After three weeks of tiring travelling around Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire, we were more than ready to swap long journeys and sightseeing for rest and relaxation. We hoped that the Assoyam Beach Hotel in Grand-Bassam would be the perfect place to slow down and enjoy our final nights in the Cote d’Ivoire.
However, our first impression, wasn’t quite so relaxing. Like several hotels we’d stayed in during the trip, check-in was entirely digital and surprisingly laborious. After connecting to the Wi-Fi, we had to scan a QR code to access the registration form. This enabled us to complete a lengthy questionnaire covering everything from our parents’ names to emergency contacts, local contacts and our arrival and departure dates as well as uploading passport copies and selfies. We joked that we hadn’t supplied as much information when applying for our visas.
The accommodation was arranged in three rows of attractive thatched single storey buildings. Seven front-row cottages enjoyed uninterrupted sea views, while two further rows of twelve, sat behind them. We stayed in G5 on the middle row.
Our cottage was comfortable and a good size. It featured a double bed with an unexpectedly heavy duvet, although the powerful, non-adjustable air conditioning meant this wasn’t a problem as it fortunately didn’t blow directly onto the bed. We supplemented the single pillows with cushions from the small sofa. There were bedside shelves with reading lights and power sockets, a desk, chair and coffee table, and a wardrobe with a safe, excellent shelving and three hangers. The practical wooden flooring was ideal for a beach resort, and two complimentary bottles of water were replenished daily.
The spacious bathroom followed a wet-room design, with an open-plan shower that inevitably left much of the floor wet, meaning towels often became makeshift bath mats. On the plus side, there was an excellent long shelf providing plenty of room for toiletries and complimentary ones were provided. Towels were replaced whenever left on the floor, and a practical bamboo ladder served as the towel rack.
Each cottage had a small patio with two comfortable chairs but as ours overlooked those on the front row, we rarely used it.
Without question, the hotel’s standout feature was its saltwater swimming pool which had a refreshing temperature. It was immaculately maintained being drained and refilled every other day. The rectangular pool was large enough for ‘proper’ swimming, yet easy to enter and exit with shallow stone steps. There were plenty of loungers with comfortable cushions, and parasols were brought out when required. After a day or two, the attentive pool ‘boy’ had learned our routine well enough to reposition our parasol whenever we drifted into the sunshine. With temperatures regularly exceeding 30°C and humidity making it feel closer to 37°C, this was very much appreciated.
There were only two minor drawbacks. Pool towels weren’t provided, so we had to make do with the rather undersized white bathroom towels. Secondly, on Wednesday mornings the hotel hosted swimming lessons for local schoolchildren between 10am and 1pm. While it temporarily transformed the peaceful pool into something considerably livelier, a polite complaint on our part resulted in complimentary beers for the duration of the lessons, a negotiation we considered entirely satisfactory!
As the hotel sits directly on the Atlantic, the sea wasn’t suitable for swimming and strong currents meant the red warning flag flew continuously throughout our stay. Although we enjoyed several long walks along the expansive beach, we were more than happy to spend most of our time by the pool. One small improvement would be the addition of a foot bath beside the pool showers to help keep sand out of the water.
There were five large thatched, open-sided dining areas, which initially seemed excessive given the hotel’s relatively modest number of rooms, but we soon discovered why. During our first few days, the hotel hosted a sizeable conference, with delegates eating buffet meals in one of the covered areas. As they spent most of the day in meetings, the pool remained blissfully quiet. At weekends, however, the atmosphere changed completely as local families arrived for day visits, enjoying leisurely lunches and making full use of the facilities. As we were staying for nine nights, this wasn’t a major issue, but anyone planning only a short visit might prefer to avoid weekends if they’re seeking a quieter experience.
If the swimming pool was the hotel’s greatest asset, the restaurant ran it a very close second.
Menus were accessed online and available in both French and English. Although the selection wasn’t extensive and prices were higher than we’d become accustomed to elsewhere in Côte d’Ivoire, every meal was beautifully presented and consistently excellent. The emphasis was very much on fresh seafood, and during our stay we enjoyed dishes including tuna carpaccio, scallops, grilled shrimp and delicately prepared fish, followed by light desserts such as pineapple carpaccio with anise infusion and lime sorbet. Service was friendly and efficient throughout and, whilst not all staff spoke English, everyone made a genuine effort, and communication was never a problem.
Breakfast was included and consisted of a simple but enjoyable continental spread of fresh juice, sliced fruit, pastries, French bread with butter and jam, plus tea or coffee. It wasn’t until a few days into our stay that we realised our package also included freshly cooked eggs to order. Having discovered just how enormous the omelettes were, we sensibly shared one each morning for the rest of our stay.
Overall, Assoyam Beach Hotel delivered exactly what we needed after an adventurous three weeks on the road. The accommodation was comfortable rather than luxurious, but the superb swimming pool, excellent food and relaxed beachfront setting made it an ideal place to unwind.
