Reviews of Taj Pamodzi Hotel
(76%) From 62 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
| 
Taj Pamodzi Hotel review
They were expecting me the day before, but no real problem.
Read more about the whole trip
Good place for a relaxed one-night stay
Stayed for one night after arriving on the Emirates flight in the afternoon. Good option.
Read more about the whole tripTaj Pamodzi Hotel review
I only spent one night at the Taj Pamodzi hotel right after getting to Zambia. Its a good location for a one night stop in Lusaka.
Read more about the whole tripAn impersonal but good enough hotel
We arrived at about 7 p.m. and although our reservation was found, the receptionist tried to claim that the room had not been prepaid. After encouragement from us, they accepted the Expert Africa voucher and agreed that we did not have to pay for the room.
Dinner was fine but there were few guests and the atmoshpere after the camps was a bit imperonal.
Breakfast began at 5.30 so we were able to eat before leaving for the airport to catch the morning BA flight. However, the breakfast buffet had obviously been cooked hours before and the food not yet properly re-heated. Overall, a poor epxerience and we wouldn't stay again.
Overnight stay at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel
We stayed one night here prior to catching the early morning BA flight back to London. The hotel is a good choice, and is only about 20-25 minutes from Lusaka airport by taxi.
Read more about the whole trip
Taj Pamodzi Hotel review
Oh dear, the Pamodzi hasn't improved in the last 30 years! We first went there in 1980 and have stayed there quite a few times since on various press trips and I'm afraid it got a universal thumbs down from the group. The reception from the receptionist was uber chilly and we were kept waiting for a considerable time while passports were photocopied and various forms filled in but were not invited to sit, rather were left standing.
The only half good thing was a glass of fruit juice from the porter, who did his best to be friendly. The receptionist then announced grimly that one of the twin rooms was a smoking rooms and when we remonstrated we were grudgingly given an altenative. But all was still not well and when we got there we found the alternative was a double bedded room. When we moved to another on the same floor we found it was a smoking room. The other two of the group who were in an ostensibly non smoking room, reported that it smelled very strongly of smoke. So far, not so good.
The mini bar was stocked with a coke and tin of tonic water. Nothing else!
We asked to see the Duty Manager, who proved not to be a charm school graduate. He told us that we had paid a discounted rate for our rooms, the inference being that even though we had booked executive twins, we were pretty lucky to have got anything. We encouraged him to smooth ruffled feathers and he offered us a complimentary tea or coffee, which didn't appeal as it was 8pm by now. Eventually four glasses of wine arrived but not with any grace or enthusiasm.
Having waited to be served for some time, we eventually attracted the attention of a waiter and asked if he knew the Kwacha/dollar exchange rate so we could work out the cost of a bottle of wine. Further long delay before another waiter was able to answer this.
A grim buffet dinner, dry, tasteless and the not at all the standard to be expected from an international hotel. The breakfast was OK but all too much at 5am.
Taj Pamodzi Hotel review
Typical snooty unhelpful receptionist of this type of hotel, who wasn't minded to help us with our minor mix up re transport.
Nice restaurant, with good food, but v expensive.
However, looking at Lusaka this is a good place to stay in a smart hotel.
Taj Pamodzi Hotel review
The room allocated had obviously been used by someone on a late check out after it had been cleaned as there was a dirty glass that the porter took away, used shampoo and signs that someone had lain on the bed. Other than that it was OK.
We were not met at the airport by Voyager and had to get the hotel shuttle which fortunately was picking up someone else on a different flight. We thought we were going to have to use the hotel shuttle back to the airport in the morning but fortunately Voyager turned up.
The staff wanted to charge us for one room even though they had the vouchers for 2 rooms passed to them when we checked in. When we question this they said OK. Obviously trying it on.
Taj Pamodzi Hotel review
Our short overnight stay prior to catching an early flight was uneventful other than a mix up over our pre-paid room.
Read more about the whole tripA convenient overnighter
We stayed one night in transit on our way back to London and were satisfied with the arrangements and accommodation
Read more about the whole trip
We have always believed that acting responsibly is the only way to approach tourism and we're one of
the few companies to hold AITO's original coveted 5-star status for responsible tourism. It's a lead
that others are now following.
