Le Meridien Chari

July 17 2008: While this probably isn't what you might expect from Meridien hotels in world capitals, it's about the most luxury you will find in N'Djamena.  And let's face it: if you find yourself spending the night in Chad, you have bigger problems than a couple of insects in the room (namely figuring out how and when you can get out of Chad).

 The front desk staff are helpful and most speak passable English.  The prices are higher than anyone ever expects to find in a failed state that lacks an organized economy. This is probably because most of the clientele are expats on expense accounts.  While the value for the money would not be very good in developed countries, it's worth it in N'Djamena. The Novotel and, if you don't mind being under round-the-clock surveillance, the Hotel Libya A.K.A. Kempinski are just as good or better. The Novotel would probably be my first choice.

The Meridien is in a good location, close to the airport, most embassies and anything else that is worth being close to in N'Djamena. 

The hotel has a pretty good restaurant that does a fixed price lunch buffet.  When I was there the price was roughly equal to USD40, but i never met anyone who got sick from it.  For a better meal, go to the nearby Chinese restaurant, Chez Wu, which is equally expensive but is probably the best place to eat in the country.

There is a pleasant pool in the back that overlooks the Chari River, which, for a brief period of time at sunrise, if you're not too close to it and you sort of squint, can almost be pretty.  I'm also told that during the rainy season if you don't have anything better to do (which you do -- see previous parenthetical statement) you can watch for hippos in there.

As an added bonus, the hotel is very close to the French Embassy, which means that during coup attempts it is heavily guarded and evacuated by Legionnaires. 

Date of stay: January 2008
Purpose of stay: Business