Madagascar

[Vahaza Be]

Does Tana have short-time hotels? I don't expect Asian-style comfort, just a place to pay and stay, no questions asked. How do they say ST-hotel in French & Malagasy? Thanks.

"court periode" should suffice.

But I've never asked explicitly for a short stay; I've just picked a modest to cheap hotel, taken care of business and left with many hours left on the clock.

There used to be a nameless cheapo hooker hotel near the old US embassy and Sakamanga, but it was gone the last time I checked. You'll now have to pay as much for a cheap hotel as you pay the gal!

Vb

[Trevor2522]

You are correct that Tana will keep the most ambitious and horny mongerer busy for some time! But Tana is so huge and medieval, it is almost possible to be anonymous, so students and nonpros sometimes join the pool of opportunists. The poor and sprawling area known as "67" (soixante-sept) is overflowing with amateurs these days, but beware. Vb

Does Tana have short-time hotels? I don't expect Asian-style comfort, just a place to pay and stay, no questions asked. How do they say ST-hotel in French & Malagasy? Thanks.

[Trevor2522]

There is a Forex in that map. Does that mean the exchange traveller's cheques? TIA

I don't use travellers cheques any more, only £50s and plastic. Make sure you take and show the receipt. I expect Socimad Forex and Tropic Change (as well as the regular banks, more slowly) will change TCs, except those brands which have proven forged in the past. Bring clean cash bills and no $100s (forgery problem again). Here's what the British government advises about money.

Limits on the amount of money which can be changed at one time are in place, although these are gradually being relaxed. You should check with individual banks. Western Union operates for inward currency transfers only. You should also check opening hours of Western Union agencies as these may vary. Some banks will only change Euros or US Dollars. Travellers cheques are accepted by most banks. However, there have been cases of fraudulent American Express travellers cheques in circulation and some banks now refuse to accept them. The local bank, BMOI, will not accept travellers' cheques issued by Thomas Cook. Credit cards are accepted at a growing number of outlets in Antananarivo and in the provinces, but their use is still not widespread. A charge of up to 7% of the transaction value is levied. ATM's are increasingly available around the capital and in some of the larger towns. A charge of about 1.5% is made.

The maximum amount of Malagasy currency you can withdraw at a time is 400,000 Ariary (approximately £123/$200). Some banks will not exchange local currency back into foreign currency. You should ensure you are not left with large amounts of Malagasy Ariary at the end of your stay. Keep transaction slips showing amounts of foreign currency transferred into local currency. Foreign currency of more than 7,500 Euros in value must be declared on arrival.

[Concarne]

Here are some exchange places in central Antananarivo. They will change cash much quicker than banks. 'Socimad' (main city office of airport counter) and 'Tropic Change' are placemarked on the Google Earth map below. Both are close to Avenue de L'indépendance. The Indra and Glacier Nightclubs are also marked in case you want to spend some.

http://www.expats-welcome.com/fr/mad...madagascar.htm

There is a Forex in that map. Does that mean the exchange traveller's cheques?

TIA

[Vahaza Be]

Soixante-Sept is a 67-hectare subdivision just 1 Km west of the Tsaralalana business / tourist district. It has the 'Mada Hotel' at Ar 30, 000 ($15, no air-con). Sounds like a good place for cheap Charlies! When you say 'dangerous' does this refer to petty crime like pickpocketing, or something more sinister? My fear would be Philippine-style shakedowns or setups but I get the impression the Malagasy are not that sophisticated or ingenuous. Interestingly, a French board just advised me not to rent private accommodation in Tana, suggesting hotel-level security was more appropriate.

Muggings and theft are on the rise, even during the day in Tana and elsewhere. Guns are now in the hands of some criminals, something relatively new (and still rare, thankfully) in Madagascar.

