The best accommodations Algeria

Budget & Tips

Hotels. Most people travel to Algeria through a tour operator or company, at the invitation of family or friends, who usually take care of everything. However, if you do need to book a room, you should be aware that Algerian hotels are classified according to comfort, using the star system, but in no way comparable to that used in Europe: admittedly, hotels without stars belong to the lowest category, while 5-star hotels are supposed to be at the top of the scale, but this is more a question of price classification than actual comfort. For example, a non-rated hotel may offer few comforts (e.g. shared bathroom), but the stay may be more pleasant. In almost all cities, the so-called "state hotels", managed by the Hôtellerie, tourisme et thermalisme (HTT) group, which applies a tax to rates, generally have at least 3 stars, and most of these establishments built in the 1960s-1970s have been refurbished. It took three years of hard work, but the results are appreciable, and some of Algeria's key heritage hotels have finally been restored to their former splendor, with a touch of modernity thrown in for good measure.

A number of new quality private establishments have also sprung up in recent years, but there are still not enough of them to meet demand, and the hotel stock in Algiers is rapidly becoming saturated. Whenever there's a major event, a trade show or an international conference, it's almost impossible to find a room in Algiers unless you've booked at least a fortnight in advance.

Finally, you should be aware that many hotels have difficulty accepting the idea of an unmarried couple sharing a room. A family record book will always be required.

Bed and breakfast. There are bed and breakfasts in Algeria, but they are generally not registered. However, the Airbnb network has been expanding in the country in recent years, and there are more and more B&Bs. Booking a room via this platform is a good way of securing your reservation and ensuring that hosts are serious, thanks to ratings and comments.

Youth hostels. The country has a good network of youth hostels of varying quality. Sometimes they are very well run, sometimes not at all, but in most cases they provide a decent service, sometimes better than some small hotels. Set up in recent buildings, they are made up of dormitories and private rooms, and offer rather basic comfort.