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As a frequent traveller to Joburg, Maya Fisher-French has had the opportunity to stay at most of the hotels in the greater Sandton area. So which are her favourite places to stay?
Rosebank Lodge meets my criteria for value of money, comfort and location, as well as a warm and friendly environment.
Being a frequent guest, Anne (manager at the Lodge) knows me by name and there is something about having familiarity when you are travelling away from home that is really special – especially when the rooms make you feel that you are not just sleeping in yet another hotel room. On those rare occasions where I do not have an evening meeting, Ann orders some takeaways which I eat at the Guest House’s breakfast room. Arriving at Rosebank Lodge is a lot like putting on my favourite pair of slippers.
But when it comes to hotels, Radisson Blu Gautrain is right at the top of my list. The staff are friendly, the rooms are light and airy and really comfortable, being modern yet not sterile. But best of all, somehow the Radisson Gautrain has got its soundproofing right. As a light sleeper I usually struggle to get a good night’s sleep at most of the Sandton hotels which tend to face busy intersections, and quite frankly I suspect some hotels were built with the intention of being sleep-deprivation torture chambers.
As a colleague once said to me: “What is it that you are buying from a hotel? Answer: a good night’s sleep. And if they don’t deliver on that, they have not delivered on their product offering.”
In my experience the Radisson Blu Gautrain always delivers on its promise, and their lounge area has the added bonus of a great meeting place with fabulous cappuccinos and free wi-fi.
So when I was asked to review its sister hotel, the Radisson Blu Sandton, I was intrigued to see how it stacked up. According to the description, the Radisson Blu Sandton is a five-star luxurious hotel under the Radisson Hotel Group in the Sandton area. It is more focused to upmarket firms in the business space while the Radisson Blu Gautrain has four stars and more of a relaxed atmosphere.
As I was reviewing the hotel as a business traveller I was given the business class suite. At R3500 a night this would normally be way out of my budget, but wow, what a treat. Apart from the decadent complimentary snack platter and bottle of wine, the suite is the size of a flat with a separate kitchenette and dining area, lounge, separate guest toilet and spacious bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. Two people could quite easily live there permanently!
The only criticism I have of the room is that, unlike the Radisson Blu Gautrain and nearly most business hotels, there was no plug point offering two-pin plugs or USB ports. I had to call down to reception for a two-pin plug to be delivered to my room.
The business suites are clearly aimed at business travellers who are staying for several days and need a space to work and have meetings. The suite also includes free access to the business lounge and the gym.
During my stay I had an informal meeting in my suite with a longtime friend and colleague, and used the business lounge for two additional meetings. To be honest, as a woman, I would be hesitant to have formal meetings in my suite, even though the areas are clearly demarcated. Imagine saying to some businessman, “Why don’t we go up to my suite?” That could be seriously misconstrued! But the business lounge is a great, relaxed environment for meetings with complimentary snacks and beverages, which are served all day and from 5.30pm to 7pm.
Overall, the service at the hotel was exceptional, especially in the business lounge. The staff were extremely helpful and friendly to the point that one of my guests could not stop commenting on the levels of service.
My only disappointment with the hotel disappointment was its Vivace Restaurant, where I met a friend for dinner. The food was priced as fine dining, but did not deliver on the promise. The following day I elected to have working lunch at the business lounge. The food was delivered from Vivace Restaurant and, although an improvement on the evening meal, it took 40 minutes to arrive, making us late for our next appointment.
Overall, as a business traveller who is looking for some additional space, the Radisson Blu business class suites are ideal – not only for the space, but the location which is right in the heart of the Sandton business district. In fact, I was able to walk to one of my meetings while the others were no more than a five-minute Uber drive. And, as for the acid test, my room was blissfully quiet.
Preferred airline: Safair – good leg room and always on time, which is vital for getting to your meetings on time.
Transport: Gautrain and Uber – the few times I have tried to hire a car I sat in endless highway traffic. It is just not worth it.
A tip: if you still need a car during your stay, rather catch the Gautrain into Sandton and hire your car there. You miss the traffic and you are more likely to get a car. I have twice had to wait over half an hour for a car at the airport.
Best place for meetings: Hotel lobbies. They are quiet and generally serve great cappuccinos.
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