索科莫酒店 - 達卡

Fabulous, uniquely designed hotel, the product of one woman's 6 years of hard work sculpting the place by hand. The walls, furniture, rooms are all designed in an architectural style that's hard to define - Neo-tropical? Beaux-Arts Moroccan? I don't know, but it's all fabulous. The manager Isabelle is a wonderful host, the Cap-Verdean barmen Jean-Marc (I think that was his name) makes his own Bissap and Bouye, the views from the terrace and pool area are stunning. Unless you want some faceless corporate hotel, this is the best place to stay in Dakar.

Hotel Sokhamon was hands-down the worst value for the money I've spent on a hotel. It had many great aspects, though! STAY FOR: The hotel is walking distance to Dakar center and has beautiful, unobstructed views of the Atlantic Ocean to Dakar's west. It's bar/restaurant was always lively before sunset. The design and architecture were the most unique I've seen in a hotel. The staff was very friendly. DON'T STAY FOR: It was nearly impossible to get an internet/WiFi connection inside or outside, and was slow when successful. The hotel is dusty, unkept, and empty; there were two other guests during our stay. After being harassed by mosquitoes for two nights, we asked for a mosquito net for the third night, which a friend had in his room - didn't happen. There's no concierge - the hotels.com page is inaccurate - and you'll have to find your own good time (without WiFi) and ask to use the hotel's phone. The hotels.com profile says that the airport shuttle is 10.000 CFA per person; we three paid 35.000 CFA. We booked a return with a taxi for 21.000 CFA. The hotel restaurant ran out of breakfast the first morning we stayed - we asked why our earlier arriving friend received a larger breakfast, were reluctantly served more items after our query, and noted that a later arriving couple left angrily because no breakfast remained for them. OVERALL: At nearly $200/night for a sea view room, we unreservedly recommend looking elsewhere for your accommodations in Dakar.