Things To Do In Sandton For Every Taste And Inclination
There are a great many things to do in Sandton, although the casual visitor may at first suspect that this financial hub of Johannesburg and, indeed, Africa, is strictly business. Known for its affluence and trendy suburbs, it is also where a large number of businesses had moved after downtown Johannesburg became unpopular in the 1990s due to rising crime. This has caused Sandton to become South Africa's new financial centre and Africa's “richest square mile”.
Shopping
Of all the things to do in Sandton, shopping may be high on the list and to this end, the enormous Sandton City shopping centre is currently the second-largest in South Africa when the Nelson Mandela Square annex is included. Together, these offer over 140,000 square metres of shopping space and if a proposed R1.7 billion redevelopment project goes ahead, the complex will gain a 60-storey office tower and even more retail space.
Entertainment
In terms of entertainment, there is no shortage of things to do in Sandton and the network of national highways circumscribing the area includes the N1, N3 and M1, offering easy access to all the most hip and happening places. Golf Reef City is always extremely popular and a theme park of note; besides the numerous fun rides, it also hosts a museum. The entire park has been design to resemble a 100 year-old Johannesburg mining town.
The Johannesburg Zoo is more than 100 years old and one of the most popular things to do in Sandton; its vast, sprawling grounds in the central part of Parktown are awash with the most beautiful walks, trees, water features and various enclosures from whence to watch wildlife. Try the Zoo Trot and enquire about their tours and events, or learn about their holiday programmes for children, animal adoptions and annual memberships, among others.
History
Constitution Hill is also one of the more popular things to do in Sandton, especially for those with a historical bent and it tells the story of South Africa's past and transition into democracy. Some of its guided tours include:
- The Old Fort: a tour of the prison that was also used as a fortress by Paul Kruger and was built in 1893.
- The Women's Goal: The place where former political prisoners like Fatima Meer and Albertina Sisulu were held.
- The Number Four: The heart of Constitution Hill and another former prison facility.
- Constitutional Court: South Africa's highest court also holds several precious artworks and a real court case can be experienced from the visitors' deck.
Furnished and Serviced Luxury Apartments Beat Hotels at Their Own Game
Considering all the numerous tourist attractions that Sandton has to offer, you may find furnished and serviced luxury apartments a more rewarding option than a traditional hotel when staying over. Few people are aware of this alternative and consequently, they have to put up with the disadvantages and limitations of traditional types of accommodation, like guesthouses, bed & breakfast establishments and conventional hotels. These options may seem very similar, but they all have the same drawbacks.
The Drawbacks of Traditional Accommodation Options
Unlike furnished and serviced luxury apartments, the usual hotels, bed & breakfasts and self-catering guesthouses all share the following disadvantages:
- A lack of privacy, because you are confined to a room (and perhaps a balcony) and once you set foot outside your room, you are in a hallway that is also a public space and thoroughfare.
- A lack of space, because there is usually only one room and en-suite bathroom.
- They are expensive over the medium and long term.
Only suite hotels address the first two concerns, but they usually still fall foul of the last.
The Unique Edge of Furnished and Serviced Luxury Apartments
Luxury apartment rental has enjoyed great success in recent years for businesspeople and leisure vacationers alike, even if the concept was originally designed to cater just for the business market. Unlike vacationers that stay for a week or two, businesses often prefer to rent furnished apartments for extended periods, because they have:
- executives staying over for weeks or months; and
- different staff members travelling to the same destination frequently
Luxury apartment rental is ideal for both scenarios by dint of their medium- and long-term cost advantages.
Most furnished and serviced luxury apartments' rates decrease the longer you stay and in most cases, the cost savings already start for a stay of more than one week. A stay of more than two weeks but less than one month usually attracts another cost reduction and bookings for a month or longer are the cheapest. Unlike hotels and guesthouses (and even suite hotels), furnished apartments can therefore offer a truly affordable long-term luxury accommodation option and has consequently become popular not only among businesses, but also contractors, people moving house or vacationers staying for a week or longer.
A Home Away from Home
Furnished and serviced luxury apartments are more like a home away from home than any of the other options and offer the following advantages:
- Privacy – You return to your own, private apartment and not a room at the end of a public hallway. It is more akin to living in a house.
- Space – You have an entire apartment at your disposal in a choice of one- or two-bedroom layouts, often including a lounge.
- A fully fitted kitchen – You can cook up a storm in the fully fitted kitchen, unlike the little self-catering nook or tea-making facilities most hotels provide.
- All the hotel amenities – Despite the cost saving, you still benefit from excellent service and many establishments offer luxuries like a fireplace and home theatre entertainment system.
Choose Carefully
Be sure to select your furnished and serviced luxury apartments with some circumspection to ensure that you get the best possible accommodation. Besides the 5-star service and a housekeeping service (at least twice a week), there should also be a wealth of extra services available upon request. To this end, your luxury apartment provider should be able to arrange:
- daily housekeeping
- personal laundry
- VIP transport and protection
- restaurant bookings
- transfer services
- babysitters
- chauffeurs and limousines
- personal shopping
- health and beauty services
Luxury apartment rental offer you a refreshing alternative to tedious hotel life.
|
