have washed ashore, earning the area an unflattering reputation.
Scientists trace the stinking blobs to a massive fatberg lurking in Sydney’s sewage system, occasionally releasing chunks into the sea.
