Modern Oases in the Desert

In the 3rd grade I was asked to draw a picture of what I wanted to be when I grew up. I drew a woman carrying suitcases in one hand and holding a leash in the other hand, a Veterinarian who lived in a Holiday Inn, naturally! Although my love of dogs has indeed intensified since then, my dreams of becoming a vet fell off the rader after I discovered my intense aversion to rodents and squeamish nature to math blood. My fascination and pure delight at staying at hotels however, no matter how many stars they donned, has never diminished. I’ve stayed in a myriad of hotels across the spectrum, ranging from treehouses hundreds of feet high in the Thai jungle to 6 star exclusive hideaways in the Mexican Riviera. And one thing is for sure, I love everything about them.

So naturally, when I moved to the tourist hub of Mali, I set out to explore hotels in the area as soon as possible. Not only was I checking out potential places for friends and family, but I was also checking menus at the restaurants (primarily looking for cheese based items), bar ambiance, wi-fi access and most importantly, pool access. To my delight, I discovered that either for a small fee, a meal or for a few beers, I can use the hotel facilities at my leisure. I’ve already taken advantage of one nearby and discovered a new perk….meeting fascinating people! I mean, if  you are en route to Timbuktu, odds are good you’ve got a a pretty good story or two to tell.  In my humble hotel connoisseur opinion, I’ve been very pleased with the local flavor and modern amenities of the options below and highly recommend both.

Hotel Djembele entrance

Hotel Djembele Lobby

Hotel Djembele Rock Pool

Hotel poolside bar with wi-fi

Hotel Kanaga's local architectural exterior

Hotel Kanaga Lobby

Hotel Kanaga pool

Hotel Kanaga restaurant/bar

Hotel Kanaga Bar/Restaurant

Let’s not forget the best hotel of all though, chez Moi! You are welcome here anytime for a very reasonable fee: your company (and maybe some ranch packets and current magazines).