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Hôtel SAWA

4.0 star property
4-star Beaux Arts hotel perfect for exploring Douala

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Photo gallery for Hôtel SAWA

Front of property
Free self parking
Front of property - evening/night
Outdoor pool, pool umbrellas
Comfort Double Room, Pool View | View from room

Reviews

6.8 out of 10

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Pool
  • Pet-friendly
  • Gym
  • Free airport shuttle
  • Room service

Explore the area

Map
488 Rue De Verdun - Bonanjo, Douala, 2345
  • Port of Douala
    ‪12 min walk‬
  • Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Douala Grand Mall
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Douala (DLA-Douala Intl.)
    ‪27 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Comfort Double Room, City View

Comfort Double Room, City View

Comfort Double Room, City View

  • 30 sq m
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Double Room (Prestige)

Premium bedding, memory foam beds, in-room safe, individually furnished

Double Room (Prestige)

  • 35 sq m
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Comfort Double Room, Pool View

Comfort Double Room, Pool View

Comfort Double Room, Pool View

  • 30 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed

Executive Room

  • 30 sq m
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Standard Double or Twin Room

Standard Double or Twin Room

Standard Double or Twin Room

  • 32 sq m
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Large Twin Beds

About the area

Douala

City center stay.Within a 15-minute walk of the hotel, you'll find Douala Maritime Museum and Port of Douala. Espace Doual'art and Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul are also within 2 miles (3 km).

What's nearby

  • Port of Douala - 12 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Espace Doual'art - 17 min walk - 1.4 km
  • Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul - 3 min drive - 2.2 km
  • Eko Market - 4 min drive - 3.0 km
  • Douala Grand Mall - 6 min drive - 6.6 km

Getting around

  • Douala (DLA-Douala Intl.) - 27 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Le Boj - ‬12 min walk
  • ‪One Rooftop - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Opiom Bali - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪L'Ovalie - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪La Pizzeria - ‬3 min drive

About this property

Hôtel SAWA

4-star Beaux Arts hotel perfect for exploring Douala
Hôtel SAWA offers its guests a children's pool, an outdoor pool, an outdoor tennis court, and a steam room. There's a restaurant on site, as well as a coffee shop/cafe and a snack bar/deli. You can enjoy a drink at one of the bars, which include a poolside bar and a bar/lounge. WiFi is free in public spaces.

Business amenities include a 24-hour business center and a meeting room. A fitness center, a terrace, and multilingual staff are also featured at the business-friendly Hôtel SAWA. A roundtrip airport shuttle is free (available 24 hours). Self parking is free.

Smoking is allowed in designated areas at this Beaux Arts Douala hotel.

  • 1 building
  • 288 guestrooms or units
  • 8 levels
  • Deli
  • Umbrellas for the pool
  • Business center (24 hours)
  • Conference space
  • Breakfast available (surcharge)
  • Coffee in lobby
  • Dry cleaning
  • Self-service laundry
  • Front desk (24 hours)
  • Staff is multilingual
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Front-desk safe
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Concierge
  • Wedding services available
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Outdoor picnic space
  • Gift shop
  • Beauty salon
  • Television in lobby
  • ATM
  • Onsite shopping
  • Bellhop
  • Elevator
  • Smoking in designated areas
  • Bar or lounge
  • Bar by the pool
  • Dining venue
  • Swim-up bar
Hôtel SAWA offers 288 accommodations with safes and hair dryers. These individually furnished accommodations include desks. Memory foam beds feature premium bedding. Flat-screen televisions come with satellite channels.

Bathrooms include bathtubs and complimentary toiletries. This Douala hotel provides complimentary wired Internet access. A nightly turndown service is provided and housekeeping is offered daily.

Languages

English, French

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4.0 out of 5, Very good, 127 reviews
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Property amenities

Family friendly

  • Children's pool
  • Laundry facilities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Snack bar/deli
  • Soundproofed rooms

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free wired internet
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • 24-hour free roundtrip airport shuttle
  • Free self parking on site
  • Free RV/bus/truck parking on site

Food and drink

  • Daily buffet breakfast available 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM for a fee: USD 25 for adults and USD 15 for children
  • A bar/lounge
  • A coffee shop/cafe
  • A poolside bar
  • A restaurant
  • A swim-up bar
  • Coffee and tea in common areas
  • Snack bar/deli

Things to do

  • Children's pool
  • Gym
  • Outdoor pool
  • Outdoor tennis court
  • Shopping
  • Steam room
  • TV in common areas

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Elevator
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV with satellite channels

Bedroom

  • Blackout drapes
  • Memory foam mattress
  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Bathtub
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • 24-hour room service

More

  • Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
  • Desk
  • Individual furnishings
  • Laptop workspace
  • Safe
  • Soundproofed rooms

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: midnight
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before noon

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport; to arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 48 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • Pets: USD 17 per pet, per day
  • Restrictions apply
  • For more information, you can reach out to the property at the number on the booking confirmation

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Kids stay free! One child 12 years old or younger stays free when using existing bedding.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
  • Cribs (infant beds) are available for USD 31.0 per day.

Property payment types

Important information

Fees

Guests will be asked to pay the following charges at the property:

  • A tax is imposed by the city: USD 6.50 per person, per night

We've listed all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Fee for buffet breakfast: approximately USD 25 for adults and USD 15 for children
  • Pet fee: USD 17 per pet, per day
  • Crib (infant bed) fee: USD 31.0 per day

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Safety features at this property include a security system
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Cash is not accepted. For guests' safety, the property includes a security system in each accommodation.

