Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch [In-depth Review]

I had planned a trip of a lifetime … a South African safari with a side trip to Victoria Falls. I knew based on the flight arrival time into Johannesburg that my family would not have enough time to travel the 4 hours north to our safari location on our first day, so I explored award redemption options in the greater Johannesburg area.

The Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch exceeded my expectations, and the friendly service from its staff truly delivered. Learn more about how I booked this award and see if this hotel would be ideal for your next stay in Jo’burg.

Hotel Location

The Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch is about 16 miles west of O.R. Tambo International Airport, just south of Sandton. With current load shedding, most of the traffic lights on our drive from the airport to the hotel were non-functional, which added to our driving time. Under ideal circumstances, the drive would take around 30 minutes.

The property is one of several from Marriott that anchor the Melrose Arch gated shopping and residential complex, including African Pride Melrose Arch, Autograph Collection, Marriott Executive Apartments Johannesburg, Melrose Arch, and Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Johannesburg Melrose Arch.

There are plenty of retail shops and restaurants in this pedestrianized shopping area, including Woolworths, just steps from the property’s main entrance.

Booking

Knowing I had access to Marriott Bonvoy points for a redemption, I reviewed a few options near the airport as we would need a stay on arrival before driving to Madikwe, South Africa, for our safari and again after our final night before heading on to Victoria Falls the next morning.

The Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch was well-situated on our drive out of town, and it looked like we could easily anchor to find dinner for the night.

I could not find award room availability for our family of 2 adults and 3 kids, but noticed that even though the maximum occupancy of the Deluxe Guest Room, 2 Doubles was 4, it also allowed for a rollaway bed. I checked the hotel’s website and socials for a few email addresses to reach out to see if we could accommodate the entire family in the room.

I was pleased to see an affirmative response within a day and booked the 2 separate award redemptions. I emailed the agent with those confirmation numbers for reference and printed our conversation just in case I had any issues at check-in.

I redeemed 13,500 points per night from my husband’s account (with his permission, of course!) for the late April 2023 stay.

There are 4 room types at the hotel overall:

• Deluxe Guest room with 1 King or 2 Doubles
• Superior Guest Room, Concierge level, Guest room, 1 King
• Junior Suite, 1 King

Nightly rates for the Deluxe Guest room typically range from around R2,700 (~$147) to R4,000 (~$218) and were around R3,000 (~$163) for my stay. We value Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents per point, and I exceeded that with ~1.2 cents per point in value for this reservation.

Hot Tip:

Should I have opted to use cash for this booking, I would have charged the purchase to one of our recommended best credit cards for Marriott loyalists. With Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit cards, you can earn up to 18.5x points per dollar spent at Marriott hotels.

Check-in and Elite Benefits

Check-in

I’ve been disappointed with previous hotel stays when we arrive close to bedtime and have extended waits for housekeeping to set up a rollaway bed. I noticed when I checked in via the Marriott Bonvoy app that there was a chat option, so I sent a note on the morning of our stay asking for the spare bed to be set up before our arrival. I had high hopes based on the agent’s positive response.

My family arrived at the property around 6 p.m., nearly 2 hours after arriving in South Africa (thanks to buying a SIM card, renting a car from Avis, and navigating from the airport with no traffic lights to control traffic).

The valet was able to direct us to the rear of the hotel for the car park entrance where we self-parked and took the elevator up to the main lobby.

We were immediately welcomed with a fresh, pleasant scent that carried throughout the Greatroom. There were 4 staffed desks for check-in, each with 2 terminals, including a lane specifically for Marriott Bonvoy elites.

The power in the lobby immediately blinked off and back on —- our first experience of many with South Africa’s load shedding.

The desk agent Tyra quickly scanned our passports and familiarized us with the dining options for the night.

While I did not notice the signage until checkout, a schedule of load-shedding times was listed on a tent at the front desk.

Greatroom

The Greatroom (lobby) was spacious, and a large sculpture immediately greeted guests.

In the morning, the space is flooded with sunlight.

I liked that were options for larger groups, like a sofa, and smaller clusters of 2 to 4 seats.

It was also quite convenient to direct my kids to the multiple seating options when my husband and I were checking in and out. There was certainly a wide variety to explore!

I noticed several guests using the charging outlets built into the sofas — what a great idea!

Elite Benefits

While we did not utilize the elite check-in on arrival, we did use it to expedite our checkout.

My husband’s Gold Elite status had recently been downgraded to Silver Elite, so he didn’t think we’d see any noticeable benefits during this stay.

To our surprise and (the kids’) delight, we happened to return from dinner just as someone was arriving to deliver this trio of desserts. The accompanying note incorrectly acknowledged the Gold Elite status, but we didn’t mind.

For reference, on our second stay, just a few days later, a welcome gift was already set in our room upon check-in. It included biltong and droëwors (both similar to jerky), grapes, savory nuts, cheeses, macarons, and a personal-size bottle of wine. This welcome letter properly acknowledged the Silver Elite status.

