The cozy pool is ideal for a refreshing dip before lunch (Photo by Izak van Zyl)

"So are you going away on vacation this holiday season?" I asked one of my friends last week, as one does. "Oh yes. Four of us are going to Australia and I can't wait. How about you? Are you going away on holiday?" he replied. "Yes indeed! We're going to Midrand for two days..."

It may seem bizarre but our stay at the 4-star Premier HotelMidrand during the height of the season and 15kmfrom home was a great experience and it did feel as though we were on a mini holiday. Its location is one of its great attributes – for conference and business delegates especially. It is located halfway between Johannesburg and Pretoria in South Africa. The main artery in Gauteng, the N1 freeway, runs straight through the middle of Midrand. Midrand, once a small halfway station has rapidly grown into a business hub and is the home for the head offices and distribution centers for a large number of well-known businesses. It is identified as one of the eight tourism nodes in the Johannesburg area and home to large-scale industries such as textiles and motor vehicles.

Recently completely renovated, the Premier Hotel Midrand has that brand new look, smell and feel and the ambience has a zen touch to it, yet with all the mod cons like state-of-the-art air conditioners in the rooms. The thought-provoking and muted decor and paintings as well as hand-picked lamps, art and finishing speak of extreme care taken with every aspect of the design of this world-class hotel. 

Premier Midrand offers 113 rooms consisting of two beautiful suites and 111 deluxe rooms. These luxury rooms all have en-suite bathrooms, in-room safes, teaandcoffee facilities, telephone and WiFi. All rooms also have a select DSTV bouquet and a hairdryer. 

We have lunch by the pool and the food is excellent. Think delectable starters likeTempura Prawns,served with Asian style dipping sauce, accompanied by sesame prawn toast and seared pineapple salsa.And smoked ostrich carpacciotopped with capers, grated egg and raspberry dressing with Parmesan and a balsamic reduction. For mains, the hotel offers culinary heaven on a plate in the form of, among other dishes,oven roasted chicken breastfilled with Ricotta, red onion and pistachio farce, as well asoxtail served with a savoury wild mushroom brown rice and root vegetables. 

After a splendid night's rest in my ultra-comfortable King-size bed with a duvet of a gazillion thread count, breakfast is served the next morning in the charming and modern dining room. Apart from the wide variety of yoghurts, cereals, pastries, meats and cheeses, your ordered hot breakfast consists of a choice ofscrambled eggs, beef or chicken sausage, grilled red onion and cherry tomatoes, smoked bacon, sautéed button mushrooms and potato rosti.

But the main focus of the hotel is the conferences and meetings clientele so, after breakfast, acting General ManagerJeremy Singleton takes us on a tour. We find the conference facilities to be state-of-the-art. The conferencebuilding is situated directly adjacent to the hotel and is tailor-made for conferences, meetings, incentives and even exhibitions and offers a choice of three venues. All venues can be converted to a U-shape, school room, cinema or banquet format, depending on your needs and in total the venues can accommodate up to 300 delegates. Fantastic meal options (cocktail, buffet and sit-down) are also available to feed the hungry crowds. 

Local Attractions near Premier Hotel Midrand

Midrand Urban Market

The family-oriented Midrand Urban Market takes place on the first Saturday of every month, offering loads of fun and entertainment along with good food and interesting arts and crafts 

 Airforce Memorialand Museum

The Air Force Museum depicts the history of the South African Air Force. This museum houses a collection of old aircraft, has uniforms, medals and paintings on display. http://www.premierhotels.co.za 

Smuts House Museum

Home to General Jan Smuts for over 40 years, Doornkloof in Irene, southeast of Pretoria, is a unique museum that reveals much about the life and the spirit of this great statesman. http://www.premierhotels.co.za

Wildlife

If you have a tight schedule, you don't have to go to the Kruger National Park to see some of the country's famed wildlife. A 90-minute drive from Pretoria is Bela Bela, a provincial town known for its hot water springs. Visit the springs for a rejuvenating soak, but spend most of your time at one of the many private game reserves in the area.

Kyalami Racing Circuit

The Kyalami Motor Racing Circuit is an international renowned racetrack and is the venue for many of South Africa's premier motor racing events. The circuit has been used for Grand Prix and Formula One races and has hosted the South African Grand Prix a number of times. 

Kyalami Country Club

Kyalami Country Club is just a few minutes' drive from South Africa's grand prix motor racing circuit, just north of Johannesburg. Kyalami is an18-hole golf course situated conveniently between Pretoria and Johannesburg in a superb setting in Kyalami. 

Sandton City (17.8 km from Midrand) 

Sandton City is regarded as the most glamorous international standard shopping mall in southern Africa. Here you can be sure to find an abundance of sophisticated, Afro-cosmopolitan experiences from one-of-a-kind South African artworks to the latest shoes from Milan. There's also a plethora of restaurants, bars and even a hotel. Sandton City is a gourmet melting pot of cultures and countries, hosting international and local shoppers alike. Located in Sandton's prestigious Central Business District, Sandton City offers an exciting shopping and leisure experience in stunning surroundings. The famous Sandton Square with its statue of Nelson Mandela is adjacent to Sandton City. 

(http://www.premierhotels.co.za) 

Hotel Facilities

Additional source:

http://www.premierhotels.co.za/locations/premier-hotel-midrand/ (with permission).

Contact details:

187 Third Road, Halfway Gardens, Midrand, Gauteng

PO Box 459, Halfway House, Midrand 1685

Tel: +27 (0)10 161 0000

Fax: 086 612 5635

midrand@premierhotels.co.za

Go tohttp://www.premierhotels.co.za/locations/premier-hotel-midrand/for specials, rates and reservations.

Getting there:

South African Airways flies between Beijing and Johannesburg and Cathay Pacific flies between Hong Kong and Johannesburg. From OR TamboAirport in Johannesburg, the Premier Hotel Midrand will gladly collect you in one of their shuttles. It is about a 30-minute drive from the airport to the hotel. Contact the hotel to make arrangements.