Hotel Kriola

Hotels
8.2 (58 reviews)
Avenida Marginal 12 de Julho , São Tomé , st

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Facilities

Offsite parking discounted rates available
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Luggage storage
Safety deposit box
Fax/photocopying
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Close to the sea
Spacious room with comfortable beds
Cons:
Decline in service quality
Neglected swimming pool

Categories

Cleanliness
7.2
The room was described as adequately clean, but with missing towels and a non-functional bathroom door, leading to a negative impression.
Service
8.2
The service quality was noted to have declined since the previous visit, with slow service and language barriers affecting the experience.
Location
9.2
Relatively close to the city center, providing a pleasant walk along the marginal.
Room Quality
7.2
Spacious but issues with towels and bathroom facilities negatively impacted the room experience.
Amenities
7.7
The swimming pool was mentioned as neglected, leading to a less inviting atmosphere.
Value for Money
8.7
Good relation between quality and price, though experiences varied.
Food and Beverage
8.2
The food was acceptable but service in the restaurant was noted to be slow.
Overall Experience
9.2
Overall experience was disappointing compared to past visits due to the decline in service and amenities.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-19 23:31

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodation
Indulge in 4-star comfort with pool views, air conditioning, and private balconies overlooking the sea.

Fantastic Amenities
Enjoy a garden, terrace, bar, and casino at your disposal. Benefit from room service and currency exchange for a hassle-free stay.

Delicious Dining Options
Start your day right with a variety of breakfast choices, including buffet, continental, and American options.

Experience luxury and convenience at Hotel Kriola in São Tomé. Book now for an unforgettable stay!

Important information:

Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Payment before arrival by bank transfer is required. The property will contact you after you book to provide instructions.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 12:30 PM

Location

Guest Reviews

8.2
Based on 58 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.2
Service: 8.2
Location: 9.2
Room Quality: 7.2
Amenities: 7.7
Value for Money: 8.7
Food and Beverage: 8.2
Overall Experience: 9.2
M
Mónica • solo_traveller • pt
10
A great surprise.
Pros:

The people, particularly Mister José Manuel. The kindest, the warmest person, always available to help and be of service.
It was great talking to him about the History and Nature.
The breakfast with delicious local fruits, fresh bread and eggs and of course, the coffee!

Cons:

The property is on a Management transition but the future holds great potential.

2026-02-27 • via Nuitee
A
Antonio • solo_traveller • pt
8
Simples mas eficaz.
Pros:

Simpatia dos funcionários.

Cons:

Instalações simples.

2026-02-09 • via Nuitee
2
24091960 • solo_traveller • pt
9
Hotel Kriola - São Tomé
Pros:

Da simpatia e eficiência dos funcionários.
Da localização do hotel, frente ao mar.

Cons:

Nada

2026-02-08 • via Nuitee
W
Wei • solo_traveller • cn
8
Pros:

close to the sea

2025-10-14 • via Nuitee
L
Liliana Ramona • couple • ch
4
Pros:

The room was spacious and adequately clean, with comfortable beds and adequate running water. The breakfast was good – good omelet and coffee, plus plenty of other things. It is not a central location, but on one of the main streets that connects ST city to the airport. The street in front is being redone but that caused us no discomfort. We stayed for two nights, but the overall experience was unsatisfactory.

Cons:

We stayed at this hotel in 2022 for seven nights and had a very pleasant experience and interaction with the owner. So much so that we wanted to return. Unfortunately, during our most recent visit, in September 2025, we noticed a severe decline in service quality. The owner changed…

The first red flag was that there was no one waiting for us at the airport, in spite of a confirmation that someone would do so. We took a taxi. In 2022 we had a very different experience and didn’t pay anything.

Upon arrival, we found only one large and one small towel in the room, despite being two guests. When we requested an additional bath towel (using a translation app and gesticulation), we were given two floor towels and one bath towel. The bathroom door did not close at all, and the handle on the inside was missing (painted over).

The television in the room kept disconnecting (not because of the blackouts!) and the broadcast reappeared at random times.

While the hotel does have a swimming pool, it is now neglected and not inviting at all.

While the food at the restaurant (talking here about lunch and dinner) was acceptable for STP, the service was quite slow – we waited for 45 minutes (!) one evening for a tonic water and a standard cocktail and we were 8 people in the restaurant out of 24 seats available (yes, we had time that evening to count the seats).

Communication was also challenging, as the staff did not speak English or French and the owner didn’t even bother to say “Hi!” – he was much more interested in a couple of ladies that were coming and going all the time.

We would recommend that the management consider investing in training—language skills and hospitality—perform maintenance on the rooms and improve restaurant operations. It will be hard for us to choose this accommodation again.

2025-10-03 • via Nuitee
A
Abdel • solo_traveller • ao
7
2025-09-29 • via Nuitee
S
Siomara • couple • es
8
2025-09-29 • via Nuitee
M
Marjolein • couple • nl
7
2025-09-29 • via Nuitee
S
Seteondas • family_with_children • pt
10
2025-09-28 • via Nuitee
A
andrezinho332 • couple • pt
8
Alojamento com boa relação qualidade/preço
Pros:

A localização do hotel é relativamente perto do centro e proporciona uma agradável caminhada pela zona da marginal. O restaurante tem boas refeições e o pequeno almoço tem variedade.

