Well, well, well! My husband and I are seasoned travellers, having stayed at elite hotels like the Four Seasons Dubai, The Chedi, and Mandarin Oriental among other 5 Star hotels, so Iāll try to keep that in mind when evaluating Pax Manor. However, it would be unfair to rate this place solely on the standards of those ultra-luxury hotels.
First Impressions:
Upon arrival, we were initially impressed by the location and the abundance of staff. David, in particular, stood out for his exceptional service. Also F&B supervisor Jackson was excellent! The first impression was positive, and we were excited for our three-night stay. We made sure to experience the brunch, and Iāll share my thoughts on that shortly.
The Good:
The African food at the brunch was fantasticāflavourful, well-seasoned, and truly a highlight. However, the Lamb Loin on Ć la carte, which cost 4,000, was disappointing. It was full of bones, which felt quite unnecessary for the price.
The Bad:
While the African food was a win, the international offerings were subpar. Honestly, they shouldnāt attempt to serve international cuisine. Pasta alone was so overcooked etc. It just didnāt meet the standard of a luxury hotel, and I think itās important to stick to what they do best.
We also immediately noticed a few issues in our deluxe tent. The bed was comfortable, but the layout was far from perfect. The bathroom flooded during showerāwater just didnāt drain properly.
Service Concerns:
Breakfast service was a complete disaster. The āPlease Wait to Be Seatedā sign was up at the reception, but no one was there to greet us. We ordered water, a single espresso, and chai, but had to remind the staff after 20 minutes. The waiter took our order and then wandered off to wipe plates on the buffet, despite the restaurant only having two occupied tables at the time. At one point, an American family left their breakfast untouchedāthey were clearly dissatisfied.
To make matters worse, one of the waiters dropped honey on the floor while serving the American family and didnāt apologize or offer a replacement. She simply disappeared, and other waiters passed by, oblivious to the situation. After 10 minutes, I had to call David, who quickly took actionāapologizing to the guests, bringing them new honey, and having a cleaner show up. This was highly unprofessional, especially considering the rave reviews we had heard about Pax Manor.
Management Issues:
There were no managers visible during breakfast service, and it was evident that the waitstaff were inexperienced. There were a lot of workers, but many were clearly untrained, and it reflected poorly on the overall experience. Itās not the staffās fault; itās the management that needs to step up. A qualified manager should be there to oversee things and train the team to meet international standards, not just have people standing around in suits directing others without any actual guidance.
Atmosphere and Noise:
The noise level at night, from local visitors and private parties, also detracted from the experience. It was clear that the hotelās clientele was mostly local, and the ambiance didnāt seem tailored for international guests who might prefer a quieter environment.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Pax Manor seems to cater more to the local market, given the food and service style. For elite international guests, itās clear that this is not a hotel or restaurant designed with that clientele in mind. My advice would be for the management to invest in comprehensive training for the service team. I donāt blame the workersāthey need more guidance and proper leadership. There are too many managers directing people but not actually working alongside their teams.
Would I recommend Pax Manor? It really depends on who you are. For elite guests, I would suggest looking elsewhere for a truly refined experience. However, as a new hotel, thereās definitely room for improvement, and I hope the owner takes these reviews seriously and makes the...
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