Madagascar

[SouthEaster]

Just a bit of info for those heading here. One thing I have definitely noticed is prices of some things going up, especially beer and especially in Tana. Last year at LE Glacier the daytime price for a large THB was 4500 and evening 6000. That changed to 6000 any time. My last day there around a week ago it had just gone up to 7000. Now this is still cheap at under 2 bucks but that is a hell of an increase in a short time. La Terrasse in Tamatave has boosted their (still good value) menu du jour from 12000 to 13500 and the duck confit from 21000 to 24000. La Cantine in Diego has put their beer up 1000 since a year ago. Don't get me wrong the prices are still good, especially compared to a lot of other places but there seems to be some big price pressure over the last year or so. Don't know exactly why because even though the currency has fallen a lot, most of these products are not imported. Except the hops? Except the prices in the supermarkets have not followed that of restaurants and bars.

Hotels seem to be steady. I am paying the same at Anjara in Tamatave as I was 3 years ago. Same for Imperial hotel in Diego. New Select has gone bonkers though. Receptionist gone half the time and prices have gone up. It's a shame as I love the location so close to Glacier its perfect for STs.

Airfares. Book very very early if possible. Prices for Tsaradia over the next 6 weeks have gone nuts! Almost all of the cheapest category flights are sold out, and even the ONLY one I saw for NB to Tana was for 123 Euro, not the 80-90 we were seeing when they first kicked off. Cheapest one way from Tulear to Tana is 150 Euro going all the way up to 364! Fuck these are old Air Mada prices.

Does anyone know if the offices (Tsaradia is in Air Mada offices?) have different prices and availability like the old days with Air Mada or is it exactly what you see on the website?

Cotisse Tana to Diego. I did the whole trip, 28 hours. Road in terrible shape in many places, probably adds 10 hours to the trip. Bearable but I was practically falling down by the time I got there from lack of sleep. I believe they are in Collaboration with Anjara Trans as that was the name on the Taxi Brousse. Their station is way the hell and gone from the centre of town.

I have not added anything about pussy as Pokeris did the job much better than I could a month ago!

[Member #4673]

Last year I got a month only in TNR Airport when requesting 3 month. 5 month later I got back and got 2 Month without issues. Their policy is a mystery.

But I did learned one thing that one month is the optimum time or me as I got bored in any city. Next trip in September.

[Golfinho]

A single entry up to 3 months, or a multiple entry up to three months can be had in 4 business days for Americans, Canadians just mail your stuff to visahq.com and let them do it. End of story. They've gotten me visas for Chad, Burkina Faso, Niger, former soviet countries. Just too easy.

[Steve Ohh]

If you arrive directly in Majunga you can get 3 months on arrival. It s probably the same in Nosybe so the issue of 3 months VOA seems to be in Tana only.

Hi,

I guess for nosy be you are wrong. I was there in April. Some other guys discussed that in my hotel and they fly directly to Nosy Be. Only two month on arrival at the airport. Another option for some guys there is from the Comoros by ship, also only two months.

[Steve Ohh]

Hi guys,

I don't speak French, but planing vacation to Madagascar. Which of you guys don't speak English and still had a great time there?

Hi,

I don't speak French, but English and had a great time there. Without French it becomes a little bit complicated sometimes. For example restaurant menu is usually in French. Taxi driver won't understand you, because of the pronunciation. Be prepared, that means have a card from your hotel or the correct address.

[SouthEaster]

I am assuming you meant to write French instead of English in your second sentence? If you speak neither you will have a hell of a time. Again assuming I am right, for a good example go back in the thread and read Pokeris' posts. He has given heaps of good info, had a great time and he doesn't speak French. That said it makes things a lot easier if you do. I speak a bit (basic shit) and it certainly helps. My biggest problem is understanding half the stuff on the menu!

If you have an ounce of adventure in you and are willing to do some difficult travel then I would advise you to give it a go. If you are the AC or Pattaya type that expects everything handed to them on a silver platter, don't bother.

