Avani Gaborone Resort & Casino

Built into the commercial core of Gaborone, Avani Gaborone Resort & Casino has long served as the city's default address for business and leisure stays alike, its casino floor and restaurants drawing both residents and travellers passing through the capital. The Main Mall is a short walk away. Sir Seretse Khama International Airport lies about 11 kilometres off, an easy run by car. The hotel holds 199 rooms, each with air-conditioning, a flat-screen satellite TV, a minibar and a work desk, geared as much to a laptop-bound stay as a weekend break. Downstairs, the casino anchors the ground floor, flanked by à la carte restaurants and a business centre for those still working the phones. An outdoor pool sits to one side, a plain counterpoint to the gaming tables. You can walk from breakfast to a boardroom in minutes, or from the pool deck to a blackjack table just as fast. Free private parking covers the practicalities, and Wi-Fi runs complimentary through the property, including in every room. Golf is arranged nearby for guests who want it. Check-in runs from 2pm, check-out at 10am. It is a hotel built for movement — between meetings, tables and mall shops — rather than one designed for lingering.