If ever a hotel was proof that a great stay has everything to do with the staff and the facilities provided inside the hotel and not its location, sweeping lawns etc, this property proves the point.
No hotel will get you closer to the airport and the good news is that you can reach it almost entirely under cover carrying your own luggage. There are many properties that advertise themselves as airport hotels but, as far as I'm concerned, the InterContinental and The Protea Hotel are the only proper ones. Protea also manages a transit hotel (only available to international guests who do not collect baggage or clear customs).
I've used the InterConti for many years when Diner's Club offered a lounge there and was always impressed with the public spaces which have a strong contemporary African feel. A good example of this is a wall in the Quills Restaurant which features a massed display of tribal masks yet they are all painted white which adds drama and elegance as well as being unmistakably African.
The menu at Quills, arguably a restaurant used by more travellers than many others, also showcases South African and pan African cuisine in a contemporary way. I was very impressed how the chef engaged the table next to us talking about local ingredients and food styles. And the wine list has a good selection of uniquely South African Pinotages. Incidentally, a fun (and very inexpensive) foodie gift to give someone from abroad which speaks about our culinary tastes is a tin of chakalaka.
The hotel carries the notion of representing South Africa to its guests through to the selection of books and music in the rooms, and the snacks provided on welcome - biltong, warm, spicy nuts and dried fruits. There's a monochromatic vibe in the hotel so instead of simply having candy-coloured chocolate wrappers, black Lindor balls are offered. These small details express why I loved this hotel as much as I did - everything is considered and placed just so.
Not satisfied just to offer a Bose iPod dock in the room, they offered a connection for the iPhone 5 too. It is this level of attention to detail that impresses me.
In our suite, admittedly one of the hotel's top rooms, there was also a Bose surround-sound system with ceiling mounted speakers. Even after the demonstration of how to work the TV etc, I couldn't get my head around all the options - pay-per-view channels, regular DSTV and a Blu-Ray disc player. One of the TV channels links directly to the airports arrivals and departures screens so you can check when and where your flight is boarding.
The desk has all the international plug adaptors you will ever need and a fax and printer which is very useful for printing boarding passes.
Unlike other hotels which offer outdoor places to be entertained, this one has the most brilliant gym and in-door pool. If you also love watching plans land and take off, the view from the gym and pool, on the hotel's eighth floor, cannot be beat. Again, it is the small things that set this property apart: individually sterilised earphones to use on the equipment, free chilled bottled water and neatly rolled sweat towels. The heated pool has windows all around it and you can swim to the edges to look out over the airport building. We didn't use the Camelot spa but it seemed very busy and professionally run - with a steam room in both bathrooms.
Despite the hotel being as close as it is to the airport building - literally two-minutes away from International Arrivals right next to where you collect rental cars, it is surprisingly quiet. You don't hear any planes or traffic noise from the road. It truly is an oasis. Of course, as you'd expect with five-star properties, Wi-Fi is fast and free and service is top notch.
I would choose to stay here again even if I didn't need to catch a flight. Five star all the way.
See Johannesburg OR Tambo for more information.
