This is a perfectly average hotel (I would give it 2-3 stars for the US market and 3 for Europeans) with perfectly average amenities. The staff are extremely pleasant and helpful, it is nice as another reviewer mentioned to be met at the airport although sitting in a hot minibus for 45 minutes waiting for other potential passengers (no list) to join was tiresome after an 8 hour flight - next time I would grab a cab upon exiting.

The rooms are very basic. No alarm clock, no fancy smellies, but a hairdryer and a tv. Thin mattresses and why oh why did they give you a window overlooking the ocean only to put it at an awkward angle so you can't see the ocean at all unless you move to one side of the room and stand at an angle. Very strange.

The best meal is definitely br eakfast if you like the continental approach - if you like the omelette station US approach you will be sorely disappointed and will wonder why you have to make your own instant coffee with all the components (nescafe, hot water etc) far from your table rather than have it served. But no big shakes. The dinner is definitely slated to the euro and not the dollar so a pretty mediocre meal costing US$42 for one is a bit of a shock.

I did, however, do some fine shopping just a hop skip and a step away by a local market. Found some great gifts pre-christmas and managed to bargain my way to some bargains, including a couple of handbags made of crocodile.

Overall, would I stay here on a romantic getaway? No. Would I stay here if I were not attending a conference? Probably not. It lacks soul ...

I stayed at this hotel my first night in Dakar. The BEST thing about it, is that it had transportation at the airport to meet the plane - and we arrived 5:00 AM. The hotel itself is conveniently located for downtown, and is close to several recommended restaurants. The rooms overlooking the ocean have great views.
The pool seems fine, very accessible although I didn't use it. I did take a walk out the back gate and the guard said he would be there to let me back in - and he was. The rooms are 'tired' and a little below the quality I would expect for the price. I didn't try the restaurant. Overall, an adequate choice with good location but seemed overpriced. Then again, I believe Dakar is overpriced as a travel destination.

I trained at a workshop at the Novotel last week. This was a good venue for a workshop or a business stay - I would not stay there on holiday. The building is a boring concrete block. On the plus side the rooms are clean, if a bit small. Aircon works fine and there is plenty of hot water.

Well equipped business centre - but often closes early so there is a rush first thing in the morning when it opens at 8am. The hotel has free access wireless internet - but patchy reception. The bar was the best place for most WiFi laptops.

The exterior of the hotel is a bit souless - nice big pool in acres of paving - chilly water in Feb despite the hot sun. Comfortable sun loungers.

Food was good - breakfast was a bit boring but good fresh fruit, youghurt and freshly baked bread and croissant. The buffet at lunch was OK but not as good as the A la Carte in the evenings. If you are on a meal plan find out what it adds up to and you can then go a la carte. Their fish is excellent.

The staff were very nervous about guests going outside on the street after dark. They told us to be careful and not to take valuables in a handbag. Even in the daytime my normally devil-may-care husband used a money belt. We kept small change on hand in a top pocket for taxis -the Reception at the Novotel was good at changing bigger notes before we went out anywhere.

One of the other trainers was sure someone had been through her backpack in her room. But as all her valuables were locked in the safe, no harm was done.

Taxis are some of the worst I have come across - real old bangers. Check with reception what they think the price will be. Fix a price with the driver before you get in, then stick to it firmly - they often try to insist you agreed more on arrival. Use the hotel shuttle bus for the airport run - much kinder to the nerves!! They meet incoming flights if they know they have guests on them.
Going to the market in the day, traders hustle for business and would follow you down the street but a firm 'Non!' got rid of them eventually.

Ate out one day at lunch time, before the workshop began, at Lagon II Restaurant. Just 100 m downhill from the back gate of the Novotel ground, by the pool. Lovely food and a great setting on a pier over the water.

We then went on to the Savanna Jardin Hotel for a couple of nights to relax after the workshop...Dakar is a fascinating place. Poverty and luxury often side by side. The people are very friendly. Well worth a visit - but not for the faint hearted looking for home from home luxury.

We stayed in the Novotel Dakar for three nights in January of 2007. The staff was very friendly and helpful, and everyone we dealt with spoke enough English to make up for our poor French. The hotel itself is rather bland both inside and out, though half the rooms have very pretty views of the sea. While we never saw anyone swimming in it, there is a nice pool. The hotel is situated nearly at the edge of the city, but Dakar is fairly walkable (if you don't mind walking in the streets rather than on the sidewalks) and if you don't feel like walking there is a taxi lot right outside the door.

Having only stayed here in Dakar, I have no point of comparison regarding Novotel's value, but it did strike me as a bit expensive at almost 500 USD for three nights. We foolishly bought the nice but absurdly overpriced breakfast in the hotel restaurant, so if you're trying to cut the cost you should avoid doing the same--it runs to about 30 USD a day.