Stewie Mac

SanDiego1K - I don't think that it's my favourite Hyatt, but it's certainly my most frequent one - nearer the time I'll PM you details for the guest services manager. And if I don't manage to time it right, I'll give you some recommendations for things in the area.

johan rebel

Sounds unusual. I've never failed to get a room, and I usually don't book that far out.

Johan

johan rebel

Perfectly fine accommodation, but staying a short walk from the airport terminals always beats having to take a shuttle.

Dining options a plenty indeed, but I find the casino a depressing place in the morning, when it is chiefly patronized by people in wheelchairs and others badly down on their luck, who are fervently hoping that fortune will smile on them for the first time in their lives.

Johan

Stewie Mac

And just picking up on your Indian comment - Bombay Blues is just through the back of the Firs mall, so a safe and easy walk from the Hyatt. I've never been (Indian is something that we do have in the UK) but I'll take one for the team next month and try it out for you.

SanDiego1K

Much appreciated. We had a good Indian meal in Capetown and would love to find the same in Jo-burg.

Happy

May I tag on my question to this thread about hotel selection near JNB.

Last year we stayed overnight at IC after arrival from US as we had a 6:30am flight to Port Elizabeth the next morning.

This coming Sept we will transit JNB twice - first is returning from Kruger and fly to Cape Town the next day. Then because we will fly CX JNB-HKG we have to come in from Cape Town the day before. Because of rental car at Cape Town, we would need to take the mid morning flight from CPT to JNB so we would be at JNB about 2pm.

Currently we are booked at Protea on both directions because it is only 7.5K Marriott points.

I haven't thought about going into Jo'burg. Now reading this thread, it seems Hyatt or HI would be a good option.

Is it better to stay at either Hyatt or HI for the night before our flight JNB-HKG the next day? Note that we need to be at JNB around 10am I think for the CX flight.

If so, then how to get to Hyatt or HI from JNB?

Thank you very much for information.

Stewie Mac

Arriving into JNB at 2pm, I would certainly head into JHB - with the Gautrain, you know exactly how long it will take to/from the airport, so no worries about when to leave to get to the airport.

Coming off a domestic (ex CPT) landing at 2pm, if we got a jetbridge I would hope to be on the 14:18 train - but then I would be carry on only and walk fast. Realistically if you're on the 14:38 or 14:58 you'd be at Rosebank by 15:02/15:22, and at the HI or Hyatt about 4 minutes later. [Don't forget to change at Marlboro rather than the officially recommended Sandton, for an easier and above ground transfer].

Heading back for 10am you can get the 9:24 train from Rosebank arriving into ORT at 9:52; if you have your Gold card preloaded from the day before, you can leave your hotel room at 09:20 and make the platform with about 40 seconds to spare

For info, fares are 152 ZAR each way from ORT-Rosebank, and you need to pay a 14 rand deposit for the card.

Happy

Thanks for the detailed info.

What activities we could have after settling at either Hyatt or HI?

Per the daylight calendar, it will be dark by 6pm. I suppose you do not wonder around after dark?

stimpy

As I wrote above, the Butcher Shop is a great restaurant you can walk to from the HI. And it is part of a large indoor/outdoor shopping mall. So at 6pm the whole area will still be quite busy. Maybe if you leave after 10pm to walk back to the HI you will see a few drunks about, etc. But to me, it's a pretty safe area. Safer than most US cities anyways. Just use normal urban precaution.

Stewie Mac

Just to clarify - stimpy is talking about the HI in Sandton, while my directions were to the HI in Rosebank. I haven't stayed in either (my pref is the Hyatt) so can't give any pointers either way.

If you are in Rosebank, then there is the Firs/Rosebank Mall there, plenty good places to eat, etc and a similar safe urban area.

stimpy

Yes sorry if I wasn't clear. The HI Sandton is regarded by Flyertalkers in the IHG forum as one of the best HI's in the world. I was once upgraded to a huge and beautifully appointed suite there and could not believe I was in a Holiday Inn.

Happy

Oh wow, looks like I need to do some serious homework. Original plan is just to squander the afternoon/evening at JNB then get up late the next morning just in time to make it back to JNB for the noonish CX flight to HKG.

Now it seems we could get a small taste of Jo'burg city itself by staying in the suburb. Not sure how DH would go for the idea. Have to do some research myself. Trip is in Sept but I could make hotel reservations first then decide later.

Roger

... including a busy if noisy decent steak restaurant, whose name momentarily escapes me. Walkable indoors from the Hyatt.

Stewie Mac

The Grillhouse - busy indeed. I like tables 63/64 in the salon...

LongingForORD

Not to jump in to late, but we always stay at the Sandton Hilton at the beginning and end of our Safari vacations. We either take the train to Sandton or if it is late, pre-book a car thru the hotel. The car usually costs about $40USD and there are 3 of traveling. I use points for the Hilton and it is a great value. I have Gold status with Hhonors so free breakfast and usually an upgrade (sometimes to a suite). They are very flexible about early check in and late check out. I email ahead to let them know our details and they have always sorted it out for us. They have a shuttle to the Mall with lots of restaurant choices. They hold luggage for us while we are out on safari (and are very nice with lots of extra towels when we come in from the bush!!). Many flight crews stay at the Hilton, so although it seems inconvenient, it is really easy. Just another thought.