Best Western Premier Petion-Ville

Best Western Premier Petionvile opened in 2013 and is part of the Best Western chain’s premium branding effort. As such, a lot more attention has been paid to the details at this property, and the hotel feels like an art gallery at times. Paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media pieces constructed from recycled rubber tires and metal drums are set here and there, bringing local artistry and craftsmanship to the hotel in a big way. The lobby is full of crystal chandeliers, big rugs with swirling color brushstrokes, and plush tan armchairs and couches to create modern spaces that are homey nonetheless. Free rum punch also greets guests upon arrival. The hotel's small pool stays pretty empty during the day, but at night returning guests (mostly NGO workers plus business travelers) swim laps or relax in one if its many surrounding lounge chairs. It’s relaxing for sure, but the busy road next to the pool detracts from the otherwise laid-back vibe. Smoking is also permitted, which could be a negative for some. The hotel’s best feature is its big upper-floor terrace with amazing city views. It’s also where the restaurant and bar with retractable roof are located and where guests usually hang out at night.  

Best Western Premier’s located in Port-au-Prince’s upmarket Petionville neighborhood. The hilly neighborhood’s full of art, including a market that's a two-minute walk down the hill, and Gallery Strip -- a road full of galleries selling the work of successful Haitian artists -- is a five-minute drive from the hotel. There’s a grocery store a two-minute walk from the hotel, and multiple banks, restaurants, and bars are nearby as well. Additionally, one of the city’s few remaining public green spaces is within a five-minute walk. Downtown Port-au-Prince is a 25-minute drive away and is home to the National Pantheon Museum of Art, which holds the anchor from Christopher Columbus’s Santa Maria. The city’s famed Iron Market, a local market selling everything from food to voodoo supplies is a half-hour drive from the hotel. The closest beaches are along Haiti’s Les Cotes des Arcadin, which is 90 minutes from the hotel by car. Getting to the airport takes 30 minutes, depending on traffic. 

Rooms at Best Western Premier are big and modern, with bright with off-white walls, colorful Haitian artwork, beautiful hardwood furniture, and plush chairs. King or queen beds are highlighted with plush tan headboards plus studded nail accents. The suites are a bit more polished and include separate bedrooms, couches, glass-topped dining tables, and porthole mirrors encircled by metal tree branches. All rooms have balconies with amazing city views. 

Bathrooms are modern and fully tiled. Artsy touches, like vanity mirrors illuminated like a colorful James Turrell painting, are thoughtful, design-conscious details that help set this apart from other Best Westerns. Hairdryers are standard in all rooms, though we wish the glass-walled showers had rainfall showerheads. Expect bar soap, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, vanity kits, lotion, and shower caps. 

Other standard amenities include flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, coffeemakers, mini-fridges, irons and ironing boards, iPod docks, safes, and two bottles of water (refreshed daily). Accessible rooms are available, and all rooms also have free Wi-Fi. It's worth noting that some rooms near the terrace bar may pick up noise in the evening. 

With its location perched on a hillside, it’s no surprise that the hotel’s restaurant and bar are situated on an upper floor with stunning Port-au-Prince views. Le Michel restaurant serves international and local cuisine in an artsy dining room decorated with lamps and masks made of recycled metal. They serve three meals a day, including a breakfast buffet, and there’s outdoor seating on the big terrace. Previous guests give the food mixed reviews. Whiskey Bar, also on the terrace, is essentially an open-air sports bar with a retractable roof. They have themed evenings that include a cigar night and a jazz night. There’s also a lobby bar, Rondevouz Bar, where arriving guests receive a free “Saveur La Kay” (which translates  “flavor of home”) passion fruit rum-punch cocktail. 

The hotel’s small pool has lots of lounge chairs and isn’t usually crowded, but noise from the nearby road can be a distraction. Oxygene Spa offers standard services like mani/pedis, massages, waxing, and facials. Next door is a small fitness room stocked with Cybex treadmills, an elliptical machine, recumbent bike, a weight machine, and dumbbells. It can get busy in the evenings.  

A nice plus is the business center, which has two computers and free printing. Board rooms are also available for meetings. Other amenities include an ATM, a free shuttle to locations within three miles of the hotel, and free secure parking. The hotel can assist in arranging taxis and tours. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.