Hotel Cardoso, Maputo

I was in a executive suite, which you think would mean some sort of quality but I have an air con that not only makes a grinding noise every hour or so (even if off) that is so loud you are woken, but is also spewing water all over the room. I have no curtains as the curtain rail is literally on the floor and has been like this since yesterday - yes they made me sleep in it like this!!! The staff are incredibly rude and unhelpful (other than 2 exceptions), the lock on my door doesn't work properly and the house keeping staff don't see the need to knock when entering. PLUS there are renovations occurring that, despite international hotel best practice, was not communicated to me when I booked and these started with hammering and drilling at 07:30 yesterday morning. Breakfast was appalling - the pastries were old, sausages dry as if they had been there for weeks, no toast (!) and generally felt like it was yesterdays left overs. If that weren't all enough EVENTUALLY I was given a new room and after speaking to the hotel manager was clear that the night of my stay without even curtains did not have to be paid for. However when I checked out unsurprisingly the rude staff had not actually deducted this. They owed me approximately US$120 as such, when my US$100 room service etc. costs had been deducted yet wanted me to pay in the US$100 and pay for a room without curtains, broken air-conditioning a lock that didn't work and with someone else's hair in the shower the whole time I was there (despite daily services). I asked to speak to a manager and was told none were available and I must just pay. I again explained the situation, including that I needed to leave within 20 minutes to get to the airport on time. They ignored me and left me standing waiting. After 15 minutes I tried to leave (bearing in mind I was losing money by leaving not the hotel) and they grabbed my bag and threatened to phone the police. Only then a manager appeared and wrote off my remaining US$100 bill but didn't refund the rest of the money as promised. Very unpleasant experience at an over priced hotel.

Beautiful views, clean, comfortable rooms, friendly staff and very good food. Has a small, but adequate work out room, a beautiful pool/patio area and the lobby area is spacious and light. They were still working on some of the updates while I was there, but it didn't detract from our stay. Wireless was spotty, but that was the only negative. Wonderful value for the price.

great view from the garden onto Maputo city; very nice and clean accomodation with good comfort; is was absolutly worth the money spent;

Hotel was ok but rather dated and needs refurbishing and the food very disappointing. That said it has a great view from the pool area and staff friendly.