CHOOSING LONG-STAY ACCOMMODATION IN RIVONIA, SANDTON
Posted on Thu March 9, 2023.
The choice of accommodation often starts with the destination. Thereafter, a choice is made on the accommodation type.
Rivonia, Sandton is a vibrant multi-cultural and multi-ethnic destination and very popular with visiting expatriates due to its accessible location to most parts of Johannesburg and the N1 highway.
The Haystack on Homestead in Rivonia, Sandton has over the years been a choice self-catering property for long-stay accommodation in Rivonia, Sandton for visiting expatriates to South Africa.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
For a first-time visitor, the accommodation booking journey often starts with the destination. A booker will look for accommodation close enough to the proposed destination. No use looking for accommodation in Fourways (a Johannesburg suburb) when the intended place of visit is in Centurion (a suburb in Pretoria).
Most locations and suburbs have hospitality accommodation properties that cater for visiting guests. Rivonia, Sandton has a variety of accommodation types – hotels, guesthouses, bed & breakfasts, self-catering, apartments and even rooms in houses.
WHAT’S AROUND RIVONIA, SANDTON
Rivonia is about 15 minutes away to the following suburbs – Paulshof and Sunninghill to the North, Woodmead to the East, Morningside and Sandton to the South and Bryanston to the West. These suburbs are part of what is collectively known as the Northern Suburbs of Johannesburg, characterised by middle to upper class residential neighbourhoods, shopping centres, restaurants and office buildings. Also located in these suburbs are notable medical facilities like Netcare Sunninghill Hospital, Mediclinic Morningside, Mediclinic Sandton, Intercare Sandton and Netcare Waterfall City. All these facilities are within a 20-minute car drive from the Rivonia Central Business District (CBD).
The Rivonia CBD is a vibrant, multi-ethnic and cosmopolitan hub which mirrors a diversity of nationalities and ethnic groups. This diversity has given rise to a growing number of specialty ethnic commercial outlets located in Rivonia. The Asian population in Rivonia is growing, with an increase in visible commercial and business activities from expatriates from this part of the world. One can find Chinese and Korean grocers, restaurants serving cuisines from China, Vietnam, Korean, Japan, Portugal, Greece, India, Nigeria, Persia (Iran), Arabia and even a Chinese store that sells home and kitchenware. The Rivonia Boulevard which runs North-South may be considered the main commercial axis in the Rivonia CBD. Incidentally, the visa application centres for South Africa and a few European countries (Netherlands, Italy, Sweden and Austria) are situated on Rivonia Boulevard.
The M9 roadway runs through the Rivonia neighbourhood, and along a considerable stretch is named Rivonia Road. At some point on Rivonia Road, it runs parallel to Rivonia Boulevard. The M9 roadway is an important road artery running North to South and traverses a few Johannesburg suburbs, North of the Johannesburg CBD. Its Southernmost extent is about the area of Braamfontein, whilst its Northernmost tip is around Kyalami. Significantly, the M9 roadway passes through the Rosebank and Sandton CBDs. It is also a major off-ramp to the N1 Western Bypass, which is a major highway around Johannesburg and the preferred route to Pretoria (Tshwane) – the political capital of South Africa.
EXPATRIATE LONG-STAY ACCOMMODATION
With the advent of the Internet, an expatriate sitting in China, India, Nigeria or even Mozambique has never found it easier to find and choose accommodation. From the location, accommodation type, accommodation facilities, price, etc., the necessary parameters are a Google or Tripadvisor search away. Most importantly, there is a budget for every choice – as the English saying goes, you get what you pay for.
Accommodation properties often highlight their offerings through pictures, descriptions, official accommodation grading, previous reviews, etc. For the first-time booker of a property, there is often trepidation that the property highlights may turn out to be incorrect or misleading. No surprise that bookers often return to the properties that met their expectations during their initial stay.
Having the option of driving makes the choice of accommodation easier as distance is not a problem. The advent of ride-hailing options also makes travelling convenient. For guests who intend to work-from-home, like digital nomads, the convenience of a short walk to the main areas of interest is an important consideration. Self-catering accommodation also has an appeal to digital nomads, who normally enjoy the long-stay amenities.
With flight travel becoming more expensive and remote work increasingly popular, long-stay accommodation for visiting expatriates is becoming popular. This accommodation becomes a base for work and interaction with local associates and colleagues. Choosing a long-stay property that has fast, reliable and constant Internet is essential for such visiting expatriates.
Whether it is for business, corporate or leisure travel, a self-catering accommodation is ideal for long-stay accommodation that can be experienced as a ‘home-away-from-home’.
THE HAYSTACK ON HOMESTEAD – LONG STAY SELF-CATERING ACCOMMODATION
The 4-Star graded self-catering The Haystack on Homestead is one of the many accommodation properties in Rivonia, Sandton. Its extensive gardens make it a unique accommodation offering in the middle of the city. Guests often use the gardens for meditation, walks and even jogs. This property, designed for the long-stay guest in mind is a walking distance to the Rivonia CBD and easily accessible to the M9 (Rivonia Road) for convenient vehicle travel to other parts of Johannesburg. Tripadvisor currently ranks it as #1 of 101 Specialty Lodging in Sandton and has awarded it a Certificate of Excellence.
Though a self-catering property, The Haystack on Homestead also offers a bed and breakfast option consisting of ready-eats like yoghurt, cereal, fruits, bread, butter, jam, etc., all served in-room on a breakfast tray. Eggs and bacon to prepare are also included if required.
Electricity and Water Backup Facilities
The Rivonia neighbourhood has experienced very little electricity challenges apart from the scheduled Eskom (the national electricity utility) loadshedding. The property however has an installed 50KVA electrical generator that is sufficient for its electricity requirements. This generator creates a bit of noise, which limits its use during the quiet hours of the night. This has necessitated the installation of a battery/inverter system installed has an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) which facilitates a seamless transition and electrical backup for the property lights, Wi-Fi, fridges and televisions. These facilities are currently more than sufficient even during the dreaded Stage 6 loadshedding. The property also has a borehole water backup used during infrequent instances of municipal water interruptions.
Advantages of Booking Direct – Promotions and Discounts
The Haystack on Homestead is listed on international and local booking channels for those who prefer to take advantage of the various loyalty programmes thee channels offer. Special and curated offers, discounts and promotions are however available to bookers who book direct with the property. There is a current promotion that offers a 30% discount off rack rates to direct bookers who can provide evidence of an appointment at the local visa application centre. This and other specials are available on its website www.thehaystack.co.za. Enquiries on Telephone/WhatsApp (+27 82 706 4014) and Email (bookings@thehaystack.co.za) are also welcome.
Our Locations
The Haystack on Cowley
52 Cowley Rd
Bryanston, Johannesburg
2191
Gauteng
South Africa
The Haystack on Homestead
13 Homestead Road, off 7th Avenue, off Rivonia Road
Edenburg, Sandton
2128
Gauteng
South Africa
