Liberia, a nation in West Africa, offers a variety of accommodation options for travelers. This guide explores some of the best hotels in Liberia, focusing on those outside of Monrovia's city center, providing detailed information to help you plan your stay.
Location of Liberia in West Africa
Farmington Hotel
The Farmington Hotel is an excellent option for your first or last night in Liberia due to its proximity to Monrovia's airport (ROB). This is especially true since traffic around Monrovia can be horrendous, most streets aren't lit and some flights arrive and depart in the middle of the night. Brussels Airlines crew currently use the Farmington Hotel for overnight stays between flights.
Farmington Hotel Exterior
- One-word description: Convenient
- Transfer cost to/from airport: Included
- Distance from airport: <1 mile, can walk or use complimentary shuttle
- Distance from Monrovia city center: 37 miles
- Air conditioning: Rooms, dining room, lobby, lobby bar
- Opening date: 2017
- Rooms: 164
- Wi-Fi speed test: 3.35 Mbps download, 3.20 Mbps upload
- ATMs on site: Two, although both had signs noting the hotel isn't responsible if the ATM dispenses the wrong amount
- Daily fee for non-guests: $20 for adults, $15 for children
We booked a deluxe room with two twin beds for both stays, which is the least-expensive room category. The twin beds are located next to each other. The room has a desk with chair, a flat-screen TV and a mini-fridge. There's a closet with ample storage and a safe. The bathroom has a shower with bathtub, sink, toilet and bidet. Shampoo, conditioner, lotion, body wash and soap are all provided.
Read also: Liberia Hotel Guide
For other meals, you can order from a menu in the bar or enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet in the main dining room. We decided to order from the menu in the bar both nights we stayed at the Farmington. We paid $181 per night through Hotels.com for each of our one-night stays.
Libassa Ecolodge
Libassa Ecolodge is located off a dirt road and is definitely more remote than the other two options discussed in this guide. The property has no air conditioning, although there is 24-hour power that only went out a couple times during our stay, Wi-Fi and fans. You'll also see more bugs in your room at this property than at others -- especially if you leave your lights on and doors open after dark.
Libassa Ecolodge Exterior
- One word description: Relaxing
- Transfer cost to/from airport: $35 for a car each way
- Distance from airport: 22.7 miles
- Distance from Monrovia city center: 27.8 miles
- Air conditioning: No
- Opening date: 2012
- Rooms: 20
- Wi-Fi speed test: 2.71 Mbps download, 1.73 Mbps upload
- ATMs on site: None
- Daily fee for non-guests: $10 for adults, $5 for children
There are various room types, but the most plentiful and least expensive are the Palaver huts. These huts are separated into two guest rooms that share a common balcony. Each room has a name, which you use when charging meals to your room. Inside the room, there's a double bed with a mosquito net. In one corner of the room is a desk with a chair and a safe. There's also an open-air closet, a chair under the closet and a bench that seems like it could hold a mattress for a single bed.
Each room has a private bathroom, although the flooring wasn't very stable in the shower and I saw multiple cockroaches disappear into the floor. Soap is provided in a bulk dispenser in the shower and next to the sink, but no shampoo or conditioner is provided. The highlight of Libassa isn't the rooms though. Instead, the property is why you really come to Libassa. There are five swimming pools, including a lazy river and two slides that are only operated on the weekends. There's also an animal sanctuary that appears to be ethically operated.
Read also: Discover the Golden Tulip Westlands
Tours are offered three times a day and cost just $5 per person, so I highly recommend going to see the animals and learn more about the sanctuary and wildlife conservation in Liberia. Although the waves and rip-tide make swimming in the ocean unsafe, there is a beach with lounge chairs. In addition to the beach, there's also a lagoon area where you can relax or swim.
Breakfast is included in your room rate, and is served each morning in the dining area near the pool. You can order cooked-to-order eggs from a server. For other meals, the same menu is used regardless of whether you eat near the ocean or by the pool. We generally enjoyed the dining options but found that some items were never available.
Libassa advertises Palaver huts rooms at $125 per night. But, these rooms start at $220 through most online travel agencies. I originally booked through Hotels.com and attempted to use the site's price guarantee -- but my request was denied, so I canceled and booked direct to save $95 per night.
