Omali São Tomé

Very convenient hotel to airport with spacious rooms and a beautiful swimming pool. The gardens are wonderfully planted with flowering shrubs. It’s directly opposite the beach. Helpful staff. Had room safe and fridge. Quiet. Comfortable beds.

We only stayed one night but we were very impressed by the thoughtful service: when the taxi transfer to our next place didn’t arrive, they sent us in one of their own cars at half the price and twice the comfort. Hotel and facilities as good as one would expect in a high class establishment.

Food and service excellent- ceviche is scrumptious. Lovely breakfast with local treats. Lovely pool and gardens. Nice pool towels and loungers were comfy. A/C in our room was terrible. it was only in the seating area and not where the bed was. It seems that some of the rooms have A/C in both areas which would help a lot- so maybe ask about that. We booked a classic room. The bed was only 4 foot 6 and with the room layout it was difficult to have space for 2 open suitcases. In general, I think the rooms are just badly arranged. There was a couch that nobody would use. Perfect for 1 night on arrival/departure, but very much an airport hotel. There was a feeling that everyone was transiting through. Would not recommend for longer stays.

We stayed at the Omali at the beginning and the end of our Trip to Sao Tome & Principe for 2 nights each time. We booked throuhg a travel-agency, so transport and all was taken care of and worked without a hitch. As part of the "honeymoon-package", we got a free room-upgrade and were greeted with a bottle of Champagne once we got to our room. All in all we were quite happy with our stay, our introduction to the islands and the way we were treated at Omali. Arrival: We got picked up at the airport by a driver clearly identifiable by his wooden sign - though even "rival" taxi-drivers were directing us to him once we explained we had an arranged transfer. Check-in was quick and painless, baggage was taken to our room, which was bigger than we expected and everything worked as it should. Room (we had the Twin Room with Balcony): ＞ AC in both segments of the room ＞ Beach-towels and a bag to carry them to the pool or beach ＞ Shower with adequate water-pressure ＞ Mini-fridge, potable water, lemongrass to make tea and ground coffee to make in a french-press. (Though on our second visit, sadly the lemongrass was moldy) The rooms felt like they were being kept up, small things like slightly visible mold in bathroom seals, balcony doors having some gaps (which will make AC a bit less ecological) were noticed but nothing out of the ordinary for such a humid place. Food: The selection of warm foods for lunch or dinner is good, as is the quality! We felt prices were fair (compared to the CH, maybe not difficult...) - keeping in mind, that on an island, stuff just is more expensive, if you have to import it even more so. The much hyped chocolate-mousse didn't quite meet our expectation, though maybe thats not fair coming from foodies that love desserts and make them all the time. The cookie with peanut ice-cream on the other hand was delicious! Breakfast exceeded our expectations - it is of course not a standard european breakfast, so some things are "missing", but fresh fruits, baked goods (banana-cake, french toast) more than made up for that. Staff: We were always treated very friendly and felt welcomed from start to finish! From pick-up to check-in and being served at mealtime, staff was always accomodating, tried their best communicating in english with us and we always felt seen. Which we later learned, isn't a given even in a more expensive hotel on Principe... Location: Given that Omali was our "warming up" and "saying goodbye" to the two islands, we didn't much use the hotels amenities - gym, pool, tennis court went unused. It is nice though to just step outside the hotel and be greated by the view of the ocean. On our first day, we went on a trip walking alongside the beach to the capital Sao Tome, which was quite an experience. We were a bit taken aback by how quickly we entered what we identified as a slum-like district, but even though we felt like we didn't belong, there wasn't a moment were we felt unsafe. All and all, we enjoyed our time

This was definitely a terrible experience that we will not repeat. On one of the days we stayed at the Omali Lodge in Sao Tome, we got to our room and there was a huge crab in the toilet bowl. We contacted reception, and a cleaning lady came and pushed it down the toilet and flushed it. We changed rooms and that was that. Later the same day, we were feeding dogs who were roaming outside the Omali restaurant, when the hotel's General Manager, Mr. José Miguel Ferreira Mendes, told us, in a very rude and annoying way, that we couldn't do that because then the dogs wouldn't leave and would come back for more. We asked to speak to him to understand the reasons for his rudeness and to better understand why street dogs are outside Omali Lodge, when they can be better tended and cared for by the hotel staff in other areas. We also discussed the event earlier that day. His response was to completely dismiss the situation and to disrespectfully make light of the situation. His rudeness and his dismissive attitude prompted us to check out of the Omali Lodge then and there and move elsewhere. Such behavior can never be condoned and must is least accepted from anyone, and even more so from the hotel's General Manager. He told us he has been here for years and years, but the staff, who treated us very very well told us that no one likes the General Manager. Since we were there for business, we understand the value and time a good clean hotel gives and Omali seemed just right till this happened. Clearly, it is obvious that Mr. José Miguel Ferreira Mendes is not fit to handle customer complaints, lend a listening ear, and resolve problems from their root, let alone manage a hotel.

The employees really make the property a superstar.