Madagascar

[Traveller22]

Since no phone number could be posted, I here offer address information for those interested. The guide's name is Honore (with accent aigu). He is working for a Travel Agency, located at: 1, Rue de Manangareza Anjoma, 501 Toamasina. The director's name is Zakaria Andrianjatovo. But you do wise to ask specifically for the help of Honore, since he was most useful and informative, and besides very pleasant company.

Thanks a lot for this useful information. Do you by any chance know a good guide for Tana also?

[Vahaza Be]

Surprisingly little info here on the Nosy Be scene. Helleville has a few watering holes and lots of energy after dark, but Amabatoloaka is the place for adult fun. Taxi Be and Billiard Bar are side-by-side, and the street scene around them is pretty wild and fun. Good vibe, but everything is more expensive than elsewhere in Mada. There are MANY ladies looking to connect, but mostly seeking overnight engagements rather than quickies. Hotels are not cheap, few short-stay options, and mostly pros prowling the street. A few stunners but they're usually already in tow with a vazaha; the rest no better in quality than in most other places like Diego and Tamatave. Sunday up the road at Tati Chris is highly recommended, more authentic and fewer vazaha, mostly Malagasy out for a good time. The are a few daytime hookers hanging out at the bar on the beach down the street from Taxi Be.

[Doc16]

Just returned from a close to 4 weeks trip. At Ivato AirMada office I paid 336 for Tana-Sambava-Tamatave-Tana. Sambava and Anthalaha were a big disappointment. Tamatave was OK and so was Tana. When I have more time, I may write a more extensive report. However, for those who take a broader interest in Mada besides chasing its beautiful girls, I here wish to recommend an English speaking guide, who turned out to be most helpful. I am a prosumer photographer and with this guy I could freely roam and explore many less accessible areas in and around Tamatave. Again, he is not for finding or negotiating sexy girls. But he was a great help to me, he knew a lot and was very pleasant company besides. Of course I paid him (20-40 k per day) and he deserved it! His name is Honore (with accent aigu) and his phone numbers are 034xxxxx63; 032xxxx40. No commission involved LOL, just information out of gratitude. Good luck!

Since no phone number could be posted, I here offer address information for those interested. The guide's name is Honore (with accent aigu). He is working for a Travel Agency, located at: 1, Rue de Manangareza Anjoma, 501 Toamasina. The director's name is Zakaria Andrianjatovo. But you do wise to ask specifically for the help of Honore, since he was most useful and informative, and besides very pleasant company.

[Neddy69]

I've not been to Mada for 2 years but Nouvel Hotel was always a good bet late on. Maybe Taxi Be has killed it off like Vahine but I remember doing a head count and there were 19 chicas to every guy. Which is a strange business model but perhaps they simply like the music. Fri / sat evenings the young locals descend on Rue Colbert, rest of the week it's Vazahaville.

I suspect that the music is shite. Playback shows Tina Turner OMG. And gasy chicas like to dance like me. Malagasy hits and bongo tunes. Thats my impression too that La Vahine was killed off by Taxi Be around the corner. I am not soo fond of TB. I like clubs where the locals hang out. Not tourists. But I am still warming up. Thanks for the tips anyway. I am not really worried not getting laid.

Neddy.

[Tungsten2]

I've not been to Mada for 2 years but Nouvel Hotel was always a good bet late on. Maybe Taxi Be has killed it off like Vahine but I remember doing a head count and there were 19 chicas to every guy. Which is a strange business model but perhaps they simply like the music. Fri / sat evenings the young locals descend on Rue Colbert, rest of the week it's Vazahaville.

[Neddy69]

Salama. On 24th October I went back with Cotisse to Tana. The return trip took even longer as the almost new Sprinter Bus kept on refusing to start. Not suitable for developing countries. On a particular steep slope before reaching the high plateau at Moramanga that thing overheated and spew out great clouds of white steam. What a piece of shite. After freezing my ass off at 11! degrees only we finally reached destination after almost 10! hours. Thankfully the Relais offers steaming hot showers. After spending 2 nights in Tana I left for the airport. It just took 90! Minutes for my old R4 taxi to do the 15 km run. So. Leave well early. And Gendarmerie und Police Nationale Checkpoints. So always carry your passport lest you being shaken down for cado kely.

After a smooth flight of 1 hour and 50 minutes grand baie comes in sight. Touchdown at Antsiranana or short Diego still affectionately called by the locals. If Air Maybe flies. No complaints at all. Almost new ATR 72's Turboprops. Spot on time.

My first impression. Totally different vibes. Any malgache town is different. The city center is orderly. Even some street lights. Laid back. Hot. First I wanted to check in the Hotel de la Poste Annexe. What looked good on pics turned out to be a dud. For 70.000 the room was halfway acceptable. But as I entered the bathroom. A shock. The walls black with mould. Absolute no go. NFW. So I settled in the Valiha Hotel. Barely a stone throw away from Le Vahine. For 40.000 really decent room with fridge TV and hot shower. In the same night I came crashing down. The drastic change of climate coupled again with another massive bout of Le Merde Malgache plus la grippe this time meant that La Buse had his wings clipped and his range massively curtailed. Down and out.

