Hotel de L'Avenue - Tana City Centre

The location was great and the staff very serviceminded.

Hôtel de l’Avenue is situated in the city center. Very convenient as it’s close by shops, restaurants and easily accessible. With the ongoing water and electricity shortage in Tana, this hotel is the best as these two essentials of life were not lacking. Even during a general water restriction, they still provided water to every room. Well done!

There was nothing to dislike that much, we were happy to have found this place.

The rooms are particularly good: spacious all with TVs and some with even tables and chairs. My room was nice. It had a mini fridge which my girlfriend and I used very much during our 13 day/night stay. Our bed was brand new (two single beds pushed together) and extremely comfortable. the rooms have mosquito nets at the windows so only one or two of those critters got though it. Also, all the rooms are equipped with air conditioning and a safe box to lock your valuables in when you go out. And the cleaning staff really work hard. Everyday, they clean the communal areas of the building, and rooms too if guests want their rooms to be cleaned daily. It is not the Hilton, but for mid-range hotel, I think the quality of accommodation at Hotel de L’ Avenue is excellent value for money, and I score that side of the business a score of 9 out of ten. I have no hesitation in recommending you choosing this hotel for your visit, and the breakfast, which is included, is good too. THE HOTEL STAFF This section is important if you are a non-French/Malagasy speaker, specifically, if you only speak English as I do. Most of the staff do NOT speak a word of English, which to me is crazy when English is only true global language and the language if international business and trade. Thank God for Patrice! He was one of the staff with fluent English, and without him our holiday there would have been a disaster. Patrice is the Mr Fix It, of Hotel de L’ Avenue. If you have a problem, he is one person that will bend over backwards to help you. Way beyond the call of duty he even helped us going to several sites outside the hotel to translate for us and provide personal security. That said, do not get me wrong, all the staff are good decent people, including the some of the ‘useless’ restaurant staff. It is just that if you do not speak the same language then even the simplest things becomes difficult. So, thank you Patrice, you will never be forgotten!

THE RESTAURANT The restaurant is not just a restaurant but on some nights doubles as a social/night club with pool tables, music and sometimes dance shows, so can get quite loud on those nights while you are eating, which may or may not suit some people, if they want quiet conversation over dinner with their partner. It is an exceptionally large area with ample eating spaces, and bar with staff that but both serve food and drinks. I will say upfront the food is excellent quality and delicious, and I score the food six out ten. Why? Because [1] sometimes they got the order wrong (you got something you did not order or had missing something you did order); and [2] when I order hot food (with heat, not spices), I expect to get ‘hot’ food. Sadly, throughout my stay I made daily complaints about getting ‘WARM’ food instead of hot food. I do not speak any French or Malagasy, but I am still gobsmacked that no one in restaurant/kitchen staff could not get it after 13 days that if I ordered a hot meal, I want it hot. The irony was that my girlfriend speaks fluent French and two of the reception staff and the manager are fluent in English. I can only conclude that restaurant/kitchen staff did not give a damn. They serve the food how they want – take it or leave it. THE LOCATION I am afraid the location is not great! It is the, THE CENTRE of Tana City (the local name for Antananarivo). The problem in a word is poverty. Great poverty!! I read this in other reviews too but had no idea it was so bad. There are beggars EVERYWHERE! From the moment you exit your taxi (indeed, from the airport!) there is a swarm of outstretched hands around. So even though I score the location as two out of ten, if you are unsure about visiting Madagascar, I recommend you go and give it try. Why? Because every penny, dime, lira, euro, dollar, you spend is helping the people of one of the poorest countries on the planet. Corruption is everywhere.

The hotel is centrally located with facilities like restaurants, ATM, Shops etc. within walking distance. The staff were very helpful. Mr. Patrice was very helpful and attended to requests promptly.

The music from the restaurant was quite loud at night, else everything was good.

the staff was awesome, very attentive, Patrice, the person at the reception was very nice and helped me to find a few things like supermarkets and the bus station. They even agree to store one of my backpacks free of charge for a couple of days! (that is not the normal policy though) The surroundings are a little hectic and messy but again, is Madagascar so its just fine.

The internet conection wasnt great but this can be more like a country situation than anything.