Located in Melrose Arch, a large mixed use development in the Melrose suburb, the Melrose Arch hotel is a solid choice with some drawbacks.

The rooms are generously sized, with some quirky W-ish design touches, such as a safe hidden behind a picture on the wall and rubber ducks for the tub. The bathrooms sport a large soaking tub and separate rainshower. There is only one sink on the ample vanity. The Tv/entertainment system is built into the wall, and there are a selection of free DVDs.

The hotel lacks a gym--however, it has privileges at the Virgin gym located in the Melrose Arch development, though you must pay $15 per person, per day for use, which seems exorbitant given the prices for other things in South Africa. Moreover, the charge for internet in the business center is high--$15 per hour.

Johannesburg is not a walking city by any means, so the advantage of staying in this hotel is that the Melrose Arch development is gated and safe, allowing visitors to walk to/from dinner etc. There are many restaurants near the hotel, located across the courtyard from the hotel. They have managed to create a controlled, somewhat artifical environment. What you get in safety/convenience you give up in local flavor.

In sum, this is a solid choice for tourists in Johannesburg. It also seemed to attract a large business crowd.

I booked this hotel for 5 nights via their website and had a good rate...since I was planning to come back to Jo'burg one week later I asked to book 2 extra nights just before leaving. The booking was confirmed on paper without mentioning the new rate, so I could come back 5 days later. Same room type, same everything...but at the moment of the check out I had the big surprise......the rate was different from the one that I had the previous week: 2050R instead of 1680R...20% higher! My complaint to the manager did not go through and I had to pay my bill to be able to leave on time for the airport......The hotel is amazing...rooms are extremely confortable, the bar/library is very nice, etc....probably I will go back because the hotel looks really great and never found anything similar in Jo'burg, but...what a shame for a hotel of this rating.........

Stayed on business for 3 days. Rooms and main areas are full of art, stylish lighting ( and in the lobby continual jazz music which makes phone calls hard). My executive room had numerous light combinations, candles, and 2 rubber ducks for the bath. They provided a DVD-player and several dvds for inroom use - but most were scratched from overuse and had to be changed. Food was excellent, fresh, and good value ( as are most of the restaurants in the area).

My experience is slightly different due to the fact I had booked a couple of nights here for my brother and his new wife and their six year old son (very modern family!!)as a honeymoon present on the strength of others reviews. This was to be their hotel the night before they flew to Mauritus and the night before they were due to fly back to Ireland after their week in Mauritius. I had also forwarded the hotel their incoming and departing flights so as to have transport waiting for them at the airport. All was paid for in advance of their arrival. After their first visit, they mentioned to management about the above average noise outside their room and asked that on their return could they have a different room. When they returned to the hotel over two hours late, due to the fact that the hotel did not send them any transport, they discovered to their horror that they were back in the same room. Complaining bitterly, they were told that the hotel was full and had been all week and that they could not move anyone (not that
they would have expected that, but it did seem like an odd story seeing it was low season and I had only booked a few weeks previous and they gave me an executive room at a very low price). They were also willing to move to a standard room, but were told that this was not possible as it was against hotel rules(??!!). Giving in, they retreated to their noisy room for the night and placed the Do Not Disturb sign on the door- only to be disturbed asking would they like a fruit bowl as compensation! I rang the hotel, letting them know how annoyed I felt about the manner in which the gift that they had assured me would be properly admistrated was very disappointing, to which the duty manager replied that 1) I hadn't supplied them with the flight details thus the delay in the car and 2) she had enquired from other guests about the noise my brother complained about and she maintained that there hadn't been any!!! I duly sent them their various emails confirming the reservation and flight numbers/times and I'm still waiting for a response - take my advise and spend your money elsewhere for a 5 star service.