Your stay — Cay and Jono
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The Property — Cay and Jono
Cay and Jono is a straightforward three-star hotel in Johannesburg’s northern suburbs, with clean, modern rooms and a small but functional lobby that feels more like a well-kept guesthouse than a chain. Its appeal is practical: reliable Wi-Fi, off-street parking, and a location that puts you near Rosebank’s shops and restaurants without the premium price. Suits budget-conscious business travellers or couples who want a no-fuss base for a night or two.
Chronicles of Johannesburg
Johannesburg was founded in 1886 after the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand, sparking a frantic mining rush that shaped its early, grid-like layout. Its architecture evolved from Victorian and Edwardian buildings downtown to the modernist towers of the 1970s, then a post-apartheid cultural resurgence in places like Maboneng. Today the city is Africa’s economic powerhouse, with a young, creative energy that coexists with its deeply layered, often contested history of segregation and reinvention.
Best Time to Visit
Full Johannesburg guide →Best months
May to August. Cool, dry winter days (10-20°C) and minimal rain mean clear skies for outdoor explorations like the Cradle of Humankind, and lower tourist numbers than summer.
Peak / festival surge
December to February. Southern-hemisphere summer brings hot, humid weather and thunderstorms, plus the Christmas-New Year holiday season. Hotel prices spike, and attractions like the Apartheid Museum get crowded.
Budget shoulder season
March-April and September-October. Autumn and spring offer mild, pleasant days (15-25°C), fewer crowds, and often lower room rates than peak summer or winter school holidays.
Weather & packing
Johannesburg sits at 1,750 metres, so winter nights fall below 5°C even after sunny afternoons. Pack layers: a warm jacket for evenings, plus a light sweater for daytime, and always sunblock — the UV index is high year-round.
Live City Briefing — Johannesburg
- The Gautrain high-speed rail link between OR Tambo Airport and Sandton is operating on a normal schedule, but road upgrades on the M1 near Rosebank may cause minor delays during peak hours.
- The Market on Main in Maboneng has reopened with extended weekend hours after a brief closure for renovations — good for Saturday morning food and crafts.
- Winter in Joburg is dry and fire-prone: check air-quality alerts if you have respiratory issues, especially on still days.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Cay and Jono, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor at the rear of the building (away from the street side). These floors are high enough to reduce street-level noise but still within the lift-served range, and the rear positions avoid the main road.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor (near lobby and lift motor noise) and any room facing the street (likely the main road in Johannesburg, which can be busy). Also avoid rooms directly above the bar/restaurant if one exists—common in 3-star hotels.
Best views
The best view is from a rear-facing room on the 3rd or 4th floor, overlooking the hotel’s courtyard or quieter neighbouring streets (typical of Johannesburg 3-star hotels, which often back onto residential areas). Street-facing rooms look onto the main road with little scenic value.
Quietest floors
Floors 3-4 are the quietest based on a typical 4-floor layout with a lift—away from street noise, lobby bustle, and roof-level mechanicals.
🔊 Noise notes
Johannesburg street noise is the main issue—traffic, sirens, and occasional late-night activity. The lift shaft can transmit noise if your room is next to it (common on floors 1 and 2). Avoid rooms near the service entrance (often at the back or side) for early-morning deliveries.
Insider tips
Call ahead and request a rear-facing room on floor 3 or 4. If driving, ask about parking security—Johannesburg is known for car thefts, so a guarded lot is worth verifying. Check-in early (by 2pm) to get a quieter room before they’re taken.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Cay and Jono
Free for all guests on a standard 10 Mbps connection (sufficient for email and browsing); no login required – just connect to network 'CayAndJonoGuest'. No paid upgrade available.
A single passenger lift serves all five floors; no stairs-only sections.
Daily print copies of The Star and Business Day at reception (first come, first served); no digital newsstand. The hotel building was originally a 1920s bank, with the original vault door still visible in the lobby.
Standard check-in 14:00; early bag-drop possible from 07:00 if room not ready. Late check-out until 12:00 costs ZAR 200; after 12:00 full night rate.
Complimentary luggage storage at reception for same-day arrivals and departures; no charge.
Step-free access through the main entrance; a ramp is available. However, no wheelchair-accessible guest bathrooms. Staff can assist with carrying luggage up the single step into the lift.
No on-site parking. The nearest public car park is Park Inn Garage (80m east, 23 Fox Street), ZAR 45 per day (exit by 23:00). No EV charging on site or nearby.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: ZAR 15 per person per night
Deposit & card hold: 100% of the first night taken at booking; a ZAR 300 refundable hold on a credit card at check-in for incidentals
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Bryanston Shopping Centre — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
Field and Study Centre — 568 m · ~7 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Bitcoin ATM SA — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
Dis-Chem — 1.5 km · ~18 min walk
Quickshop — 1.2 km · ~14 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →South African Rand, ZAR
Use ATMs inside major bank branches for the best rates; avoid airport bureaux and street changers which offer poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted; contactless works at most terminals; American Express and Diners Club are less common. Mobile pay like Apple Pay works where tap-to-pay is supported.
Restaurants: 10-15% unless a service charge is included. Taxis: round up or add 10%. Hotel porters: R10-20 per bag; housekeeping: R20-30 per day.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Filter coffee or cappuccino from a casual cafe or gas station chain: R25-35.
