How to Find Luxury Hotels in Luanda, Angola

Luanda is the capital city of Angola, located in West Africa directly on the Atlantic Ocean coast. The city is split in two: the Old City ("baixa") and the New City ("cidade alta"). The old city lies on the city's port and features colonial buildings dating back to Portuguese occupation in the 1500s. The new city is home to modern hotels, shopping and restaurants. Since Angolans fought and won independence from Portugal in 1975, this area has been a hotbed of political and civil unrest, and it is only now settling into a more stable society. Read on to learn how to find luxury accommodations in Luanda, Angola.

Things You'll Need

• Passport
• Visa
• Computer With Internet Access

Instructions

Stay Safe

1. Stick to the city limits. Political violence is still very present in areas outside of Luanda, so it's best to restrict your stay to the capital.

2. Avoid petty thieves by hiding valuables and traveling only during the daylight hours.

3. Avoid unregulated taxis, as they are infamous locations for minor and major crimes.

Secure Luxury Accommodations

1. Expect higher hotel prices, particularly for luxury accommodations, outside of the rainy season. For information on booking accommodations in Luanda Angola, call the Embassy of the Republic of Angola at [phone] or visit the link below.

2. Understand that accommodations are expensive in Luanda, Angola. Luxury rooms will cost you in upwards of $200 a night even during the rainy season.

3. Look for luxury accommodations at hotels near the beach. Here, you will find all-inclusive rooms with restaurants on the premises. This is beneficial since venturing into the streets isn't always advisable in Luanda after dark.

Tips & Warnings

• Portuguese is the official language in Luanda, and many Bantu languages are also used here.

• Know that the rainy season here lasts from October through late April to early May of each year. Travel is only recommended from May through September in general.

• You will need a visa to travel to Angola. These cost about $50 for a 30-day stay.

• Know that the United States Government refers to Angola as a developing nation. This means that there are issues related to infrastructure, travel and communication that can still be problematic for visitors.

• Realize that you are in one of the poorest countries in the world. People may ask you for money and police here are not necessarily to be trusted.

• Know that hotels outside the capital city are scarce, due to difficult travel, land mines and civil unrest.

• Avoid anything but luxury accommodations in Luanda, Angola. Lesser hotels are often in disrepair, have poor plumbing and be less safe as a rule.