There are two Radisson hotels in Sandton – one across the road from the Gautrain station and one another 600m along Rivona Road. Stay at the Gautrain one – it’s worth the extra few rand / dollars / pounds. That makes it a hop, skip and a jump from the station and from Sandton City […]
Lounges: Executive Lounge GRU São Paulo Airport (Terminal 3)
Some lounges open crazy early in the morning, some close crazy late at night. With my flight from Johannesburg to São Paulo due to land at 5.45, there was no lounge slated to be open. However, we landed so EARLY, I managed to squeeze in 45 minutes in the Executive Lounge GRU before it closed at … Continue reading Lounges: Executive Lounge GRU São Paulo Airport (Terminal 3)
Flights: Latam JNB-GRU – Johannesburg to São Paulo (Freezing but good)
After my adventures in Virgin's Upper Class, it was back to reality with a thump and Latam's economy class flight from OR Tambo International to Sāo Paulo International. This was a late night flight leaving at 11.50 pm and due to arrive around 5am into Brazil. I'm used to overnight flights headed EAST (JFK to … Continue reading Flights: Latam JNB-GRU – Johannesburg to São Paulo (Freezing but good)
Lounges: Shongololo at JNB, OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg
The security lines at most airports leave little to be desired. At JNB, it's no different and there is one queue (security) followed by another (passport control). Again I brought water through with no problem (again I'd forgotten!). The Shongololo Lounge was the one with the best review on LoungeBuddy and on Priority Pass (no affiliation … Continue reading Lounges: Shongololo at JNB, OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg
Eating Out: Food Court, Sandton City, Johannesburg, RSA
When you're travelling the world (and writing about it), it looks like I'm eating out in fancy spots all the time! Couldn't be further from the truth! To make things affordable, breakfast tends to be in the hotel room (either a protein bar and coffee or, if there is a mini fridge, some cereal in … Continue reading Eating Out: Food Court, Sandton City, Johannesburg, RSA
Gyms: Planet Fitness, Sandton, Johannesburg, RSA
Planet Fitness is situated in the Radisson Blu Hotel complex at Rivonia Rd & Daisy Street, Sandton, Johannesburg, 2146, South Africa. Access is free for Radisson guests and seemed to make up a fair prorportion of users, at least going by the sign-in sheet at reception. First impressions: this is a big gym spread out … Continue reading Gyms: Planet Fitness, Sandton, Johannesburg, RSA
Currency: ZAR – South African Rand
'Currency' is an occasional series for those who are slightly geekish like me and like to see what the notes and coins look like. This series is not exhaustive, but should give you a flavour! In this post, South African Rand, short code: ZAR if you're looking up exchange rates on XE.com. Our chums at … Continue reading Currency: ZAR – South African Rand
Travel Shorts: Soweto Tour, Johannesburg
While I was visiting Soweto, I managed to get just a few short clips - but I hope this gives you a good impression of the 'Sowetoo' tour, organised and run by Sowetans themselves. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/iWk69Vfu_CQ
Shopping: The Zone @ Rosebank, Johannesburg
To start my recent Jo'burg tour, I needed to get to The Zone @ Rosebank. I quickly brought it up on Google Maps and saw it was just one stop on the excellent Gautrain from Sandton, where I was staying. I had about 10 minutes until my tour kicked off, and spotted my niece's favourite … Continue reading Shopping: The Zone @ Rosebank, Johannesburg
City Tour: Soweto – they get it right, I got it wrong
Would visiting Soweto equate to poverty porn? I had my concerns that I was buying into a tour that was a wealthy white guy 'observing' the life of people living in tough circumstances from a place of privilege. Every assumption I made was wrong. The tour, organised and run by SoWeToo, sets out from the … Continue reading City Tour: Soweto – they get it right, I got it wrong
