The Michelangelo Hotel (5 stars)
Nelson Mandela Square Johannesburg, 2146
Location.
The classically designed Michelangelo hotel is located in Johannesburg, south Africa, in the upmarket northern suburb of Sandton. The contemporary hotel is on Sandton square, next to the Sandton convention centre. Johannesburg city centre is 18 kilometres from the hotel.
Hotel Features.
The Michelangelo hotel’s design evokes the paintings of the Italian renaissance. Its towering, cathedral-like atrium has stone arches, and is landscaped with plants and small trees.
’Small world’ is the translation of piccolo mondo, the hotel’s international restaurant. Seasonal produce flavours globally inspired dishes including Mediterranean specialities, lobster, cured meats and Mozambican prawns. Complimentary buffet breakfast is served. Il ritrovo lounge mixes sunset cocktails and offers traditional English afternoon tea.
The hotel has meeting rooms, a business centre, and dial-up internet access in public areas (surcharge).
There is an indoor pool, steam room, sauna and fitness room on site. Spa services are available (surcharge), and the sun deck opens in warmer months.
Guestrooms.
The Michelangelo hotel’s 240 air-conditioned guestrooms are decorated in a renaissance style, with reproduction period furniture. All rooms feature high-speed internet connections (surcharge), tea/coffee making facilities, minibars and safes.
Protea Hotel Wanderers (4 stars)
Cnr Rudd Road And Corlett Dve Johannesburg, 2116
The Protea hotel wanderers is a modern property situated on the greenbelt of Johannesburg�s northern suburbs, 10 kilometres from the city centre. The 230 guestrooms are decorated in earth-tone colours with ethnic touches, arranged around the principles of feng shui.
Modern amenities include cable television with pay movies, multi-line phones, internet connections, and safes. The big apple restaurant is a New York themed eatery offering an �-la-carte menu with an emphasis on regional specialities.
Guests can dine in the deco-style restaurant or alfresco on the pool deck. Guests can lounge on the sun terraces, cool off with a dip in the swimming pool and take advantage of an array of sports facilities at the wanderers club, including tennis, squash, snooker, golf and bowls. In the evening, guests can unwind with a drink at the 24-hour bar.
The business centre is complete with conference facilities, for large or small groups, and is equipped with a range of audio- visual equipment. Staff at the 24-hour front desk can provide tour information, transfers, and leisure information. A fitness centre is located 400 metres away, and is equipped with the latest cardiovascular equipment, an indoor running track, steam rooms, saunas and an indoor swimming pool.
Guests can practice their swing at the Wanderers golf course 500 metres away, browse the shops at Rosebank mall one kilometre away, and explore Johannesburg city centre ten kilometres away. The hotel is 35 kilometres from Johannesburg international airport.
African Pride Melrose Arch (5 stars)
1 Melrose Square Johannesburg, 2196
The African pride Melrose arch hotel is located in a secure urban development of the same name in northern Johannesburg, offering shops, restaurants and bars, kilometres from the city centre.
This four-floor hotel features 118 guestrooms with pared down contemporary decor, featuring crisp white bed linen, leather headboards, exposed brick and chrome light fittings. All have armchairs and writing desks, flat-screen televisions with dvd players, dvds, and high-speed internet connections.
The glass and marble bathrooms have toiletries and fluffy white towels. The hotel’s main restaurant, the march, serves an exotic fusion of international cuisines and guests dine within contemporary black and white decor with innovative coloured walls and lighting features. Guests can also get light meals at the library bar, and can settle down in the evening with a whisky or cognac on one of the leather couches, and select one of the library’s many classic novels.
Drinks and meals can also be enjoyed at the pool bar where guests can sit at tables and chairs with the pool’s shallow water at their feet. The hotel’s sound room has plush surroundings and audio-visual entertainment systems, where guests can unwind with a few drinks. Guests can enjoy a cooling dip in the outdoor pool, watch the world go by from the veranda, or sip on coffees in the march coffee shop.
