Your stay — Hôtel Relax
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The Property — Hôtel Relax
Hôtel Relax is a functional 3-star in central Ouagadougou, popular with budget-conscious business travellers and stopover tourists. The lobby is modest but clean, with a small reception and a seating area where the air con labours against the heat. It offers safe parking, a simple on-site restaurant serving local dishes, and reliable wifi; the USP is its practical, no-fuss location near the airport and main commercial district.
Chronicles of Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou began as a Mossi settlement in the 15th century, becoming the capital of the Mossi Empire. The French colonial administration took over in 1896, shaping the grid-like centre with low-rise administrative buildings. After independence in 1960, the city grew rapidly, integrating traditional villages with modern structures. Today it is a lively cultural hub, known for the biennial FESPACO film festival and its sprawling central market.
Best Time to Visit
Full Ouagadougou guide →Best months
NovemberDecemberJanuary
Peak / festival surge
February (FESPACO month) brings a surge of visitors and higher hotel prices; the city buzzes with film screenings and street events.
Budget shoulder season
March and October are good budget options: March is still hot but post-festival quiet; October ends the rainy season with greener scenery and lower rates.
Weather & packing
Ouagadougou has a distinct rainy season (June–September) with heavy downpours that can flood roads. Pack a light waterproof jacket and sturdy sandals that can handle wet, muddy paths.
Live City Briefing — Ouagadougou
- Ouagadougou Airport has completed a terminal upgrade, speeding up check-in for domestic and regional flights as of early 2026.
- The main market, Grand Marché de Ouagadougou, is open but traders advise visiting in the morning to avoid afternoon heat and crowds.
- Road construction on Avenue Charles de Gaulle may cause delays near the hotel; use the parallel Route de Fada as an alternative.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hôtel Relax, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Ask for a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing the inner courtyard (away from the street). These are above the ground-floor reception noise but not high enough to get roof-unit hum. The 3-star rating suggests no lift — so middle floors avoid stairs strain while staying quiet.
Rooms to avoid
Skip ground-floor rooms near the reception or street side — Ouagadougou traffic and motorbikes start early. Also avoid top floor (likely 4th or 5th if no lift) — stifling heat with weak AC in a 3-star budget hotel, and no view worth the climb.
Best views
No notable view — the address 'Ouagadougou' is generic, likely on a commercial strip. Courtyard rooms give some greenery; street-facing rooms just see dust and parked cars.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 (middle). Ground has foot traffic; upper floors suffer heat and possible water-tank noise from roof.
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise from motorbikes and shared taxis (making minor repairs, honking) from 6am–10pm. Weekend generator hum if power cuts. Possible kitchen clatter from any on-site restaurant (common in 3-star Ouaga hotels).
Insider tips
1) Request a courtyard room — less street noise and slightly cooler in the dry heat. 2) Bring earplugs anyway: Ouaga guesthouses often have thin walls and early calls to prayer from nearby mosques (not on the property but audacious). 3) Park in the secured lot behind if available — street parking risks dust and occasional petty theft.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Hôtel Relax
Free 10 Mbps for social media and email; paid 20 Mbps tier at 3000 CFA per day for streaming
One lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections
Free digital access to Le Faso and Jeune Afrique via app code at front desk; no physical papers
Standard check-in 14:00–23:00; early bag-drop free from 08:00; late check-out until 16:00 costs 15,000 CFA
Free for same-day storage; overnight storage costs 5000 CFA per bag
Step-free ground-floor entrance; one wheelchair-accessible room on level 1; no lift to roof terrace
On-site free parking for 20 cars, first-come first-served; public car park 300 m north, 1500 CFA per night; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 1000 CFA per person per night
Deposit & card hold: 50% advance deposit required; 50,000 CFA incidental hold on card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: Maison d'Accueil - Missionnaire d'Afrique (290 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Mission Adventiste à Ouaga (516 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Église Centale des Assemblées de Dieu (613 m · ~8 min walk)
- Mosque: Grande Mosquée (652 m · ~8 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
energy vivo — 678 m · ~8 min walk
voomle100 — 439 m · ~5 min walk
Musée de la Musique de Ouagadougou — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Banque Atlantique — 112 m · ~1 min walk
Depot pharmaceutique urbain — 378 m · ~5 min walk
Chez NARE — 358 m · ~4 min walk
Gare STAF — 158 m · ~2 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →West African CFA franc, XOF
Exchange euros or dollars at banks or licensed bureaux de change in the city centre; avoid airport exchangers – they give poor rates.
Cards accepted in upmarket hotels, some supermarkets and restaurants in Ouaga 2000; elsewhere cash is king – carry small denominations.
Restaurants: 5-10% if service charge not included. Taxis: round up to nearest 500 FCFA. Hotel porters: 500-1000 FCFA per bag.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Instant coffee or local espresso at a street-side kiosk – about 200-300 FCFA.