We should mention

  • One child 12 years old or younger stays free in the same room as the parent or guardian when using existing bedding.
  • Registered guests are the only ones allowed to be in guestrooms.
  • To make arrangements to bring your pet, contact the property directly at the number on your booking confirmation (please see the Fees section for related charges).

Property is also known as

SAWA Douala
Hôtel SAWA Hotel
Hôtel SAWA Douala
Hôtel SAWA Douala
Hôtel SAWA
Hôtel SAWA Hotel Douala

Hôtel SAWA Reviews

Reviews

6.8
Rating 10 - Excellent. 6 out of 44 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 15 out of 44 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 16 out of 44 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 4 out of 44 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 44 reviews

6.8/10

Cleanliness

7.0/10

Staff & service

7.6/10

Amenities

6.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

6.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Jean-Jacques

Disliked: Cleanliness
Old or vetust shower tower on bath room. Room not smell fresh at all
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

John

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

Romaric Belmier

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Good customer service.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Christian

Disliked: Staff & service
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Adolphe

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

4/10 Poor

Alexandre

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
nothing
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

George

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Good location, friendly staff. The facilities need an upgrade.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2022

8/10 Good

Amr

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Veey good
Very good stay, near the airport and the room was clean
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2022

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service
First red flag my booking wasn't available when I there. Second the receptionist 😡
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
It is a mistake to book this property through Expedia. Expedia did not send my reservations information to the property and it caused me so much headache. I paid for breakfast on one of the days I reserved but Expedia claimed to the property that there was no breakfast included.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2020

8/10 Good

Dennis A

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Hotel SAWA is a great deal for a great hotel.
Hotel SAWA is a great hotel in a good location. It is a good deal. The staff is very helpful. The on-site restaurant is clean and serves good food as well. The rooms are clean and serviced daily. The front desk staff are available and helpful. We have stayed there 3 times now. The main lobby is under construction at the moment, but they have done a good job of making the construction invisible.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2019

6/10 Okay

Dave

Business traveller
Liked: Staff & service
Hotel needs updating badly
Very old hotel in a great location. Staff very friendly and helpful. Pool area great for sunset drink and snack.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2019

6/10 Okay

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Needs some work !
AC didn't go below 23deg, rooms are in desperate need of attention, there is a new lobby area being built. The pool and garden are a very nice place to relax and unwind, very friendly & helpful staff.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2019

6/10 Okay

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Nice but tired hotel, good for short stay only.
Old hotel in need of some renovation, the grounds were nice especially out by the pool area, the staff were extremely friendly and helpful.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Dennis A

Our choice hotel in Douala.
We have stayed at the Sawa Hotel on two different trips. We are always excited to arrive there. They have a nice restaurant attached to the hotel, with a buffet style service. The tap water always has plenty of pressure and hot which is a nice change from several hotels we have been in. The air conditioning is always working well and the linens on the bed and in the restroom are always clean. It is our choice hotel when we are in Douala.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2018

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Room comfort
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2018

2/10 Terrible

Samuel, Hyattsville MD

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
No more
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2018

8/10 Good

Kevin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
SAWA for Business and swimming
I stay at the SAWA on business fairly regularly. It is an older property and you can have issues in the room on occasion with things such as the AC. Service is very good with some great. The outside eating area is very nice but the inside is a bit lacking. They do keep the rooms clean, pool is nice and a bit crazy on the weekends with families. WiFi is very spotty and I would recommend getting a local hotspot.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2018

8/10 Good

Stéphane, USA

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very pleasing staff
The staff was amazing et the rooms were very big and comfortable.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2018

4/10 Poor

Michelle, Kinshasa

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Conference hotel, moldy.
The hotel staff are friendly, but the rooms are a bit moldy and damp--constant struggle for places in douala. The restaurant takes a long time to order, and for large conferences they can't keep up with the demand, even though they do try hard. I'd rate this as a 2.5/5 hotel because I find it just under average.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2017

8/10 Good

Kevin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Improving!
The SAWA has been slowly sprucing back up. I have been coming here on business for a number of years and the last two years have shown improvements. The room had been freshened up, was clean (never an issue) AC worked well (improvement) and the hand held shower had a bracket (improvement). I don't do the breakfast buffet. Internet seemed more reliable this trip but it was a short stay.

6/10 Okay

Kevin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Room comfort
An okay spot on a business trip.
Have stayed here a number of times and they are working to spruce the place up. Fresh paint, new elevators, generally cleaner. However, it is an old property and there is still work to be done. For example on the air conditioning in the rooms, fixing shower heads (though always plenty of hot water), and providing ammenities like a water boiler for tea and coffee. The outside area is pleasant especially for breakfast (skip the breakfast buffet) or for the evening wind down.

10/10 Excellent

Javier, Honduras

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Nice hotel near to the airport
The hotel is very nice good swimming pool that you can relax and good restaurant bar beside.

4/10 Poor

James, USA

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Acceptable, several better alternatives in Douala
Travelled to Cameroon to see my fiancee, this is not my first visit to Cameroon, and I have visited many third world countries. However, for the price, this was not a great bargain. Room is pretty crummy, bedding poor. AC worked well, and restroom was adequate. Didn't try the restaurant, looked at the menu and felt it was overpriced, so went out. Stayed in the Futuris Hotel on my way out, and also looked at the Star Land, both were nicer than SAWA, and similarly priced.

4/10 Poor

isaac, Maryland US

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Low maintenance overall
Hotel needs more investment to fit the category Room in low maintenance Water flushing continually