Protea Hotel by Marriott Lagos Kuramo Waters

By far the worst hotel I have ever stayed at. I booked my hotel at the official Marriott website using my points. Just three days before I arrived I received an email from Marriott welcoming me to the hotel. However, when I arrived, at check-in, I was informed by the front desk agent (Grace) that Marriott points were not accepted at the hotel, but that they would be willing to offer me a special rate for each night. I had no prior notice, they didn’t notify me by email or any other means, but they refused to accept my reservation that was guaranteed by Marriott. After discussing it with the manager on duty (Ms. Tokunbo), we agreed on a rate, and they agreed to return my points back to my Marriott account. However, they did not accept international credit cards (their machine wasn’t working at the time) so I had to pay for my stay in cash in advanced. This is when I went to my room, and was even further disappointed. The room was extremely small and dark. It says it had a queen size bed, but it was more like an American Full size bed. The bathroom was tiny, and he shower was no more than two feet wide and maybe six feet long… uncomfortable for any full size adult to shower in it. Our room was in the first building, which was right across from the power generation plant, so the sound was very loud. In our one night stay, the power went out several times, and the internet worked intermittently. When I called the front desk about the internet, they said they would fix it but did nothing. The hotel itself doesn’t have many amenities. It has a pool that was alright, and a gym that was dirty and small, and didn’t motivate you to workout. The exercise machines were old and un-kept. They had a bar by the pool, and a bar at the lobby, and a single restaurant. Other than that, the place is completely isolated, and boring. They advertise that their rooms have views to the beach, but there is no access to the beach, and the beach is a camp for the homeless on Victoria Island. After one night stay we decided to check out because the hotel was awful and was not worth the money we were paying. Upon check out they told us that they could NOT REFUND our money until the end of the month, so we had to leave with a receipt showing that we had a refund due. One day later, my Marriott account was charge with four nights worth of points, in spite the fact that the manager Ms. Tokunbo promised not to charge me, and in spite the fact that we only stayed at the hotel for one night, paid in cash, and with a refund due. I filed a complaint with Marriott about this hotel. Do yourself a favor, stay away from this hotel. There are plenty other hotels in Victoria Island that will be a better deal and will not cheat you.

Visiting a protea in Nigeria used to be a pleasure but since its relationship with Marriot quality of certain aspects has declined although not yet to the level of the former Sheraton in Abuja. Rooms are OK and the beds up to usual Sheraton standard. Pool is nice and the location facing the ocean pleasant if you have a room with a view. Access to the hotel is via a road in pretty poor shape.. Gym is small with a couple of treadmills, a gym machine, couple of bikes and a manual elliptical trainer. For me the pleasure of a Protea was its fantastic breakfast buffet. Sad to report this is no longer available with a very poor selection, instant coffee only, no decent meats or cheese, no pastries . Overall very disappointing for N14,00 ($30).. Internet connectivity just about OK..