Hotel Brajas

At 120,000AR, we think this is good value. Room quality varies: one we tried felt like a claustrophobic micro apartment and had a sink that wouldn't drain, but they let us switch rooms without any problem. We preferred the second and third floors. The quiet rooms at the back get sunrise, while the rooms at the front look over the city. There are some upscale touches, including beautiful wood floors, bath robes, individual bedside lights with warm rather than fluorescent light, and comfortable mattresses with springs. Breakfast is included, with eggs, bread, coffee, juice, and croissants. The staff were helpful and friendly, from the top managers to the housekeepers. Nearby Chillout Cafe and BFF restaurant are both great places to eat, each in its own way. We'd come back.

The breakfast buffet was a real highlight, with plenty to choose from, though the cereal was stale. The hotel also kept my electric toothbrush safe for ten days until I could collect it, which was good service. The rooms are nicely equipped, but the Wi-Fi was unreliable even though it reached the rooms. We had no water all evening; a truck selling water outside made it look like a neighborhood outage, and the hotel gave buckets to guests who asked. A strange fit for a neighborhood whose name means “good water.” It costs a little more than the competition, but I’d stay again if they improve the internet.

We’ve returned to Brajas hotel several times while visiting Madagascar. It’s clean and comfortable, breakfast is generous and nourishing, and the service has been wonderful. I’d definitely stay here again if I came back to Madagascar.

The lobby terrace is surprisingly great, and the location is easy to get around on foot. Still, the room had ants, food and what looked like poop stuck to the comforter, plus a broken lockbox and heater. The toilet is in the same room as the bed, which felt really awkward with someone else there, and the water can cut out for hours. The biggest issue was being charged for a room upgrade. I had strong reasons for wanting to switch back to the room I originally booked, but they refused. That alone makes it hard to overlook the other problems. If you’re after somewhere fairly cheap and can put up with ants and broken things, it may not be awful, but be careful with the owner or manager, who seemed like a real sheister.