---
title: "Hotel Cardoso vs Polana Serena Hotel: which hotel is better?"
description: "Hotel Cardoso or Polana Serena Hotel in Maputo? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side."
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/hotel-cardoso-maputo-vs-polana-serena-hotel-maputo/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-11-06
---

# Hotel Cardoso vs Polana Serena Hotel

Both are in Maputo, 1.5 km apart. Here is where each one is stronger.

Hotel · ★★★★ · Polana Cimento "A"
## [Hotel Cardoso](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/hotel-cardoso-maputo/)

- **Guest rating:** 8.6 ·  Very good

- **Location score:** 5.4

- **Score by category:** 1 of 4

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1570733/agoda/?lang=en)

Hotel · ★★★★★ · Sommerschield
## [Polana Serena Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/polana-serena-hotel-maputo/)

- **Guest rating:** 9.0 ·  Excellent

- **Location score:** 4.8

- **Score by category:** 2 of 4

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1967055/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Pick Polana Serena Hotel

It leads in 2 of 4 categories. 1.5 km apart.

### Choose Polana Serena Hotel if you want

-   the more consistently praised stay (9.0 / 8.6)
-   a spa and wellness

### Why is Hotel Cardoso better than Polana Serena Hotel?

1.  Offers an airport transfer
2.  3 more sights within 1 km (+3)
3.  4 more listed amenities (27 vs 23) (+4)

### Why is Polana Serena Hotel better than Hotel Cardoso?

1.  Higher guest rating (9.0 vs 8.6) (+0.4)
2.  Has a spa
3.  Higher star rating (5★ vs 4★) (+1★)
4.  More guest reviews (182 vs 44), so the rating is more reliable (×4.1)
5.  Earlier check-in (12:00 vs 14:00) (−2h)
6.  Later check-out (12:00 vs 11:00) (+1h)

## All compared facts

Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel.

 

|  | Hotel Cardoso | Polana Serena Hotel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 8.6 | 9.0  (+0.4) |
| Location | 5.4  (+0.6) | 4.8 |
| Facilities | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Spa & wellness | 5.5 | 10.0  (+4.5) |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 8.4 | 8.9  (+0.5) |
| Guest rating | 8.6 | 9.0  (+0.4) |
| Number of reviews | 44 | 182  (+138) |
| Rank in Maputo | top 42% | top 8%  (+34%) |
| Location |
| Location score | 5.4  (+0.6) | 4.8 |
| Distance to the centre | 1.4 km | 1.1 km  (−270 m) |
| To the airport | 6.5 km | 5.9 km |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 23  (+5) | 18 |
| To the nearest food shop | 1.2 km  (−600 m) | 1.8 km |
| Shops within 500 m | 1 | 2 |
| Sights within 1 km | 5  (+3) | 2 |
| Rooms & building |
| Star rating | ★★★★ | ★★★★★  (+1★) |
| Rooms | 130 | 142 |
| Floors | 5 | – |
| Newest building or renovation | 2008 | 2010  (+2y) |
| Listed amenities | 27  (+4) | 23 |
| Policies |
| Check-in from | 14:00 | 12:00  (−2h) |
| Check-out until | 11:00 | 12:00  (+1h) |
| Amenities |
| Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | – |
| Free parking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airport transfer | ✓ | – |
| Shuttle | ✓ | – |
| Car hire | ✓ | – |
| Concierge | ✓ | ✓ |
| Laundry | ✓ | ✓ |
| Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Breakfast | ✓ | ✓ |
| Restaurant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bar | ✓ | ✓ |
| 24-hour room service | ✓ | ✓ |
| Outdoor pool | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sauna | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steam room | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gym | ✓ | ✓ |
| Terrace | ✓ | – |
| Air conditioning | ✓ | – |
| Balcony | ✓ | – |
| Minibar | ✓ | – |
| In-room safe | ✓ | ✓ |
| Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | – |
| Blackout curtains | ✓ | – |
| 24-hour front desk | – | ✓ |
| Spa | – | ✓ |
| Hot tub | – | ✓ |
| Massage | – | ✓ |
| Meeting rooms | – | ✓ |
| Kitchen | – | ✓ |
| Which hotel suits you |
| Couples | – | ✓ |
| Sightseeing on foot | ✓ | – |
| Spa & relaxation | – | ✓ |

## Live prices around both hotels

Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer.

## Location

1.5 km apart

Hotel Cardoso: city centre: 1.4 km, Maputo Airport (MPM): 6.5 km, 23 places to eat within 500 m, 5 sights within 1 km.

Polana Serena Hotel: city centre: 1.1 km, Maputo Airport (MPM): 5.9 km, 18 places to eat within 500 m, 2 sights within 1 km.

## Weather in Maputo

[Maputo weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/mozambique/maputo-city/maputo/weather)

## Hotel Cardoso or Polana Serena Hotel: common questions

### Which is better, Hotel Cardoso or Polana Serena Hotel?

Polana Serena Hotel leads in 2 of 4 categories, including guest rating, spa & wellness. Hotel Cardoso is stronger in location.

### Which is cheaper, Hotel Cardoso or Polana Serena Hotel?

Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side.

### Which hotel is closer to the centre?

Polana Serena Hotel is closer: 1.1 km from the centre, against 1.4 km for Hotel Cardoso.

### How far apart are Hotel Cardoso and Polana Serena Hotel?

The two hotels are 1.5 km apart in a straight line.

## Compare now

Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/)

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Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/hotel-cardoso-maputo-vs-polana-serena-hotel-maputo/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/