Azalai Hotel Nord Sud

What People are saying

High Excitement

PuffD_13 on 05/04/2013 20:52

Stayed in March 2012. Welcoming lobby that also provides access to the resturaunt, a gift shop, and stairs leading to the chambers. The walls were decorated with varying types of local crafts. The thick exterior walls provided ample protection to the small arms fire that emanated throughout the city; resulting in a difficult time of sleeping with the staccato echo. Recommend placing mattress on the floor to stay below the open window opening. The front desk clerk maintains their post, dispite the civil unrest.

The resturaunt offered a wide range of dining options.

Don't be fooled by the nice lobby.

MaliTraveler on 21/11/2009 21:31

There are plenty of nice hotels with good service in Bamako - the Nord-Sud is not one of them. I really like the other Azalai hotels in Bamako (The Grand Hotel and the Hotel Salaam) and thus, when I couldn't get a room at either of those, I booked a room at the Nord-Sud, thinking it would be of comparable quality. It is not. The rooms are shabby and stale-smelling. The carpets are worn and stained. The "double" bed is two twins pushed together with a double-bed sheet on them. Housekeeping delivered wet towels and left dishes from room service behind. There were so many mosquitoes in the room that I couldn't sleep. I called room service to order dinner and was told that they "didn't have time" to prepare a salad. Very few items on the menu were actually available at any given time. The buffet breakfast is fine, but not as nice as that at the Grand Hotel or Hotel Salaam (though, admitedly, it is also less expensive).

On the plus side, the plumbing is good and the water is hot - not always something you can't always count on in Mali. The wireless internet works consistently and is relatively fast. And the staff at the front desk is very friendly.

If you're looking for a hotel that is less expensive than the Grant Hotel or the Hotel Salaam, book a room at the Rabelais (great French restaurant, nice rooms, good wireless and much less expensive than comparable hotels) or at Hotel Mirabeau (basic accommodations, consistent wireless, nice buffet breakfast, great location and good value). Avoid the Nord-Sud.

Pleasant staff but very overrated and has bug problem

Tim_H332 on 02/10/2009 07:01

I stayed at the Hotel Nord Sud for two and a half nights during my first stay in Bamako. I was encoraged by the two positive reviews for the hotel but was very disappointed by the reality. The hotel is at least average or better for West Africa, however, did not deserve the two positive reviews here and certainly three or four stars is excessive.
The staff was helpful and very pleasant, however, the condition of the rooms was marginal. As an example, entire sink faucet turned when turning the water on and off, bathrooms were badly in need of remodeling, air conditioner rattled loudly every 5-6 minutes throughout the night. The hotel also had a roach problem. I killed two in my room and my colleague killed two while we were in the hotel restaurant, one on the floor under the table and the second that was coming down the wall toward our table. Talk about an apettite killer.
I had a 10:45 PM flight out on the last night and was prepared to pay for a full nights lodging for that night on departure. The hotel was kind enough to only ask for payment for a half night's lodging which I paid in cash and then charged the other two nights to my credit card. Unfortunately, when I opened my copy of the bill at home, it failed to indicate the half night paid for the last day. I emailed the hotel requesting a corrected bill for my employer, however, still haven't received a response after 24 hours.
All in all I would discourage staying at this hotel. There appear to be better choices in Bamako than this for the same price or only a bit more.

very nice place and great location

Jhearts on 09/08/2009 11:16

the rooms are clean and there is a nice pool and small workout facility. it is well located for visiting government offices in town-many were within walking distance. no complaints at all. except--tons of mosquitos. they are in the rooms and in the lobby/restuarnat. we are not talking about one or two. there were swarms.

Much better service than its 5-star sister

DutchCrunch on 12/02/2009 13:19

We arrived in Bamako with the Budapest-Bamako rally. The official startline was the Azalai Salam. This was a terrible disappointment. The staff was rude and obnoxious, the food poor, breakfast appaling and the rooms rather standard (considering the price).

After one night we decided to move (after a suggestion by some of our friends). We ended up at sister hotel Azalai Nord Sud. Officially this is supposed to be the lesser of the two. Instead, we found polite and helpful staff, pretty much the same rooms, better food and all that at half the price.

We would both whole heartedly recommend the Azalai Nord Sud.