RLJ Kendeja Resort & Villas
The RLJ Kendeja was where all of the TPG and PeaceJam staff stayed during the PeaceJam conference. The resort claimed when it opened in 2009 that it was the first hotel built in Liberia in the past 20 years.
RLJ Kendeja Resort & Villas Exterior
Read also: Your Getaway to Bojo Beach Resort
- One word description: Frustrating
- Transfer cost to/from airport: $50 per person for a shuttle each way or $60 for a car each way
- Distance from airport: 25.5 miles
- Distance from Monrovia city center: 12.2 miles
- Air conditioning: Rooms, dining room, lobby bar
- Opening date: March 11, 2009
- Rooms: 78
- Wi-Fi speed test: 21.10 Mbps download, 17.85 Mbps upload
- ATMs on site: Two, although one didn't work and the other was frequently out of cash
Check-in didn't go well, as the hotel had incorrect dates for my stay. And, when I eventually received a room key, another guest already occupied my room. When I was assigned another room, the door would not fully close. The third room didn't have any major issues, although its air conditioning didn't work nearly as well as rooms occupied by other TPG staff.
Each of us booked and received a standard double room. Rooms are located in 14 hexagonal villas, most of which contain six standard rooms. Our room contained one king bed, a desk with chair, a small lounge chair, a mini-refrigerator and a closet with a safe. The bathroom was long, and had enough space on the vanity, shelves and nearby ledges for any toiletries you might carry. The shower had a half-wall that didn't keep water from spraying into the toilet area.
Unfortunately, the water at this resort went out multiple times during our stay, including times in the morning and evening when guests wanted to shower. And, the cleaning staff was not consistent about leaving toiletries -- and many of the toiletries that were left were only half full.
Both of the afternoons we spent at the resort, there were pool parties hosted for people who weren't staying at the resort. These parties were not only loud but also eliminated any notion of guests relaxing at the pool or beach. The beach at this resort provides impressive sunrise and sunset views, but there were persistent men selling items on the beach that sometimes made it difficult to enjoy the sunset. There's also public beach access near the resort. Beaches are public in Liberia, so the beach area in front of the resort was crowded on some occasions.
The resort has one restaurant that was open during our stay: Posh. Don't get your heart set on any particular item on the menu though, as items were frequently unavailable. There's also a lobby bar that has a pool table that is free to use for guests. This bar area is a comfortable place for a light meal or drink.
I booking our stay using my Citi Prestige® Card that offers a reward night when you redeem points for any stay of four or more nights. Although we paid $235 per night after the fourth-night reward benefit, we received a bill at check-out showing that the resort only received $150 per night, which likely means Citi and Expedia made a profit of $85 per night on this booking.
Other Accommodation Options in Liberia
Besides the mentioned hotels, Liberia offers a range of other accommodation choices, including:
- Bella Casa Hotels & Suites
- Golden Gate Hotel
- Golden Key Hotel
- Kailondo Hotel
- Mamba Point Monrovia
- Nanaâs Lodge
- Royal Hotel
- The Cape Hotel
Top 10 Best Tourist Places to Visit in Liberia | Costa Rica - English
Tips for Booking Hotels in Liberia
Here are some tips to consider when booking hotels in Liberia:
- Low Season: You'll find cheaper accommodations in Liberia in June and July.
- Day of the Week: Hotel room prices vary depending on many factors but youâll most likely find the best hotel deals in Liberia if you stay on a Monday. The opposite is true for, Saturday, which is usually the most expensive day.
- Peak Season: October through January is the peak season for visiting Liberia. Prices of major hotels tend to go up, and finding hotels to stay for more than a week can be hectic. If you wish to get good deals, consider booking earlier if you will visit during these peak months.
Average Hotel Prices by Month:
| Month | Average Rate |
|---|---|
| June | $80 |
| November | $188 |
Average Hotel Prices by Day of the Week:
| Day of the Week | Average Rate |
|---|---|
| Monday | $85 |
| Saturday | $250 |
Popular articles:
tags: #Africa
