Luxury Redefined: Presken Hotel & Suites (GRA) Lagos - Your Dream Getaway Awaits!
Luxury Redefined: Presken Hotel & Suites (GRA) Lagos - Your Dream Getaway Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups! Because this isn't your average, sterile hotel review. This is me, spitting truth about Luxury Redefined: Presken Hotel & Suites (GRA) Lagos – or at least, my impression of it. Because, let's be real, hotels are like people – you gotta get to know them quirks and all. And trust me, I've got some quirks to report.
The Big Picture: Is This Dreamy or Just… Lagos? (Plus the Essential SEO Stuff)
First, let's get the SEO robots happy. This review is all about Presken Hotel & Suites GRA Lagos, emphasizing its luxury and its claim to be your "dream getaway." We'll be peppering in keywords like Accessibility, Wheelchair accessible, Spa, Swimming pool, Restaurant, Wi-Fi, Safety, and all the other buzzwords you expect. I'm even going to be talking about Business facilities because, let’s face it, GRA Lagos is a bustling place.
Now, the real deal. Lagos, right? It's a city that slaps you in the face with its energy. Can a hotel truly offer "dream getaway" vibes amidst all that? That's what we're here to find out.
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag… and a Story
Right, let's be real. Accessibility is critical. It's a dealbreaker for many, and honestly, it speaks volumes about a hotel's values. While I don't have a wheelchair, I tried to look at this with an open mind…and, well, it's a mixed bag.
- Wheelchair accessible: This is listed, which is a good start. However, I'd want to see specifics. Are all public areas accessible? Are there ramps and elevators in the right places? Are the rooms truly adapted? (If anyone has specific experience here, PLEASE chime in the comments!)
- Facilities for disabled guests: I'm hoping this means the hotel is genuinely trying. But the devil is always in the details.
Here's my story - Last time I was in Lagos, some of the public transport was a total nightmare to navigate, and I just know the hotel would need to do the same good job for their guests.
On-site Restaurants & Lounges: Food, Glorious Food (and a Little Bit of Chaos)
Okay, food! That's where things get interesting. Presken claims to have a culinary scene. (SEO keywords: Restaurants, Bar, Poolside bar, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Western cuisine in restaurant, Breakfast [buffet], Room service [24-hour], Snack bar, A la carte in restaurant…)
The "dream getaway" hinges on good food, right?
- The Buffet: Breakfast buffet - a staple of hotel life. I'm cautiously optimistic. I'm dreaming of crispy bacon, fluffy omelets, and a decent cup of coffee. Let's hope it is not overly oily.
- Restaurants: The promise of “Asian cuisine” and "International cuisine" could be amazing, given the city. The variety can create an experience out of the ordinary, but could be a hit or miss.
- Room Service: 24-hour room service is a definite plus. Perfect for those late-night cravings or when you just want to wallow in luxury. (Or, you know, recover from a night out.)
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - The Fun Stuff
- Happy hour: A must-have. Let's hope it's actually happy and not just… a slight discount on lukewarm drinks.
- Poolside Bar: Imagine… lounging by the pool, sipping a cocktail, and (fingers crossed) escaping the Lagos heat. This is the "dream getaway" part I am hoping works out.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Essential. Seriously.
Ways to Relax: Spa Day Dreams or Just a Dream?
SEO Keywords: Spa, Sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor], Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath, Massage, Pool with view, Gym/fitness, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom
This is where Presken really needs to deliver. A hotel in Lagos should have a good spa. Period. After battling traffic and city life, the whole point of a hotel like this is to melt away the stress.
- The Spa: I'm picturing…soft lighting, soothing music, the scent of essential oils. Will it be a sanctuary or a slightly over-priced experience?
- Swimming Pool: An outdoor pool is essential, especially in Lagos. Is it clean, well-maintained, and, ideally, actually a place you want to swim?
- Fitness Center: A gym is necessary for some. My inner lazy person is already groaning, but I know it's important for some guests.
Cleanliness and Safety: In a Pandemic World (and Beyond)
SEO Keywords: Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, Hygiene certification, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment…
This is HUGE. I am going to be looking for the evidence that they take safety seriously.
