Carlton Madagascar

From the outside this hotel might not look overly impressive, but never judge a book by the cover and I’ll be staying again on any future visit to the city. The whole property has a traditional luxury vibe, which might feel dated to some, but it’s somewhat in keeping with the location. Checking in was a lovely experience and all the staff are friendly, offering and help and advice for the city. My room was very spacious with great views over the north of the city. A huge very comfortable bed with charging sockets and armchairs added to the comfort and bottled water was provided. While there was a good selection of drinks and snacks in the mini bar, there was no bottle opener for the drinks, nor indeed an iron which was disappointing for such a high end hotel. The bathroom, while feeling a bit dated, was very clean and had lots of storage space along with all the amenities you would expect. The shower over the bath was decent and with the good quality towels hard to find cause to complain. Housekeeping did a great job and were really friendly whenever you encountered them, which reinforced the really welcoming sense the hotel gives. There’s a nice outdoor pool area complete with a bar, but with the poor weather it all remained closed with no one using it during my stay, but it does look a great space. Breakfast is served in a bit of a basic space, and rather than a buffet you tick your selection on a small paper menu and it’s cooked to order. While a nice concept, access to some self-serve drinks or pastries would have been great. Again though, the staff are lovely. The bar in the lobby is a great space to relax in an evening. There’s a decent food menu and range of drinks, although nothing on draft when I was there. Prices were reasonable and whether you’re on your own or in a group there’s good seating options, along with a small terrace outside. If ever I’m in the city again I’ll certainly stay here again, and if traditional luxury is what you like then it’s great.

Comfortable, safe business hotel in Antananarivo Very good, no-frills hotel with excellent service