Certain parts of the national highway system are experiencing late night traffic stops and theft from taxi-brousses and passenger cars. Caravaning is safer at night. Rumor has it that military personnel are renting their uniforms to bandits to facilitate this activity (and cash in on the proceeds, of course). Mad is still safer than much of mainland Africa, but the corrupt government is fostering increased lawlessness via neglect and collusion. Just be careful and don't stumble around at night drunk!

[Trevor2522]

the poor and sprawling area known as "67" (soixante sept) is overflowing with amateurs these days, but beware. many are **** and desperate for $. i just get sick of tana after a while. it's a rat race and increasingly dangerous for vazaha (unless you're with a group). things are just so much more laid back outside of tana.

soixante-sept is a 67-hectare subdivision just 1 km west of the tsaralalana business / tourist district. it has the 'mada hotel' at ar 30, 000 ($15, no air-con). sounds like a good place for cheap charlies! when you say 'dangerous' does this refer to petty crime like pickpocketing, or something more sinister? my fear would be philippine-style shakedowns or setups but i get the impression the malagasy are not that sophisticated or ingenuous. interestingly, a french board just advised me not to rent private accommodation in tana, suggesting hotel-level security was more appropriate.

[Vahaza Be]

misaotra betsaka ianao vb (thanks very much). do the small ads offer tourist guides as well? if so, that's another possibility if young and female, plus she'll help greatly with the language. given that prices for liaisons in tana are so reasonable by world standards ($15-$30), i wonder if there is much point flying domestically (=expensive) to a distant town where overall numbers are smaller and prices only slightly less? after all, many of the working girls in tana come from the provinces. my experience in thailand was that regional towns were a bust compared with the sheer choice in bangkok & pattaya.

trevor.

you are correct that tana will keep the most ambitious and horny mongerer busy for some time! many, perhaps most, of the pros and semi-pros in tana do come from all over the island outside of tana (e. g., tamatave, tulear, majunga) to avoid the stigma of being seen as a sex worker back home. but tana is so huge and medieval, it is almost possible to be anonymous, so students and nonpros sometimes join the pool of opportunities. the poor and sprawling area known as "67" (soixante sept) is overflowing with amateurs these days, but beware. many are **** and desperate for $. i just get sick of tana after a while. it's a rat race and increasingly dangerous for vazaha (unless you're with a group). things are just so much more laid back outside of tana. nosy be is also worth a visit for nonstop partying, but prices are higher there for everything.

vb

[Trevor2522]

Just back from a month on the Red Island. I spent most of the time in Diego, where the women are plentiful and beautiful. Check out the Boîte Noir nightclub. During my time in the capital Tana, only a few days this time, I noticed that massage parlors have popped up all over the place. They are advertising in the local newspapers too. If you check the want ads, you will also find many freelancer offers for incall / outcall massages too. Daytime mongering just got a lot easier (but slightly more expensive) in Tana.

Misaotra betsaka ianao VB (thanks very much). Do the small ads offer tourist guides as well? If so, that's another possibility if young and female, plus she'll help greatly with the language. Given that prices for liaisons in Tana are so reasonable by world standards ($15-$30), I wonder if there is much point flying domestically (=expensive) to a distant town where overall numbers are smaller and prices only slightly less? After all, many of the working girls in Tana come from the provinces. My experience in Thailand was that regional towns were a bust compared with the sheer choice in Bangkok & Pattaya.

[Yenzi]

You are quoting tourist prices; expatriate residents pay half, not necessarily at those venues. Offering a 3-some either means your first choice has her period, or she is trying to help a friend make some money too. Beats me why the Malagasy still use the FMG (MGF) when the Ariary (MGA) replaced it over 6 years ago. Anyway thanks for the report. Guess you're Mauritian, lucky guy!

Yep I am from Mauritius. Well surprisingly no, its just that they wanted to get some 'more' money. Yeah, I suppose I am paying tourist prices for sure.

John Palmer

My experience from Tana and morondava is that the girls do not ask any money in advance.

Only after the go away and not asking a specific amount just some money.

The only time I did not ask for money in Tana. She asked for 50, 000 ariary (from le Galcier) and in Morondava she asked for 40, 000. After this I always asked them their expectations.