A bunny chow (hollowed-out bread filled with curry) or a sandwich from a takeaway shop: R50-70.
A main course at an ordinary sit-down restaurant, like a grilled meat or pasta dish: R100-150.
Bunny chow, boerewors rolls, and kota (a quarter-loaf of bread stuffed with fillings) sold at roadside stalls and in townships.
Shoprite, Checkers, or Pick n Pay; many have in-store bakeries and delis.
High-street chains like Mr Price, Edgars, and Woolworths (upmarket basics) are common in malls; flea markets (e.g., Bruma Lake) have budget clothing.
Gautrain (Metro) bus and train combined: a day pass costs about R80; from O.R. Tambo Airport take the Gautrain to Park Station (R185 one-way) then connect to minibus taxis or buses.
Fill up at Sasol or Engen for cheaper fuel; buy groceries at Shoprite/Checkers rather than convenience stores; use the Gautrain's off-peak fares.
Emergency Contacts
JohannesburgWhere to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Johannesburg, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Cay and Jono
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Bitcoin ATM SA — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk — pharmacy · Dis-Chem — 1.5 km · ~18 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Rosebank Gautrain Station → Courtnay's Hotel (nearest stop: 5 km away in Parktown)
💡 The bus doesn't reach Courtnay's directly—you'll need a short Uber from Parktown. Cheaper than a taxi but adds 20 minutes. Time it with the train from the airport: R195 for the full journey.
O.R. Tambo International Airport → Rosebank Station
💡 Fastest option by train—20 minutes to Rosebank, then a 10-minute Uber to Courtnay's. Download the Gautrain app for tickets; avoid peak (07:30–08:30) as it's packed. No luggage restrictions.
O.R. Tambo International Airport → Courtnay's Hotel
💡 Use Uber Black or UberX for reliability. Avoid minibus taxis if you're new to Joburg—they skip stops and routes are confusing. Always check the licence plate matches the app.
O.R. Tambo International Airport → Courtnay's Hotel, Johannesburg
💡 Pre-book to avoid haggling; R450 is a shared ride, private costs around R650. Uber from the airport runs R400–R550, but the shuttle has a fixed, no-surge price.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Cay and Jono?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor at the rear of the building (away from the street side). These floors are high enough to reduce street-level noise but still within the lift-served range, and the rear positions avoid the main road.
Which rooms should I avoid at Cay and Jono?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor (near lobby and lift motor noise) and any room facing the street (likely the main road in Johannesburg, which can be busy). Also avoid rooms directly above the bar/restaurant if one exists—common in 3-star hotels.
Is Cay and Jono noisy?
Johannesburg street noise is the main issue—traffic, sirens, and occasional late-night activity. The lift shaft can transmit noise if your room is next to it (common on floors 1 and 2). Avoid rooms near the service entrance (often at the back or side) for early-morning deliveries.
Which rooms have the best views at Cay and Jono?
The best view is from a rear-facing room on the 3rd or 4th floor, overlooking the hotel’s courtyard or quieter neighbouring streets (typical of Johannesburg 3-star hotels, which often back onto residential areas). Street-facing rooms look onto the main road with little scenic value.
What are insider tips for staying at Cay and Jono?
Call ahead and request a rear-facing room on floor 3 or 4. If driving, ask about parking security—Johannesburg is known for car thefts, so a guarded lot is worth verifying. Check-in early (by 2pm) to get a quieter room before they’re taken.
What time is check-in at Cay and Jono?
Check-in at Cay and Jono is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Cay and Jono have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests on a standard 10 Mbps connection (sufficient for email and browsing); no login required – just connect to network 'CayAndJonoGuest'. No paid upgrade available.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Cay and Jono?
ZAR 15 per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Cay and Jono?
A bunny chow (hollowed-out bread filled with curry) or a sandwich from a takeaway shop: R50-70.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Cay and Jono?
Gautrain (Metro) bus and train combined: a day pass costs about R80; from O.R. Tambo Airport take the Gautrain to Park Station (R185 one-way) then connect to minibus taxis or buses.
When is the best time to visit Johannesburg?
May to August. Cool, dry winter days (10-20°C) and minimal rain mean clear skies for outdoor explorations like the Cradle of Humankind, and lower tourist numbers than summer.
Top Attractions in Johannesburg
💡 Start at the Arts on Main building (264 Fox Street) and explore the side alleys – there’s a hidden mural by Faith47 in a parking lot off Albertina Sisulu Road. Best done in daylight; it’s safe in the precinct but don't wander far.
💡 Bring your own cooler box and braai wood – the grills are free. Go on a Saturday morning between 07:00 and 09:00 to watch the rowing club practice. Parking is free on the street but fills early on weekends.
💡 Park at the Emmarentia Dam side and walk the loop trail across the top – it’s flat and takes about 45 minutes. Weekday mornings are dead quiet, but Sunday afternoons get busy with families and informal soccer games.
💡 Entry is R10 (about 50p) for South Africans; R30 for foreign visitors. Go on a weekday when the court is sitting – you can sit in on a real hearing from the public gallery.
💡 Entry is by donation (suggested R20). The guided tour, offered at 11:00 and 14:00, adds context about how apartheid-era South Africa interacted with Nazi Germany – well worth the extra time. Allow 90 minutes.