Madagascar

[CrazyMan]

Don't be so sure.

The date format is MM-DD-YYYY not DD-MM-YYYY as you seem to think it is.

In virtually the whole world but one country the date format is DD-MM-YYYY. That same country still measures in Feet lbs and other archaic measurements. While the whole world uses metric.

[PussNet]

This is the only forum in the world where posts are published with the date backwards!

Don't be so sure.

The date format is MM-DD-YYYY not DD-MM-YYYY as you seem to think it is.

[Oiste]

I run a search on a keyword "Sambava" and got all the result about 20 pages. I used "Advanced search".

This is the only forum in the world where posts are published with the date backwards!

[StarGazer101]

I spent the latest Christmas and new year's on Nosy be and wrote some reports about my trip.

All-in-all it was an enjoyable vacation. For sure it would have been better if I could speak French, or at least understand it.

20 days in Ambotoalaka was a few days too many. There's not much to do apart from visiting the few bars and the occasional island trip or excursion.

To stay on the safe side I avoided the beach after dark. I made sure I only went to the ATM during the day. On the last day I finally visited a nice looking restaurant next to the beach, that all other days had 3+ young dirty men hanging around in the narrow alley in front of the entrance. Even though the village didn't feel unsafe, there was a lot of scruffy looking guys sitting around glaring at all the tourists. Sometimes that could feel a bit uncomfortable.

The hotel TV had 100+ channels, only two in English. Power outages happened almost every other evening. The "better" hotels and a couple of the bars had generators, but most restaurants didn't.

Most girls had their hair straightened or braided, which meant they used a lot of products. This made their hair either smell of chemicals of like dirt / dust, which was wasn't very nice. Service and performance wasn't really great either, but it was really cheap so it's hard to be very unhappy.

There's a great restaurant on the top of the island called "The View". It was newly opened by a very friendly French expat. Construction was being started on a hotel and condos. There was even a miniature golf course on the slope below the restaurant.

Some members on the board have claimed that you don't need any cash on arrival. That is not correct.

You have to pay €35 for the tourist "Visa" on entry, which cannot be paid in local currency. There is no ATM at the airport and if there still is a mandatory covid test it will cost 100 k Ariary, which has to be paid in cash. In the lounge and Tax-free area at the airport they only accept €uro, again only cash.

I found two ATM: s in the village. One next to the pharmacy inside the village which did not accept Mastercard, but Visa worked. The other ATM was across the street from Hotel Ambotoalaka and there I could use both types of cards.

Also, the hotel I was staying at only accepted cash, even though the booking site claimed you can pay with card. Withdrawing almost 1 k €uro from the ATMs was a bit of a hassle.

[Steve Ohh]

Bad news.

Borders won't open soon.

https://actu.orange.mg/les-frontiere...u-coronavirus/

[SouthEaster]

Don't know that I would give up on this year yet. It has only gone just over 6 months into the year. Weather will play a facto for me though. If it is after November then I will wait too as I cannot stand the rainy season, although the west might not be too bad.

[LuddeBoy]

"The borders remain closed to passengers from abroad, with the exception of those who are allowed to receive exemptions from the Council of Ministers," the head of government continues.

Last week, the Ministry of Transport, Tourism and Meteorology again insisted "that no date has been set for the reopening of Madagascar's borders".

Antananarivo, June 27th, Prime Minister Christian Ntsay speaking on TV.

Well that sucks. I guess it will have to wait until next year for me to pop my Mada cherry.

[Amadeuss]

Madagascar will open its borders from July first, but step by step. Starting with 1. 000 traveler a week only in Tana and eight day querentine. Later it will increase and probably September first borders are completely open. Until now just a plan, needs to be confirmed. Following text in German. Hope it's ok, I didn't find another source in English or French. Sorry guys, google will translate it for you.

https://www.madamagazine.com/informa...m-coronavirus/

"The borders remain closed to passengers from abroad, with the exception of those who are allowed to receive exemptions from the Council of Ministers," the head of government continues.

Last week, the Ministry of Transport, Tourism and Meteorology again insisted "that no date has been set for the reopening of Madagascar's borders".

Antananarivo, June 27th, Prime Minister Christian Ntsay speaking on TV.

[SouthEaster]

Fingers crossed. I really hope you are right. That is when I was wanting to go but it did not look good. Hopefully something more concrete soon. Thanks for the tantalizing info.

SE.

[Steve Ohh]

Madagascar will open its borders from July first, but step by step. Starting with 1. 000 traveler a week only in Tana and eight day querentine. Later it will increase and probably September first borders are completely open. Until now just a plan, needs to be confirmed. Following text in German. Hope it's ok, I didn't find another source in English or French. Sorry guys, google will translate it for you.

https://www.madamagazine.com/informa...m-coronavirus/

[SamShen]

[Commercial Message deleted by Admin]

EDITOR'S NOTE: This report was redacted or deleted because it appeared to be a commercial message and/or it contained links to a commercial website. Please post reports consisting primarily of a commercial nature and/or reports with links to commercial websites in the Classified Advertisement section of the Forum. Please read the Forum's Posting Guidelines and the Forum's FAQ for further information.

[Adrien69]

Your're welcome. I haven't been in Ambandia for a long time because of the lack of parking place for scooter. Not as clean and luxury rooms but 50% cheaper and the most stunning girls ever and 4 hands massage welcome.

At Nemo974 I finally had a chance to check it out some time back. Fortunately, and thanks to your note, I was able to contact them, else I would never have found the place.

While not as high-class as the VIP in Ivandry, I agree with your assessment about the girls. At your suggestion, I enjoyed a four-hands massage and more at a reasonable rate.

For parking, coming from downtown, if you go past FTM, total, and a Pharmacy, you'll find a church on the left which has (paid) parking.

I also availed myself of Super Dream at your suggestion, a nice address, good Wi-Fi, and comfortable suites at the right price with no questions asked. Much appreciated!

[Adrien69]

Malagasy authorities have closed the border, no foreigners are allowed to enter at this time. (In French - https://lexpress.mg/22/04/2021/trans...-de-letranger/).

The six regions most heavily affected by COVID (Analamanga. Region of Antanananarivo, Boeny, Atsinanana, Sava, Sofia, and Nosy Be) are locked down on the weekends, and there's a curfew in place from 21:00 to 04:00 during the week. Bars and night clubs are closed, restaurants remain open but are limited to 50% of capacity.

The medical system. Inadequate during the best of times. Is almost completely overrun. Families of COVID patients are hunting high and low for oxygen. Vaccines are promised for July.

[Amadeuss]

Whether it opens on 11th April -- who knows.

A new statement says another extension of 15 days. No plan to reopen yet.

[Amadeuss]

A statement issued this Sunday evening by the Ministry of Transport, Tourism and Meteorology (MTTM) provides details of the measures taken for these two areas where the South African coronavirus variant was first reported.

📌 Flights leaving and destined for Nosy Be are suspended for 15 days.

📌 The last international flights on Nosy Be will take place on Saturday, March 27.

Whether it opens on 11th April -- who knows.