Background
There are three Johannesburg properties in the Urban Hip Hotel Management group – Splice, The Nicol and Ashanti. The group also operates Kings and the newly aquired Victorian Villa in Port Elizabeth and Critchley Hackle in Dullstroom, which is located in the province of Mpumalanga, about two-and-a-half hour’s drive from Johannesburg, and is a well-known fly fishing destination.
What’s it Like?
Guests are presented with hotel rooms that are modern, fully-furnished, self-catering apartments. Splice has an clean, open, Mediterranean feel and the Urban Hip Hotel concept is a good fit for business travellers who want the option of dining in and having all their amenities at their fingertips. For those tired of the traditional hotel room, it’s worth checking out.
Where is it?
Splice is located in Riviera, a centrally-located and ‘leafy’ Johannesburg suburb. The M1 highway is a short drive away, and this provides convenient access to the Johannesburg CBD, Rosebank and Sandton. O.R. Tambo International Airport is approximately half an hour’s drive away. For shopping and entertainment (restaurants and movies), Killarney Mall is located a few blocks away, whilst Rosebank Mall is approximately 10 minutes’ drive away. That’s where you’ll also find a Gautrain (rapid rail system) station, which links to Sandton, Pretoria and the airport.
Apartment Facilities
Urban Hip Hotels manages 21 apartments within Splice, and offers guests a choice of luxury one, two or three-bedroom units. All apartments are self-catering and are kitted out with flat-screen televisions, home-theatre systems, lounge and dining areas, designer furniture, a fully-equipped kitchen and bedrooms with en suite bathrooms. I liked the bright, airy lounge with its modern furniture – the sort of comfortable space where you can spend a lot of time. Room nights are sold per apartment, and not on a per person sharing basis, and this can significantly affect accommodation costs. Both short and long-term guests are catered for, with both daily and long-stay monthly rates available.
Restaurants and Bars
The apartment block has two bars for guests and residents. The first is a coffee and juice bar located in the reception area, which also serves a hot breakfast (not included in room price) and hot day-time snacks. The second is a cocktail bar located next to the swimming pool on the north side of the building. The swimming pool itself is worth a mention – it is ultra-modern and raised from the ground, with the clear sides giving the impression of swimming in a fish tank. Nearby Killarney Mall also offers variety of restaurants and grocery stores.
Additional Facilities
There is a modern, well-equipped fitness centre located on the top floor of Splice. It consists of treadmills, rowing machines, stationary bicycles and free weights. There is also a ‘beauty bar’ located near the swimming pool, for guests who need a little additional pampering.
Meeting and Business Facilities
A small meeting room is available to guests, whilst Wi-Fi Internet is available in all the public areas, but not in the rooms, which I found a little disappointing, as I wanted to access my email in my room.
Verdict
A good option for business travellers who need a central base in Johannesburg, and want to get away from the standard hotel offering. Also well suited to long stays, whilst I was impressed with the level of comfort and décor. The only criticism is the lack of access to Wi-Fi Internet in the rooms, where you would think the business traveller would need that the most.
Contact
Splice, Cnr of Riviera Rd and Main Rd, Killarney, +27 861 226 787, urbanhiphotels.com
Michelle Reed