45 km (30 miles) north of South Africa’s main airport, Oliver Tambo International in Johannesburg is the city of Pretoria. It is one of the 3 capital cities of South Africa, the administrative, and is in the Gauteng Province, and if you are visiting the area, it might be worth looking at a choice of Pretoria hotels to stay at. With the Gautrain rapid rail link being fully operational by June 2011, it would mean a train ride between Pretoria and Johannesburg will take just 40 minutes.
Whether it be a five star luxury hotel, a low priced budget motel, or you’d prefer to stay in the comfort of a guesthouse, the city has a great number of hotels for you to choose from.
Not far from the central business district is the very popular Sheraton Pretoria Hotel. The hotel offers excellent conference facilities and a business centre and is conveniently located close to many foreign embassies and consulates. It is a the sister hotel of the Arabella Sheraton in Cape Town, and is part of Sheraton South Africa, which is associated with the Sheraton hotels worldwide.
Sport is a big thing in South Africa, and the country has just recently hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Pretoria’s main sporting stadium, Loftus Versfeld, was the venue for 6 World Cup matches. The ground is the home to the Blue Bulls, one of the biggest franchises in the rugby world, whilst soccer club Mamelodi Sundowns, who compete in the South African Premier League, also stages its home games there. There are sporting events almost every week in the city, and most hotels will tell what is on when you are visiting and arrange tickets.
The Premier Hotel Pretoria is situated within walking distance of the famous Union Buildings and is a convenient spot for the business traveller or tourist. With conference facilities, stylish rooms and great entertainment, this is a popular choice for many visitors.
The city has a rich cultural and historic background and there are many fine attractions to visit, including the Pretoria Art Museum, the Museum of Science and Technology and the Museum of Natural History. Of course there is also the State Theatre, which has for many years staged some of the country’s most highly acclaimed theatre productions.
Described as “An Oasis of Peace & Beauty”, the five star Lombardy Boutique Hotel can be found in Pretoria East. A luxurious retreat, the Lombardy has been a liked hide-away for government ministers, famous actors and businessmen from all around the world. Offering excellent facilities including a wellness centre, spa and boutique shops, the hotel estate’s Casa Milano Ballroom is a popular conference and wedding location.
Not far outside the city are some incredible nature reserves and game parks, where you can have a once in a lifetime experience of seeing a rhino or elephant in their natural habitat. The Pretoria Zoo also offers you the opportunity to see a lot of animals, not just from Africa, while an extremely popular attraction in Pretoria is The Cheetah Breeding Centre. Here you can get face to face with the fastest animal on the planet and learn about the preservation of them.
For many the convenient location of the The Holiday Inn Express Pretoria Sunnypark makes it a popular choice to stay at. The hotel is above the Sunnypark Shopping Centre and is surrounded by historical buildings, consulates and embassies and government departments.
With so many places to choose from in Pretoria, you can pick a hotel that caters to your specific taste.