Hotel El Farouk Bamako

The rooms are very spacious and the price is acceptable. The hotel is generally nice, with a good view of the Nile River. Breakfast, though, offers very little to eat. Maybe that’s the same across Africa.

The first room was filthy, so I asked for a change. They said they’d open every room for me to inspect and choose, and honestly I felt like crying. The hotel is nowhere near worth its stars and needs a complete revamp, including clean bed sheets. It shouldn’t even be open to the public. I’m definitely not going back.

The staff were genuinely friendly and willing to help, from the people opening doors and the front desk to the bar and cleaning crew. The location right on the Niger gives good views from the rooms. But the facility feels neglected, with no apparent furniture upgrades, painting or major cleaning for years. The carpets are long overdue for replacement, breakfast was horrible, and I didn’t feel the place was clean enough to eat in. It’s overpriced, though I did get a good price from the ney. There’s a lot of potential being wasted and a real lack of management. The stars are for the staff and location. It might work for a few business days, but it’s not somewhere I’d choose to enjoy a stay. The online pictures probably date from its opening weeks.

The atmosphere wasn’t too bad, but the staff had crocodile smiles. I ordered roasted chicken and got cooked chicken instead. Then I ordered takeaway of the same food for my roommates, but they sealed the container with something different inside. I paid 6000f for half a little dove and fried bananas. It was embarrassing after I’d told them about the food and brought it back for them.