BULAWAYO is famed euphemistically as the phenomenal City of Kings and Queens, so when one gets there he or she expects to rest in the ambience of the comfort similar to that enjoyed by long departed majesties, occults and oracles.

The city is clean, with uncharacteristically wide streets, good people and life seems at its ease but hotels there might disappoint you.
Those who have visited Bulawayo recently will agree with me that the conventional hotels are not looking good and that the tourism and hospitality industry must quickly do something to spruce up the big hotels.
The hotels, being just half the distance between Harare and Victoria Falls, the host to the 2013 United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly, must have an exhortative facelift to act as a perfect stopover.

Besides being unnecessarily expensive, the standards have generally gone down and without even talking of the need for a facelift, service delivery itself leaves a lot to be desired.

Having been to Bulawayo recently in transit to and from Victoria Falls and Namibia my personal experience is that things have fallen apart in the conventional hotels of the city.
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority should spearhead a serious revamping campaign to have hotels in the town benefit from the Distressed and Marginalised Areas Fund.
The buildings, carpets, the food and the general decorum have outlived the comfort of modern times.

After struggling to get value for money, I was advised by someone to go to Northend Lodge, on the periphery of the city on the road leading to Victoria Falls.
There, one can experience the true spirit of Zimbabwe because the lodge offers a unique service in an immaculate, ethnically designed facility that offers unsurpassed comfort and luxury.

What greets you as you reach the lodge are the perfectly manicured lush gardens, a friendly, experienced and well-groomed staff, that gives you a befitting king’s welcome.

If you are looking for a holiday, a business stopover, Northend Lodge offers you facilities and personalised services that are second to none.
Simply put, it is hospitality at its best.
All the rooms are fully air-conditioned, have DStv and tea- and coffee- making facilities.

Talk of standard rooms, family rooms or executive rooms, the management has succeeded in putting together all the details that ensure a total comfort.
It is surprising that the facility has remained largely unknown to many travellers, who have been subjected to expensive but low quality service delivery.

On the business side, e-mail, Internet, fax photocopying, telephone message service and conference facilities are all available.
Full English and continental breakfast, a la carte menu, table menu and mouthwatering braai complete the package. There is a bar with a wide selection of wines, whiskey and vodka.

On the social scene, garden weddings, pool parties and cocktail parties befitting kings and queens are fast becoming famous. This is certainly a place where one can stop over en route to Botswana, Namibia, Victoria Falls and Harare and have no regrets.

• isadore.guvamombe@zimpapers.co.zw