Feature destination
F
airlawns is one of Johannesburg’s best-kept secrets,
where guests are treated like royalty, and their privacy
is of utmost importance. With its air of relaxed
exclusivity, the hotel is a five-star home away from home
set in an environment of peaceful isolation. However,
despite the city seeming far away, the major business
and shopping centres of Sandton lie close by, and can be
reached by car in a matter of minutes.
The initial vision of owners John and Anna Thacker was
to create a unique luxury hotel where guests would feel
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embraced by the elegant grounds, service and ambience
without losing the flexibility that they consider the raison
d'être of Fairlawns. “Thinking like guests rather than like
hoteliers” is the Thacker motto.
Villa d’Este on Lake Como in Northern Italy and Easton
Manor in Surrey, England were the inspiration behind
the hotel’s predominantly Palladian architectural style. A
timeless classic sporting modern facilities, Fairlawns has
been awarded numerous accolades, including Best Luxury
Wellness Spa in South Africa in 2014; one of the Top