I recall we were all excited when Latitude opened in Lilongwe, offering a new and much needed higher end option and it was good, quirky but with decent rooms, facilities and restaurant. Unfortunately things have changed since then, my most recent visit was a comedy of errors reminiscent of an episode of Fawlty Towers. Whilst the staff were very apologetic it is clear that the management is ineffective and when that happens, things fall apart. I arrived early and left my luggage with the team whilst I did some work awaiting the room to be ready. When it was I asked for my luggage but no one knew where it was, it transpired it had been delivered to someone else’s room, they thought this was very funny, I did not. Upon entering my allocated room it was clear that it had been used by smokers, not acceptable. Back to the waiting room for an hour. The room I was subsequently allocated is in a block of rooms being externally painted, no problem, however it was very disconcerting when sitting on the balcony working to have a face come round from the next door balcony to look at me, presumably hoping I had gone so they could paint mine. When they did come to paint mine, there was no warning, just a removal of the furniture, throwing down a dust sheet and getting on with it. Internally it is quite nice, though to get the plug where the kettle is to work, you need to push the socket against the wall, presumably a loose connection. On my final morning, after leaving the gym, there was no water, I phoned and half an hour later, having heard nothing, I went to the reception where they informed me a pipe had burst, this was subsequently fixed. Times are hard in Malawi and cost of living is sky high, whilst the staff try hard, there is something really wrong here.
