To Call the Novotel Dakar the Pits Is an Insult to Pits!
By A Yahoo! Contributor, 10/9/06
The Novotel in Dakar is the absolute pits. The bad service is topped only by the sub-par and deteriorating facilities. Located in a potentially nice setting in Dakar's Plateau section with a view from one one side of the sea (I had a view of the parking lot), not much has apparently gone right for the Novotel for the past 20 or so years. During my stay, the elevators were all broken, the food terrible and service in all aspects poor. The lobby sofas were always full of African men...just sitting.....The carpets are stained, the AC works barely if at all--and baby, it is hot outside..and inside. As you stroll outside to take in the night air, you are verbally assaulted by gangs of young men waiting at the gate. Do yourself a favor and remember that the Novotel is very bad news. If you yourself personnally deteriorate unabated at the rate of the Dakar Novotel, you need to see a doctor--fast. The Dakar Novotel as a metaphor for this part of Africa is depressing. No matter what, we can all do better than this.