I went to the Oloffson on Thursday so I could take in the voudou rhythm of RAM. I stayed with friends in the Graham Greene suite which was big enough for a large family. There was a large verranda with wicker like furniture and the room had a small area to entertain friends. Even though the hotel is in the city of Port au Prince, it is an island of its own surrounded by tropical trees and plants. Make sure you have your continental breakfast which is served down near the kitchen. The older waiters made my party feel as though we were hollywood elite. Don't expect the fastest service from the kitchen crew, but the food is good once it gets to your table. The rooms are decorated with voudou paintings and art and definitely was a welcome retreat even for someone who has lived in Haiti over the past 20 years. Richard and his wife Lunise are very welcoming hosts and treat you as they would treat Jonathan Demme or their other Hollywood guest. When you visit make sure you meet some of the hotel guests as they are quite interesting people. I will stay at the Oloffson upon my arrival and departure from Haiti each time I go.

This hotel is an experience, not just a place to stay. If you are going to be picky and obsessive about service, cleanliness, upkeep, etc. then you shouldn't stay here (and probably you should not go to Haiti). The Oloffson is not a prepackaged place designed by formula to make you forget where you are. If you are interested in taking part in the culture, the characters and the history of Haiti, if you are interested in meeting people who will make your trip worthwhile, in understanding a little more about this fascinating country, and taking a break from Port-au-prince in a peaceful and mysterious place then yes, stay here. It's famous for a reason.

With some concern, I decided to stay at the Oloffson last month despite some of the reviews on this page. I had been there before but didn't know if the hotel hit some bad times after the latest change of government. I shouldn't have been worried at all. Our rooms were clean, the service was efficient and helpful, the food was good, and the atmostphere was the Oloffson I knew and loved. Go to Petionville if you want to be back in the states, but if you want to be in Haiti, stay at the Oloffson.

I stayed at the Oloffsen in September 2003 for about five days. As somebody wrote the hotel is in a very very bad shape. A far cry from what the high society luxury hotel of the fifties. Don't forget that, with Cuba, Haiti was a primary destination in the Caribbean back then. Since then it appears that no care has been taken, there is trash everywhere in the garden, the rooms are in bad shape, etc.

I don't mean that it should become a 5 star hotel, but at least something decent: it's a pity for such a nice and glorious hotel. Service is relatively good at times and so is the food. The prices are very affordable, but it is true that I was puzzled by the the way the bill was calculated.

The ambiance can be nice (but you can have it also if you go there for an afternoon and stay there for the evening, that's the best part of it, especially on Thursdays), but I don't believe that that should rime with a total lack of care.

Morse maybe a good guy to those guests to whom he can show his musical abilities, but I had the impression that running the hotel is the least of his concerns.

So don't expect too much, but you can enjoy some part of it. I woudl not return to stay but to dine.