About Sweet Guest
Sweet Guest House Sao Tome is located in Vila Dolores on the island of Sao Tome off the coast of Central Africa. The island is it’s own country and consists of two islands; Sao Tome & Principe. As a former Portuguese colony, this country’s main language is Portuguese although the staff also speak English. The island is easy to reach with flights from Angola and Portugal.
Sweet Guest House is located in a side street and consists of three floors. It is decorated in a colourful African style with wooden masks on the walls. It feels like a piece of tropical paradise.
It has a chilled and comfortable vibe and is a great choice for those on a budget looking to visit Sao Tome.
Location
Sweet Guest House is located near the town in a safe and quiet area, just a short drive (9 km) from Sao Tome International Airport.
There is parking if you are driving yourself around the island and the staff can arrange car hire for you or a taxi to take you to wherever you want to go. Airport transfers cost €7 per person and are easy to arrange both ways. Arriving at the airport and finding your own taxi can be a challenge so I definitely advice pre-booking a transfer.
It’s easy and safe to explore the city on foot and is walking distance to the markets and restaurants. A shop called ‘Pedra Pedra’ is just a minute walk away where you can buy water to keep you going for the day.
The beach is a ten minute walk away but you may feel more comfortable sunbathing at one of the nearby hotels. For hours at an infinity pool head to the Pestana Hotel for €20.
Rooms
There are several different sections to the guest house with some parts of the main house. The rooms are spotless and clean and all fit with the same rustic design of the surroundings.
The rooms come with air conditioning and wooden furniture that fits in with the interior decor. Some of the rooms have hardwood floors and are light and airy. You can choose from a double room or a twin room with a shared or private bathroom.
Although some of the rooms have a shared bathroom there are plenty of bathrooms so you wont find yourself having to queue. There is plenty of hot water and a combination of bathtubs and showers.
Facilities
The guest house offers breakfast from 7.30am to 10am each morning and you can choose from a continental breakfast or an individual dish. If you prefer to cook, you can buy your own food from the supermarket and use the communal kitchen to cook your food. The fridge has plenty of space to store your own food.
The breakfast room feels more like an art gallery than a restaurant with colourful paintings of Africa adorning it’s clean, crisp walls. The small exhibit of abstract art is definitely unique.
Because of the layout of the guest house, it never seems full. There are plenty of spaces to chill out and relax such as the upstairs terrace with a lovely view. The landscape is lush and you can hear the sounds of the island as you relax and read one of the books from the book library.
The Wifi is fast but only works intermittently due to the electricity of the island. This is general in Sao Tome so expect the electricity to go off in the afternoons.
All of the staff are incredibly friendly and professional and say good morning from the cleaners to the restaurant staff. The receptionists are very knowledgable about the local area and will point you in the right direction for whatever you need from changing money to tours. You can change money at the guest house too.
What I Love About It
As a solo it is easy to meet others in the communal spaces. Just sitting in the TV lounge I interacted with one of the other guests. If you choose to have the optional breakfast it is also easy to chat to the other guests as you say “good morning.” You instantly feel at home here. For the price it is great value compared to other accommodation on the island.
N.b. One of my nights here was complimentary but I only include accommodation I recommend for the solo female friendly section. Although I travelled here with a friend, I definitely recommend Sweet Guest House for solo female travellers.
