`Aqrah Hotels

Hotel Sepal

Named after a local waterfall, the Sepal is a strange beast. They obviously aren't used to guests at all, and the teenage owner acts as if he doesn't want any anyway, but with no other functioning hotels in Akre, you don't really have much choice. Once you've persuaded the owner to let you stay, the next hurdle is finding a room that is ready to be slept in. Most rooms were covered in thick dust with furniture up-turned, but there are some very dark and musty rooms at the back with beds made up. Don't expect any natural light, clean sheets or swept floors, and do expect cigarette butts, slimy carpets and an odour of sweat mixed with smoke.

It's habitable, just about, but expensive for what you get. If someone attacked the place with a mop and a dust buster, changed the sheets and got a plumber in (the taps, once turned on, were obviously modelled on the Sepal waterfall, and gushed all over the place), then the Hotel Sepal could be actually quite nice...but I've never seen a brand new building look so shabby.

My window looked onto a brick wall about 2 inches away, which seemed to be standard in all the rooms I peeked into. The best rooms at the front have balconies, but you have to clamber over all sorts of rubbish to get into them, so I don't think the owner wants people to stay in these.

On the ground floor is a supermarket, which must be how this place manages to stay in business...it looked well stocked, but is run by the same surly individual, so I didn't venture in. Location is pretty bad too, a good few miles from old Akre along a main road. On the plus side, there are a couple of restaurants and shops on the other side of the road, as well as a hospital in case it all becomes a bit much and you start to convulse at the state of the hotel.

Prices start at 40,000 dinars, but drop if you know how. Breakfast is not included, and they don't seem too bothered about logging your details either.