Here is an anecdote: One hotel I stayed at "claimed" to use anti-viral products, so I was skeptical. But I like it when a place shows you they're doing the work. Because honestly, if they can't keep the basics clean, the "luxury" doesn't matter.
Available in all rooms: Amenities that either matter or don't
SEO Keywords: Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens.
Okay, let's break this down. Some of these are "nice to haves" while others are vital:
- Air Conditioning: ABSOLUTELY essential. Lagos heat + no AC = misery.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Of course! I expect to binge-watch all the movies. (The internet access – LAN is also good, but who uses LAN these days?)
- Bathrobes/Slippers: A touch of luxury that I secretly love.
The Quirks (and the Realness):
- The Staff: Are they friendly? Helpful? Or do they just look like they want to be somewhere else? I'm all about good service, but I also understand everyone has bad days.
- The Vibe: Does the hotel truly feel like a place to relax, or is it just a fancy shell?
- The "Hidden Costs": Are there unexpected fees? Lagos hotels are notorious for adding things on, so I'm on the lookout.
For the Kids and Family - Is Presken Family Friendly?
SEO Keywords: Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meals
These are important for families. I'm assuming it is family-friendly which is good, but needs to be done right.
Services and Conveniences - The Small Things That Make a Difference
SEO Keywords: Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center…
- Contactless Check-in/out: Essential in today's world.
- Concierge: Hopefully, someone who can actually give good recommendations, not just the usual tourist traps.
- Car park [free of charge]: A bonus.
Getting Around
SEO Keywords: Airport transfer, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking
- Airport Transfer: A must-have.
- Car Park: Free is always good.
**The Verdict (When & If I
Lanzhou Luxury: Unbelievable Crowne Plaza Deal (IHG) - Book Now!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your average, sterile travel itinerary. This is… my attempt at a stay at Presken Hotel and Suites (GRA), Lagos. Honestly, I’m expecting a mix of luxurious bliss and the delightful chaos that is Lagos. Let's see if I survive, shall we?
Day 1: Arrival, the Nigerian Welcome, and Existential Dread
9:00 AM (ish) - So Far, So Good (Airport Hustle): Arrive at Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Okay, first impression? HOT. Like, Sahara-Desert-in-July hot. The air hits you like a wet blanket. Honestly, I was expecting more… organised. Immigration was a bit of a free-for-all – the queues snaked, the air buzzed with a symphony of languages, and I’m pretty sure I saw someone trying to sell a goat. A GOAT! But hey, I survived!
10:30 AM - The Great Taxi Hunt: Finding a taxi. This is where the real fun begins. Haggle, haggle, haggle. Every driver claims they're the only one who knows the way to Presken. Eventually, I strike a shaky deal with a guy in a beat-up yellow cab who promises me A/C and a "smooth ride". Smooth? More like a rollercoaster with potholes. But whatever, we're moving – victory!
12:00 PM - Check-In and the Verdict: Arrive at Presken (finally!). The lobby looks promising. Marble floors, polished chrome, a faint scent of… something vaguely floral. Check-in? Actually, relatively painless. I’m in! Room’s alright, I'll give it that. Clean, AC WORKS (hallelujah!), and a view of… well, the neighborhood. Let’s just say it’s not the Swiss Alps.
1:00 PM - Lunch is Served… Almost: Heading to the hotel restaurant. Ordered what I thought was a simple salad. Two hours later, still waiting. I'm now VERY hungry, and starting to question all my life choices. Finally, it arrives. More like a pile of lettuce with a single, sad tomato. Okay, maybe I'm being a bit dramatic. Maybe.
3:00 PM - Exploring GRA (and My Inner Demons): Took a walk around GRA. It's… a world of contrasts. Lush, green trees on one side, bustling markets on the other. Saw a guy selling plantain chips from a wheelbarrow. Plantain chips! I bought three bags. Ate them all in about 15 minutes. Feeling a slight tinge of regret, mixed with the pure bliss of fried plantain.
6:00 PM - The Nigerian Evening Buzz: Dinner at the hotel restaurant (again). This time, I go for something a bit more… adventurous. Trying the jollof rice! OMG. It's an explosion of flavour, the spice level is on point. This is what I've been waiting for.
