I am a people watcher and I think most bloggers are really. We stand on the sidelines and watch things unfold all the time. This time I participated a little. On stepping into the lobby of the Banex Hotel & Suites in Anthony Village you can be forgiven for feeling like you are on the set of a Bollywood movie. Everything is covered in a golden tone thanks to the special panes of glass that transform the daylight into golden rays. There are two massive golden thrones opposite the reception which has a basket of golden eggs sitting on the desk. A golden panther stalks a golden palm tree and in the lounge/restaurant/bar the décor is also golden.
The staff was polite and so were the guests. Unlike many other hotels I had been to even during the holidays; I saw children in swimwear running around, laughing having a good time. Apparently they came from a school in Anthony village and with a total of 3 swimming pools; Banex Hotel is perfect for a swim day.
I met with the General Manager Mr. Silas Date and the Marketing Manager Judith; both were very helpful in providing answers to my litany of questions. This 4-star hotel is a part of the popular Banex Group and was launched in August 2014, with 78 rooms in total its divided into three blocks; the main structure, the extension and the service apartments. From the second floor of the service apartments on a clear day you can see the 3rd Mainland Bridge in the horizon in all its traffic filled glory.
The rooms are comfortably furnished and so are the apartments, long term guests sometimes pay to stay for a whole year. It’s not hard to see why, there’s so much to do apart from the pools there’s a 5 man Jacuzzi and a nice spa on the premises that offers beauty treatments like mani-pedis, threading, Moroccan Hammam body wraps, waxing, steam baths and various kinds of massage therapy. The gym is fully functional and fitted with a variety of machines to help workout different muscles in the body.
There are pool bars and bush bars for sit outs and barbecues, a ping pong table, snooker table and a foosball table. I was also reliably informed of the Salsa classes that will run every Friday from 7pm starting from the 5th of February and it will only cost N1, 000. The room prices are super affordable and even more so on HotelNowNow.com. There are meeting rooms and 3 multipurpose halls one seats 120, another 70 while the last seats 50 theater style. The restaurant menu is filled with many African, Continental and Intercontinental dishes and they offer a buffet breakfast and dinner. For lunch I had a spicy Jollof rice, Peppered Fish and Salad combo; I barely left crumbs. The whole time I was chatting with other guests having lunch discussing Middle Eastern politics with some much passion I almost didn’t recognize myself.
The management spared no expense on security; there are CCTV cameras everywhere and electrified barbed wire on all the surround walls. There are also serious looking uniformed security personnel backed by a deployment of Mobile Police officers. Not to over sell the security but the hotel is located in an estate and near Anthony Police Station. I was given access to the Wi-Fi and it was fast enough (I downloaded an app). Right outside the main building are two working ATM machines.
On top of everything else there’s a 24 hour laundry service, 24 hour concierge service, 24 hour car hire service, police escort service for VVIP guests.
By the time I left there was no doubt in my mind that Banex Hotel & Suites is more than a taste of affordable luxury.
And to experience it for yourself simply log on to HotelNowNow.com
