The Africa Pension is one of the better known hotels of Asmara, and with good reason. This old Italian villa opposite the Italian ambassador's residence is set in a quiet street 5 minutes from Harnet Avenue (the main street). A marble staircase leads to a pretty little garden surrounding the villa itself. The rooms are spotless and large with high ceilings, comfortable beds, and the added advantage of armchairs, wardrobes, and sinks in each room. We stayed in three different rooms, all of which were fine, but the first floor is slightly quieter and the rooms seem brighter. The rooms on the right (eg. room 1 and 11) have views of the ambassador's residence; the other side looks over rooftops. The bathrooms are shared, but clean with hot showers. The reception staff are very friendly and obliging. On one occasion there was a mix-up of dates we intended to stay, and we found the pension full. The receptionist was extremely apologetic and walked with us to various other local hotels until... more