SE.

[SouthEaster]

No need to be so testy Mr. Best. I didn't say I didn't believe you I asked if you were sure and it seems you are. I don't think I am the only one that thinks it a little odd that there are different immigration policies for different ports of entry, in fact it is probably unheard of anywhere else. And yes, after my fiasco I am aware that rules in Mada are, shall we say, malleable. I asked in part because I don't wish anyone else to go through the hassle that I did.

SE.

[Goldf3]

Hi guys,

I don't speak French, but planing vacation to Madagascar. Which of you guys don't speak English and still had a great time there?

[Muzungufotsy]

Have you done this? Are you 100% sure? I have a hard time believing that a policy that originated in Tana and is apparently being followed strictly would not apply to other international ports of arrival. That said, coming from Canada there are almost no options that are easy (or easy on the wallet) for Majunga so it really doesn't matter to me.

SE.

I don't have to prove anything to you. You believe you are right and others are wrong it s your problem. This was the case 1 week ago. I don't come from Canada so no issues for me. By the way there is no official rule in Mada and everything is possible. You should know it already.

[SouthEaster]

Have you done this? Are you 100% sure? I have a hard time believing that a policy that originated in Tana and is apparently being followed strictly would not apply to other international ports of arrival. That said, coming from Canada there are almost no options that are easy (or easy on the wallet) for Majunga so it really doesn't matter to me.

SE.

[Muzungufotsy]

If you arrive directly in Majunga you can get 3 months on arrival. It s probably the same in Nosybe so the issue of 3 months VOA seems to be in Tana only.

[Neddy69]

Apparently you can still get 90 days Visa through malagasy embassies abroad.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopi...adagascar.html

[Neddy69]

Costly error? You ought to be thankful for a happy ending. Think of all the high visa fees we've had to pay for so many other African countries, and all the former soviet countries, and you got nothing to complain about in Mada. Really appreciate the service of these fixers we used one to get a Thai visa for a girl: no fuss, door-to-door service for a mere 100 euros.

Ya. And not to forget. Get hold of any official Friday afternoon.

And of course you have to pay three people. The guy in the hotel, the policeman, and the Top Boss. Thats why it pays off to call a police general your friend. He gives you preferred rates and of course you refer other people in need to him. They just created a new money making machine by cutting VOA back to 2 months. Very annoying. But for 1000€ you can get a 3 years residence. Transaction fee already included. And no need to leave Mada.

Neddy.

[Golfinho]

Thought I would provide an update on my situation and how it was resolved.
Quite a clusterfuck. I got help from the hotel and met some police flunky who then called his boss. This was Friday at 1 pm. After some dickering I agreed to pay 100 euro! Fuck me what a costly error.

Costly error? You ought to be thankful for a happy ending. Think of all the high visa fees we've had to pay for so many other African countries, and all the former soviet countries, and you got nothing to complain about in Mada. Really appreciate the service of these fixers — we used one to get a Thai visa for a girl: no fuss, door-to-door service for a mere 100 euros.

[Neddy69]

To add The Tall Man loves black girls, be they from Africa or Colombia.

Here is my special 19 yo girl from Barranquilla Colombia, I spent 3 weeks traveling all through Colombia with her a few months back, simply an incredible fun sexy woman, unfortunately she wanted much more from me (ie a boyfriend in a committed relationship) than I was willing to commit to so we parted. She is all natural and had more sex in those 3 weeks than, I shit you not, I have had in a whole year, it was non-stop sex at every moment, heck we would be stopped in traffic and she would zip down my pants, hehehe I have come to love traffic jams, hehehe.

Years from now I may regret my decision but I have too much life to live so timing is always everything.

The Tall Man.

Nice booty. I am really tempted to try Colombia. A mate of mine speaks fluent colombian spanish. He likes to hang out in Santa Marta. Seems to be very nice there.

Neddy.