Amenities

Pool

The pool is located on level 1 and is scheduled to be open from September to April from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and May to August from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In the morning, I could see how the inner courtyard was divided between the hotel and residential properties, with a smaller pool located behind the landscaped divider on the Marriott Executive Apartments Johannesburg, Melrose Arch side.

Even at 7 a.m., the pool deck was mostly ready for the day, with red towels set at each lounger.

From loungers to dining tables and chairs to more relaxing group configurations, there were many seating options.

A few cushions were missing covers, and rips were evident. I visited the pool just after it opened, so it’s possible that the missing covers had not been put on for the day yet.

While I never saw it in action, there was an interior poolside bar near the pool deck area.

Fitness Center

The fitness center is located on level 1. While there was a room key reader next to the door, the doors were propped open when I toured.

Across from the entrance were restrooms and showers.

The gym featured an abundance of Technogym cardio and strength-training equipment.

Infused water, an impressive variety of fresh fruit, and 2 sizes of towels were available.

A pedal-operated water dispenser was across from the cup tower, and there were sanitizing wipes for folks to wipe down machines with after use.

Stationary bikes (no Pelotons) and rowing machines were available.

Elliptical machines and treadmills faced the pool courtyard.

At the end of the fitness center was a yoga studio with balls and mats available for use.

There were also barbells and weight benches.

M Club

The M Club was located at the right rear of the lobby. Eligible Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite, and Ambassador members (plus 1 guest) have access, as well as those booked in a room with club access included or those paying a daily rate.

The interior featured lounge and dining seating options, a business center, and food and beverages.

Guests can enjoy a complimentary buffet breakfast, light snacks throughout the day, and hors d’oeuvres at night. Cocktails are available for purchase, and a full dinner can be ordered from either hotel restaurant to be enjoyed within M Club.

Wi-Fi

My husband and I could not log on to guest access using our room number and last name, so the front desk provided us with an access code to use. Once connected, the speed was sufficient without complaint.

Parking

We self-parked at a rate of R75 (~$4) nightly. The underground garage was located nearly on the opposite side of the main valet entrance, all the way around the hotel building.

Valet parking was available at the front entrance.

While at the valet, check out the bronze rabbit sculpture that keeps in theme with others dotting Melrose Arch.

ATM

As we neglected to hit up an ATM on arrival in JNB, I was pleased to see and ATM on level 1. Unfortunately, even after several attempts on 2 cards, we couldn’t get this machine to work.

The next morning a staff member directed me to a bank at Melrose Arch, just a brief walk away, where I could successfully get some cash.

The Room

Guestrooms are located on levels 1 through 5, with Marriott Executive Apartments Johannesburg, Melrose Arch occupying levels 6 through 8.

We were assigned room 575, towards the end of a dark corridor.

With modern printed carpets, canvases, and room numbering, first impressions were high-end and sleek. A tap of the room key to the white RFID entry pad was all it took to enter.

From inside the room, you could select if you wanted to turn on the light for housekeeping or do not disturb.

The respective colors would illuminate on the exterior entry pad. No more door hangers constantly falling off of the door handle!

Bedroom — Deluxe Guest Room, 2 Doubles

Upon entering the room, an open-concept closet was to the right, the bathroom was to the left, and the beds were straight ahead.

I was thrilled and relieved to see that a rollaway bed had been set up per my request before our arrival. This made heading straight to the showers and bedtime much easier for our kids after a long day of travel.

Based on the room configuration, I believe this sofa was originally positioned under the TV. I appreciated that housekeeping left it in the room vs. removing it, as it was a great landing pad for our various bags.

The rollaway bed was set up under a large HDTV. My kids loved that there were 3 kid-friendly channels: Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Boomerang. The only complaint from the kids regarding the rollaway bed was that the pillow kept falling off overnight due to the lack of a higher-profile headboard.

Closest to the window was an oval table with 2 chairs, outlets, a phone, and a notepad. A smaller side table had 2 glass bottles of water with glasses.

The outlets behind the telephone contained a light switch, 2 USB ports, and a Type N, Type M, and universal outlet.

Our minibar was empty, but there was a menu for it and in-room dining.

I wasn’t sure initially if the water was complimentary or not. I asked a housekeeping staff member outside of our room, and she advised that they were indeed free and even offered 2 more bottles. Unfortunately, these bottles didn’t fit in the minifridge, but signage indicated that ice or cold water could be ordered.

A hanging pendant lamp and headboard-mounted reading lamp adorned a stone side table on the outer sides of each queen bed.

Unfortunately, there was no easy outlet access for the folks using these sides — pretty inconvenient when you’re sleeping on the outer spots and want to check your phone in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning.

The beds were quite comfortable and firm but had loud, crinkly duvet covers and sheets … something you definitely notice with 4 other people shifting around in their sleep at night. Each queen bed also contained 5 pillows.

