Once in Joburg, Johannesburg

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Once in Joburg Reviews

Official Hostelz Review Official Review
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The Hostelz.com Review - Genuine, independent review you can trust.

Once In Joburg is part of a hostel chain that includes a hostel in Cape Town and soon to include Nairobi. As you would expect, it is very professionally run.

The Location

Only In Joburg is bang in the center of Johannesburg's Braamfontein district, and just a ten-minute walk from Park Gautrain Station, local and national rail lines, and long-distance coach and taxi stations. It's a safe area to walk during the day, but with caution at night.

Rooms and Bathrooms

The rooms at Once In Joburg are all carpeted and clean as a whistle. The mattresses are comfortable and the linen crisp. The dorm bunk beds are solid and sturdy, with a bedside light and power points for each bed. The rooms are quite spacious and there are lockers (bring your own padlock) that are big enough for an average-sized backpack. The four-bed dorm we stayed in is en suite, but the frosted glass between the shower and the room doesn't really preserve your modesty. The bathroom is really clean and the hot water is available twenty-four hours.

Common Spaces

There are lots of common areas here, starting from the ground floor reception, where there are bookshelves and cushioned seats by the window for people watching. Also by the reception is The Immigrant bar and cafe, which is part of the hostel. It's also open to outsiders, has an outdoor patio, and is the spot where the free breakfast is served from 7 a.m. Upstairs on the first floor is the lounge; a rather worn pool table sits at one end and there are several soft couches and a small dining table. The guests' kitchen is also here, but it is tiny and not very well equipped. There's a microwave, kettle cooker, and a cabinet fridge. Free tea and coffee are available all day here. The lounge also has an outside balcony, mostly used by smokers. There are unisex toilets by the lounge, too; they're all gleaming white. The free Wi-Fi is available pretty much throughout the hostel and it's decent, too.

Summary

This is in a great location, being so convenient for the Park Station terminal. The area is busy with shops and a technical college nearby. It's a well-run hostel with nice little touches like quotations and poems on the hallway walls and paintings on the walls of the rooms.. There's also a tour and information desk by reception. When we stayed here, it was fairly empty. It's a big place with plenty of rooms, so it needs a good few people in it to create an atmosphere. It's a very good choice, though, as it is about as clean a place as we've seen in South Africa and the staff are very professional and friendly.

Photos taken by the Hostelz.com reviewer — Genuine photos you can trust.

LondonroadMa

Hostelz.com Staff Reviewer

Published on Jun 27, 2018

Location and Contact

Location

• By Train
• Taking the Gautrain - (05.19AM - 20.46PM)
• First Train from OR Tambo Airport to Park Station - 05.19 (Weekdays); 05.06 (Weekends and Public Hoidays)
• Last Train from OR Tambo Airport to Park Station - 20.46 (Everyday)
• * From OR Tambo international airport, take the Gautrain to Park Station
• - Coming through International Arrivals follow the signs for Gautrain
• - Buy your Gautrain Gold Card from the ticket office or vending machine at the station (Once of fee of R15 for card - current 5/10/16)
• - Load the Gold Card with the relevant fare for your route (Single Trip Airport to Park Station R162 - current 5/10/16)
• - From Gautrain Airport Station take the train to Sandton Station
• - Change at Sandton Station
• - From Sandton Station take the train to Park Station
• * On arrival at Park Station, exit onto Wolmarans Street.
• - Arriving with the train at Park Station, use the Rissik Street exit.
• Head north on Rissik St toward Wolmarans St (230 m)
• Turn left onto Wolmarans St (350 m)
• Turn right onto Biccard St. (250 m)
• Turn left onto De Korte St with KFC on your left hand side. Keep walking for another 50m and you'll see Once in Joburg on your left.
• By Car/ Taxi
• * Hostel Address 90 De Korte Street for Bus or Taxi Access
• * Car Entrance at 20 Melle Street

Facilities and Amenities

Digital Nomads

Party Hostel

Solo Traveller

Bedsheets

Parking

Towels

Wi-Fi in Lobby/Commons

Airport Pickup

Bike Rental

Lockers in Lobby

Luggage Storage

24 Hour Security

Air Conditioning

BBQ Grill

Bar

Credit Card Payments

Food/Restaurant

Gameroom

Hair Dryers

Hot Showers

Lounge Area

Meeting/Banquet facilities

Pool Table

Wheelchair Accessible

Curfew: No Curfew

Reception Hours: 24 Hours

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