Madagascar

[Vavy Lover]

In fact Air Mad office uses the same online booking platform. No difference in prices. The prices depends how fast a flight is filling up. The more bookings the higher the price. Tsaradia hired more pilots and leased more ATR 72's. So far its far more reliable and flight cancellations seems to be a thing of the past.

Neddy.

I explored all of this recently, and there is now no advantage to buying in country, and there are no longer local vs tourist (Vazaha) prices as Air Mad used to do. I used to get local friends to buy my tickets in country and paid a lot less then I would online. Now the online prices are the same as going to the office in country. There are several levels however, ranging from no checked baggage (cheapest), to baggage but no changes, to changes with fee but not refundable, to fully refundable (most expensive). And as you get closer to the flight date the cheaper classes start to disappear, so they are apparently limited in seat number (like fare categories on most other airlines. Madagascar is catching up with the rest of the world). The great thing is that the cheaper fares are dirt cheap in comparison to anything that Air Mad used to offer. The down side is that you need to book well in advance to get the cheaper flights on the most busy routes, whereas previously you would get the same fare at the last minute. That is definitely no more.

And unfortunately, I did not share the same experience as Neddy with reliability, and had a flight canceled out of Tana after waiting hours in the airport. Hopefully that was an anomaly and reliability will get better.

One other observation, on the scary side. On one of my flights we had a VERY rough landing. As we came in suddenly the pilot dropped the plane down hard on the runway, bouncing so much it hurt to strain against the seatbelt (I would have been out of my seat if I was not wearing it.), and then the pilot hit the brakes HARD to slow the plane rapidly. It seemed like he nearly overshot the runway from what I can tell. That makes me really worry when Neddy reports they hired more pilots. In addition, I have noticed a general deterioration in a lot of things that I did not think could get much worse, reliability and competence in general, from restaurants to hotels, etc. The exchange rate is getting better for us, but that mean things are more expensive for the Malagasy and their economy is worsening, and the country is deteriorating. The new president will not help, only worsen it as he continues to pillage the country for his and his cronies wealth.

VL.

[Pokeris]

Unfortunately that is not an option. I have already booked a return flight to Tana and plan to visit every major city. That means an awful lot of taxi brousse travel or flying. I am thinking of doing the Cotisse trip to Diego now that they offer the route, then overland (I know one of the worst roads in the country) to the boat to NB and then flying back to Tana. Other destinations can all be done by Cotisse and / or other companies like to Tulear. Will probably TB there and fly back as I am going for almost 3 months so I have lots of time and want to see what that route overland is like anyway.

Since I have the luxury of time I am not worried about fully booked flights. I could buy a ticket for NB to Tana in Tana or Diego 3-4 weeks before I need it. Should still be plenty of available seats in that time frame.

I know it is a couple months away but I will post on my dealings with Tsaradia for up to date info when I get there.

Tomorrow I am doing the cottisse route from tana to ambanja for 80000 ariary I will stay here one night and carry on to diego. I will make report how it was. I agree with people who says tsaradia price increase. I was looking for a flight tana-diego it was 240 euros one way if I was booked 1 week ago before my trip.

[Neddy69]

My question is does anyone know if there is a difference in online booking prices and on the ground offices with Tsaradia like there was with Air Mada? I know it was often 10-20% cheaper to buy once in the country compared to online.

My observation is can anybody think of a reason why flight prices to Diego are so erratic? I was looking online for around the end of June and the lowest I saw was 123 euro all the way up to 206! This was over a span of about 2 weeks. The average was probably about 150. Just for the hell of it I looked at Tulear for the same period and it was quite consistent with fares between about 90 and 110 and NB a bit more variation but again from about 100 to 130. I can't think there are so many bookings made for Diego 2 months in advance that the prices have risen that much so what's up?

Another question that just occurred to me. Now that they have transitioned to Tsaradia is the service / on time results any better or just the prices? If I had to guess I would say the latter.

SE.

In fact Air Mad office uses the same online booking platform. No difference in prices. The prices depends how fast a flight is filling up. The more bookings the higher the price. Tsaradia hired more pilots and leased more ATR 72's. So far its far more reliable and flight cancellations seems to be a thing of the past.

I think Diego is only one flight a day versus Nosy Be 2 flights daily. Apparently Tsaradia is under german management.
Its quite possible that there are more bookings for Diego as there is quite a number of rich karanes and french expats. Last time in Mada it was also not easy to find a seat to Diego. I booked in Air Mad at that time. The employee said: Gasy people have money... Look at the vanilla price...
Neddy.

