Crowne Plaza Sandton, South Africa
 

Has anyone stayed there? Is there internet access at the hotel?

In a secure area?

Thank you.

also, does the hotel share a points program with any airline?

I can respond to your first post, although I haven't actually stayed there.

The hotel has been there many years, and I can recall that when it was opened the PR stuff made a thing about Internet access in the rooms, which was not common at that time. Their website says "In-room access via Maginet service with full wireless service coming soon". (You have probably visited that website already, but in case you haven't, go to www.southernsun.co.za and select the hotel from the dropdown list at te top to see info as opposed to booking. The full URL to the hotel info is rather long.)

It is in a good area, provided you walk in the right direction. I.e., no long walk down to, over, and far beyond the main highway. It is close to a small shopping centre (Village Walk) that has shops, restaurants, cinemas, and the Blues Toom (www.bluesroom.co.za) in the cellar. A little further away (still walking distance, IMO) is the giant Sandton City/Nelson Mandela Square mall complex.

Aside from at least one other typo, that should of course be the Blues ROOM!

I;ve just realised that I can answer your second post partially at least. The hotel website says "You can earn Voyager miles at Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts when paying the participating rate." That's South African Airways (SAA)'s frequent-flyer program. But I don't know what the "participating rate" means, it probably means a rack rate that will compare poorly with other rates, and negate any points benefit! And I don't how transferable those points will be to other airline, they probably aren't.

As the Crowne Plaza is an Intercontinenal Hotels Group brand (which also includes Holiday Inn), perhaps there will be other participating airlines. You need to ask the airlines you are considering.

thank you very kindly! my husband just departed today and i had to convince him he would find a way of emailing me :) hotel room internet access will help me win that fight ;-)

You're welcome! Of course, whether it's a free service is another story! When I travel, I am often in 5* hotels (by choice of my suppliers, not me) but I tend to look for a (preferably free) Internet service to access my POP mail, rather than use the more expensive room service. But that's mean ol' me, I'm sure you're worth it! ;-)