The Victoria Falls Hotel — Hotel in Victoria Falls Municipality

Our four night stay at the Victoria Falls Hotel from 8-11 May was simply fabulous, starting with the excellent advice and support received from Charlorencia in the reservations team before we had even arrived. We ended up booking a Deluxe Suite rather than a moderately more expensive Executive Suite because the room sizes were the same and we still had access to the Bulawayo Room private lounge. That was well worth it, by the way. I think our room number was 67, which was on the ground floor and had a small juliette balcony with a lovely view out over the gardens to the Falls. As an aside, the flow over the Falls while we were there was spectacular after the rains. I recommend that travellers consider this aspect when deciding what time of the year to visit. ||We were spoiled from the moment we arrived, being whisked inside to a private check-in by a very friendly porter who I think went by the name of Livingstone. Check-in was conducted quickly and professionally by Edson who, during our stay, proved to be attentive and very helpful whenever we visited the Bulawayo Room but without ever being intrusive. He is a credit to the hotel’s management, as is every staff member we met.||The suite was spacious, very comfortable and kept meticulously clean by housekeeping. We were celebrating my wife’s birthday later during our visit to South Africa and Zimbabwe but were delighted to find a few small but meaningful gifts waiting for us in the room when we arrived. That was a nice touch and much appreciated. ||We had a pretty full schedule each day whilst staying in Victoria Falls but still managed to visit all dining venues in the hotel. First off was the Livingston Room for dinner. Noting the history and elegance of this flagship restaurant we chose to dress appropriately for what was a special occasion, even though the hotel has relaxed the formal dress requirements slightly in recent years. We are glad we did as it added to our enjoyment of the evening, aided significantly by the high standards of service, the excellent food and the extensive knowledge demonstrated by the sommelier and other staff members. Even though we were joined later by another group of diners who were dressed in shorts, which in my view was too casual for dinner in that venue, we are glad we made an effort to properly enjoy a great meal in elegant surroundings. I would recommend that anyone staying in the hotel does the same.||We didn’t have dinner at the Jungle Junction but had a fabulous breakfast there every morning. The choice offered in the buffet was extensive and the eggs to order were perfect. On a couple of mornings we were looked after by Sam, who was very professional and attentive, again without being intrusive. The location and outlook from the Jungle Junction was a great way to start each day.||High Tea on Stanley Terrace is an absolute must. Edson arranged this for us on our last day and we enjoyed a relaxing couple of hours taking tea whilst watching the Falls as the afternoon light faded into the evening. Also fabulous were the drinks from the adjacent Stanley’s Bar.||The Victoria Falls Hotel is in some respects a reminder of the colonial past but it offers guests the opportunity to enjoy very comfortable accommodation with unrivalled views of the magnificent Victoria Falls. We were delighted with the hotel, the room, the meticulously maintained gardens, the food and drinks and, most importantly, the staff. I’ve stayed in a number of historical and elegant hotels elsewhere in the world and The Victoria Falls Hotel is on par with any of them. I have no hesitation in recommending it...

20 minutes by road you come upon the small, tourism driven, town of Victoria Falls. As it was not peak season it was quiet… We drove past The Kingdom Hotel and Casino (on the location of the former Makasa Sun Hotel and Casino way back in the day), and arrived at the Victoria Falls Hotel. The entryway to the hotel is beautiful; the colonial architecture evoking days past. I knew about the recent political turmoil in Zimbabwe but felt completely comfortable. I walked into the hotel and was immediately greeted and handed a glass of fresh juice. A porter took my bags and I proceeded to check in. I walked through the hotel and marveled at the décor - beautiful but a bit tired. When people ask how I would rate this hotel I say 4 star in US terms but 5 star in Zimbabwe terms. I continued towards the back of the hotel and the view was amazing -sweeping lawns in the foreground, and in the background, the bridge that passes between Zimbabwe and Zambia near the Falls. The mist from the Falls themselves rose high in the sky - breathtaking. I continued to explore the hotel before making my way to my deluxe Stable wing room. I opened the door and was delighted. The room was spacious, elegant and looked comfortable. As you walk into the room there is a safe on your right and beyond a coffee and tea station. To my left the bathroom with a large shower and a separate claw footed tub. On the far side of the room the windows afforded views of the lawns and stately trees. It’s important to note that you must close your windows when you are not in your room. I spied a troop of baboons entering several second floor rooms – I can only imagine the mess they left behind. As evidence the lawn below was littered with clothing. Back in the room there was a nice television - perfect for catching up on news from back home. The bed was large and comfortable, and so were the pillows. Some of the nicest bedding I had experienced on this trip. In the main building you have the stately Livingstone Dining room (the jacket and tie requirement has been relaxed after many years), several reading rooms, a small bar (which will be enlarged later this year) and the verandah where you may enjoy the hotel’s famous afternoon tea (with the spray of Falls visible). Across the expansive lawns from the main buildings you find the pool and open air restaurant where their fantastic breakfast is served. There are tennis courts and a walking path that takes you 10 minutes to the Falls themselves (although I would recommend a guided tour of the Falls as your guide can keep the hawkers at bay). Overall my experience at Victoria Falls Hotel was great. The room was large and comfortable, the service was stellar, and the food fantastic. Let me not forget one the biggest pluses - the hotel’s proximity to the falls. In fact it is the closest hotel to the Fall’s on the Zimbabwean side of the...

We were an unscheduled walk-in party off 8 persons We were well dressed and presentable. We wanted to buy lunch at $50-80 per head. ||||Our reception from the restaurant staff was worse than tepid, I’ve rarely spent time at a place more up itself than this establishment. Having eaten and refreshed at many top Hotels & Restaurants , one expects to be treated with transparency (no lies) courteously and encouraged to use the establishments facilities in return for paying them for the privilege ||||The large restaurant was empty, (2 tables being used) we explained we were walk- ins and wanted lunch - and were told by a manager if we weren’t guests of the hotel we couldn’t eat lunch and should leave. ||||We asked if we could go to their bar and then take our drinks outside and look at the falls. We were told no, and that the baboons may come and harass guests if we took our drinks out onto the lawn. ||||We were then confusingly told the restaurant had been booked out completely for “ high tea”. The time was just before midday. High tea was due to start 3 hours later. ||||We were told we could go to the bar and have a drink, but not allowed to use the wifi, - we paid $20.USD for one cocktail and one soft drink, and others had similar costs. and experiences. Although to their credit the barman was very professional. The waiter having decided or was instructed not to serve us. ||||We found they had a second restaurant on the premises - but we visited, it was completely deserted, save for the staff and the musicians playing live music to them without a customer in sight. ||||They said if we aren’t residents we could not have lunch or even a cup of coffee there either ||||The economy of Zimbabwe is on its knees, and we wanted to splash out on an expensive lunch and a few drinks - but this Hotel made a judgment that we weren’t appropriate customers. Being mature well dressed adults. ||||The general manager came and told us about the 30 people who had booked for high tea (Scones & Tea/ coffee) so making lunch for 8 of us would over run the kitchen ||||So- by their own words : ||||They don’t accept walk-ins||They close 2 restaurants so the kitchen can make scones and tea for 30 people (as if)||The staff are so snotty they have almost developed a new level of unsolicited rudeness. ||They are also the only premium Hotel I’ve visited that don’t honour American Express Cards. ||||Overall- it was disappointing . My party of 8 suggest you just go elsewhere with nicer people and management who respect the bottom line of the business. ||||We can and do recommend the 3 monkeys for lovely staff, food and...