Atlantide, Hotel Gao
Like I elected Mission Catholique in Bamako for the best place I stayed, I now vote Hotel Atlantide in Gao the worst hotel I stayed in Mali.
Well, I really wanted to stay in the town center, and, for location, for sure this hotel is the best, but, for quality and price relation is not good.
The hotel is in really bad shape even though it seems it had its glory days once, but is now mainly used for local people hookers night escape specially the rooms on the right side of the entrance.
If you want a room, dispute you want one on the left side of the hotel, these ones have air conditioner, the lights are working, a fan, and somehow a bit more taken care. I mean, at least toilet lights work.
Primarily I was taken to one of the left rooms with no light, no window, toilet didn’t work and sheets were full of stains, and all of this for 10,000 CFA (15.2 Euros/18.9 Euros) when I had payed half the money for 10x better quality in other places in Mali.
I decided to go away and search another hotel when another guy came up telling me they had other rooms and that he didn’t even know why I was taken to these rooms on the first place. I negotiated and got a discount so I end up paying 5000 CFA (7.6 Euros) for the nice rooms.
Yes, the nice rooms were actually better, I could have a shower and things quite worked OK, but still the hotel is in really awful and miserable conditions.
My sleeping bag was really handy here as I was quite suspicious about the hygiene of the bed sheets. Also, the air conditioner filters were really dirty so I chosen to have the fan switched on although it was extremely hot inside (also outside of course as I went during summer).
Again, this should be the best place if you really want to stay in the center near the river and the central market, but, it’s overpriced and filthy. Also, watch your stuff and make sure your room door is locked even throughout the night.
Entrance of Hotel Atlantide in Gao
Entrance of Hotel Atlantide in Gao, Mali
Room of Hotel Atlantide in Gao
Room of Hotel Atlantide in Gao, Mali
Market street in front of Hotel Atlantide in Gao
Market street in front of Hotel Atlantide in Gao, Mali
