Bucket Travel: Hotel Sky

Kinda ironic to be talking travel during a time where we cannot travel but here I am, talking about a new hotel group that's about to open it's doors in two of SA's biggest cities. Yes, timing off this isn't the greatest but it could also be to its advantage seeing that many will be itching to get out an about as soon as we can do so and with this new group offering something new an exciting to prospective guests, it just adds that extra intrigue to the would be traveler. Hotel Sky is set to open two new hotel's in South Africa towards the end of the year, one nestled in the heart of SA's financial capital Sandton and the other in Cape Town, opposite the CTICC. 

What makes Hotel Sky different from the rest? Well to start off, their goal is to offer an incredible hotel/ entertainment experience but at an affordable price, with rooms from just R695 per night upon opening! Yes, that is right from just R695, with Hotel Sky Sandton set to open in October this year, you can choose from a Standard Room, Junior Executive Room or an Executive Room with some of the room features being free high-speed uncapped WiFi, Air-conditioning, 43' Live Stream Smart TV, Work Station, Laptop Safe, Hair dryer, Automatic Blackout Blinds as well as a tea and coffee station. 

With COVID set to be here for the foreseeable future, there's still a need to try and get back to some normality in our lives, Hotel Sky have upped the game in booking and checking in by offering app-based booking and check-in, with room access via your phone. With the self service check-in kiosk all this can be done be done digitally via your smart phone! Whats even better, with your mobile key room access you can control the smart TV. Got a lot of luggage? No problem as Hotel Sky have AI powered robots to assist you with it and cart it to your room! 

Apart from accommodation, Hotel Sky offers conference and meeting rooms, with the Sandton Hotel having a 190 seat Auditorium and the Cape Town  Hotel having a luxurious Sky Bar on the 29th floor. Both hotels have world class restaurants, bars, fully equipped gyms, heated swimming pool, indulgent spa's, same-day onsite laundry, as well as back-up generators so you're safe from Eskom should the power go out. 

Hotel Sky Sandton, which is located at 150 West Street boasts 453 rooms, several conference venues and a selection of world-class restaurants and bars and is set to open its doors in October 2020. Hotel Sky Cape Town, located in the City Bowl offering views of the foreshore and Waterfront will offer 540 beautifully designed rooms and suits. Hotel Sky Cape Town will be the ideal destination for both local and international business and leisure travelers, as well as day guests seeking a delicious meal or sun-downer with a view on the bar located on the 29th floor. 

Hotel Sky will have an added sense of safety in place with all the latest regulations regarding the Covid-19 virus, with them taking every precaution to safeguard the health and safety of the guests with stringent hygiene policies. 

For more information or to book your stay, visit www.hotelsky.co.za for more.

Tsogo Sun: High Tea at Jeera, Suncoast Hotel &Towers

Afternoon tea is a must for many and those wanting to spoil themselves often opt for a High Tea which is offered in many establishments but whilst most are great in offering the traditionalist what they expect, the team down at Jeera, located on the pool level of the Suncoast Hotel & Towers decided to give their High Tea a Durban twist. Durban is known to have the highest population of Indians outside India and we all know the significant cultural impact they have had on this city with keeping things spicy and that's exactly what Jeera has done with their high tea.

Last week Tuesday I was invited to par-take in their offering, not knowing what to expect, I was left mouth gaping open at the spread that lied before me. It's not your typical high tea and but at the same time they keep to the aesthetics of what it is meant to be, so you not going to be served a bunny chow and a cup of tea, although some might fancy that? Sandren Govender, executive chef at Suncoast Towers, who has experience in cooking throughout the world has meticulously created a menu to delight everyone's taste buds, with savoury and sweet delicacies to send you into a journey of food ecstasy.

A seating for two will get you a wonderful selection of sweet delights such as burfee shortbread, poli truffles - a modern twist on a traditional Indian favourite, blending chocolate, coconut and cardamom as well as cinnamon eclairs. On the savoury side, the offering expands to an equally wide selection including smoked salmon bagels with paneer cheese; chicken tikka, sheekh kebabs and my personal favourite, Sandrens butter chicken cigars, which is bread, flattend and filled with rich butter chicken curry, then rolled into a cigar shape, crumbed and fried till crispy on the outside.

"This tailor-made approach allowed for authentic creativity to come through quite strongly in the kitchen. We know at the end of the collaboration with our team, we have something unique to offer our guests" says executive chef Sandren Govender. He added that the concept was carefully planned and created incorporating the sense and relaxation associated with the afternoon tea experience.

You probably read this far and must be wondering, high tea but I have not mentioned anything about the tea? Well yes, there is the tea but the food offering is simply that great but the selection of teas will not only awaken your senses but the aromatic flavours and smells will entice you to want to smaple them all. Jeera offers a host of teas with various spices and scents from around the world, each guest has their on glass tea pot with warmer so you can see the flavours fuse with the boiling water. It really was a fascinating experience for me as it was the first time I had the opportunity to indulge a high tea and I'm glad this was the place I did it at.

Speaking to Palvi Oddone Aquino, who is the guest relations manager at Suncoast Hotel and Towers, she had this to say, "Much time was invested in crafting this concept where our primary goal was to take our guests through a journey of spice and distinctive flavour through confectionery - where tea becomes a conversation piece."

Jeera serves their high tea throughout the week (Monday to Friday depending on availability) between 14h00-16h30 and will be available for groups of four or more. Cost per person is R150 and each will get one or two of every serving on the platter, whatever is not eaten can be opted to be taken away for you to indulge at home.