8:00 PM - Netflix & Chill (Mostly Chill): Time to unwind. The AC is working. My stomach is happy. The jollof rice has won me over. I turn on Netflix, and the wifi actually works. Could this be… paradise?
9:00 PM - Bedtime…with a Prayer: Hoping for a good night's sleep. Because tomorrow, I’m planning on doing… something. Anything. Lagos has completely thrown me off balance.
Day 2: The Lagos Leap (or, The Day I Tried to Be Adventurous)
7:00 AM - Wake Up! (Maybe): My internal alarm clock? A friendly rooster somewhere nearby. The sun is beating down. Gotta love this country.
8:30 AM - Breakfast, Finally! This time, breakfast is… better. At least I think so. Eggs (again), toast, and a questionable-looking sausage. Am I doing okay?
10:00 AM - The Lagos Lagoon Cruise (Almost): I attempted to book a boat trip on the Lagos Lagoon. Booked… But there was a small, little problem. The boat… was not available. I'm going to be honest: I was quite disappointed. I was expecting to see beautiful Lagoon and enjoy the sun, wind and water. What a disappointment.
1:00 PM - Food, Glorious Food (Again): Went for another walk and hit the local street food stalls, tried the local 'akara' (bean cakes) -- Oh my God, it's like a taste of heaven! Still a bit traumatized about trying Nigerian food, not sure if my stomach can handle it.
4:00 PM - Back to the Hotel (and Sanity): Back to the hotel to rest. The intense heat and the madness of the city were starting to wear me down. I need a nap. I deserve a nap.
6:00 PM - Dinner at the Hotel: Yes, again. Considering I don’t have the energy to move from my room anymore, which is a shame. But, the menu is starting to grow on me.
8:00 PM - Watching the Nigerian Nightlife Buzz: The buzzing of the traffic outside became stronger. I can hear people chattering, laughing. I'm tempted to join them, to try this Nigerian Nightlife, but I don't have the courage, and I'm tired, honestly.
9:00 PM - Bedtime? Another Prayer: Maybe Lagos isn't for me. I'll give it a try, though.
Day 3: Departure (and a lingering feeling of "What Just Happened?")
7:00 AM - Sun is Up (Still hot): Ready to go.
8:00 AM - Final Breakfast: Same as yesterday. No complaints.
9:00 AM - Check-Out: I was expecting this to be a nightmare, honestly. I was so wrong: It was fast!!
10:00 AM - The Taxi Ride of Doom (and Triumph): The airport: again. The traffic? Monstrous. My taxi driver? A borderline lunatic. We somehow made it by the skin of our teeth!
12:00 PM - Farewell, Lagos (and Maybe See You Again?): Board the plane. Looking out the window, I can't help but smile. It was a wild ride, but there's something about Lagos that gets under your skin. A city of contradictions, chaos and pure joy. Would I come back? Oh, definitely. But I'd come prepared.
Final Thoughts:
This trip wasn't perfect. Far from it. But it was real. Lagos is a sensory overload, an adventure, and a constant reminder that you can't plan everything. You just have to let go, embrace the chaos, and try to find the joy in the journey. And the jollof rice. Definitely the jollof rice.
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Luxury Redefined: Presken Hotel & Suites (GRA) Lagos - Your Dream Getaway Awaits! (Maybe?) - FAQ, Real Talk
So, is Presken actually *luxurious* luxurious? I mean, Lagos luxurious, or...other luxurious?
Okay, let's unpack this. "Luxury" in Lagos can be a slippery beast. I've been to places where "luxury" means the fan works and the hot water kinda-sorta-maybe comes out. Presken...well, it *tries.* The lobby? Swanky. The staff? Generally lovely and very eager to please – bless their hearts, they're always trying. My first impression was solid; high ceilings, shiny floors, the whole nine yards. But remember the "Lagos" caveat.
**Anecdote Time:** We booked a suite, expecting, you know, spaciousness. It *was* spacious, kinda. But then, the bathroom. Oh, the bathroom. The showerhead? It looked like it was doing its best, but the water pressure...well, let's just say it was a very gentle rain. And that's when the "Lagos Luxury" started to creep in. You learn to adapt. It's part of the adventure, right? (Right?!)
