Anyone know of a good hotel at the Johannesburg airport for one night without spending $417 at the Intercontinental?

I've stayed at the City Lodge-Jo'burg Int'l Airport several times and been very satisfied with the price, room, breakfast and availability of a shuttle. I think the place rates well at Trip Advisor. The hotel is not far from a shopping area so you can order in from nearby restaurants, assuming you'll arrive late and be totally pooped by the time you get in.

Good luck, Steve

I stayed at the Airport Sun twice, nice and convenient but the price has gone up quite a bit. Good food and comfortable rooms.

We stayed at the Metcourt Laurel at the Emperors Palace across from the airport, I think there are actually 3 hotels in the complex, and they're alright for 1 night.

Southern Sun O.R. Tambo.
Again, the Emperors Palace complex has four hotels. Free 10 minute shuttle ride from JNB. The Peermont there has a weekend special, about $80. We will be staying there on way in from LAX in Sept., 34 days from now.

regards - tom

I'll c&p on old list I did. It includes the Intercontinental but also other gradings. It's not totally up-to-date, for example I think there is now a 4th Emperors Place Hotel and also that I read something on this forum about renaming there? I need to check sometime and update the list . . .

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 R309 per room (as at September 2008), 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.

Garden Court O.R. Tambo
or
Southern Sun O.R. Tambo

The Golfers Lodge is only 10km from the airport and they offer airport transfers. Friends of ours stayed there a while ago and recommended it.

http://www.southafrica-stay.com/Accommodation.mvc/1275

I am looking for the same but really would like something with a restaurant on-site as we'll be arriving around dinner time (if all goes well.) On the other hand don't want to spend a lot for just an overnight. So today I emailed City Lodge and asked if they had a restaurant, as they responded that they do now have a coffee shop, we'll likely book there.

I stayed at the Southern Sun last trip. It was close, not as expensive at the Intercontinental and they had a nice restaurant. There are lots that are probably cheaper too.

Mike

The D'Oreale Grande in the Emperor's Palace complex is very comfortable if you want to spend a little extra (tho not nearly as much as the Intercontinental) You may not love the ersatz-ancient Rome decor of the lobby and public spaces but the room is very comfortable. It has an in-house full service restaurant. When we stayed there in late May, however, we took the walkway thru to the "mall" where there was a choice of about 7 different restaurants and we had a pretty decent meal.