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Travel: Djibouti Palace Kempinski – The ‘Dubai’ of the Red Sea 

Djibouti Palace Kempinski [Djibouti]

Djibouti Palace Kempinski - entrance

[Image source: Djibouti Palace Kempinski – Kiwi Collection]

I don’t know much about Djibouti so when I came across the Djibouti Palace Kempinski I seized to opportunity to find out more, and was pleasantly surprised to discover a place referred to as Africa’s ‘best-kept secret’ (though I must say there are many places in the running for that title). A relatively small country, the Republic of Djibouti is located in the Horn of Africa – bordered by Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somaliland, and is an intriguing place of desert landscape, pale golden beaches and lush mountain ranges. Located between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean is Djibouti City, the capital said to be positioning itself as the ‘Dubai’ of the Red Sea and with the prices to match; and this is where you will find the Djibouti Palace Kempinski.

Djibouti Palace Kempinski - rooms

[Image credit: top left – Kiwi Collection, the rest – Djibouti Palace Kempinski]

I am familiar with the Kempinski hotel chain and have always thought it impeccably stylish. My first thought when I saw the hotel was like wow… its very… umm… opulent, but then again it is 5 star. I tend to prefer contemporary chic, however the Djibouti Palace Kempinski is the embodiment of classic hotel luxury; the kind that says we will cater to your every whim, and indeed they do. As you would expect the rooms are spacious and lavishly decorated blending African and Arabesque influences, so you will find sumptuous fabrics in a rich tapestry of motifs and colours. The cuisine reflects the culture and is an eclectic mix of African, Arab, Asian and European tastes. 

Picture

[Image credit: K Spa – Djibouti Palace Kempinski]

It was however the spa that caught my eye, it is impressive and more contemporary in style when compared to the rest of the hotel.

Djibouti

[Image credit: bottom left – Djibouti Palace Kempinski, the rest – Djibouti – Lonely Planet/Frances Linzee Gordon]

Thinking of what to do? Well Djibouti is normally seen as a stopover for travellers moving on to its larger neighbours, however if you take the time to step outside the city you will find yourself surrounded by lunar landscapes like the Lac Assal, a vast salt lake; chill out by the beaches on the Gulf of Tadjoura or if you need respite from the heat head to the Goda mountains. But if exhilarating activity and unique experiences are more your thing then this is where Djibouti comes into its own. The diverse landscape leads itself to hiking, desert safari and even windsurfing on wheels. Djibouti is also a haven for exceptional diving, where visitors can get to snorkel with whale sharks. 

Djibouti - night

[Image credit: Djibouti Palace Kempinski]

One thing most visitors to the country have said is that you may end up staying a bit longer than you expected… can you get a better endorsement than that?

Additional information sourced from: Lonely Planet

Additional Details:
Rates shown on Kiwi Collection start from: £184/USD$300 per night
For further information visit: www.kempinski.com/en/djibouti/
For offers and bookings visit: www.kiwicollection.com/hotel-detail/djibouti-palace-kempinski

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