As I am slowly recovering nevertheless I started to survey. First of all. Around Rue colbert expats french and belgians in astonishing numbers. You feel almost as if you're still in colonial times. And many not in retirement age. One is curious how these guys make their living. Alas. Time to talk about the chicas. Le Vahine. A shadow of its former self. Open makuti roof. Loads of absolutely expired hardcores ply their trades preying on one or the other unsuspecting tourist. Everything moves to Taxi Be after 2200 hrs. There basically the same crowd. To be fair it was Sunday and Monday night and I was still recovering I called it an early night around 2300. But both places have been a sausage fest with white males dominating the scene. I saw a few maybe 3 or 4 doable chicas. So rather slim pickings. For me La Vahine and Taxi Be absolute tourist haunts.
Positive side. Sit at Boulangerie Amicale for petit dejeuner. Some drop dead beauties slurping ice cream went past. wow. Or at around 1700 when the sun sets chicas come out in pairs and walk down Rue Colbert for an evening stroll. Some of them absolute hot stunners. So its not all grey.

Neddy

Who ll go to the market to day looking for fresh green produce. Khat that is. hehe.

[SouthEaster]

If Cagayan do Oro was that great we wouldn't be hearing about it here first, and most of us are not. I have friends living in the PI and I visit on a regular basis. Not once has anyone said to me what a great place CDO is for either food or pussy. And if you have sampled much in the way of food in the PI you know the guy is either easily pleased or lying! Let us know how you like it after your visit.

If it is anything like your last great thing (Morondava) you won't be staying long.

SE.

[Neddy69]

West African. Madagascar? You can't get much further east.

Well. Its not a problem nowadays. I don't have to leave my beloved Africa. Good cross-country connections offered by Rwandair for example. Dakar-Kigali or Ethiopian via Addis. While Gambia is my semi retirement spot. I continue to travel. As other countries like Kenya are hellbent to kick out the last surviving muzungu by setting the fees for residence permits a 1000 $ a year. Gambia offers all. I can get laid any time I want. Fresh fish in Tanji. Dirt cheap. Safe. Close to Europe. I only travel to countries with soft or worthless currencies. And there is a number of them. Even Angola and Nigeria. Currency has depreciated more than half for Euro Users. Hey my take on the matter is. Any country can be happy to take up European Retirees. Even the poorest spend a least 10.000 $ a year. Its just a totally dumb policy to jack up prices for residence permits. People are going to leave.

Regards from Diego.

Weather perfect.

Neddy.

[Steve Ohh]

I recently left Cambodia because of the absolute invasion of Chinese and am currently looking for a new country and finding it hard going. One reason is I am looking for something cooler but with the same ease of visas and similar prices. Mada fits the bill but I have to agree with some guys below. There is just not much to do other than eat, drink and chase pussy. Sounds like paradise but those of us who have done so for a few months know paradise isn't all it's cracked up to be!

Add in the shit infrastructure and absolute poverty and it becomes less attractive but as of now I have not found a replacement and will continue to visit until I am sick of it or something better comes along (unlikely).

SE.

Go there, visa on arrival for up to three months. Very easy.

If you want to know is it a good place for retire try it and talk to these retired French there. There is a reason why so many of them are there. It's cheap. With that average income of these retired guys you can't live in south east Asia. Another reason is the language, a lot of them don't speak English. Climate depends on where you stay. Problem in Madagascar is crime, infrastructure and healthcare. But Reunion is not so far. Maybe also an opportunity if you need go out and go in soon again.

[SouthEaster]

West African. Madagascar? You can't get much further east.

[SouthEaster]

"Cambodia is unique in being open to all-comers with US $395 to pay for a year's multiple-entry visa, no questions asked." No longer. There are now visa restrictions popping up and the roll over $295 (not 395) yearly EOV is not so easy to come by. IF you manage to get one for a year there is a good chance you will not get another. They have several options now but all becoming more restrictive.

SE.

[Neddy69]

Interesting observations. Cambodia is unique in being open to all-comers with US$395 to pay for a year's multiple-entry visa, no questions asked. Annual Thai retirement visas are still easy to get for a withdrawable $24,250 bank deposit. The Philippines need $10,000 which must be left in a local bank.

Madagascar charges $62 for 3 months' maximum tourist visit but then one must leave and re-enter. Does anyone know if Mada limits stays to 6 months in any 12, like most Western countries do to dissuade travellers from working or residing? I would venture that a cadeau kely (small gift) might negate such a challenge. Or obtain a clean passport. Or a second one: 'For travel to Israel'.

