Review: Radisson Blu Waterfront Antananarivo, Madagascar
- Konrad Tillman
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Intro
Following a lovely time with the lemurs in Andasibe and a nice drive through the back country of Madagascar, we spent one night at the Radisson Blu in Antananarivo. Throughout my travels in Africa, there has always been one common brand of "luxury hotels" in these countries: the Radisson Blu. So when the opportunity came up to stay here for the night, I decided that this would be the best bet.
Radisson Blu's in Africa are vastly different from ones in other countries. These are usually some of the top hotels in certain countries, like South Sudan and Madagascar, to name a few.
Location+Price
Antananarivo is a large city spanning 34 square miles. However, situated in the North of the city in a very safe area lies the beautiful Radisson Blu Waterfront.
Be aware that traffic in the area can be quite bad, and at times, can take up to an hour, depending on the time of day. The town is about 20 minutes away, and the slums are around 30 minutes away if you are into exploring off-the-beaten-path places.
Prices are relatively expensive for the area, coming in at about 150$ per night before taxes. If using American Express is your thing, you will be pleased to know that the hotel does take AMEX.
Lobby/Check-In
Stepping into this magnificent hotel, there was a grand lobby awaiting, featuring a small coffee shop, some couches for relaxing, and beautiful decorations all around.
Within moments, the check-in lady greeted us and informed us of the details of the property, as well as informed us that we had a complimentary breakfast in the morning if we desired.
Rooms: Junior Suite
My mum and I had been assigned separate Junior Suites (only slightly more expensive) on separate floors. Due to being the kind son, I offered her the suite on the higher floor, meaning she was on 5, and I would be on floor 4.
While not the most luxurious rooms in the world, the Radisson Blu Junior Suite offers plenty of room featuring a large sitting area, a small table for coffee, and a large private bedroom.
Gosh, maybe it was the fact that I had slept at Hotel Vakona the night before, but this bed must have been made of a marshmallow or something, the way that I slept. Using the universal power adapters on the side of the bed, the next morning I woke up rested and fully charged.
The bathroom was simple, but appointed with a shower, toilet, and a sink. After no hot water the day before, this was much appreciated.
Swimming Pool/Bar
With the sunset bearing down, the only thing on my mind was going for a sunset swim and cocktail. The pool and bar are both located on the top floor of the hotel, floor 8, and feature sweeping views out over the city.
I was feeling the need to quench my thirst after a swim, so I opted to order an Aperol Spritz, which was absolutely delicious. If you think they skimp on pours here, think again 🥴.
I will say that it is striking to sit up top at the Radisson Blu with a cocktail in hand, and seeing the poverty beneath is truly heartwrenching.
Dining
Feeling peckish during your stay? You have a couple of different options to choose from, including in-room dining. For breakfast, you will have to head downstairs to the restaurant by the lobby called "The Larder", which offers a la carte dining, as well as an extensive buffet.
However, the real highlight of the hotel is the Fire Lake grill located upstairs, close by to the pool.
The restaurant is open from 11:30 am until 10 pm daily, and features everything you could want, ranging from fresh sushi to a variety of cuts of steak.
For dinner and lunch the next day, I decided on the ribeye steak, which was much better than it looked. I'm not going to go out on a limb and say this is the most amazing place to eat, but it gets the job done.
The restaurant serves a variety of wines ranging from South African to Australian (of course, French as well) and at decent prices.
Service
Throughout our one-night stay at the Radisson Blu, I was thoroughly impressed with the service offered at the hotel. While there wasn't something significant that stood out to me, all of the staff had smiles on their face and engaged in small talk, which is a sign of good service.
Service can make or break a stay, and I feel like it definitely fell into the former for this stay.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a place to stay in Antananarivo, look no further than the Radisson Blu Waterfront for a luxury stay. Being a tourist paradise, the hotel clearly caters to higher-end travelers with the price point they charge for the rooms. With decent food, lovely drinks, a swimming pool overlooking the city, and comfortable beds, I will be staying here again when I go back to Antananarivo.
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