Cons:

A cama era de bambu e fazia muito barulho. A casa de banho a única porta era de vidro e via-se tudo para o interior

2025-09-21 • via Nuitee
P
Paulo Alexandre • couple • pt
8
Preço/localização
Pros:

Localizado na marginal, a 3,4km do aeroporto e a 1,7km do centro da cidade.
Atualmente a marginal está em obras, o que dificulta o passeio a pé até ao centro da cidade e de carro temos de uma volta maior
Tem piscina exterior, mas não nos inspirou muita confiança para dar um mergulho.
Tem estacionamento privado e serviço de transfer para aeroporto, com custo adicional de 10€
Tem bom buffet de pequeno almoço, podemos escolher a fruta que queremos no sumo natural e quanto aos ovos também escolhemos o tipo de omolete
Tem restaurante, o chef caboverdiano é o Nelson
Este hotel tem um gerador para o caso de faltar o fornecimento de energia da rede
Da primeira vez ficámos uma noite, porque na manhã seguinte íamos para o Principe.
Podemos deixar a bagagem maior no hotel
Ficámos alojados no quarto 11, dimensões adequadas, limpo.
Quando regressámos do Príncipe, ficámos 2 noites no quarto 10, este tinha uma televisão que não funcionava, cabos soltos e descarnados e o quadro eléctrico sem protecção com cabos à vista
Jantámos por 2 vezes no hotel, bom atendimento e boa comida
Saliento a simpatia Hércules (gerente), Nelson e Jaime (empregado de mesa)

Cons:

Melhorias a considerar
quarto 10, necessita de manutenção, cabos soltos e descarnados e o quadro eléctrico sem protecção com cabos à vista
A piscina parece um tanque, aparência pouco cuidada

2025-09-20 • via Nuitee
P
Paulo Alexandre • couple • pt
8
Preço/Localização
Pros:

Localizado na marginal, a 3,4km do aeroporto e a 1,7km do centro da cidade.
Atualmente a marginal está em obras, o que dificulta o passeio a pé até ao centro da cidade e de carro temos de uma volta maior
Tem piscina exterior, mas não nos inspirou muita confiança para dar um mergulho.
Tem estacionamento privado e serviço de transfer para aeroporto, com custo adicional de 10€
Tem bom buffet de pequeno almoço, podemos escolher o tipo de fruta no sumo e também o tipo de omolete
Tem restaurante, o chef caboverdiano é o Nelson
Este hotel tem um gerador para o caso de faltar o fornecimento de energia da rede
Da primeira vez ficámos uma noite, porque na manhã seguinte íamos para o Principe.
Podemos deixar a bagagem maior no hotel
Ficámos alojados no quarto 11, dimensões adequadas, limpo.
Quando regressámos do Príncipe, ficámos 2 noites no quarto 10, este tinha uma televisão que não funcionava, cabos soltos e descarnados e o quadro eléctrico sem protecção com cabos à vista
Jantámos por 2 vezes no hotel, bom atendimento e boa comida
Saliento a simpatia Hércules (gerente), Nelson e Jaime (empregado de mesa)

Cons:

Melhorias a considerar
quarto 10, necessita de manutenção, cabos soltos e descarnados e o quadro eléctrico sem protecção com cabos à vista
A piscina parece um tanque, aparência pouco cuidada

2025-09-20 • via Nuitee
A
Alexandre • extended_group • pt
7
2025-09-17 • via Nuitee
E
Eduardo Jorge Bettencourt da • friends
10
Pros:

Loved the mermaids in the pool

2025-09-13 • via Nuitee
A
Anthony • couple • mx
3
Avoid
Pros:

Not much

Cons:

Photos look better than reality. No toiletries or coffee in room. Power went off at 8 am. So did the water. No wifi. No water. No AC. No lights. Had to leave early to go to other hotel. Poor breakfast. Terrible bed, noisy and wired super thin mattress, couldn’t sleep.

2025-09-12 • via Nuitee
C
Christophe • couple • ch
9
Parfait pour un court séjour non loins de l’aéroport.
Pros:

Excellent restaurant. The chef did a great job. The room was very clean and big. It's a nice price-quality ratio.

2025-09-07 • via Nuitee
M
Mariana • solo_traveller • pt
10
2025-09-05 • via Nuitee
P
Prazeres • couple • ch
8
Pros:

Personnel très aimable, qualité prix, propreté et situation géographique.

2025-09-01 • via Nuitee
S
Sara • couple • es
9
Hotel muy agradable a un bonito paseo del centro de la ciudad
Pros:

La ubicación en el paseo marítimo. Muy mono, limpio y con bonita decoración. Habitación super amplia. Agua caliente y con mucha presión. El wifi funciona perfectamente en la habitación. Desayuno bastante completo.

2025-08-25 • via Nuitee
V
Valéria • solo_traveller • ao
6
Pros:

Ver o mar ao sair dos quartos superiores

Cons:

Roupas estendidas na piscina e corredor.
Falta de sabonete e pasta de dente no quarto
Não é 4⭐️ conforme aparece aqui e não devia se chamar hotel.

2025-08-11 • via Nuitee