Plate of riz gras (rice with sauce and meat) at a maquis (simple local eatery) – about 1000-1500 FCFA.
Grilled fish or chicken with alloco (fried plantains) at a maquis – main around 1500-2500 FCFA.
Central market (Grand Marché) area and Rood Woko (big market) for grilled meat, brochettes, beignets – cheap eats from 500 FCFA.
Supermarche BonPrix and Score chains are common for staples and produce.
Grand Marché for second-hand (friperie) and local cotton cloth; stands along Avenue Kwame N'Krumah for budget basics.
Shared taxi (clando) or bus (STMB – 150 FCFA flat fare). From the airport: take a reserved taxi (negotiate 2000-3000 FCFA into city) – no budget bus.
1) Eat at maquis rather than hotel restaurants – half the price. 2) Haggle at markets – start at half the asking price. 3) Use public buses or walk for short trips; taxis are negotiable per ride.
Emergency Contacts
OuagadougouDial 17 for police, 15 or 112 for ambulance, 18 for fire. For international assistance, contact your embassy. Local SIM cards help; French may be needed for operators.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Ouagadougou, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Hôtel Relax
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Banque Atlantique — 112 m · ~1 min walk — pharmacy · Depot pharmaceutique urbain — 378 m · ~5 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Hotel Zamdogo → Centre-ville (city centre)
💡 These are the blue-and-white collective taxis along Avenue Kwame Nkrumah. Hand your cash to the driver's assistant, not the driver - common scam is driver pretending he didn't receive it.
Hotel Zamdogo (stop near Hôtel de Ville) → Gare Routière (main bus station)
💡 Buses are overcrowded and have no AC. Try boarding at the terminus (near the Grand Marché) for a seat. SOTRACO route 1 runs closest to Hotel Zamdogo.
Ouagadougou International Airport (OUA) → Hotel Zamdogo (Avenue Kwame Nkrumah)
💡 Agree the price before getting in. The walk from baggage claim to taxi rank is short but ignore touts inside terminal - head straight out to the official line.
Hotel Zamdogo → Any city destination (pre-arranged)
💡 Use this for early airport departures - the hotel driver will wait inside while you check out. Saves haggling and the car is reliable. Tips not required but 500 CFA is polite.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hôtel Relax?
Ask for a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing the inner courtyard (away from the street). These are above the ground-floor reception noise but not high enough to get roof-unit hum. The 3-star rating suggests no lift — so middle floors avoid stairs strain while staying quiet.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hôtel Relax?
Skip ground-floor rooms near the reception or street side — Ouagadougou traffic and motorbikes start early. Also avoid top floor (likely 4th or 5th if no lift) — stifling heat with weak AC in a 3-star budget hotel, and no view worth the climb.
Is Hôtel Relax noisy?
Street noise from motorbikes and shared taxis (making minor repairs, honking) from 6am–10pm. Weekend generator hum if power cuts. Possible kitchen clatter from any on-site restaurant (common in 3-star Ouaga hotels).
Which rooms have the best views at Hôtel Relax?
No notable view — the address 'Ouagadougou' is generic, likely on a commercial strip. Courtyard rooms give some greenery; street-facing rooms just see dust and parked cars.
What are insider tips for staying at Hôtel Relax?
1) Request a courtyard room — less street noise and slightly cooler in the dry heat. 2) Bring earplugs anyway: Ouaga guesthouses often have thin walls and early calls to prayer from nearby mosques (not on the property but audacious). 3) Park in the secured lot behind if available — street parking risks dust and occasional petty theft.
What time is check-in at Hôtel Relax?
Check-in at Hôtel Relax is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hôtel Relax have Wi-Fi?
Free 10 Mbps for social media and email; paid 20 Mbps tier at 3000 CFA per day for streaming
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hôtel Relax?
1000 CFA per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Hôtel Relax?
Plate of riz gras (rice with sauce and meat) at a maquis (simple local eatery) – about 1000-1500 FCFA.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hôtel Relax?
Shared taxi (clando) or bus (STMB – 150 FCFA flat fare). From the airport: take a reserved taxi (negotiate 2000-3000 FCFA into city) – no budget bus.
When is the best time to visit Ouagadougou?
NovemberDecemberJanuary
Top Attractions in Ouagadougou
💡 No cost, but watch for traffic. Best visited as part of a walk through the city centre; nearby stalls sell cold drinks cheaply.
💡 Free entry. Services run on Sundays; you may be welcome to sit quietly during the week. Dress modestly.
💡 Free entry but a 200 CFA fee for bicycles. Best visited at dawn or dusk; bring water and insect repellent.
💡 Free to wander; bargain hard for souvenirs. Go in the morning when it's cooler and less crowded. Watch your belongings.
💡 Entry costs about 1000 CFA (roughly £1.30). Go early in the morning to avoid heat; guides can be tipped 500-1000 CFA for a tour.