Residence Marika Hotel — Hotel in Gombe

This is a regular place I stay in Kinshasa for several reasons.||1. Because this is where my office has an arrangement with/special rate||2. It's cheaper than most hotels in Kinshasa (between $80-$120 normal rates)||3. Great location||||It's a comfortable sleep, but sometimes they have issues with their air-conditioning, and plumbing. This has happened to me twice, and needs to be something that the management has to fix! It happened to my colleagues also this time, they had to move rooms twice before it was an okay room.||I like the suite, because it gives me space to sit and work, and sleep in the room. But they need to up their game in terms of maintaining the place. The hotel has a swimming pool, and a bar etc, free wifi etc!||The breakfast is served every morning, standard every day, but no complaints!||||The real challenge is if you are staying more than a couple of days, because the menu for lunch/dinner has only a few options (1 type of beef, 2 types of fish, 1 type of chicken dishes, with options of rice, potato fries, or banana fries as sides". ||||One of the receptionists needs to improve on his service skills, really rude most of the time, and even after confirmation of the "special" rates with the manager, he keeps insisting on old rates. ||||It's a good place, with the...

I have stayed here several times now. Kinshasa is stupidly expensive and very volatile so working for an NGO you have to balance cost with security. Residence Marika works on both counts. Good central location, close to good restaurants etc, and safe and secure. I tend to ask the security guards to accompany me if I want to go to an external restaurant in the evening. It's basic but this is DRC! And relatively inexpensive. Rooms are clean and have AC ( though don't expect to be able to do much adjustment of temperature with the remotes or use timer). Hot water in tap and showers...or should I say trickles. Fridge and tv too, and generally power 24 7. I dislike the lights outside the windows and glass above door letting light in but can't do anything about that except bring a sleep mask. Staff all really friendly especially the cooks who work on a rota basis. Breakfast really nice - good coffee, warm bread and eggs. Restaurant basic but food very very good and cheap. Menu is western but you can request Congolese which is recommended. Beware restricted opening on Sunday and need to pay cash each meal. Water in rooms would be a nice touch but you can get it from the reception area. I wish they would provide mosquito nets - I bring electric repellents...

This hotel is located off the Blvd 30 Juin, a nice location if you are here in Kinshasa especially for business. The rooms are spacious with a sitting area equipped with a small kitchen including a small fridge and a good size bedroom. The bathroom is decent, there is hot water. Air conditioning works pretty well. The hotel also has a small size swimming pool (although I didn't have time to use it). The wifi works pretty well, and the price is per night is very reasonable considering the location and the amenities provided. The breakfast is included in the price and it's a simple one but with fresh baked bread right from the oven! Coffee is of average quality (but I have very high standards for coffee!). So if you are in town for few days, you don't want to spend too much for the hotel room but have an acceptable standard of a room, Marika can offer...