[SouthEaster]

Unfortunately that is not an option. I have already booked a return flight to Tana and plan to visit every major city. That means an awful lot of taxi brousse travel or flying. I am thinking of doing the Cotisse trip to Diego now that they offer the route, then overland (I know one of the worst roads in the country) to the boat to NB and then flying back to Tana. Other destinations can all be done by Cotisse and / or other companies like to Tulear. Will probably TB there and fly back as I am going for almost 3 months so I have lots of time and want to see what that route overland is like anyway.

Since I have the luxury of time I am not worried about fully booked flights. I could buy a ticket for NB to Tana in Tana or Diego 3-4 weeks before I need it. Should still be plenty of available seats in that time frame.

I know it is a couple months away but I will post on my dealings with Tsaradia for up to date info when I get there.

[Member #4673]

prices have risen that much so what's up?.

I saw it too its gone up dramatically so again the solution is to land with your international flight in Nosy be and forget all domestic flights. I was at the office trying to hunt prices but bad idea since you will face fully booked flights at astronomic rates.

[SouthEaster]

My question is does anyone know if there is a difference in online booking prices and on the ground offices with Tsaradia like there was with Air Mada? I know it was often 10-20% cheaper to buy once in the country compared to online.

My observation is can anybody think of a reason why flight prices to Diego are so erratic? I was looking online for around the end of June and the lowest I saw was 123 euro all the way up to 206! This was over a span of about 2 weeks. The average was probably about 150. Just for the hell of it I looked at Tulear for the same period and it was quite consistent with fares between about 90 and 110 and NB a bit more variation but again from about 100 to 130. I can't think there are so many bookings made for Diego 2 months in advance that the prices have risen that much so what's up?

Another question that just occurred to me. Now that they have transitioned to Tsaradia is the service / on time results any better or just the prices? If I had to guess I would say the latter.

SE.

[Manfield04]

How do I remember such details after four months? Do you know a small book where people write their stuff? It's called a diary.

I f you read back it looks like Manfield was there for a week last year just before new year. How he remembers his trip in such detail after 4 months I don't know! SE.

[SouthEaster]

If you read back it looks like Manfield was there for a week last year just before new year. How he remembers his trip in such detail after 4 months I don't know!

SE.

[Muzungufotsy]

Collected my luggage from Serena Hotel reception, paid my bill for 2 nights and off to the taxi stand. Phoned both Lauremsia and Nolla to ask whether either of them would agree to accompany me to Mangily. Unfortunately, no reply from either of them. So we left Tulear at around 10.40 am.

Mangily reports will come soon.

You should thank them that they didn't reply. Why bring sand to the beach? I hope you came there after Eastern weekend though complete nightmare at this time.

[Manfield04]

I woke late in the morning, showered packed my luggage and checked out of my room. I walked to the reception to inform them I would be checking out. In the meantime, I had breakfast at Serena Hotel restaurant, same as previous day: croissant, poached eggs, tea and juice.

Kept my luggage at the reception and walked to Telma Shop which is a few metres away on the other side of the road from Serena Hotel. I bought one Telma SIM Card.

There were few taxis beside the Telma shop. So, enquired about dropping me off at Mangily. One taxi proposed MGA 60,000. Another one also proposed MGA 60,000 but came down to MGA 50,000 immediately when I was trying to walk away. Finally we agreed at that price.

Collected my luggage from Serena Hotel reception, paid my bill for 2 nights and off to the taxi stand. Phoned both Lauremsia and Noëlla to ask whether either of them would agree to accompany me to Mangily. Unfortunately, no reply from either of them. So we left Tulear at around 10.40 am.

Mangily reports will come soon.

[RangeLove]

I reached Hotel Serena at around 1. 30 pm I was allocated room 202 on the 2nd floor. It was very hot and very tired after the flight from reunion Island with a stopover at Fort Dauphin. I slept at around 1.45 pm. I woke up at around 3.30 pm.

I enquired at the reception where I can change Euros into MGA. The lady at the reception indicated one shop a few metres on the same side as the hotel. I changed 1 Euro at MGA 4,000. Not sure whether the bank was open on that time on the eve of Christmas.

I walked to Score Hypermarket to buy some food items in case there were no restaurants open. Back to Serena, I took a nap. I woke up at around 6. 30 pm, showered, secured my luggage and walked towards Amazone Hotel where I met one girl. Started a conversation with the girl sitting on the steps of Amazone hotel as she showed some interest. I asked her what she doing there, to which she replied, she was looking for a boy, understandably not very fluent in French. As I started walking towards L'Etoile de mer restaurant, the girl asked whether she could accompany me, I just told her may be some other time.

