I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Miklin Hotel Kumasi despite the fact that I had done research, because it’s a two-star hotel, and by this point in my trip, I discovered that hotels in Ghana can be a mixed bag. Even hotels that are described as nice might still have some maintenance and structural issues, so I had no expectations when I pulled up to place.

The 60-room hotel opened in December 2002, and has since been a popular destination for travelers to the region. It’s a budget hotel and the lack of luxury is apparent. My first impression of the place is that while its outside facade looked like that of a typical hotel, the inside more resembled a pre-war New York City apartment building. The front-desk staff that I encountered was nonchalant and didn’t give me the sense that they’d be available if I needed help. My room was small and clean, the air conditioning worked, there was satellite TV and it didn’t smell like mildew (something I had encountered at other hotels of this standard). However, the room décor was basic and uninviting, and the bed sheets and towels were dingy to the point where it was obvious that they needed to be replaced — because there was nothing that any laundry service could do.

The wi-fi was spotty, so the best bet for entertainment is TV. Travelers who want a quiet stay should avoid getting a room near the pool, which gets raucous during the day. I survived my night at the Miklin and it wasn’t a terrible experience, but I wasn’t as comfortable as I would have liked to be. If given a second chance I’d stay at the Noda instead.