Review: InterContinental Johannesburg Airport

Landing at JNB at 5:30pm, should I use FN Certificate at Intercontinental JNB or use 8k Hyatt for Hyatt Regency? Leaving next day at 8am for a Safari.

@ Lou -- Can't beat the convenience of this place vs. going all the way to the Hyatt. For what it's worth, I asked myself exactly the same question before I booked, and I had a much longer layover.

While nice, I too passed through Johannesburg earlier this year on my way to safari. There’s a lot to see and do and a stay of a day or two is highly worthwhile. The apartheid museum is 100% worthwhile to see. Really gave great insight into the country’s history. Absolutely fascinating. We stayed at the four seasons, which was delightful and well priced for a four seasons. Next time I’ll probably stay at the Saxon. Then the restaurant scene in Johannesburg is fantastic. Recommend. Ubers to get around are safe and easy.

I think I stayed in the exact same room a few months ago, also on our way to a safari hah! I was so pleasantly surprised by the hotel as well. The staff was super nice, and we found the food at Quills to be incredible - especially for those prices (we tried the fun stuff like the crocodile carpaccio - it was delicious). I came in with really low expectations (airport hotel expectations) so that might have helped. I guess that the quality explains the high rates, we also ended up using a certificate).

Visited the hotel for a long layover and the airport lobby bar visit was the most pleasant layover in months if not years. Purchased sprinkling water and tipped in kind and the staff were very accommodating.

Given you were there for 24 hours I'm surprised you didn't go into the city. It's really not that far even if you are staying at the airport. Could have tried some local restaurants and sights.

I've stayed at this hotel 8 of the 17 times I've traveled through Joburg to go on safari. It is very expensive but also very convenient (Yes, I get that if you can afford to fly that far to go on safari $400/night isn't expensive, but it is exorbitant for an airport hotel). They will also sell you a "day room" which is great when returning from safari in the morning or early afternoon and leaving on the late evening flights, since the airline desks don't open until 3 (sometimes 4) hours prior for checkin and access to lounges. The food and service is always good but the rooms aren't always available when they promise which can be a shock when getting off of two back-to-back long haul flights to get there and have to sit in the lobby.

@Ben: Funny you Americans aren't aware of Sherry....

It's fairly high in alcohol. So I doubt there's much risk from bacteria or whatever even if the previous guest had the same carafe.

It's such a shame that so many people pass through JNB with the intention of experiencing the city as little as possible. I know that it has a reputation, sometimes earned, for not being the safest or most interesting city, but there is still plenty to do in 24 hours in any of the very nice, very safe wealthier neighborhoods around town.

25 hrs is plenty of time to stay in the city center. The Michaelangelo Hotel in Sandton is great, and is an easy 10 minute ride on the Gautrain from the airport terminal right to the hotel. From there you have several restaurants, a giant mall attached, and lots of places to safely walk around. To me, it's just as easy as the Intercontinental for that length of time.

I'd choose the Intercontinental if I was arriving in the evening and departing early the next morning.

@ Lucky do you think the annual IHG offer to pay $200 and "achieve" IC Ambassador status is worth it over the Platinum you get with he IHG card? I did the last couple of years and did always get IC upgrades (But not club lounge access) but it seems like in your experience it can still happen regardless?

The alcohol by the door is Sherry. It is traditionally drunk as an aperitif or at the end of the night. Until recently the UK was the largest importer of Sherry, and since the English invented safaris Sherry is a traditional drink. As mentioned above it's high in alcohol so no concerns about germs.

We also stayed there going and coming from safari. Wonderful rooms, one of the most comfortable beds we've ever slept in, and the best shower ever. That's sherry and it was delicious. We also received a 3 tier tray of chocolates and fancy desserts with a small bottle of bubbly for a Plat welcome gift. The restaurant was also excellent and the prices very reasonable. As for you comment about the Intercontinental Cleveland- you would definitely know a difference as it would probably have more foreigners as it's connected to the Cleveland Clinic. People from all over the world come there for treatment and it's the only hotel connected to the Clinic. We travel there from ID and now CA and we always see quite a diverse group roaming around from appointment to appointment.

Awesome timing. We are booked for an overnight stay in a couple of weeks at the end of our first Safari trip. We had originally booked the airside Protea in the airport because it seemed more convenient but after reading some reviews we thought better of it. Sounds like that was a good change.

I stayed there in February on safari for 1 night. I used my free certificate.

Awesome - ate in the bar and had the ostrich - excellent

Going back to South Africa again next year and will probably stay again.

I also stayed at this room last year. LOL
Very convenient and a very good airport hotel indeed.

Hi Ben

Thanks for sharing this amazing trip you took with your Dad and Ford. Loving the great reports and experiences.

Hopefully you'll head to South Africa soon again. You mentioned the limited food options at Johannesburg airport. I think it might be due to the strange layout of the airport. There's actually quite a lot of restaurants, coffee shops and casual dining options. However, you don't really see them when arriving on international flights.

I'll mention 2 areas. Namely, the floor above the domestic terminal (say a 5 minute walk from the international arrivals hall. Then there are a couple of restaurants on the departures level between domestic and international.

I go to SA about 5 times a year so pass through OR Tambo Int'l Airport quite a lot.

My go to place for a nice big breakfast after a long haul flight is the Wimpy. In SA, we have awesome Lime Milkshakes if that's your thing. Also try the other flavours like Bubblegum, Bar-One (a local chocolate bar) and even the Strawberry and Banana shakes are great. But Wimpy has everything from Full South African Breakfasts with Boerewors (SA Sausage), lamb chops and steak, to great toasted sandwiches with all kinds of funky toppings. If your dad is like mine, the bottomless coffee will also go a long way. They also do burgers, salads and desserts.

The Spur restaurant in OR Tambo is the Soaring Eagle Spur. This is a meat restaurante want a US Western theme but uniquely South African. Great steaks including, rump, sirloin, fillet or hot rocks. They also do quesadillas and fajitas. The Spur is a South African brand that is not only available nationwide, but internationally.

Ocean Basket. Fantastic fish restaurant that has also expanded internationally (I always head for Ocean Basket when I'm flying through Dubai Terminal 3). Some SA fish like Kingklip on the menu but a big menu you can dig into if fish is your thing.

Loads of coffee shops like Mugg & Bean. SA Coffee shops are often sort of community meet up points where people get together for a chat and a "kuier".
Capello, YOLO and a couple of others are spread out across the airport.

If I can give you some tips before your next trip, would love to connect.

Keep up the awesomeness.

@wonkachocolat You forgot to mention Nando's; there's one landside. Nothing beats some peri-peri chicken with pap and coleslaw (and a tiser).
As for JNB there are plenty of excellent options for accommodation and food a short Gautrain ride away. Johannesburg is a wonderful place, one can easily spend one or two exciting weeks there.

@Jasper

Yes, Nando’s is very popular in SA and internationally. They are also now trying to expand in the USA.

I’ve never been to the one on OR Tambo but Nando’s anywhere in SA and the UK is a good choice

SA has a very large number of good quality restaurants and also fast food. Typical SA fast food restaurants like Chisa Nyama or #braai. If you are tired of KFC, you can also try Chicken Licken.

Looks great but I too would recommend Sandton area for such a long layover. We stayed at The Maslow which had a free lounge and showers if you arrived early, though our rooms were ready very quickly.

Perfectly safe (they have a private security firm patrolling area etc) and you can go to the mall for dinner. We did the open top bus tour which was v interesting

While the Intercontinental at the airport is nice, I’m sure, it’s a shame that you basically spent 24 hours confined to an airport hotel and didn’t get out to see any of the local attractions. And coming from somebody born and raised in Joburg, there are plenty of great restaurants that I guarantee would be better than an overpriced restaurant in a hotel at the airport:

Have stayed here several times and always had an excellent experience, typically after landing on the very long haul ATL-JNB before continuing on to CPT.

The staff and food are lovely, and I also enjoyed dinner at Quills this year during a long layover before catching a VS flight to LHR.

You really should've gone into the city with 24 hours though... the Saxon and Four Seasons are top-notch. Next time..!

Great spa with massages modestly priced by international standards.

You were not in the InterContinental Cleveland if every sign/printed material wasn't bilingual in English and Arabic. When I stayed there half the cable channels were in Arabic as well. They also have doors in the hallways setup to block off whole wings of rooms on a floor for "special guests". I watched a hilarious PSA from Saudi showing a guy secretly taking a sip of bourbon in his home and then the secret police swinging in from every window and door when I stayed there. (5000 pt/night Point Break after moving out of my Cleveland apartment)

I have to echo what others have already said - with 24 hours, there's no reason not to head in to the city. Even if I'm arriving late afternoon and leaving the following morning, I would much rather go in to the city than stay by the airport. While there are plenty of landside restaurant options to choose from so you don't need to eat at the hotel restaurant, heading to Sandton or Rosebank will give you that much more to see, eat, and do - all 15-20 minutes away on the Gautrain, which is much cleaner and safer than any public transit I've taken in the United States.

I've left my luggage at the luggage storage location at JNB for a 6 hour layover before so I could head in to town - with 24 hours stuck at the airport (any airport, other than maybe SIN), I'd go insane.

Glad you had a good experience!

I stayed there for one night before and after my safari trip in March. It is a very comfy hotel and nice respite, especially after the very long trip from California to South Africa. It was so nice to have a shower and a soft, clean bed to rest. With the times the long haul flights arrive, it is difficult to get the connecting flights the same day (or at least it was to Zambia for me). The butter chicken is really good too at the Quills restaurant.

Interesring fact..the building itself was constructef in the late 1960's as the admin building for the airport. Was only converted to a hotel in the mid 1990's. Greetings from JNB!

"...on the Gautrain, which is much cleaner and safer than any public transit I've taken in the United States."
Cleaner...maybe, safer...no. You really shouldn't just make stuff up that's untrue Avi.