Hotel Mermoz — Hotel in Saint-Louis

First, I don't know if the West Africa/Senegal Lonely Planet guide book actually stayed here, if the hotel pays to be included in the guide books or if the writers stayed here a long time ago but this hotel is certainly not what was promoted in either of those guide books--it is NOT the best hotel in Saint Louis. ||||I will start from the beginning and will end with photo proof as I see the manager likes to get on here to refute. ||||First, I am a professor and was also scoping this site for a possible study abroad program through my college based in Los Angeles. This hotel has potential or did at one point but is rather run down now and there isn't enough support staff to handle large groups. I was lucky to observe an active study abroad class here that seemed disorganized when it came to feeding them. ||||The road coming in is under construction and is not handicap accessible. There are loads of wandering live stock and tons of flies and foul smelling fecal matter. The road has been under construction for a while but promises to be the best road in Saint Louis when finished. ||||Second, we arrived by road from Dakar. We were tired and ready for showers. The guy at the reception had a hard time finding our reservation and requested we show him our booking, always proactive and prepared I produced proof and we were assigned rooms. When we arrived in reception there were hundreds of dead flies littering the floors and counter tops half dead and smashed with blood stains everywhere and the other half swarming us landing everywhere from our faces and lips to dying on our bags. Absolutely no cleaning was attempted before or during check in. Only hours later did we see someone sweeping the dead flies up after we complained. ||||Our travel companion left the hotel entirely disgusted and refusing to eat at the restaurant. ||||When we arrived to our room there were hundreds of dead flies in the mosquito net above our bed, in the bed, on the floors and bathroom. The bathroom wasn't cleaned (pictures attached) and generally the room was basic and below average for cleanliness. There were roaches as well (again, images attached) *I know what roaches look like! ||||We were given 2 towels for 2 guests. After we assessed the room we went back to the stressful fly infested reception area to request 2 more towels and that the room be cleaned. You see, about the only great thing about this hotel is the pool, we didn't want to dry off from a shower with the same towel we dried off with from the pool. Wiping down with chlorinated pool towels that take a long time to dry to begin with was out of the question. The reception guy told us two towels was all we were allowed and we had to leave the keys to get the hotel cleaned. ||||If you read the reviews of this place you can see several references to thieves. We chose to keep the room clean ourselves rather than hand the key over to the staff every day to have the room cleaned. ||||I have cell phone video of one such thief being caught and beaten after having stolen another guest's cell phone. ||||We left the hotel every day to stay at Hotel Residence downtown Saint Louis which is where we should have stayed and where I will recommend a study abroad program be. The wi-fi if you're coming here to work is unusably slow and you get kicked off constantly. ||||The beach is nice and people clean it occasionally. ||||The restaurant was basic but wouldn't pass any health inspections. The breakfast buffet is almost entirely bread with omelets. One morning I requested an omelet and was told at 8:30am they were out of eggs. All they had out was bread. I told the restaurant it was unacceptable to just have bread for breakfast no matter how French one needs other food groups. The fresh fruit cut was covered in flies. I suggested we go back to Hotel Residence downtown for breakfast and the eggs they told me were gone suddenly came out and I was given an omelet in 2 minutes. Why the hassle and dishonesty to begin with? ||||The best parts of the hotel: the wild dogs were friendly and protecting, the pool and the crabs at night. ||||The staff were disinterested generally and seemed bothered when we needed anything. ||||Finally, today I'm writing this review we were coming back yet again from the other superior hotel when the reception guy flags us down asking again for our booking reservation. We check out tomorrow. I showed him the reservation and receipt again to which he replied "did you pay?" We've been here several days and the day before we check out you want confirmation on our booking and whether we've paid?! ||||I booked and paid in February. ||||Perhaps at some point years ago this hotel was "the best in Saint Louis" as the guidebooks claim but now however it does not function as such. Major renovations are needed, pest control and customer service training. This should be a $25/night budget hotel not mid range or even luxury so be realistic. ||||The air conditioner worked. The beach was great though dangerous to swim with so many jellyfish and the dogs were adorable...

||Stayed at the Hotel for 3 nights and I wish it could have been longer stay.||The hotel, is located south of the third island of saint louis, away from all the busy parts of Saint Louis but still close enough to take a car and go in to the city in 5-10 minutes.||On one side of the hotel premises you have the Senegal river 20 meters away and on the other side you have a great beach for taking a walk and to go swimming in the Atlantic Ocean. ||All the rooms are in small villas,houses spread out over the whole hotel area.|You have a few different rates on the rooms , from 15000 FCFA to 55.000 FCFA,Which is without a doubt a great deal! ||We had a room facing the Atlantic Ocean and to just wake up every morning with that view is simply amazing. ||The rooms , which is a small villa with one or two guest rooms, had all the necessary amenities and well equipped with mosquito nets, in room safe-box ( Old fashioned and effective) and even a metal , over the top but still very classy, gate to ensure the most safety demanding client that the rooms are safe.|But if that would not be enough,There are security guards on the area 24/7. With all this , it still felt like an oasis of tranquillity and relaxation.||The pool is located in the center of the compound and with a comfortable distance to the bar and restaurant. There are also fuss-ball table, ping-pong table and a pool table next to the bar/reception, to do some "exercise" if needed.||The breakfast has all the things you need, and you also have omelettes made for you on the spot. Lunch and dinner was also satisfying with a mix of both local and international dishes.|Furthermore , I would also recommend to try the restaurants in the city, just to get the full experience of saint louis. But if you don't feel like leaving the hotel ,which I can completely understand , you will be in good hands and your appetite will not be disappointed! ||All the staff were super friendly and helpful, there was nothing that they could not help you with. Also, The owner was always present and talking to the guest, making you feel like home.||Overall , this was an amazing stay and I would recommend anyone to stay...

Hôtel secluded , about 10mins drive from Marche artisanal. Do not pay more than $1500 CFA to get from the marche to the hotel.||Your drive will be complimented by approximately 1 mile of pirogues-get your camera ready. J’aime le poissons!||||Mermoz Hôtel is safe and quiet and is supported with accommodating staff. Restaurant offers delicious meals... menu is quite extensive—Miam. Breakfast could have been better-limited variety and bland in taste. No other real choice close by so—eat up. ||||Cabins/bungalow rooms are to the point, mosquito net, spacious with air condition.||||There’s a neat well-kept pool with an area to relax. The hotel grounds is attractive and inviting. Landscape and flowers made me feel like I was walking in my backyard. ||||August is hot so take the necessities.The beach is the longest I have ever seen. It is 5mins (150 meters) walk from hotel boundary to beach—lots of hot scorching sand to traverse.|| ||Take the entire family including young children. You would love it!...