twoaussies

Will be arriving in JB at 10 a.m. on a Sunday and departing next morning at 9 for Victoria Falls. Looking for reasonably priced hotel in JB with shuttle service and in an area where we can take a walk. Can anyone give advice, thanks.

thit_cho

Sadly, when I asked my hotel where I could take a walk, they suggested Sandton Square, a large shopping mall, that has several attached hotels.

Hopefully someone can provide better advice as to where you can walk and actually see the sky (and not the fake sky in the Montecasino mall).

christophe

I suggest Rosebank. It is convenient for all sorts of things such as restaurants, shopping, cinemas etc but what may interest you most is the market on Sundays.

The reasonably priced hotels include the following all of which have a shuttle service:

Courtyard at Rosebank. ZAR720 p/n. Has a "kitchenette".

Don at Rosebank. ZAR650 for a studio, ZAR840 for a bedroom. Go to www.don.co.za.

Rosebank Hotel. ZAR1030

The Grace in Rosebank. ZAR1350 including breakfast.

ArthurSA

I agree, Rosebank is a good choice, and that a plus might be the flea Market that's open Sundays. It includes African curio stalls, as well as the "African" part that is open all week.

At the upper end of the market there's also the Park Hyatt, http://johannesburg.park.hyatt.com, R1150 single or double.

Also the Wanderers, www.proteahotels.co.za/findhotel.jsp?croid=wand, R920 single R1020 double. A few blocks walk from central Rosebank though. The the Don is about the same distance, from memory.

BTW, I got an Internet rate of R685 single for the Courtyard "Studio", their smallest option. More info at www.citylodge.co.za/cy5.htm. (It's the upper-end brand of the City Lodge Group.)

twoaussies

How did you know that the craft market would 'get' me. thanks
Another question - I cannot find check in time for these hotels on the websites. Some hotels do say 2 p.m. - I can just see us falling asleep in the lounge waiting for the room!

ArthurSA

Never thought of that. 2pm is the standard check-in time for hotels here, but in the end it depends on whether they are full and if not, whether a room is ready. I've never heard of a hotel denying entry if a room is available.

An obvious suggestion is to e-mail your chosen hotel about this and try and get a commitment. With a gentle hint that you might otherwise look elsewhere! But even if they won't commit, they should at least give you an idea as to likely occupancy level.

ArthurSA

Oops. I (obviously) mean "if THEY ARE, whether a room is ready.".

twoaussies

I am in email contact with Don at Rosebank. Their website says 2 p.m. checkin, but have been told 10 a.m. Just waiting for shuttle confirmation and pricing.
Thanks for your help.

ArthurSA

Oops. I have realised that I was thinking of the Don Illovo when I said that it was a few blocks walk away from central Rosebank. But the Don Rosebank (as the name implies!) is right in the heart.

My apologies, I'm usually more careful before dispensing (albeit well-meaning) advice!

Enjoy your very short stayover in Jo'burg, and the rest of your trip.

laguna92688

I stayed at the Hyatt about 10 months ago and it was really nice. Superb concierge who went out of his way to be helpful.
Good location and attached to a decent mall with an excellent craft market on Sundays (and also a permanent one on the ground level)

ArthurSA

Now that this thread has been re-opened, please let me qualify my comment about The Don being "in the heart of Rosebank".

In the process of helping someone on another travel forum more recently, I have learned that The Don that I was thinking of has closed. There were two, Don I and Don II. The latter, which was about a block away from the Rosebank Mall, is the one that has closed. The other one is a further block away, I estimate about 500m from the closest entrance to the Mall. And a little further to locations such as The Zone and the African Craft Market. But still within walking distance.