Vacationing at The Royal Senchi Hotel| Ghana

This resort has a strong reputation for being Ghana’s premier luxury location for vacationing. Even locally in Accra, people’s ears perk up when they hear the name ‘Royal Senchi’. While it is a nice resort, I can’t say that it completely lives up to the hype. Of course, one’s perspective for hotel quality all depends on their particular reference point. Let me share a little bit about the hotel through my eyes.

When we pulled up to the property there is a large entrance with a very high level of security that makes it feel like a gated community of sorts, adding to the ‘exclusivity’ of the hotel brand. This can be interpreted in different ways. While it’s positive in terms of safety, it’s still a heavy contrast to everyday life outside the hotel walls in the small town of Akosombo. I was relieved to later learn that the hotel does make it a point to hire 70% of its staff from the local region and contribute back to the community.

While checking in at the front desk I heard a loud “swaaaak” bird call. Confused by the sound, I soon realized that it was just your typical greeting from the hotel’s resident peacock lol. There are a host of small animals that freely walk around the property from cute bunnies and very small lizards. The 35-acre grounds are well-manicured and lush. The opposite elements of being immersed in nature while simultaneously enjoying modern accommodations make the hotel different, yet still somewhat approachable. Once inside, the hotel rooms have a sort of ‘West African lux’ decor with wooden accents and small pops of kente in each room.

The primary selling point of the hotel is the fact that it’s situated directly on the Volta River. Most of the hotel rooms face the river and provide calm and pristine views of the landscape. All guests receive complimentary access to canoes, kayaks, and paddleboats as part of their stay. Not only this, but the hotel owns a small island with walking trails and picnic space directly across the river from the hotel. These are without a doubt unique and wonderful features that my husband and I took full advantage of while celebrating our second anniversary. We love enjoying outdoor adventures of any kind.

Still, I would argue that if one were to take the natural landscape away, the hotel would lose much of it’s wow factor and appear just like any other standard 3 or 4-star hotel. The rooms were nice looking, but very basic in terms of actual features compared to the price one pays for a nightly booking. One of the strangest things I found in the room was that instead of having one single king or queen sized bed they pushed two double mattresses together, creating an uncomfortable ridge between the two sides. Additionally the room did not come equipped with an iron or ironing board. Was that worth $175 a night or up to the international standards that’s advertized?? We’ve stayed in hotels at a similar price point in cities like Nairobi that had much higher curb appeal, more personable customer service, and larger rooms.

In my view, The Royal Senchi is a great place to splurge for a special occasion or for someone looking to get away from the city (since it’s only about one hour from Accra.) Nevertheless, experiencing nature and fun water activities is something that can still be accomplished at a much less expensive price point.

This begs the question, “What holds more social value, nature itself, or manmade structures?” The Royal Senchi definitely wouldn’t be what it is without its’ natural setting. In this sense, nature itself is the hotel’s greatest financial asset. If experiencing nature is your primary goal for travel you can do this by staying at a more affordable lodge or bed and breakfast in the region. However, for people that want a luxury experience (even if the rooms are overpriced), the manmade hotel offers accommodation at a level that is, at times, harder to find outside of Accra.

Less expensive accommodation is something that my husband and I have experienced throughout Ghana and equally enjoyed. We’ve enjoyed places like Meet Me There and Maranatha Beach Camp where the nightly stay is all under $30. Such places may not be as ‘Instagram friendly’ as The Royal Senchi, but the budget and purpose for one’s travel are always important factors to consider when deciding on a hotel. Place your bookings with this in mind.

What are your hotel experiences in Ghana? Share and comment below! I’d love to hear from you!

**Subscribe to my blog for more updates on all things fashion, music, and travel.

*** Outfit details: I can’t forget to mention that the dress I’m wearing in this post was made by my seamstress at Wendy Finishing located in Accra (East Legon)! If you are in Accra and need someone you can trust to make women’s garments, she’s your gal! Check her out on Instagram @wendyfinishing