I adored Dakar and would go back in a second. As for the hotel, I agree with the other reviewers. If this were Europe, this Novotel would be rated three stars and cost about 60 or 70 euros. But because it's Dakar, the rack rate is an astonishing $243. The rooms are nothing special--even a bit grubby--but there is hot water and the location is very central. Sitting in the airport shuttle, we waited for about 30 minutes at the airport before leaving and then on the way back, I registered for the shuttle bus leaving the hotel at midnight only to find at the last minute that they had overbooked and there was no room. Instead, my colleagues and were overcharged by the taxi driver who took us to the airport. The previous day, I had asked the hotel to find me a guide. He also was very expensive and I was left to negotiate with him on my own. In short, the hotel does not provide much service. Next time I will try and stay at the Sofitel. Other useful info: the food at the hotel was great. There is wi-fi in the lobby but the computers in the business center are slow and scheduled to be replaced. The blankets are thin and it can be cold at night so bring pyjamas. The bathroom is stocked with a little bit of shower gel and some scratchy soap so it's probably a good idea to bring your own toiletries. The mini bar was empty but there is a supermarket nearby. We had a very nice seafood dinner just a couple of minutes walk away at the Lagon I. This is an expat hangout with great seafood. Dinner for two including French wine is about $100. You take the exit by the pool and go right, follow the hill down and you will get there in three minutes. Book in advance for an outside table. Most important: Dakar airport is the least organized place I have ever been. When leaving, allow 3.5 hours to check in, have your passport looked at and go through security. I am not kidding. The night we left there was only one metal detector working and over 1000 tourists all leaving on 3am flights.

This is a perfectly average hotel (I would give it 2-3 stars for the US market and 3 for Europeans) with perfectly average amenities. The staff are extremely pleasant and helpful, it is nice as another reviewer mentioned to be met at the airport although sitting in a hot minibus for 45 minutes waiting for other potential passengers (no list) to join was tiresome after an 8 hour flight - next time I would grab a cab upon exiting. The rooms are very basic. No alarm clock, no fancy smellies, but a hairdryer and a tv. Thin mattresses and why oh why did they give you a window overlooking the ocean only to put it at an awkward angle so you can't see the ocean at all unless you move to one side of the room and stand at an angle. Very strange. The best meal is definitely br eakfast if you like the continental approach - if you like the omelette station US approach you will be sorely disappointed and will wonder why you have to make your own instant coffee with all the components (nescafe, hot water etc) far from your table rather than have it served. But no big shakes. The dinner is definitely slated to the euro and not the dollar so a pretty mediocre meal costing US$42 for one is a bit of a shock. I did, however, do some fine shopping just a hop skip and a step away by a local market. Found some great gifts pre-christmas and managed to bargain my way to some bargains, including a couple of handbags made of crocodile. Overall, would I stay here on a romantic getaway? No. Would I stay here if I were not attending a conference? Probably not. It lacks soul ...

Don't expect too much. The hotel is labelled four stars but can barely satisfy. The best place in it is perhaps the bar area - if only service was a little more attentive. The rooms are smelly and have always been so. Note that I have stayed in this hotel four times in the last five years. Nothing has changed. The receptionists are as surely and/or grumpy as ever. The food in the buffet is as tired as before. Summing it all up, the place needs an overhaul...a quite radical one actually.

Bonne qualité d'ensemble. Situation front de mer impeccable, personnel agréable, propreté générale, piscine bien mais ce n'est pas un hôtel de séjour.