Hotel Asmara Palace

This hotel positions itself at the top end of a limited range of options in Asmara, with prices to match. As such, I expected a better standard than I got. The location 4km out of town is inconvenient (although good for the airport), the staff weren't especially friendly, after 20 years the rooms were worn and need an upgrade and the prices of the meals in the restuarant expensive. I'll try somewhere else next time.

Superb service and excellent buffet

First the good news: the rooms are spacious and you’ll sleep well because the bedding, pillows and mattresses are all good quality. There’s front desk staff speaks English and Italian and tries hard to be accommodating. They can change money and book the airport shuttle for you. Their “fixer” at the airport is AMAZING and he will retrieve your luggage while you deal with the hour-long process of getting your visa placed inside your passport and paying them. You get free bottled water daily, along with 1 beer and 1 Coke in your minibar on the house. Now the bad news: The WiFi is temperamental. Electricity cuts out for no reason. Breakfast buffet is uninspiring but the omelet station saves the day. Oddly, despite Italian colonialism , the coffee and the pastries are substandard. The fruit is fresh and sweet. I never ate dinner there but the restaurant had a constant flow of visitors.

This hotel is very close to the airport. I am a regular customer in this hotel I arrived at the hotel without my luggage due to an airline mess up. I had nothing on me except the clothes I was wearing. The staff at this hotel were very supportive and went out of their way to help me in my distress. I was blown away by their kindness, generosity and sensitivity. I personally feel they went above their call of duty and I felt blessed by their numerous acts of kindness. It is managements like these that would make me stay with them again the next time I am in Asmara. In one of coffee bars I had the tastiest sandwiches I have ever had and I have travelled! I ordered the same sandwich more than once. Their coffee and cappuccino were something to write wowwwww…. It was a good coffee bean whatever they used. A high-quality hotel, I'd guess the best in the country. Rooms are spacious, well-appointed & comfortable. This is a hotel which definitely could you some upgrading in the rooms, 24hrs hot water, electricity (generator). The lobby is very lively all the time. There are In & outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts & a fitness suite. The two restaurants are very good. Breakfast buffet is satisfactorily good. The Italian restaurant is romantic better of the two. A little pricey but within range for an international hotel is Ok. Connectivity to WI-FI is free. All staff are attentive & professional. I suggest to visit Eritrea and stay in this Hotel you will enjoy.

Anyone who is writing a positive review about this property must be an employee. This was one of the most uncomfortable stays I have had in 40 years. The rooms have not been updated since the government has taken control. As there is no electricity in the country, the hotel is run on a generator that is continually going off. The hotel offers NO air conditioning and has not had any for about a year- do not stay here in the hot months. There was a huge crack running down the wall, water damage, brown water, stained carpets, overall much disrepair. The hotel also does not provide hot water. The restaurant is disgusting! I could only eat a few bites of food as the taste and prep were of very poor quality. They must also leave open the windows/doors- due to no air-con-and so you get enjoy the swarms of flies with your meal. It is disgraceful that they market this property as a 5-star, as I would give it a 1. It is also not cheap, which makes the situation even worse. Terrible!