Top Lodge in Blantyre

internet didn’t work staff was sometimes insanely helpful most of the time incredibly unhelpful — no food either

Staying at Top Lodge, which calls itself Top & Class, wasn't any of it but rather flop than top and rather old-fashioned and out-worn than classy. I had booked a room via *********** which was supposed to have a fridge, a kettle, tea and coffee but upon arrival it had nothing of that. The room did not look like on the photos but dark and simply not cozy. Then I realized that there was no light in the bathroom at all, nor a shower door, so the water went everywhere as the toilet was just in front of the shower. I could clearly see that there have been construction works going on on the ceiling and it wasn't finished but instead of not giving this room to guests until it's finished they kept making money with it. The mosquito net curtain around the bed did not close and the linen wasn't clean and had noticable holes in it. I had the feeling the hadn't even changed the sheets and of course the mosquitos wouldn't let me sleep. Not to forget, when I asked the guy at the reception to take a look at the restaurant menu he brought me one that was incredibly filthy, so I didn't even want to touch it. The next morning it got even worse. When I came for breakfast at 8am (which is served from 6am - 10am) it was basically empty and a complete mess. The staff does not fill things up, not even coffee. All tables had not been cleaned after other guests had left. It was a total disaster and I felt that the staff are incompetent and do not have an understanding what hospitality means. As I said initially, this place is not Top Class at all. Of course I had let them know about the issues that I could spot at the beginning but the only thing they offered me was a $6 discount if I'd cancel my booking om *********** so they can save their fees and if I wasn't okay with their "kind" offer, I could leave and look for another place. Unfortunately that's a very bad example of hospitality and I DO NOT RECOMMEND anyone staying there and for what it is, it's immensely overpriced.