Between the 2 queen beds was an alarm clock, a note about load shedding disruptions, the remote, and the bedside outlets and light controls.

Besides the initial power blip at check-in, the only load shedding experienced was around 6 a.m. The air conditioning powered off and an emergency hall light near the bathroom went on (I was already awake, and no one sleeping was disturbed). This lasted only a few minutes.

The outlets behind the alarm clock accommodated Type N and Type M plugs and 2 USB ports.

Heading back towards the entry door, you’d find the air conditioning controls and a full-length mirror.

Across from the full-length mirror was an open-concept closet with a coffee bar, hangers, a shoe bench/luggage rack, a safe, 2 drawers, and an ironing cabinet.

Coffee and tea-making facilities were available with coffee pods, creamers, teas, sugars, and to-go cups.

The safe was in the top cabinet to the right.

And the hairdryer was in the top drawer.

A minifridge was located in the bottom right cabinet.

The cabinet closest to the door contained an iron and ironing board.

Bathroom

The bathroom was meant for single use (no separate water closet), with the toilet next to a modern canvas piece of art. Lovely as it is, I didn’t want to think of how germy it must be with such close proximity to the toilet.

The vanity featured a single sink with a lit mirror, an extendable magnifying mirror, and several towels underneath.

There was a small metal shelf above the sink with amenities, tissues, and washcloths off to the right on the counter.

Bath amenities were by This Works, and the sink amenities included lotions, soaps, and shower caps. I really appreciate it when you’re given soap for the sink and the shower.

Surprisingly, the room was prepped with more full-length towels than needed, so everyone could dry off with a dry towel.

While the shower was only half-contained by a glass partition, we surprisingly didn’t have issues with water getting all over the floor.

The shower controls were located away from the showerheads, meaning you didn’t get sprayed with cold water when turning the shower on.

Full-size This Works shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner were mounted in the shower.

There was both a handheld shower wand and a rainfall showerhead, though the water pressure was quite low on the rainfall shower and much stronger from the handheld wand.

Food and Beverage

The Archer Bar & Eatery and Keystone Bistro are both located on the ground level near reception and the M Club, respectively.

A large wine storage area with a counter was in the lobby just outside Archer. It looks like this serves as a setup for cocktail party events.

Archer Bar & Eatery

Archer Bar & Eatery was open daily from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Its website indicated that there was live acoustic music on Thursdays and Fridays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Menus are available online.

Tyra at check-in mentioned that Archer at night was a whole “vibe,” and she was right. The bar was packed, and the crowd was quite boisterous.

Keystone Bistro

Keystone Bistro was open for breakfast from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and all-day dining from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

I inquired about breakfast pricing and was pleased to hear that it was R325 (~$18) for adults and free for children under 12. While my family didn’t have time for a longer buffet in the morning, the staff was kind enough to let me grab a quick peek at the offerings.

After entering the restaurant, you’ll immediately see a wide variety of juices, from already-squeezed to pre-bottled, and an orange juice machine next to a variety of fresh whole fruits.

Next, you’ll see a variety of cereals with toppings, milks, and yogurt.

A salad station served a variety of precut salad vegetables.

The next room you enter had hot-held items, cold meats and cheeses, breads, and 2 made-to-order stations.

For those needing to take away their breakfast, I appreciated that there was a grab-and-go station set up with various premade bagels and sandwiches.

An assortment of cheeses was on display next to various muffins, breads, and pastries.

Nothing beats a warm croissant, and several large ones were kept warm in this oven.

Several diced fresh fruits and parfaits were on offer, along with that awkward honeycomb that no one ever knows what to do with.

Made-to-order eggs and waffles were available at the rear of the buffet.

There was a small selection of sliced cold meats and a larger ham for carving, with some slices already pre-carved.

With so many room temperature and cold options available, it’s no surprise that the hot-held items looked a little drab. You would find scrambled eggs, sausages, potatoes, and roasted tomatoes in this area.

Service

Our interactions with staff at the property were overwhelmingly friendly for our first visit to South Africa. The valet nicely directed us to the appropriate parking lot, the doormen were friendly and helpful, and our check-in and checkout experiences were efficient.

After checking in, I realized I needed to print some sensitive documents. As this hotel doesn’t offer a business center, I asked at the check-in desk how to print a document. My only option there was to email the document, which I wasn’t comfortable with. Nakedi kindly walked me to the M Club where I was able to use the wireless printer to print my documents without having to pull them up on a shared computer (which was also available).

Final Thoughts

My stay at the Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch was fantastic. I had great communication with the hotel before our arrival, the room was set up exactly as I needed it to be, and my kids were thrilled with the welcome gift that surprised us. The location really can’t be beat for a central retail, dining, and hotel stay experience. I felt that for 13,500 points, I made a great redemption.