The Ridge Royal Hotel on Ghana’s Cape Coast was the final stop on our three-week tour of West Africa, and having looked at the website, we anticipated a little luxury before moving on to the beach.
This was a huge, two-storey hotel set around a central area and due to its design, our standard room, 2018, seemed a long walk from the restaurant and reception.
The king size bed had a soft mattress but the pillows, albeit plenty of them, were lumpy and there was a long tear in the duvet cover, which was quickly changed on request. The bedside tables and lights had no plug points, although there were plenty around the desk. Two easy chairs were ideal for relaxing and there was a TV, an empty fridge and tea and coffee making facilities. The hair dryer was stuck in a holder on the side of the fridge which seemed an unusual place until we realised the mirror was nearby. However, the only plug point for the hairdryer involved pulling out the fridge, but having done so, it didn’t work. The large wardrobe had a safe, one robe and one set of slippers, but air conditioning and Wi-Fi were both good.
The bathroom was a reasonable size, and we had the luxury of not only two towels, but two flannels (a first on our three-week trip). The walk-in shower had a screen to avoid water splashing, but on the downside, it was dark, there was no shaving mirror and little space for our own toiletries although basic complimentary toiletries were provided.
Our balcony with two chairs and table overlooked the swimming pool which had loungers, plenty of seating and a pool bar.
In addition, there was a pleasant indoor bar with reasonably priced drinks, but tonic to accompany our gin was unavailable and so it was Sprite once again, although at least there was ice, but no lemon – after three weeks we were yearning for a G&T with both ice and lemon.
All our meals were included, which was helpful due to the hotel’s isolated location.
In the ground floor restaurant, the majority of tables were laid for six or eight, and it appeared small for a hotel with 78 rooms, but neither it nor the hotel seemed busy during our three-night stay.
The first night we chose calamari and fish kebabs from the a la carte menu. The former failed to appear and, having waited 50 minutes for the kebabs whilst listening to the dreadful scraping of chairs as guests went up and down to the buffet, we followed suit the next night.
The buffet began with a salad bar and soup, a surprisingly spicy tomato one night and clear goat the next. Mains included international items like pizza and beef casserole, and traditional dishes involving yams, casava, fufu and shito sauce, but they were like many buffets a little uninspiring and tepid. Desserts were a selection of small cakes or fresh fruit. The house wine was unavailable but the South African Sauvignon Blanc at 350 Cedis or £24 was still reasonably priced.
Breakfast consisted of two unlabelled, thick, gloopy juices and a selection of papaya, pineapple, and watermelon. The buffet of hot dishes included: sausages and bacon (but not as we know them), baked beans, black bean stew, a noodle dish, and stir-fried vegetables with an egg chef being available. In addition, there were breads and jam, a toaster, and a daily changing sweet and savoury pastry. Nescafe sachets and tea bags were available and for once, there was fresh milk rather than evaporated.
Judging by the various packages offered all around the hotel, it attracts conference guests and lunchtime day visitors.
The website states that all rooms are wheelchair accessible, (there is a lift) and that one is adapted for the ‘physically challenged’.
Whilst it didn’t deliver the level of luxury we anticipated, after our next stop (see review for Brenu Beach Resort) it felt like The Ritz.
