Alba Hotel Meru

My wife is in a wheelchair and after a strenuous 8 day safari we knew we would need some rest and relaxation before returning to Europe. The Indian Ocean coast was one option but beaches and wheelchairs are a poor match. Wanting to see more of Kenya and be away from Nairobi we chose the town of Meru. Meru is a town of 240000 inhabitants about 225 kms northwest of the capital just above the equator. At an altitude of 1600 metres it has a pleasant climate with warm days and cooler nights. Randomly googling we discovered Hotel Alba and immediately sensed it would be a good place for us to stay.We directly contacted the front desk. All our questions were quickly answered by the charming Sophy and Diana. Without hesitation we reserved an accessible room for 6 nights. The hotel has 50 rooms on 3 floors, surprisingly and remarkably it also has a lift. Hotel Alba is about 10 years old but is in perfect condition and looks as though it is brand new. The hotel is extremely well designed, beautifully decorated with interesting artwork and sparkling spotless floors.Our room 004 was on the ground floor. The room was spacious where it was very easy to maneuver the wheelchair.The bathroom was large and accessed by a very wide door. It had a roll in shower which drained well without flooding the floor. The toilet had all the necessary supporting handles and the washbasin was at a low level adapted to a wheelchair user. We requested a plastic chair for the shower and this was immediately delivered.The bed was comfortable, we slept really well. To offset the cooler nights of Meru, pleasantly soft hot water bottles were put in the bed during the course of the evening turndown. This was a very touching, thoughtful gesture. Housekeeping was thorough and efficient. Winnie Joy, the young lady who looked after us and cleaned our room was very caring and we will always remember her. My only criticism of the room was the lighting, there was only one bedside lamp. It was either too much lighting with the main lighting on or not enough with the single bedside light. The room would benefit from a standard lamp or another table lamp. Hotel Alba has an excellent restaurant, the seating areas are split between two dining rooms, alongside is the bar. All these rooms are open to the terrace where it is also possible to be seated and served. The restaurant has an extensive menu, our favourite was the herb roasted chicken. Just before being served your meal you are presented with a hot flannel to wipe your hands. The staff were all kind and helpful and did not hesitate to assist my wife with the buffet. We recall some names, Purity, Sophia and Beryl, but all were so polite. Beyond the terrace is a luxuriant garden with hibiscus, bougainvillea and arum. Further along is a sheltered swimming pool. My only criticism of the pool is that the access was difficult. A small modification with a ramp is very feasible which would help both wheelchair users and parents with pushchairs.The hote

Everything here was amazing. The food was great, the staff were amazing and the hotel is so beautiful, well taken care of and very well managed. The hotel is homely and will definitely be staying here again. It has great amenities, safe parking and play area for kids.

Nice place but over all service is very poor in the restaurant department. Chef's especially can not make your food as you like. Ordered steak medium to well done but it came very well done. Items on the menu not available, and food comes cold..