So, I had dinner at L'Etoile de mer restaurant, which is a few metres away from Amazone Hotel on the same side. At first I sat outside so that I have a look at Tam Tam Disco but the wind was very strong and as it was Monday, Tam Tam was closed.

After dinner, I came to the crossroads just in front of Amazone Hotel, many girls walking around with some smiling and others flirting. I smiled at one girl and asked her whether she would like to come to my hotel, she agreed. When I asked for her "carte", she said she had forgotten it at home but she can have from one of her friends. I declined.

After walking along Boulevard Lyautey, I came back to the crossroads in front of Amazone Hotel. After a few minutes, I saw one girl who attracted me. I smiled and she responded. I asked the same question and she agreed and had her "carte"also. So, off we went to Serena Hotel, hand in hand.

I went to the reception so that she can leave her ID. The night staff was a man. He didn't say anything.

In the room, she said her name was Lauremsia, 20 years old. She was short, may be 5 feet tall, slim, fair complexion, curly hair, good size boobs and very sexy ass. We showered together during which she gave a BBBJ with lots of cuddling and kisses. I also fingered her there.

After drying ourselves, on the bed we started again with kisses and hugging. She did give a very good BBBJ and we did in many positions, missionary, doggy, she on top. She was a little tight. I asked her whether we can try anal, she accepted. We tried but not successful, she was very tight, mine is big and there was no Vaseline.

We enjoyed for around 90 minutes, then showered. I took her number and asked whether she would like to accompany me to Mangily as I was going there on 26 December. She said she would let me know when I would phone her.

I saw her till the reception and gave her MGA 30,000. She left very happy and I returned to my room, very tired and slept at around 11 pm.

Great report, Mansfield! Keep up the good work.

Looking forward to read your report about Mangily.

At what time the night guard starts his shift at Serena hotel?

[Member #4673]

Any good advice, please?

You are already in Tuelier and you see no action so its mean you need to go to Pattaya. Otherwise Mada is low key the bars in touliers has alot of beggars not really safe place.

Sure some working girls but I found daytime to be better around the market and evening around Pizza Gastro. Toulier for me is not a place to come back the action is not consistent and I was there for a month.

[Manfield04]

I am wring reports from my visit to Tulear and not answering your question (s). However, if you need advice, when you walk from Serena Hotel before you reach Amazone hotel, you will find few night clubs on your right hand side where you can find lots of girls. Just greet and smile and see their reaction. If they are interested, they will reciprocate. Otherwise, from Amazone Hotel you walk along the Boulevard Lyautey in both directions, lots of girls in the evening. Make eye contact with those you like, there will be few who will respond back. If you can converse in French, it will be better to communicate with them. After visiting Toamasina before, I find Tulear as good or better for girls.

Thanks Manfield. My main question remains unanswered yet: where is the action? I explored the avenue with bars along the seaside yesterday evening. Deplorably little action there. I settled for one girl who, somewhat to my surprise, showed up at my door. She turned out not to have an inkling about good sex. I'll explore again today. So are there any good suggestions for Tulear? Any good advice, please?

[Albert9989]

Thanks a lot, Neddy. That's very helpful. I will look it up when in Nosy Be. Like you I don't like prebooking. However, is it a good idea to arrive late in the afternoon at Nosy Be without any reservation? Any advice? I will send report after arrival.

Right now I just arrived in Tulear. So far I didn't have time yet to explore. Hotel Serena seems a decent place. But where is the action here? Arriving from a more moderate climate I must admit it is damn hot here. I will postpone exploring until the late afternoon. And will report later. Thanks in advance for anyone with useful information.

Go down toward the beach front, action start around the two last blocks, be careful at night as one girl told me that around bars there could be some risks, but I didn't saw any issues when I was there. Then on right at Hotel Amazone, on the boulevard Lyautey, restaurant L'Etoile de Mer is a good place to eat and watch girls walking on the boulevard.

Girls hang on the boulevard when the night come and long after.

May be there are other places which i don't know.

And try to go to Ifaty, less than 1 hour by cyclopouss, nice small village with wonderful beach and hotels, massage girls on the beach, and some others hanging in the village at night, or bring your own from tulear...

[Albert9989]

Yes--that's how it is.

The problem is, if hiding something and you bribe the wrong guy, it will backfire heavy.

Therefore, I never bribe. Nada. Period.

I forgot to put my swiss army knife into my check in luggage on my flight from Tamatave to Tana. It was in my backpack -- wrapped it in between charger and cables. Some nice words with the lady who was checking the pack. And she did wave me through. Being friendly to the staff helps more then any bribe.

Totally agreed.