Protea Hotel Balalaika

I am not very satisfied. Even though the hotel is acceptable and most of the staff were helpful, I expected more and better from a Marriott Bonvoy hotel. First, a long wait to get a room upon arrival at noon after more than 10 hours of overnight flight. No room available unless an additional fee is paid. We had to wait until 1 PM before getting one. The room was acceptable but nothing more. However, it was very poorly heated. The air conditioner in heating mode was not sufficient to properly heat the room during nights at 37°F in the southern winter, especially with 3 hours of water outages two days ago. The breakfast was acceptable, but I would have preferred it to be available beyond 10:30 AM on weekends. As a Bonvoy member, I requested the possibility of a late checkout, but it was not possible beyond noon, so I had to pay an additional fee to keep the room longer for an afternoon flight. I chose this hotel even though it is a bit far from the Sandton Convention Center compared to others, to take advantage of the Marriott Bonvoy program, but ultimately that was not the case. I am not sure if I will return. The free shuttle to Mandela Square is appreciated, however...

The hotel is located in the safe and more touristy district of Sandton and can be reached from the airport in about 45 minutes. Although it is somewhat dated, this hotel exudes a certain charm. The garden, in particular, is a highlight. Not quite up to Marriott standards, but friendly staff, security service, good breakfast, Wi-Fi, and the garden for relaxation make the stay pleasant. A nice bar and a steakhouse next door leave little to be desired in terms of culinary options. Reasonably priced.

We absolutely loved our stay here. The staff were professional, friendly and kind. They went out of their way to make things welcoming and easy while we travelled with children. The rooms were spacious and clean and the breakfast was superb. We used the shuttle to Nelson Mandela Square a lot and it was reliable and on time. We loved all the outdoor space with the pools and gardens. We could sit or play there getting some fresh air enjoying the beautifully maintained spaces. Thank you for having us, we’ll definitely recommend the hotel to friends and family.