Multilingual staff at the 24-hour front desk can assist with transport arrangements, excursion booking, and the storage of valuables. The hotel can also cater for conferences and social functions for up to 55 people. Within the Melrose development is Rosebank mall, 2.5 kilometres from the hotel.
For a family day out, Johannesburg zoo is five kilometres from the hotel, while visitors can also go to the apartheid museum, 15 kilometres from the hotel, to explore the country’s history. Johannesburg airport is 26 kilometres from the hotel.
Crowne Plaza Johannesburg – The Rosebank (4 stars)
13 Tyrwhitt Avenue Rosebank Johannesburg, 52025
Location.
The Rosebank hotel is located in the suburb of Rosebank, in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. Central johannesburg is three kilometres from hotel. The zoo and the apartheid museum are both five kilometres away.
Hotel Features.
A contemporary hotel in a suburban district, the Rosebank occupies a seven-storey property with a glass frontage. The lobby features a cream marble floor, laptop-friendly chrome furniture, and complimentary newspapers. The seven colours spa offers relaxing and rejuvenating massage and beauty treatments. The hotel also offers a fitness suite and extends to an outdoor swimming pool. A hot tub, sauna, and steam room offer further relaxation. Other onsite facilities include a gift shop, concierge desk, and valet parking (surcharge).
The Rosebank boasts two restaurants: fresh offers a modern, airy ambience with an open kitchen, while the butcher block offers a range of steaks. The circle bar serves neo-classic cocktails, and wines and champagnes by the glass in an intimate setting. The urban bean coffee shop offers espresso, cappuccino, and tea.
Wireless internet service is available throughout. The hotel also houses a business centre, executive lounge, and conference rooms.
Guestrooms.
Deep earth tones, stark white walls, and large, bold prints define the modern decor of the 318 guestrooms. All include satellite television, wireless internet, minibars, and coffee and tea facilities. Bathrooms offer oversized showers, makeup mirrors, bathrobes, slippers, and complimentary designer toiletries.
Hyatt Regency Johannesburg (5 stars)
191 Oxford Road Johannesburg, 2196
Location.
The Hyatt regency Johannesburg is located in the cosmopolitan northern suburbs of Rosebank in Johannesburg, South Africa. The firs shopping mall adjoins the hotel.
Hotel Features.
A harmony of culinary influences combine to create the international favorites prepared at Zafferano restaurant and lounge. The conservatory has hosted celebrities and dignitaries in its casual lounge setting that faces the tranquil hotel gardens. A range of fresh, loose-leaf teas and infusions are offered at this prestigious gathering site. A 24-hour business center contains computers with high-speed internet access and offers fax, photocopy and print services. Multi-function rooms with wired high-speed and wireless internet access accommodate corporate and social gatherings. Wireless internet access is available throughout the hotel.
The on-site Camelot spa features saunas, spa tubs, steam rooms and plunge pools. A fitness center offers a realm of workout equipment, and an outdoor rooftop pool provides cityscape views. Peak health club contains three treatment rooms where a complete menu of massages, facials, wraps and scrubs, including hot stone, kuhuna and swedish modalities, are administered by a professional staff. Beauty services highlight are eyelash and eyebrow tinting. Additional property amenities include car rental and chauffeur services, and laundry services.
Guestrooms.
This seven-story hotel features 244 non-smoking guestrooms and suites with African-inspired d�cor, minibars, satellite television and complimentary weekday newspaper delivery. Park rooms include generous desk areas and coffee/tea makers. Black-granite bathrooms feature separate bathtubs and showers, and plush bathrobes. Club rooms offer butler service, private concierge service, continental breakfasts, evening cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Select suites provide walk-out balconies. High-speed internet access is available in all accommodations.
Expert Tip.
Concierge services can arrange a tour to the nearby lesedi cultural village, where guests may experience the vibrant traditions of the basotho, ndebele, pedi, xhosa and zulu people.
WEATHER
Subtropical temperatures are one of the biggest appeals to visitors traveling to Johannesburg. Famous for its sunshine, dry seasons abound with the exception of summer showers. Despite warm climate, winters can get pretty chilly, so it’s recommended to dress accordingly if you plan to travel during the May to July winter season.