The past weekend was filled with unusual, but exciting adventures. It started with my birthday, which gently glided into Women’s Day. We celebrated two days in one with a laidback Boho-themed bubbly brunch, complete with Mimosas and a semi-harvest table. (I tried, but I will never be able to achieve the harvest table standards of Picnic in a Box). And, just as things started to wind down, we whisked the kids away for a one-night staycation at voco The Bank in Joburg’s buzzing Rosebank neighbourhood.
It was a wonderful family affair – the best way to continue celebrating one’s birthday. There were special felt gifts on bright white hotel beds. We hurkle durkled, hot chocolate in hand. And, we took the time to explore the hotel and its surrounds, with a campaign dubbed the voco Vault serving as proper motivation.
Voco The Bank is ideally and centrally located. Its unique façade draws locals and tourists for a quick pic against its charcoal walls or a special treat, ordered through one of Proud Mary’s Proud Coffee streetside windows. To the one side, Rosebank Mall beckons, flanked by visitor-focused craft shops, fashion stores and galleries. On the opposite side, The Zone @ Rosebank’s restaurant alley lures young and old with a fusion of tasteful décor and trendy delights. There’s a constant buzz around voco The Bank, with runners and cyclists coming past, guests entering the hotel through a gold framed entrance and streetside artists entertaining passersby with their often-impeccable skills. Then, as you enter the hotel, a contrasting calm sets in, inviting you to be in the moment, observe the pretty pastel hues and appreciate the hotel’s elegant elements that exude luxury. That is what we love about voco and its three bird mascots. It’s an inclusive space which party animals, workaholics and those looking for me-time can all call a home away from home. There’s room for everyone (excuse the pun).
The reason for our last visit at voco The Bank was simple: We were adamant to find at least one of the keys that the popular hotel’s mascots – the Finch, Owl and Flamingo – have lost in flight. Our family scavenger hunt was ultimately inspired by the aforementioned voco Vault campaign, which is running until the end of August. Visitors can join in on the fun and find their own set of voco Vault keys. We booked ourselves in (which is the first step to joining the hunt) and started looking for clues. Of course, as we searched high and low, we also got to explore other areas of the hotel and the surrounds. The gym was certainly a highlight, with the kids trying out most of the quality equipment and looking incredibly cute while making me feel guilty for not packing my running shoes.
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While we’re not necessarily competition chasers, the grand prize – which includes an Urban Rosebank Safari for ten people, worth R100 000 – motivated us to continue searching for the keys. Who wouldn’t want to return for a stay at voco The Bank, with specific Rosebank dining hotspots like Proud Mary and MAMASAMBA included in the mix? P.S. If the breakfasts at Proud Mary are anything to go by, you can expect great things for dinner. Here is what I had to say about Proud Mary way back when the restaurant had just opened its doors. Judging by the atmosphere and the experience at breakfast, I don’t believe much has changed.
Finally, we got one of the lost keys, which resulted in a lovely box of treats as we returned from a wonderful Italian dinner at Fugazzi, just around the corner of the hotel. Filled to the brim with voco coffee cups, hot chocolate sachets and some of the hotel’s lovely amenities (which now proudly stand in our guest shower at home), we could continue to indulge in some of voco The Bank’s luxuries long after checking out.
When you get to share in a destination’s passions and understand its story, the stay is so much more memorable. I am pretty sure our kids will remember their hot chocolates in bed for years to come. Plus, they even have their felt finch and flamingo which they got to bring back home as souvenirs.
The voco Vault campaign runs until the end of August 2024. Make sure you book your stay in time to slip your name into the draw for the grand prize. Then, check in and enjoy exploring the hotel as you hunt for the hidden keys online, in their blog, in their newsletter, around the hotel and at nearby spots.
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