There are times when my hotel wish list is long. Then there are times when I’m catching an early flight and my priorities are simple: connected to the terminal, comfortable, quiet, and affordable.

City Lodge Hotel at OR Tambo International Airport checked all of those priority boxes during my overnight stay in Johannesburg.

The biggest selling point is location. The hotel is at the airport, with a short covered walk connecting it to the terminal area, so there’s no need to arrange a shuttle or deal with Johannesburg traffic before an early flight. It’s also adjacent to the Gautrain Airport Station. 

If you want the convenience of an airport hotel without the higher price tag of the InterContinental, City Lodge is an excellent option.

My Stay in Room 2209

I stayed in Room 2209 and was pleasantly surprised by how quiet it was considering I was sleeping at Africa’s busiest airport.

The room isn’t flashy, but it doesn’t need to be. Mine was comfortable, clean, and spacious. Neutral colors, dark wood furniture and crisp white bedding give it a classic hotel feel.

There’s a proper desk and office chair if you need to get some work done, plus an additional chair and small table by the window. I also had a safe and tea and coffee setup in the room. The hotel lists air conditioning, Wi-Fi, workspace, a safe and tea and coffee stations among its standard room amenities. 

The bathroom is equally straightforward with plenty of counter space and a large walk-in shower.

After the long haul flight from the United States, I didn’t need bells and whistles. I needed a good shower, comfortable bed and a quiet night of sleep. Room 2209 delivered.

Airport Hotel With a Surprisingly Nice Lobby

The lobby has more personality than I expected from an airport hotel. Soaring windows bring in natural light, while greenery, warm wood and huge woven pendant lights make the space feel more inviting than purely functional.

There’s also an on-site restaurant and bar, outdoor swimming pool and fitness room. The lobby even has flight information boards, which is a particularly nice touch when you’re staying here specifically because you have a flight to catch. 

I found the staff exceptionally friendly throughout my stay, too.

Breakfast Before Flight

I booked the bed-and-breakfast option, so breakfast was included with my stay. There’s a buffet with both hot and cold options, making it easy to grab something quickly or sit down for a proper breakfast.

Breakfast starts extremely early with service beginning at 4 a.m. daily. Anyone who has stared sadly at a closed hotel breakfast room before a dawn flight knows what a perk that is.

My flight to Maun, Botswana wasn’t until noon, so I was able to enjoy a leisurely breakfast of a made-to-order omelet, along with an almond milk latte, before heading to the terminal.

Why It’s a Great Layover Option

For an overnight layover, late arrival, or early international flight, the location is hard to beat.

Being able to walk from my room to the airport terminal instead of waiting for a shuttle makes travel day substantially easier. Add a quiet room, comfortable bed, friendly staff, early breakfast and a more affordable price point than the neighboring InterContinental, and City Lodge Hotel hits the sweet spot between convenience and cost.