South Africa country report: The Sandton Sun & Towers (hotel review)

The Sandton Sun & Towers hotel is located in two separate buildings linked by a skywalk. Both are part of the Intercontinental group of hotels and are excellent value for money. The Sandton Sun is a good business hotel that offers everything you would expect from a five-star property.

However, it is worth spending a little bit more and upgrading to stay in the Towers where they have gone that extra mile to satisfy the whims of more demanding guests. If you’re looking for greater exclusivity and have an even bigger budget, then book one of the club rooms in the Towers. There are three floors from the 27th floor upwards dedicated to club guests where a butler is on call 24hrs; it has a separate check-in area and its own meeting rooms. Breakfast is also served in a separate club lounge. There are 150 deluxe rooms and suites in the Towers, and 34 club-floor rooms. All the rooms have been thoughtfully and practically designed. So many hotels are let down by having poky bathrooms, but in the Towers they are spacious and intelligently designed with separate shower.

Another big plus is that both the Sun and Towers are attached to one of Johannesburg’s premier shopping centres, which is buzzing with good shops and an eclectic choice of restaurants. There are also excellent dining options to suit all tastes in the hotel, which offers classic and contemporary menus.

There is an extremely well equipped business centre, a good sized outdoor pool and an excellent spa. I recommend the hot-stone treatment – sounds dubiously painful but is, in fact, bliss.

Location is always important but in Johannesburg it is particularly relevant. All the magic circle firms and most of the investment banks are within a five-minute drive from the hotel and there are a fleet of cars with drivers available at reasonable rates.

Most hotels in the five-star category can boast the above, but where The Sandton Sun and Towers stands out is in the impeccable service in both properties, making this hotel worth staying in when next on business in Johannesburg.