Sidley

Please share any experiences and details about the airport hotel at JNB.I am a newbie to S.A. and do not want to leave the airport by myself

Thanks for any advice,
Sidley

matnikstym

There are several airport hotels, the closest being the Intercontinental. Short 3 minute walk from the terminal. It's expensive but very comfortable and nice rooms, good restaurant. A bit farther off are the Southern Sun hotels. IMO the Southern Sun JRTambo is just as nice and comfortable as the IC at about half the price. It requires a free 5 minute shuttle. Neither have much shopping if you're looking for that, but at the IC you could walk back to the domestic terminal and browse the shops on the outside of security. There's a good steakhouse there. Theres also the Southern Sun Garden Court but I've not stayed there.

cary999

Ditto above. We have stayed at both hotels. Both are managed by same organization. The IC is even closer than 3 minutes if you consider that is is just across a street from the airport entrance. Use an airport luggage cart and simply wheel your stuff over, everybody does it. I have never seen a hotel closer to an airport unless it's in the airport. I've used it as a lounge while having a long layover. But when I go back in Sep I will stay the Southern Sun (save $$).

You can make reservations for either on the web.

regards - tom

Mohammed

I too want to make an overnight hotel booking at JNB airport. Will appreciate of you could give me a web site link or email or telephine no to make a reservation.

Thanks
Mohammed

matnikstym

both hotels can be found on www.southernsun.com

Mohammed

Thanks for you help. I confirmed a family room for 4 at the Southern Sun for ZAR 1710 for one night. It was way way cheaper than the Intercon which was around ZAR 2800 per room and they only allowed max two per room.

Have heard the Southern Sun has a free airport terminal shuttle but did not find this info on their web site. Can anyone please confirm if this is correct? Also the frequency and the place to meet the bus.

Mohammed

sandi

Contact the hotel about shuttle service, free or pay, the schedule and where to locate the pick-up point at the airport.

HariS

Hi Mohammed,

They do have a shuttle - you should have no problem! Enjoy!!!

Rgds
Hari

Gardyloo

There's a central shuttle pickup point; it's easy to spot the Southern Sun's van. It runs more or less constantly.

Really nice hotel. The breakfast buffet is killer.

matnikstym

The shuttle pick-up point is easy to find. From the international terminal turn left and head towards the domestic terminal. Just past the IC is the shuttle place on the opposite side of the street from the terminal. There are signs leading there. The vans are marked with the hotel's name

thit_cho

I also stayed at the Southern Sun on my last trip (when I booked, it was a Holiday Inn, but then changed to a Southern Sun). I also took the 5-minute shuttle, and paid a lot less than the IC (I have no problem paying for value when I need to, but to me, it seemed wasteful to pay extra to avoid a 5-minute shuttle ride).

And, the Southern Sun had an excellent Italian buffet, which was especially welcome after having self-driven in Kgalagadi for several days prior to arrival (and also self-cooking, and I'm a terrible cook).

Michael

Mohammed

Thanks for that info Michael. Can you confirm if the shuttle was free or did you have to pay for it? i just need a place to bunk up for the night and wake up fresh as we go to Kruger next day.

Al, your right, one month to go, and your report was so refreshing and encouragng to read.

cary999

When we took shuttle last Sep 2007 to Southern Sun it was free. But I likely still tipped the driver a $.

regards - tom

ArthurSA

I'll c&p an earlier post of mine that covers most hotels near OR Tambo airport, from 5* down to 2*. I won't edit it, so some of it will be repetition of earlier posts in this thread:

The Southern Sun group has three hotels that are very close. Closest is the 5* InterContinental Airport Sun (http://tinyurl.com/yh2jb2), right in the grounds of the airport. Also very nearby is what was originally a Holiday Inn. (Which in S.A. was a more "up market" brand than in many other countries.) It is one of those that has had a recent rebranding and is now called "Southern Sun O.R. Tambo International Airport" (http://tinyurl.com/yh6lxj). It is visible from the terminal areas, but will need their shuttle. The third is Garden Court O.R. Tambo International Airport (http://tinyurl.com/y5urh4), a slightly lower price bracket I think.

If you want even lower cost, take a look at the nearby City Lodge. A clean and comfortable "business-type" hotel, about 3* standard I think. (Which in S.A. is reasonably high.) They have a shuttle, at a low cost. See www.citylodge.co.za/cl4.htm. That site will also list the Town Lodges and the Road Lodges from the same Group. The pricing and amenities decrease as one goes from City to Town to Road.

On the other side of the freeway from the City Lodge are both a Town Lodge and a Road Lodge. They are both served by an adjoining independent “steakhouse” that is in lieu of an in-house hotel restaurant. (Although I think all the Lodges offer some form of breakfast.) It is many years since I have stayed in either a City or Town Lodge. But I used to prefer the smaller Town Lodge, not because it is less expensive (which it is) but because they have a decent shower (no bath) instead of a bath/shower. I haven’t tried the Road Lodges, but I’d expect them to be clean and comfortable enough.

If you want less expensive than that, there's also a "Formula 1" next to those airport Town and Road Lodges. But just R279 per room (as at July 2007), for up to 3 people! See www.hotelformula1.co.za.

There are also three hotels at the nearby Emperor's Palace casino complex. The 5* D'oreale Grande (www.doreale.com/emperorspalace), the 3* Metcourt Laurel Hotel. (www.metcourt.com/emperorspalace), and the 3* Mondior Concorde (www.mondior.com/emperorspalace). A very short shuttle ride to these, all three websites give directions where to catch the Emperors Palace bus. (Although if you ask for directions, be aware that locals may still know the complex by the old name of “Caesar’s”, or “Caesar’s Palace”.)

About “a five minute” drive from the airport is the 4* Airport Grand Hotel, one of the Legacy Hotels’ Portfolio (www.legacyhotels.co.za/content.aspx?h=6). From their location map it seems as if it is what used to be the Cullinan Inn, next to the East Rand Mall. (But why anyone would show a map that has South at the top, is beyond me!) From my (proper) map I estimate it to be about 9 kms from the airport terminal. So the furthest away of the options listed here.

thit_cho

Mohammed, the shuttle is free (again, I think I tipped the driver who also helped with luggage).

africama

I´ll stay at Intercontinental in June. Is there any mall that I can go shopping near the airport?

matnikstym

Don't think there are any malls near the airport. You'd probably have to take a cab to Sandton.

atravelynn

We all love Southern Sun OR Tambo. M

Regarding Gardyloo's comment on the killer breafast buffet, I could get lost wandering around the many breakfast buffet stations. I needed to employ tracking skills to get back to my table.

Have a good trip!