Background
The 4-star Best Western Lagos Ikeja is a member of the international franchise and opened approximately 18 months ago. Since then it’s built a reputation as a more than adequate business travel hotel, offering all the basics required and making the most of its convenient location.
Where is it?
It’s located in Allen Avenue, the busiest street in the business district of Ikeja, which is the outer-ring suburb of the city of Lagos. The hotel is ideal for guests with dealings at the nearby Lagos government secretariat. Travellers are also saved from the usual Lagos heavy traffic, as the hotel is less than 10 minutes from Murtala Mohammed International Airport. The hotel offers complimentary transfers to and from the airport.
What’s it Like?
The hotel stands tall with a blend of cream and coffee brown colours. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but that probably doesn’t do the establishment justice. Even though it’s part of an international chain, it does exude a certain amount of warmth and the service is pretty good.
Room Facilities
There are 112 rooms in total, made up of 96 Business Plus rooms, six Business Deluxe rooms, four Business Express rooms and six suites. Prices range from $280 to $1,050 per night. The air-conditioned (essential in Lagos) rooms come standard with large wardrobe, tea and coffee-making facilities, flat-screens TV with a selection of satellite channels, a work station and complimentary Internet access. So, it really is geared towards the business traveller on the move. I found myself in one of the Business Plus rooms and I enjoyed soaking myself in the cozy bathtub. There was a shower option, as well. My spacious room was well decorated and the large king-size bed provided for a comfortable night’s sleep.
Restaurant & Bar
The in-house restaurant can seat approximately a hundred people and offers a menu consisting of both local and ‘international’ cuisine. As a lover of local cuisine, I went for my favourite, pounded yam, and the delicious ‘Afang’ soup – a mixture of vegetable with pepper and chili, costing less than $20. The soup is a popular dish transported from the south of Nigeria. The hotel bar is situated inside the restaurant and the hotel has proved popular on the weekends with party goers. There’s also a Sunday brunch specially prepared by the hotel’s Ghanaian chef, with a live band providing the entertainment.
Business & Conference Facilities
There are three conference rooms in the hotel. The biggest room can accommodate over a hundred delegates in classroom style and boasts modern audio-visual and conferencing equipment. The other two rooms are small meeting rooms. In addition, opposite reception on the ground floor, there is a fully-equipped business centre that can accommodate approximately seven guests at a time, and there is no charge to guests. The hotel also has a VIP lounge.
Leisure Facilities
As part of the overall theme of catering for the business traveller, there is a small gym and a swimming pool available for guests who fancy staying in shape whilst on their travels. There are also three changing rooms.
Verdict
Not too much in the way of frills, but a fully functional business traveller hotel that just about ticks all the boxes, without offering too much in the way of luxury. I enjoyed a comfortable stay, the food was good, the amenities adequate, the service excellent, and I think those travellers who have become accustomed to the legendary Lagos traffic, will find the location outstanding!
Contact
Address: 12 Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, +234 1 44822001, bestwesternlagosikeja.com
Mohammed Abdullahi