[Vahaza Be]

Just back from a month on the Red Island. I spent most of the time in Diego, where the women are plentiful and beautiful. Check out the Boite Noir nightclub.

During my time in the capitol Tana, only a few days this time, I noticed that massage parlors have popped up all over the place. They are advertising in the local newspapers too. If you check the want ads, you will also find many free-lancer offers for incall / outcall massages too. Daytime mongering just got a lot easier (but slightly more expensive) in Tana. Enjoy.

[Member #4178]

My experience from Tana and morondava is that the girls do not ask any money in advance.

Only after the go away and not asking a specific amount just some money.

Apparently things may change and become commercial so, this is one of the reasons that I am planing to add morombe / sambava / Maronstetra assuming domestic tickets will be reasonable.

[Trevor2522]

Now, in Tana, hook up places were mostly in Indra Club / Glazier. Nice live music – asking price was higher than the 20, 000 Airary I read in previous reports. I've paid more like 30, 000 to 50, 000 Airary (but then I am a poor negotiator!). Most stayed all night except 1.

Surprisingly in Indra (a night club) , the girls requested to come with a 3rd lady. They were not in 3somes, but felt more confident to be with a friend. They were all photo friendly and most willing to pose.

In Morondava, My Lord club was the place to be. Price was like Tana. Except that they all quoted in FMG (which is 5 times more than Airary). So, at first, I thought the ladies were asking for ridiculously high prices.

You are quoting tourist prices; expatriate residents pay half, not necessarily at those venues. Offering a 3-some either means your first choice has her period, or she is trying to help a friend make some money too. Beats me why the Malagasy still use the FMG (MGF) when the Ariary (MGA) replaced it over 6 years ago. Anyway thanks for the report. Guess you're Mauritian, lucky guy!

[Trevor2522]

Here are some exchange places in central Antananarivo. They will change cash much quicker than banks. 'Socimad' (main city office of airport counter) and 'Tropic Change' are placemarked on the Google Earth map below. Both are close to Avenue de L'indépendance. The Indra and Glacier Nightclubs are also marked in case you want to spend some.

http://www.expats-welcome.com/fr/mad...madagascar.htm

[Yenzi]

Thank you for your replies. I'm planning though to go to places that are not standard tourist places with big and expensive resorts, as I read like nosy be, I don't want the place to have many tourists. I have only 15 days and not much time to go to many places. I think 3, including tana at the end.

I'm trying to find 2 places, quiet with nice beaches, clean, warm in order to swim. Not many people. From the reviews I suppose morondava and diego suarez seems good.

Choises, I don't know. First time of course there.

I just came back from Morondova. There is no possibility of swimming on Nosy Kelly (name of place where most tourists accomodation are located. Cheap or expensive one).

I understand that there is a beach about 15 km from Morondava but I am not sure where it is located. There is not much to do in Morondava during the day. Unless you have a few cuties lining up! Hehehhe.

Enjoy

[Yenzi]

Hi.

A short trip report. I spent 2 nights in Tana, then flied out to Morondava on my way to the Tsingy, then 2 nights in Morondava and 1 night back to Tana.

I'm French speaking and asian looking (actually, most often the local believe that I am a Malagasy! It has its avantages + inconviences.)

Now, in Tana, hook up places were mostly in Indra Club / Glazier. Nice live music – asking price was higher than the 20, 000 Airary I read in previous reports. I've paid more like 30, 000 to 50, 000 Airary (but then I am a poor negotiator!). Most stayed all night except 1.

Surprisingly in Indra (a night club) , the girls requested to come with a 3rd lady. They were not in 3somes, but felt more confident to be with a friend. They were all photo friendly and most willing to pose.

In Morondava, My Lord club was the place to be. Price was like Tana. Except that they all quoted in FMG (which is 5 times more than Airary). So, at first, I thought the ladies were asking for ridiculously high prices.

That's it, for sure I'll be back!

Enjoy.