After reading the TripAdvisor reviews for the Djibouti Sheraton prior to my 4-night stay in January 2011, I was fully expecting to stay in a dumpster. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this hotel was no where near as awful as many of the reviewers have indicated.

I stayed on the 5th floor in a "Club Level" room. I believe the rate was $182/night US. From what I have heard, the rooms on the first floor are pretty bad and have not been updated (or cleaned). That said, my room was clean and spacious if a little worn at the edges. Book at Club Level room and you'll be fine. The air conditioning was great and the room was well lit and quiet at night. My only complaint was that the hot water was never really much more than warmish. While they do charge for internet access, they have a variety of plans and the cost wasn't too bad.

I'm really surprised at the other reviewers comments about poor attitude from the staff. I found the all of the staff to be friendly and helpful. I had a flight from JIB at 00:30 in the morning and the reception staff was kind enough to extend my reservation and give me a half day rate so I could have a comfortable place to work and wait for my flight. The staff in the bar and the restaurant were also friendly and attentive. They were also very patient with my high school-level French.

It is absolutely true that the Sheraton cannot hold a candle to the Kempinski, but if you are a government contractor on per diem working on Camp Lemonnier and your choice is the Djibouti Sheraton or sharing a tent with a couple dozen people on base, that's no choice at all. Yeah, the hotel is a bit run down, but take a look at the country of Djibouti and adjust your expectations accordingly. Off the top of my head, I can name a dozen worse hotels I have stayed at in the US. This hotel is perfectly acceptable for business travel.

The hotel is a practical choice when travelling to Djibouti on business or a short trip. Internet access is good and affordable, breakfast of pancakes and cook to order eggs, unlimited buffet is substantial and will get you going. The staff is friendly and some are eager to please. The renovated bathrooms are a plus but the common areas need a lot of tlc.

I rarely write after a trip, but here, I must write as it is below standards. Really maxium a Two stars hotels, but definitly not a sheraton like hotel.

the rooms are terrible as described in other comments.
just look at the water and the pool area, it is so dirty ,
after a swin, a funny smell got stuck on your skin for hours (after a shower of course!),
the sides of the pool are green and brown of dirt,

the caprtet in the the stairs gives you an idea of the standards of hygiene
let me even not comment on the food & sandwich and room services, it was so re-cooked bacon, certainly the morning left over

the sheraton in Djibouti does not deserve its name
why does Sheraton keep this one on the list ...-

Date: 04 July 2010.

My collagues and me had chance to stay in Kempinski, Sheraton and La Siesta Hotels during our period of stay in Djibouti.

Actually Sheraton Hotel is luxury 20 years old hotel and it clearly shows that no mantainance has been done since it was opened: while apartment are nicely accomodated, large rooms and confortable beds, it is extremely needing a revamp for bathroom and global hygiene of moquettes, roof and floor.

We occupied 7 rooms during our stay and 3 of em were really smelly, while 4 were ok. That's say a lot about the luck you need to enjoy this hotel!

The restaurant offers a nice buffet for lunch and dinner at not so low price (30 USD / person), but you can eat as much as u like. The global hygiene of the restaurant is acceptable, but a collague of mine swears he saw a rat walking during breakfast.
The service is kind but frankly slow. Anyway waiters try to do their best and this is appreciable.

What is totally unacceptable is the pricing / invoicing policy: the daily rate is 28000 DJF, but credit cards can be only used in EUR or USD. The money conversion is made at unfair rate by Sheraton cashiers and customers finish to pay 10-15% more than real price. In my opinion it is a robbery and i complained a lot.

Overally, Sheraton is totally overpriced for the services offered, but still acceptable considering the african average level of hotels. Concluding, go "kempinski" if u want luxury and u can pay its high daily rate or go "La Siesta" if u need something cheap and acceptably clean: Sheraton is neither luxury, neither acceptably cheap.

This is certainly worst Sheraton hotel in the world, but still a Sheraton.