Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - SOUTH AFRICA QUESTION

Ok, carefully http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif, I am going to try another thread. Had my head knocked off the last time I tried this.

Flying in May to South Africa on an AA First award-Cathay Pacific. Very excited. I have the hotels in HK, thanks, though I wouldn't mind hearing advice on the HK hotels. Love the CLK Airport Regal.

I need help with the following hotels, if you can assist? Will post on 3 boards.

I am looking for any advice, please, on the following:

Jo'burg Airport Sun Intercontinental
(overnight before heading home)Is there a pedestrian bridge linking the hotel with the terminal? How is security? Just a little bit of crime over there, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Jo'burg Airport Holiday Inn
Same question as to ped. bridge, vs. a shuttle

Sandton Hilton(looked small when I was there, is it nice?) I believe it is near the Sandton Shopping Centre-can you walk safely? or take a taxi?

Randburg Hyatt(might do both of these)
I hear very nice, !?

(Did the Crowne Plaza-Sandton, nice, but don't care for Bass miles)

Durban Hilton
(location!?)

Cape Town Radisson
(can one walk to the Wharf/shopping area, and safely at that? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif )

Is there a new Sheraton in Cape Town?

Any good hotels in Whindoek, Namibia???

Thank you so much. Very appreciated and will be happy to pay back in kind with advice, as I am able to do. Take care/ciao.

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Michael
AA PLT,1 MLN Miles+
Hilton Gold
Sheraton Gold
Marriot Silver

We were in JNB in December. We saw two of the hotels that you ask about, but stayed at neither.

1) JNB Intercontinental, Airport - immediately adjacent to terminal. I understand that BA has its arrival facilities in the hotel. The hotel looks very new and modern. I plan to stay there myself next time I connect in JNB.

2) Sandton Hilton - drove past the hotel; it is about 5 blocks from the Sandton Mall. Sandton is a very modern, upscale community. However, we were troubled by the vendors standing in the intersections; I would not feel safe walking anywhere. My husband has a good friend whose sister lives in JNB. Last month, she was mugged in the parking lot of the Sandton Mall as she walked from the mall to her car. She was severely injured, and remains in the hospital.

3) We stayed at the Sandton Intercontinental, attached to the Sandton Mall. We were very happy with this choice. There are several places to eat in the mall, including an excellent Japanese restaurant. The mall is small by American standards, but has some good leather shops that offer great bargains compared to American prices. And there is a modern cinema in the mall, showing both American and South African movies, with admission the equivalent of $2. The hotel is world class. Avis dropped off our rental car at the hotel; we stayed there both before and after a trip to Kruger National Park. The concierge also arranged a tour for us of Soweto and the Apartheid Museum.

We never left the hotel/mall complex at night. Perhaps we were excessively cautious, but the subsequent attack on our friend's sister certainly made us feel it was prudent.

Thank you so much for your helpful advice.
Sorry about the mugging. I think I came back last time with a paranoia for a while. It is sad that there is so much crime there.
So much beauty, incredible.

I will consider moving to the I/C in Sandton. Actually, tempting. I want the Hilton points, but I guess sometimes, one has to junk the miles/points and go for quality. Thanks again.

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Michael
AA PLT,1 MLN Miles+
Hilton Gold
Sheraton Gold
Marriot Silver

Michael, I checked around. That Hilton didn't look good to me when I was there. It doesn't have the degree of security of the I/C (thanks for the abbrev.)

Most women who are mugged in South Africa are also raped. That, frankly is a death sentence. HIV is nearly 100% among criminals which is one reason they are so violent.

Frankly, I flew to Kruger (Skukuza). I didn't see the value of driving.

So what's the deal with tourism in South Africa? Well, frankly the country needs the money desparately; but the fight to keep the tourists safe requires that the tourists think wisely.

I walked around the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront area with few concerns--there are guards and cameras everywhere. However, one evening everyone going into a major restaurant was frisked for guns.

I have such a torn heart over this as I want Africa to get better. I want South AFrica to be a healthy and successful country. I can not tell you here how hard I am working to try to aid in those goals.

I fly SAA to give the country a few dollars more. I buy products (mainly wine) from South Africa. I promote South African arts and culture.

I want you to go there and have a darn good time--a safe one!

I want you to go, spend your money, have a great time and come home to plan to do it again.

By the way, the best photo safari place is Londolozi.

South Africa is the best hope for all of Africa!

God save Africa!

You should also check out the Grace at Rosebank hotel. Granted, you are not connected to the Sandton City Mall, but the Grace is a really wondersul property. There is also a nothing-special Park Hyatt in Rosebank. Just depends what you want to do, how long you are staying in Joburg, and what your priorities are.

The Airport Sun is, IMHO, the best option for the airport scene. You can still routinely round up fantastic rates on standard rooms. Comes out to something like US$70 with breakfast. Make them dig through their system for special promotional rates. a couple of months back they were still giving me "grand opening specials". You could also crawl to the airport and back it's so close. Easy to use one of the luggage carts to wheel your stuff back and forth. The bellhop will even wheel your luggage to the airport for you if they aren't particularly busy. A few Rand goes a long way.

Sabi Sabi gets my vote for African safaris...although I'm doing my honeymoon at Ulusaba this summer/winter. What a great country...hopefully it'll still be there in decades to come. They have a lot of work to do, on many fronts.

Enjoy!!

Oh, the Radisson in CPT looks very nice, but why not try out the Cape Grace or Table Bay if you want really nice waterfront accommodations? They both connect easily to the mall, too. Can't go too far wrong, I guess. Get out to the wine country and spend some time (and a night or two), as well.