We moved to the Bridge House after having a bad experience at the Prospect Lodge in Cape Coast. I think that management has changed since these last reviews. We were very please with the cleanliness of the rooms and helpfulness of the staff. We also did not have problems with theft. We did have drinks and breakfast on the terrace which is wonderful place to see the fisherman bringing in their catch while drinking a Coke or Fanta.

Also, I feel that the previous negative review about Elmina is unfair. It is a sleepy fishing town. Yes, there are youth hecklers at Elmina Castle as their are at many tourists spots around the world. It is best to be polite but firm that you are not able to help today, but by giving them money, you just perpetuated the problem.

Also the bathrooms are some of the nicest in Ghana...at least in this price range. We paid $50 per night, so I think prices have come down in recent years.An added bonus is that you can go to the Coconut Grove Beach Resort and relax on the beach as a guest of the Bridge House.

Lovely lagoon experience, watch the early morning harvest of fresh fish from the ocean.
The rooms were basic and very clean, a totally different experience. Try the fresh snapper, from the first catch harvested-whoa, a happy moment with reasonable rates.
The staffs were friendly and cheerful, they tell us new management.

Would visit again soon.

Stayed for 1 night whilst visiting Elmina. Had stayed at the Hans Cottage Botel the night before which was awful so we were pleased with the facilities at the Bridge House. On arrival I believe there was a problem with our room but our driver sorted this out with the staff and the room allocated to us was decent standard for Ghana. 2 double beds, fridge, tv, AC, flushing toilet, shower, sink and not shabby at all. The hotel is tiled floor throughout and the AC meant it was pleasant and comfortable. We seemed to be the only guests but others were using the restaurant. We sat outside in the walled area which means you can view the goings on in the town (of which there is a lot to see) in safety as the staff do not allow diners or guests to be hassled in this area.

We went to Elmina Castle and I would agree with other reviewers - it is an atmospheric place and creepy despite its whitewashed appearance. The female slave cells were the most shocking of all as the smell was overpowering - even though they haven't been in use for such a long time. It serves to slap us in the face as to how appalling the conditions were and how terribly these people were treated by our ancestors.

We walked around Elmina town and got a bit of hassle from lads wanting sponsorship but nothing too bad. We went down some of the backstreets which are very poor with open sewers etc. We were stared at and some people might have been shouting at us or about us but we ignored it and walked on. We did start to feel a bit uncomfortable walking around this very poor area and I dont feel people welcomed our presence so we didnt hang around. However around the hotel we felt fine. The hotel is opposite Elmina Castle and a great place to see the fisherman going out and coming in with their catches and to walk over the bridge to the castle. I noticed that most tourists seemed to arrive at the castle via taxi or private car and we seemed to be the only ones walking there. There was also a crazy guy outside the castle just ranting and shouting at the sea or anyone who would listen.

There is a strange atmosphere about the place but then it has a very marred & sad history so maybe thats why??? We didnt know about the hotel being used as the slave birth house (ref info in other review) but didnt notice any type of bad atmosphere at the hotel.

My thoughts are that it is an comfortable and safe base to use to see the interesting sights, sounds & smells of Elmina town and castle for 1 night but probably no more.

Stayed here in July 2008 - our original booking was for 2 nights - we got out after 1 and would not have spent the 1 night there if there was a bus back to Accra. Didn't expect much as we were volunteer teachers and used to staying in much worse! Staff very indifferent - verging on the rude - especially the owner's daughter who was downright rude wthout trying to disguise her ostility in any shape or form. She would not let us make outgoing phonecalls even though we had told her we would pay and said the hotel did not have a phoneline??!! She totally mislead us about Cape Coast Castle, all the while laughing and joking to one of the maids in African ..clearly about us. Food was terrible (even by local standards) and believe me in Elmina there is nowhere else to eat. On the plus side, the rooms were air conditioned and had a fridge. Outside 'terrace bar' was just a walled off section on the street next to an open sewer where the street hustlers hung over the wall haranging us until we had to go to our room and even entered the bar area to hustle for money, cigarettes or indeed anything! At 9.30pm the staff were looking at us daggers when we ordered our last drink!

The town itself, although seemingly picturesque upon entering soon appears very strange and odd with an underlying feeling of hostility - the place is filthy, much worse than innercity dwellings of Accra and other such poor villages I have seen. The hustlers here are much worse also - they will not take no for an answer and beware telling any of them your name as they go off and make presents for you ...seemingly free but then produce a 'sponsor sheet' for you to 'sponsor' their school ..... to the tune of $20 a pop! When I gave a donation of a substantial amount for Ghana this was snatched and kept and when i refused to pay anymore money, the money was pocketed and so was the 'free gift'! People are not willing to help with directions or assistance and the local youths hanging around till 5am are menacing to say the least. I would certainly not recommend anyone travelling here alone - esp women.

The Slave Castle is something else ..upon entering I immediately had goosebumps and upon entering the dungeons found i could not breathe and had to leave....evil place.

The Hotel is actually a residence where the women slaves who were raped repeatedly and became pregnant were 'saved' from the slave ships and kept there ...needless to say the atmosphere in the hotel is strange to say the least and kept me awake!

All this spoilt my opinion of Ghana somewhat. I met and encountered some wonderful people on my stay, I just wish that i hadn't gone to this town and hotel - Village of the Damned!