Great Hotel Kiyovu — Hotel in Kigali City

I made this review 3 and a half years ago, I was a lot less tolerant and much too harsh. Though what I said was not a lie, I also did not give credit where it is due. It was a new hotel at the time, and new young workers who were still developing. The manager tried her very best to accommodate me and gave me the suite room on the top floor. I want to apologize openly to them as I criticized them so openly. It is or was a very live and vibrant atmosphere there. It was similar to a nightclub on thè weekends, good food, affordable drinks, beautiful ambience. I even had the good opportunity to meet Woda Meya, the great panafricanist vlogger. I am sure by now the place have possibly made the improvements that was needed to be made. As I look back at it now. I could have been much more patient and understanding. The post I wrote back then was when I was a different, younger, and very brand new to the continent of my ancestors version of myself now. I regret making such a rash post, forgetting about how this hotel did look out for me when I first arrived in Kigali. Now I can look back at it and say it was a pretty good stay at Great Hotel Kiyovu. Disclaimer for previous old post... Horrible service! Dirty, roach infested! Waitresses are horrible and solicitors. They gossip on their tenants and harass their guest! Late on service if they ever serve you at all, and very forgetful when it comes to giving you your change. If I could give this place a below...

The hotel is in a very great location. It also has a nice pool with a view.

However the hotel management needs to do something about the so loud music. When we choose to go hangout at a place, we don't want so loud music. Let it be chilled music that is carrying the moment and making me enjoy being at the place. The DJ is so rude. When you tell him to reduce the volume he says he can't. No way I am in a restaurant with my date and we are shouting at each other coz we can barely hear one another coz of the so loud music. Let them play music that is just calming or not loud music.

The Waiter's Service First thing the Waiters are not even sure of the price of the food and drinks on the menu. You ask and they are like let me first confirm the price. Language barrier was another issue. When hiring people to work at such a big hotel; ensure at least they understand or can speak major languages; Swahili, English or French. We were having a challenge with one Waiter who couldn't understand quite well and had to call another one. The food took its sweet time to be brought. We were almost cancelling the order to go somewhere else.

They really need to do something about these issues.

However the view from the bar area or pool...

Hope the hotel manager reads this The hotel has major issues with staff ... and lack of any sort of training ... Stayed there one week and other than Patrick (and the cleaners ) who was v kind helpful and good at his job ... the rest from the reception through to restaurant and bar staff seemed to have no idea how to work in a hotel and be friendly and polite to customers.Repeatedly it took 30 40 minutes to get a simple bill receipt for a meal or a drink ... sometimes different staff bringing receipts with different amounts on them ? Not sure what was going on there? The staff obviously had had little or no training ... Pity because the actual building and facilities are good ... The hotel management obviously aware of the staff problems as bad reviews like this all over the Internet for years ... but nothing done to make it better ....The cleaners had better manners and were more friendly than most of the other staff Perhaps the management should promote them ... they couldn't do any worse than...