Cresta Riley's

We started our Botswana safari from Maun and stayed here. The rooms were comfortable and clean, and the staff were friendly. Breakfast was sufficient, with shops and restaurants within walking distance. It’s fairly close to the airport and has a free shuttle, though we didn’t use it. Our room still wasn’t ready at 2 pm, and we ended up waiting 20 minutes. The rooms aren’t luxurious, which is about what you’d expect.

I also stayed recently at Sedia Hotel and StayMorr Guesthouse in Maun, and both were far better. Sedia had lovely grounds and rooms for a tourist hotel, while StayMorr felt like a very nice, homey B&B. This place is on a highway, and room 41 was dirty and badly in need of an update. The grounds need repairs, and the pool pump was so loud that sitting nearby wasn’t enjoyable. At first it looks more modern, but beyond eRegistration and checkout emails, it feels like a run-down American-style roadside motel. The chairs were so worn and dirty I wouldn’t sit on them. The front door looked as though it had been broken into several times. The bathroom tile was grimy and cracked, and the toilet had dirty rings. A horrible place inside and out. I don’t understand the positive reviews.

The restaurant staff really stood out, they always went the extra mile, and the food was great. There’s a lovely garden and pool, and the gym had everything I needed. It’s a lovely hotel in the heart of Maun.

The breakfast buffet was excellent, and the restaurant food was very good. The room had a nice big bed, working air conditioning, a fridge, coffee and tea facilities, and a well-equipped bathroom. But the window had been left open, so the room was really dusty.