Our return to the Hyatt Regency Johannesburg had us staying in an excellent Regency Suite that we were able to upgrade into with World of Hyatt upgrade instruments. The Hyatt Regency is a very conveniently located hotel that is situated next to the Rosebank mall complex, and well situated next to the Gautrain, making for a convenient stay experience.

---

This post is one chapter on our trip to South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mauritius and the United Arab Emirates. This trip was redeemed through American Airlines AAdvantage & Alaska Mileage Plan. For more information on how this trip was booked, please see our trip introduction here. For other parts of the trip, please see this index.

If you enjoyed this post, please follow us here or on social media through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for more travel tips and hacks on how to “Upgrade Your Travels”.

---

Review: Hyatt Regency Johannesburg – Regency Suite, Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa.

“Still a great choice in Rosebank, the Hyatt Regency offered a terrific suite with convenient and excellent lounge amenities”

Booking the Hyatt Regency Johannesburg:

Since it was impossible to fly commercially from Victoria Falls, or neighbouring Livingstone, Zambia, to Mauritius in the same day due to the flight schedules, we had to stay the night in Johannesburg.

We last stayed at the Hyatt Regency Johannesburg on our last visit. Since there haven’t been many changes at the property, please feel free to look through that report for more on the property features. Although it’s a dated property that’s probably well past its hay day as a Park Hyatt, we saw no real reason to change and try out a different hotel location. The Hyatt Regency Johannesburg hotel offers reasonably convenient access to OR Tambo International Airport via the Gautrain, has a reasonably nice executive lounge with lots of natural light, and convenient access to several restaurants and shops with the semi-attached Rosebank mall.

We booked on a Hyatt Gold Passport (now World of Hyatt) points and cash rate (4,000 points and $50 USD) and used a Hyatt Diamond Upgrade to confirm an upgrade into a Regency Suite at time of booking. It was a great value since the regular rates for a Regency Suite were over $400 USD. I was able to get Hyatt Diamond status for the year when they offered the status match as soon as the Marriott sale was announced. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to use Hyatt Diamond Status it as much as I would have liked, as it’s almost impossible to find Hyatt’s as a Canadian traveler since their brand isn’t very available in my regular travel patterns north of the 49th parallel.

After arriving off British Airways Club Business Victoria Falls – Johannesburg, we arrived using the usual Gautrain and had a prompt check in. Despite 90 minutes waiting at the Qatar Airways office at OR Tambo International Airport investigating and filing a report of lost luggage, we were still able to make the happy hour at the Hyatt Regency Club lounge between 6-8 PM. As a result, I find that this hotel is a reasonable alternative to O.R Tambo Johannesburg airport hotel accommodations.

The Room: A Regency Suite

The Regency Suite was exceptionally comfortable for an inner city hotel. It featured a proper separate seating area, two televisions, a private outdoor balcony with two chairs and table, and nice eastern facing views.

The Regency Suite bathroom was also reasonably spacious. It was darkly attired, consistent with other parts of the hotel.

MrsWT73 thoroughly endorsed the room; “I wish we were staying here a few days.” Uhh – we are in Johannesburg; one of the roughest looking cities in the world? Did you forget (laughing)?

Excellent Loyalty Recognition as a Hyatt Diamond:

The hotel offered a nice Hyatt Gold Passport / World of Hyatt Diamond Amenity of candies and a bottle of wine. We didn’t contact the hotel saying it was any special occasion or anything. If this is how Hyatt treats it’s Diamond’s, then it’s a lot nicer than the usual SPG / Marriott Platinum treatment experience that I’ve had.

In addition to this, there was a fruit platter, and Maynard Jelly Beans. What a welcome on behalf of Hyatt!

After arriving from our earlier British Airways Comair Club Victoria Falls – Johannesburg flight, we were feeling a little hungry so we went over to the lounge level. We went and enjoyed happy hour at the Regency Club. The club offers a nice setting with large windows and is perfect for a city where, frankly, you don’t want to be wandering the streets aimlessly at night.

We concluded happy hour and went down to the Rosebank Mall for dinner at the pizza point. We happened to come across the grand opening of Starbucks Johannesburg Rosebank where event security was set up and there was a line of approximately 50 people waiting to get into the restaurant. MrsWT73 queued up for the first ever Johannesburg Starbucks mug in the new format and the old South African Mug in the original series.

A quick view from the deck the next morning before we left.

Our Regency Suite was exceptionally comfortable for an inner city stay. We couldn’t have been happier with our stay. We ended up taking the Gautrain back to O.R. Tambo International Airport for our South African Airways Business Class Johannesburg – Mauritius flight, the next day.

My thoughts on our second stay at the Hyatt Regency Johannesburg:

The Hyatt Regency Johannesburg was a pleasant stay and we’d see no reason to change hotels or stay at the Intercontinental at the OR Tambo Airport. The Regency Club was very efficient and comfortable and the value of cash and points with a Diamond Suite upgrade was unbeatable. It was highly recommended once again.

---

If you’ve stayed in Johannesburg, is the Hyatt Regency your preferred hotel over another chain hotel?

---