LAGUNA BEACH

The rooms were very nice and spacious, but there must be high sulfur content in the water because it smelled like rotten eggs coming out of the faucet during our whole stay. The food was also fantastic and prices were good. The seafood was very fresh. We did feel that the American breakfast was extremely heavy in the bread department (3-4 types of bread are given with this meal!) and we would recommend minimizing this and maybe offering bacon, beans or tomatoes. The bar/pool area was gorgeous and the hotel is right on the beach, which the most expensive hotels in Morondava cannot even boast. The one area we felt should strongly be improved was the cost of transportation and the hotel's assistance with fair prices and trustworthy taxi companies for excursions. We live in Madagascar and were overcharged for our taxi from the airport to the hotel (which is only a 10 minute drive!) and were also overcharged for our taxi to the Avenue of the Baobabs, which the hotel arranged. For 300,000 ariary we were taken in the afternoon and this did not include the baobabs in love, which we did not know. The next day we took a trip to Zazamalala which was outrageously priced ($13 USD per person), and while on that short-lived hike with an English-speaking guide who did not speak English, we were offered a second taxi to the Avenue of the baobabs and the baobabs in love for only 100,000. This price difference was quite stark and surprised us greatly! The taxi they arranged for our trip back to the airport also broke down halfway there and had an open, jerry-rigged fuel tank in the trunk. Unfortunately there does not seem to be a well-run tourist industry here, though it is one of the most popular places to visit in Madagascar. It would be amazing if the hotel was more protective about their guests-- watching out for their interests with fair prices and having an arsenal of reliable, safe taxis and drivers they work with. Though we sadly do not feel that we can recommend Morondava as a destination for friends because of how poor our experience was in the city, overall Laguna Beach was a hotel worth staying at during our time there.

In short Extremely over priced. Non existent service, extremely disappointing. Details: 12 hours prior to arrival I tried calling, text message as well as the agoda contact information provided with no feedback. Upon arrival the resection person was sleeping ofcorse because it was very late at night (thus why I tried multiple times to make contact prior to arrival 12hours to be exact) I booked for 2 nights. I had to go ask for extra toilet paper twice. The room was not cleaned and toiletries not given for 2nd night. The restaurant service was extremely poor, they were very friendly but while relaxing in this “over priced lodge” i constantly had to get up and go call a waiter/waitress to order refreshments. ( this defeats the purpose of relaxing/vacation/comfort) while I have great service at a place that costs a quarter of the price (hotel trecicogne). The restaurant/bar was closing at 21:30 at night. I wanted to relax in the pool and have some drinks but while I was drinking my first beer that I managed to ask for again without voluntary assistance , they started to pack away chairs and tables where I was sitting (so much to say that it is time to leave). The only positive I can possibly think of was that the reception guy managed to call a taxi for me for a relatively good price for an excursion. I will never recommend this place to anyone. I am a frequent traveler that has been all over Africa and understands the what a 3rd world country is like. (Been to 19 countries out of which 17 was in Africa and Madagascar) I wasted so much money staying here.