Looking at Numbeo for price comparisons, Philippine residents wouldn't notice much change moving to Antananarivo but Thais or Cambodians would find Madagascar cheaper. As for boredom, Mada offers decent average Internet speeds, French-influenced cuisine and plenty of economical sex. Could be worse. S E Asia is becoming increasingly expensive, especially for Brexiters!

Rent Prices in Antananarivo are 22.75% higher than in Angeles; Restaurant Prices in Antananarivo are 6.92% lower than in Angeles; Groceries Prices in Antananarivo are 10.36% lower than in Angeles.

Rent Prices in Antananarivo are 46.23% lower than in Pattaya; Restaurant Prices in Antananarivo are 40.89% lower than in Pattaya; Groceries Prices in Antananarivo are 38.76% lower than in Pattaya.

Rent Prices in Antananarivo are 45.69% lower than in Phnom Penh; Restaurant Prices in Antananarivo are 35.41% lower than in Phnom Penh; Groceries Prices in Antananarivo are 40.77% lower than in Phnom Penh.

Residence Permit in Gambia 75 euro a year. 2 PP Pics done. And gift 5 euro. But there is one Westafrican Country gives you a five year residence permit for 70 euro. How I know. I have one. In Madagascar. No need to leave if you know Chef of the border police with an international airport. They sell you a new visa sticker for another 90 days. So that gives you 180 days at least. 2 times 50 euro now. Plus cado kely. Residence is a lot of paperwork but can be done in about 2 months. Around 700 euro for 3 years. The most important. You must obtain a so called visa nonrenouvable from any Mada Embassy. A visa on arrival won't do in that case. For me. Only Africa. Most Asian countries too greedy now. And no problems with income tax in Africa. I have a tax number TIN in Gambia. But I wrote. Non-resident. Hehe. The only country where you have to watch out is Ruanda. Deadly efficient Tax system. Although residence permit cheap. And. As EAC member state you can travel visa free to Uganda and Kenya up to 3 months.

So for me only Africa.

Forget Asia.

Neddy.

And easy to stash your hard earned black money in most African countries. Still money laundering paradise. And government bonds in local currency pay for example in Kenya 10%. In Gambia in the good old Jammeh times it was at times up to 20% in Dalasi.

[Trevor2522]

I recently left Cambodia because of the absolute invasion of Chinese. Add in Mada's shit infrastructure and absolute poverty and it becomes less attractive but, as of now, I have not found a replacement and will continue to visit until I am sick of it or something better comes along (unlikely). SE.

Interesting observations. Cambodia is unique in being open to all-comers with US$395 to pay for a year's multiple-entry visa, no questions asked. Annual Thai retirement visas are still easy to get for a withdrawable $24,250 bank deposit. The Philippines need $10,000 which must be left in a local bank.

Madagascar charges $62 for 3 months' maximum tourist visit but then one must leave and re-enter. Does anyone know if Mada limits stays to a maximum of 6 months in any 12, like most Western countries do to dissuade travellers from working or residing? I would venture that a cadeau kely (small gift) might negate such a challenge. Or obtain a clean passport. Or a second one: 'For travel to Israel'.

Looking at Numbeo for price comparisons, Philippine residents wouldn't notice much change moving to Antananarivo but Thais or Cambodians would find Madagascar cheaper.

Rent Prices in Antananarivo are 22.75% higher than in Angeles; Restaurant Prices in Antananarivo are 6.92% lower than in Angeles; Groceries Prices in Antananarivo are 10.36% lower than in Angeles.

Rent Prices in Antananarivo are 46.23% lower than in Pattaya; Restaurant Prices in Antananarivo are 40.89% lower than in Pattaya; Groceries Prices in Antananarivo are 38.76% lower than in Pattaya.

Rent Prices in Antananarivo are 45.69% lower than in Phnom Penh; Restaurant Prices in Antananarivo are 35.41% lower than in Phnom Penh; Groceries Prices in Antananarivo are 40.77% lower than in Phnom Penh.

As for boredom, Mada offers decent average Internet speeds, French-influenced cuisine and plenty of economical sex. Could be worse. South-East Asia is becoming increasingly expensive, especially for Brexiters!

[Member #4673]

The best place in the world for mongers and food lovers. That's come from a guy that got tired from non English speaking Thailand and saturated girls. I always know how to find the next big thing that no one knows.

Only Morondava was found by other guy from Diego.

[Neddy69]

I recently left Cambodia because of the absolute invasion of Chinese and am currently looking for a new country and finding it hard going. One reason is I am looking for something cooler but with the same ease of visas and similar prices. Mada fits the bill but I have to agree with some guys below. There is just not much to do other than eat, drink and chase pussy. Sounds like paradise but those of us who have done so for a few months know paradise isn't all it's cracked up to be!

Add in the shit infrastructure and absolute poverty and it becomes less attractive but as of now I have not found a replacement and will continue to visit until I am sick of it or something better comes along (unlikely).

SE.

Try The Gambia. Read my posts there.

Neddy.