After a couple of nights in a desert lodge without wifi we really looked forward to a hotel with modern amenities. Swakopmund isn’t only the ideal place to discover the Atlantic coast of Namibia, but also to recharge your batteries, get your laundry done and upload your photos with super fast internet. And there’s no better hotel to do this than the “Strand Hotel Swakopmund” – right at the shorelines of the Atlantic Ocean.
Our maritime room at the Strand Hotel in Swakopmund.
Swakopmund is a must during a Namibia trip
During our 3 week road trip of Namibia we initially only wanted to stay one night in Swakopmund. Turns out that wasn’t the right decision, so we returned for three more nights later on. There’s a lot to see and discover at the Atlantic Coast – from flamingo colonies to the shores of Sandwich Harbour and the Namib desert (read all about our tips for Swakopmund here). Also Swakopmund offers all the amenities you might have missed in other places in Namibia. There’s restaurants, shops, pharmacies – everything’s available here.
The pier of Namibia is just minutes away from the hotel.
Location, location, location
In Swakopmund there are only a handful of 4 star hotel options – and none of them have the iconic location of the Strand hotel. The famous Swakopmund pier is only a minutes walk away and the hotel sits right at the beach. Although the Atlantic coastline isn’t really made for a casual beach vacation it’s still great to overlook the ocean from the restaurant deck or the terrace of your room.
Huge window fronts face the Atlantic Ocean at the Strand Hotel.
Service quality
We also tested the 4 star “Delight Hotel” in Swakopmund for a night, which has nice decor and spacious rooms, but is lacking the flair of the beachfront location. But that’s only one of the reasons why we preferred the Strand Hotel. One of the main reasons why the Strand hotel is the clear winner for us is the service quality. It starts with a comfortable check-in while seated in cushioned leather chairs and ends at the wonderful bar. Here they serve everything from fresh juices to cocktails, all while you enjoy the super-fast wifi (you see that’s important to us) 😉
The bar at the Strand Hotel in Swakopmund.
From room to laundry service
We also tested the laundry service – as our clothes smelled like dead fish and decay after our visit to the seal colony (but that’s another story). The room service is another big plus for the Strand hotel – nothing beats a club sandwich and fries in the room after a day of climbing around sand dunes 😉 No worries, they also have Avocado Sushi! 🙂
Electrical outlets at the nightstand, multiple seating options and a private balcony – the standard rooms are well equipped.
All in all the hotel service is up to European standards, but to be honest – everything is in Swakopmund. The whole area feels more like a northern German city, than a town at the coast of Namibia. The colonial period is still very much visible and tangible here – everything feels a bit strange and misplaced somehow. The German architecture with it’s wooden beams and the German beer house in the city centre all create a rather bizarre atmosphere, but the Strand hotel itself feels more like an international hotel with maritime flair – not German after all 😉
We love bathrooms with two sinks – so yay for that!
The perfect traveller type
The Strand Hotel in Swakopmund is really a place for all kinds of travellers – except for backpackers and budget travellers (there are multiple cheaper options in Swakopmund). Other than that it’s a hotel that hosts families and solo travellers, conferences and weddings, couples on an individual road trip (like ourselves) as well as groups.
Waking up to the ocean breeze is a big plus at the Strand Hotel in Swakopmund.
The breakfast room at the Strand hotel – there’s also fresh-made pancakes, egg dishes & waffles!
We definitely recommend staying at the Strand Hotel when visiting Swakopmund – and make it more than one night, as there’s a lot to discover in the area!
Check our tips on what to do in Swakopmund here: