one night in Johannesburg
 

We have to spend the night here because of flight scheduling. This is going to be a rather exhausting first trip to Africa. Please recommend the best place to spend the stay. Money is not an issue. I want some pampering and fine dining!

Thanks!

Hello Shari,

If you want pampering and fine dining, I'd look at a place in Sandton or Rosebank.

In Sandton, the Michelangelo has received very good reviews from people on this board, and the new Raphael Penthouse Suites look extremely luxurious.

http://www.legacyhotels.co.za/content.aspx?h=1

http://www.legacyhotels.co.za/content.aspx?h=20

Another option would be the Grace in Rosebank.

http://www.thegrace.co.za/

All are top-flight hotels which will give you plenty of pampering!

Cheers,
Julian

Shari,

We stayed for one night at the Michelangelo a couple of years ago and found it to be a good hotel with attractive rooms and altho we did not eat dinner in the hotel, we did enjoy a nice breakfast the following morning. It is conveniently located with access to a more upscale mall from the hotel if you want to do some shopping or browsing. A good choice for an overnight stay.

have to agree, picolo mond restaurant at the Micheelangelo offers the finest dinning in JB.
If it's not for you, you have your pick of eateries just outside and dotted around the square.

Thank you for the suggestions. Does anyone have an opinion on The Westcliff as well?

I stayed at the Westcliff on my first visit to South Africa, and its very nice (I think it was, and may still be, a member of LHW), but a bit isolated, and you'll need to rely on at taxi or the hotel shuttle to get around. I can't comment on the dining because, no matter where I am in the world, I avoid hotel restaurants since I prefer to get to a more local place.

My understanding is that the best hotel is the Saxon, and I'd stay there if money is not an issue.

Michael

We had a great stay at the Grace. It is a smaller, very quiet hotel with elegant traditional decor and good restaurants. Since this is in an upscale suburb of Joburg, there are also good restaurant choices in the neighborhood. The hotel is owned by the same people that own the Cape Grace in Capetown. The Michaelangelo is going to be more vegas-like (bigger, flashier).

The Grace also has walkway access to an upscale mall. If you are there on weekends, there is an excellent local market on the roof.

If you are coming in late and then leaving early as we did I would suggest one of the hotels right near the airport - one is vitually in the airport complex, the other which is a Holiday Inn about a 2 minute shuttle ride. I just can' think of the name of the one in the airport complex - probably will when I have logged off - google search JHB airport accomodation

The Grace is a wonderful hotel, complete with a spa. They even have a treatment called "Travellers Treat". The hotel is about 30 minutes from the airport, as I remember it, so you'll need to set up transportation. See their website, www.thegrace.co.za.

The hotels near the airport are Southern Sun properties: InterContinental, Southern Sun JHB Airport, and Garden Court JHB Airport. The InterContinental is in the airport. It's a luxury property with lots of amenities, as well, but I haven't stayed there. You just walk out the terminal and you're there. I've only been to the other two...nice enough for a layover, but just standard hotels. See the website www.southernsun.com.

We also stayed at the airport Sun Intercontinental. Very, very nice if you don't have time to get into the city.

Given that you said this will be an exhausting trip, I personally would stay at the Intercontinental -- you literally walk out the front door of the airport, turn left, and you're there. It is not inexpensive. Don't know about its restaurants but you can always arrange for a car service or cab to take you someplace wonderful for dinner.

Food at the Intercontinental is good. That is definitely my preferred stay, it avoids all the hassle of transfers to Jo'burg, though if you want to do a lot of shopping then the Grace is a good choice. That is a lovely hotel, but when I'm headed on safari, nothing is good enough for me until I'm in the bush.

Thank you so much for your responses. I am not interested in shopping, so it sounds like the Intercontinental would be the most stress free. How is the restaurant there? Will we be able to relax and enjoy some great food and wine before departing early the next morning?

And you ARE saying that this would be preferable to staying in one of the suburbs like at the Westcliff?

Shari, the restaurant at the Intercontinental is pretty good and they have some nice wines on the list. From my perspective it is definitely the least stressful alternative. In addition the Ceasers complex is pretty close with shops, restaurants, bars and I think a movie theatre in addition to the casino.

Hello Shari,

Whilst the Intercontinental is a fine hotel, I wouldn't characterise it as a place for pampering and fine dining -- more like a convenient layover at the airport -- so there's definitely a trade-off here.

One way around this might be to stay at the Intercontinental but go into town for dinner. Transport to Sandton should be about R250.

Cheers,
Julian

After a long flight, and before a hectic safari, i would just go to the intercontinental........although, it is no Ritz carlton, it is still a good enough hotel......very nice rooms, and decent food. I plan to stay there.....before my departure on my Botswana safari. Sandton, although more luxurious and things to do......is a good 30 min drive.......besides, you probably want to just stay in the hotel anyways.

Thank you all very much!

We stayed at the Holiday Inn, which was a 2 minute shuttle ride from the airport. Very satisfactory. After the long plane ride, getting to the hotel as fast as possible really is the best idea. The restaurant there was actually pretty decent, but I barely ate anyway, as we were so tired...