Hôtel Les 3 Cocotiers

The service was good for an economical hotel.

The good thing is the location: quiet and well situated. There's also a pleasant terrace looking out over the back, though the area itself is run-down. The rooms are shabby, even if the price is only 50,000 Ariary. The bathroom sink leaks underneath, the shower is clogged and leaks onto the floor, and the toilet was black, with a rat in the bowl. The hotel advertises Wi-Fi and air conditioning outside, but neither was available. The whole place needs a complete renovation. I wouldn't recommend staying here.

The name Hotel des 3 Cocotiers suggests a little tropical refuge, maybe simple wood and bright white, a place to unwind. In reality, surrounded by market stalls, bustle, and the city's frantic energy, the hotel felt far from that imagined paradise. The room looked spacious and uncluttered at first, and the fresh, clean bedding made it tempting to settle in. But it was unbearably hot. There was an air conditioner and a wind turbine, but the turbine didn't work and the air conditioner barely helped. The mosquito nets made the heat feel even more like a greenhouse. That seemed like wasted electricity in a country where the power grid isn't standardized. The French doors wouldn't shut all the way, leaving an opening for a clever trespasser. A lizard kept me company in the room; staff said it was harmless, but I didn't feel I should have to accept it. The air conditioner was removed, and after a young Malagasy man intervened, the little intruder was sent back out onto the vast roads of Morondava. The bathroom had the usual Western fixtures, including a toilet, sink, bathtub, water heater, and mirror, but the sink was badly cracked, the toilet seat seemed to be held on by magic, and the mirror was so tiny I could only see the tip of my nose. That put paid to any thought of a nice bath. Breakfast starts at 7:00 a.m. I needed to leave by 7:30, so I arrived at 7:00, but waited half an hour at a table that hadn't been cleaned or set before the dishes came. The food was average, neither terrible nor excellent, and the service felt very unpleasant. Starting the day feeling disregarded in this bastion of mass tourism was unsettling. There was also a motorcycle parked near the dining tables, staff sleeping on a makeshift mattress behind reception, and accusations of a supposed theft that I found slanderous. The welcome was another letdown. The staff tried to be warm, but their gestures seemed automatic, and the first contact felt impersonal. I'd just spent a week and a half with the Malagasy people and found them incredibly warm, humane, and welcoming, which made the contrast stand out. This might be somewhere to pass through, but I wouldn't stay here. Go a little farther down the same street to the Trecigogne, where no disappointments are expected.

The rooms are quite nice, but the welcome felt cold in this hot country. Reservations have been forgotten, and half the à la carte dishes may be unavailable even if you ordered ahead. Place your dinner order at noon, and with a bit of luck the dishes you chose might be ready by then.