Presidential Palace

Our stay was overshadowed by poor customer service, inconsistent policies, and an extremely upsetting billing dispute. The resort advertises free bottled water, but getting bottles was a constant struggle. Staff repeatedly directed us to fill glasses from a large water dispenser instead. That was impractical when heading to the beach or pool, especially in the intense heat. There was also a strong sewage smell throughout several areas of the property, which made spending time there unpleasant. We were told we could use both pools and the restaurants on either side of the resort. However, when we went to the other side, we were turned away because our wristbands were green instead of red. The information we received was inconsistent and frustrating. Pool towel policies were another problem. Throughout our stay, no one requested a deposit—until our last day, when we were suddenly told we needed to pay 10,000 CFA per towel just to exchange our wet towels for dry ones. When another employee tried to help us exchange them, the employee refusing the exchange began screaming at her in front of us. Unfortunately, we witnessed similar behavior regularly. The most upsetting incident happened the night before our departure. We were told we owed €2,520—approximately $2,800—for other people traveling with us. This was more than we had paid for one room for seven nights. During the dispute, staff told us we could not leave and called the police. We even attempted to pay, but the emplo