So, back to the question. Yes, it *is* luxurious-ish. Is it the Ritz? Heck no. But it's a damn sight better than some of the dives I've crashed in, trust me. They are trying, and that counts for something. Just go in with realistic expectations, and you'll be fine.
The Food! Is the food any good? Because, let's be real, bad hotel food can ruin a whole trip.
Okay, food. This is a rollercoaster, folks. Breakfast buffet? Standard hotel fare. Eggs, the usual suspects, some fruits, the occasional *really* sad-looking sausage. The pancakes? Sometimes fluffy, sometimes denser than concrete. It's a gamble.
Lunch and dinner at the restaurant? That's where things get interesting. The menu is ambitious. They try to do everything from Continental to Nigerian. Which, bless them, can be a bit of a recipe for chaos. I had jollof rice one night. The flavour was *there* – the spice, the depth – but the rice itself...a bit undercooked, to be brutally honest.
But then...then I had the grilled fish. Oh. My. God. Perfectly cooked, flaky, seasoned to perfection. Seriously, I could have eaten a whole school of those fish. It was glorious! So, food...hit or miss. Listen to the waiter's recommendations. And be prepared to go out to eat if you're a foodie. Don't be afraid to explore the local eateries. There are hidden gems everywhere, trust me on this one.
The Pool! Is the pool amazing? I need a good pool.
The. Pool. Okay, the pool...it's...there. It's a decent size, actually. Cleanish. (Lagos clean, mind you, which is a different beast entirely). The vibe around the pool? Relaxed, which is nice. They have loungers and umbrellas. You can order drinks and snacks.
But...the pool area itself could use a little...pizzazz. Maybe some more greenery? Some actual music, not just the faint murmur of whatever's playing in the bar. Its functional, which is a win, I guess. It's not a destination pool. If a stunning pool is a huge priority, this might not be your place.
Are the rooms clean? This is a big one!
Alright, let's talk cleanliness. This is seriously important, right? And, honestly, it was generally pretty good. The rooms were well-maintained, not gleaming but also not scary. The housekeeping staff are attentive and did their best to clean every day. The bed linen and towels were changed regularly. No major complaints but I would always double check, just in case.
I noticed a little dust in places, a reminder that you are in Lagos. But, overall: Yes, the rooms were acceptable in the cleanliness department and I wouldn't hesitate to lay my head for a few nights.
The Location! Is GRA (Government Reserved Area) a good spot? How is traffic?
GRA? Relatively speaking, YES! (relative to Lagos, of course!). It's generally considered a safe and secure area. The downside is, you are still in Lagos. Traffic is an absolute beast. Plan accordingly. Give yourself *plenty* of time to get anywhere.
The good news is, there are shops, restaurants, and other amenities nearby. You won't be totally isolated. But remember...Lagos traffic. It's a lifestyle choice, not just a commute.
Wi-Fi: Is it reliable? Because I need to work a little.
Wi-Fi in Lagos, in general, is a bit of a lottery. Presken's? I give it a C-. It *can* be reliable, sometimes. But expect dropouts. Expect it to be slow at peak times. I had to tether to my phone on multiple occasions. If you *absolutely* need rock-solid internet, bring a backup plan (like a mobile hotspot.)
**Rant Time**: Seriously, though, why is it so hard to get decent internet in this town?! It's 2024! Get it together, Lagos!
What about the gym/spa? Are they worth it?
Gym? They do have one. I didn't use it, so I legit can't vouch for it. My experience with hotel gyms in Lagos is...mixed. They often have a few machines that (maybe) function. And honestly, after a day in Lagos, the biggest exercise I do is dodging traffic and trying not to trip on the sidewalks!
As for the spa...again, I didn't go. But I've heard whispers. The prices seemed reasonable, but I'm not sure what the treatments involve; But after reading comments, it does sound like a decent place for a massage.
Would you stay at Presken again? Considering everything...
Honestly? Yeah, probably. It's not perfect.Honeymoon Havenst
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