Your stay — Maxim Hotel
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The Property — Maxim Hotel
The Maxim Hotel is a no-frills 3-star in Pretoria’s Arcadia district, offering clean, compact rooms and a small pool for hot afternoons. Its lobby feels like a functional airport lounge – efficient, quiet, and indifferent. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want a safe, central base near government buildings and the Union Buildings, not atmosphere or charm.
Chronicles of Pretoria
Pretoria was founded in 1855 by Marthinus Pretorius, named after his father Andries, a Voortrekker leader. It became the capital of the South African Republic in 1860 and later the administrative capital of Union of South Africa in 1910. The city’s architecture is a mix of Victorian, Art Deco and brutalis t government blocks, with jacaranda-lined streets that erupt in purple bloom each October. Today, it remains the executive seat of government, known as 'Jacaranda City', and its identity is shaped by diplomatic missions, universities and a deep racial history still visible in spatial divides.
Best Time to Visit
Full Pretoria guide →Best months
April and August – autumn and late winter offer mild days (18–24°C), low humidity and few tourists. These are the most comfortable months for walking around the Union Buildings and Voortrekker Monument.
Peak / festival surge
July is peak winter tourism, but it's relative – Pretoria gets few international tourists. The month is cool and dry, hotel prices rise 10-15% due to school holidays and domestic leisure travel. No major festivals drive it; it's just a slow season for bookings.
Budget shoulder season
September and October are ideal shoulder months: warmer weather, fewer crowds, and hotel discounts of 15–25% before the summer rains begin. Jacaranda blossoms (late Sept-Oct) are a free bonus.
Weather & packing
Winter nights in Pretoria can drop below 5°C, so a fleece or light jacket is essential. Pack layers: a t-shirt for midday, a jumper for morning and evening, and closed-toe shoes for dust on the pavements.
Live City Briefing — Pretoria
- The Pretoria CBD pedestrianisation project on Church Street is partly complete, reducing car access – check if your route to the hotel is affected.
- The National Zoological Gardens is renovating several enclosures through June 2026; some sections may be closed.
- Gautrain services to Pretoria are running reduced schedules on weekends in July 2026 due to track maintenance – allow extra time if using the train from OR Tambo.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Maxim Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 2 to 3 at the rear of the building, away from the street. These upper floors should be quieter and offer a bit more privacy from the ground-level activity.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor or facing the front onto Pretoria's main roads—traffic noise from taxis and buses can be loud, especially weekday mornings and evenings.
Best views
Ask for a rear-facing room on floor 2 or 3. You'll see the hotel's own garden or neighbouring trees rather than the street—greenery and less noise.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 to 3 are the best bet for quiet, as they are above ground-level commotion but not directly under a roof (which can sometimes be noisy with HVAC).
🔊 Noise notes
Pretoria's inner-city streets get heavy minibus taxi traffic and street vendors from early morning. The hotel's entrance and any loading bay create occasional delivery noise.
Insider tips
1. If arriving by car, request a room away from the parking area doors—they clang late at night. 2. Check-in after 3pm to avoid queuing with the weekday business crowd; ask reception for a quiet rear-facing room at check-in if you didn't book one.
- 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 — Maxim Hotel
Free basic Wi-Fi (8 Mbps) for all guests, no login or time limit; paid upgrade to 25 Mbps available at reception for R50 per 24h.
One passenger elevator serving all 4 floors; no stairs-only sections.
Complimentary digital access to PressReader (100+ newspapers) via lobby tablet and QR code on room keycards; no physical papers.
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag drop allowed if room ready by 12:00; late check-out until 16:00 for R250, subject to availability.
Free secure storage at reception for same-day arrivals or after checkout.
No step-free main entrance (two steps); one accessible ground-floor room with widened doorframes and roll-in shower. No lift to pool area.
On-site secured parking: R80 per night, limited spaces (first-come, first-served). Nearest public car park: 500m away on Bosman Street, R50 for 12h. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no separate tourist levy in Pretoria)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required for advance bookings; R500 incidental hold on credit card at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Full Gospel Church of God (720 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: St Paul's (791 m · ~10 min walk)
- Mosque: Masjid Rahmaani Sunnyside (821 m · ~10 min walk)
- Church: NG Arcadia (855 m · ~11 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Suncardia Shopping Centre — 363 m · ~5 min walk
pretoria art museum park — 955 m · ~12 min walk
Pretoria Art Museum — 943 m · ~12 min walk
Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 721 m · ~9 min walk
Van Heerdens — 321 m · ~4 min walk
Pick n Pay Express — 567 m · ~7 min walk
Devenish Street — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →South African Rand, ZAR
Use ATMs at banks like Nedbank or FNB for the best rates; avoid bureaux at OR Tambo airport and tourist spots as they give poor rates and add fees.
Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are widely accepted in shops, restaurants, and hotels, with contactless common; mobile pay (Apple Pay, Google Pay) works at most terminals.
Restaurants: 10-15% for good service, not compulsory. Taxis: round up or give R10-20. Hotel porters: R10-20 per bag. No tipping at fast food or self-service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Filter coffee from a local café or bakery: approx R15-25 (not speciality).
A bunny chow (curry in hollow bread) or a toasted sandwich at a café: approx R50-70.
A main course at a casual sit-down restaurant (e.g. steak or pap): approx R100-150.
Kota (quarter-loaf sandwich with chips/meat) from a spaza shop or taxi rank; also boerewors rolls from street vendors.
Checkers, Shoprite, and Pick n Pay are budget-friendly chains common in Pretoria.
Cotton On, Mr Price, or PEP for affordable basics; flea markets and second-hand shops also good.
Minibus taxis (R15-20 per ride on popular routes) are the cheapest; the Gautrain bus from OR Tambo to Pretoria costs around R195. Day passes for city buses (A Re Yeng) are R25.
Eat at food courts in malls rather than restaurants. Use Uber for short hops if sharing with others. Buy groceries from Checkers or Shoprite for cheap self-catering.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Pretoria, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Maxim Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 721 m · ~9 min walk — pharmacy · Van Heerdens — 321 m · ~4 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
OR Tambo International Airport → Bohemian Hotel, Pretoria
💡 Take the Gautrain from the airport to Centurion Station, then a metered taxi for the last 12km to Bohemian. Avoid the direct airport taxi rip-offs.
Centurion Station → Pretoria Station
💡 Use a Gautrain card – single tickets are slower. From Pretoria Station, it's a 10-minute taxi to Bohemian. This option only works if you arrive before 20:30 and on a weekday.
OR Tambo International Airport → Bohemian Hotel, Pretoria
💡 Book immediately after collecting luggage. Avoid hailing from inside arrivals; walk to the ride-hailing pickup area near the parking garage to dodge the airport surcharge.
Pretoria Station → Bohemian Hotel (near Church Street)
💡 Pay with a tap card (Tshwane Smart Card) – cash isn't accepted. Get off at the 'Mears Street' stop and walk two blocks. The bus can be crowded at 07:30, so avoid rush hour with luggage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Maxim Hotel?
Request a room on floors 2 to 3 at the rear of the building, away from the street. These upper floors should be quieter and offer a bit more privacy from the ground-level activity.
Which rooms should I avoid at Maxim Hotel?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor or facing the front onto Pretoria's main roads—traffic noise from taxis and buses can be loud, especially weekday mornings and evenings.
Is Maxim Hotel noisy?
Pretoria's inner-city streets get heavy minibus taxi traffic and street vendors from early morning. The hotel's entrance and any loading bay create occasional delivery noise.
Which rooms have the best views at Maxim Hotel?
Ask for a rear-facing room on floor 2 or 3. You'll see the hotel's own garden or neighbouring trees rather than the street—greenery and less noise.
What are insider tips for staying at Maxim Hotel?
1. If arriving by car, request a room away from the parking area doors—they clang late at night. 2. Check-in after 3pm to avoid queuing with the weekday business crowd; ask reception for a quiet rear-facing room at check-in if you didn't book one.
What time is check-in at Maxim Hotel?
Check-in at Maxim Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Maxim Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi (8 Mbps) for all guests, no login or time limit; paid upgrade to 25 Mbps available at reception for R50 per 24h.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Maxim Hotel?
None (no separate tourist levy in Pretoria)
Where can I eat cheaply near Maxim Hotel?
A bunny chow (curry in hollow bread) or a toasted sandwich at a café: approx R50-70.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Maxim Hotel?
Minibus taxis (R15-20 per ride on popular routes) are the cheapest; the Gautrain bus from OR Tambo to Pretoria costs around R195. Day passes for city buses (A Re Yeng) are R25.
When is the best time to visit Pretoria?
April and August – autumn and late winter offer mild days (18–24°C), low humidity and few tourists. These are the most comfortable months for walking around the Union Buildings and Voortrekker Monument.
Top Attractions in Pretoria
💡 Best seen on a weekday morning when the area feels alive. Stick to the square; the surrounding streets can be dodgy after dark.
💡 Go early on a weekday to walk the gardens without crowds. Security checks are quick but avoid peak times around 9am.
💡 Tucked away, so few tourists. Bring water; no cafe. Best in October when jacarandas bloom purple.
💡 Entry is 45 rand for adults. Pack lunch and use the picnic areas near the dam. Avoid weekends if you want quiet.
💡 Entry is 80 rand for adults. The climb to the top gives great views. Visit on a weekday for fewer people and cheaper parking.