Protea Hotel by Marriott Dar es Salaam Oyster Bay

I really enjoyed the service here. It was exceptional, and I wasn't disturbed.

The noise is a serious problem, both from other rooms with so little sound insulation and from the busy area outside. The website should at least be honest about it. Wi-Fi stopped working when the place was saturated, and a small bottle of soda water still costs ten times its cost price. This hotel has pretensions far beyond what it delivers, and it should not be under the Marriott brand in any form. The place looks, feels, and smells as if nothing has been invested in the basics for at least 25 years. Everything seems done on the cheap. The pool is dirty, the bedding is old, and cleaners push mops around without even picking up dead insects. Most dishes with more than a couple of ingredients seem padded with cheap fillers. I can't say whether the general manager, who tried to patch things up, has any say over budgets or investment. The staff and manager did make some clumsy attempts to compensate. They left a bottle of cheap red wine in my room and drove me to the airport after I finally lost patience. By then it was too little, too late.

For a short visit to Dar es salaam, this seems like an ideal place. It's quiet, near restaurants, and just a few blocks from a good hospital. Friends and co-workers visiting from Zanzibar and elsewhere have stayed here and all loved it. I'd recommend giving it a try next time you're in Dar.

The pool area was the only nice part. The towels are old and hard, and they used to be white. Lizards get into the rooms, and the reception staff are rude when you ask for help. The bedding is worn out, and the rooms smell odd and feel dated. The rest of the hotel needs refurbishing.