Madagascar

[Member #4178]

visa-run?

This term is popular in Thailand, not valid in Mada. Bring cash to the immigration office and you can extend it more then can you live.

The government is made of a few criminals. Money is the law.

[Legionnaire]

I found this document on the website of the Consulate in Bangkok. It would seem that just in February this year something has changed.

[Legionnaire]

Dear all,

What do you know about the stay up to 90 days tourist visa obtained from an Embassy of Madagascar:

Can I renew without leaving the country?

If no, some tips for the visa-run? Reunion, Comore?

Many thank's.

[Wolvenvacht]

Accommodation however, is available outside Tana for average 20 EU. And that rooms are no flea bags:

Picture 1 = Serena Hotel, Tulear = 65. 000 MGA.

Picture 2 = Jardin Exotique, Diego Suarez = 60. 000 MGA.

Picture 3 = Chez George a Plage, Maglivy = 35. 000 MGA.

Just to name a few. All bkfst included, some with free wifi.

Add 8000 MGA for a meal plus drinks. It will sum up to 100. 000 MGA a day = 35 EU for the essentials. Avoir un jour heureux.

And those prices are inclusive of these nice chambermaids? Vraiement jolie.

[Volokine]

Here are some more pics from Tuleara, some outdoor fun times!

Beautiful breast. No pics my friend.

[Member #4178]

You need always to go back to Tana and will loose another day on transfer. On certain days you can choose Tana. Nosy Be or Diego Suarez and on return a stop in Mahjunga. .

Another problem is that most of the time you need to buy two tickets across the country when departure outside of tana. For example from Morondava one way to the north is two tickets, Morondava-Tana + Tana-Sambava.

The reason I have visit Mahaganga is that the lady from AirMad office in Morondava told me that Morondava-Mhaganga is one ticket only although we change plan in Tana.

AirMad domastic prices are mysterious, only when you face the AirMad office you will eventually know the cost. This is effected by various variables such as the mount of discount you got from your previous international flight with AirMad, the route and the currency you pay. I have paid 104us$ from Diego to sambava but in Ariary the price was not equivalent. They are making huge amount of calculations when preparing the ticket you can get crazy waiting.

[Amadeuss]

Yeah. Riding a Transalp through Mada is something special. But also not a cheap solution. Same with flying or renting a car / driver. The whole transport infrastructure in Mada is either very low-cost shitty or expensive. Nothing in between.

Problem is that there is no round-the-island flight. You need always to go back to Tana and will loose another day on transfer. On certain days you can choose Tana. Nosy Be or Diego Suarez and on return a stop in Mahjunga. Or in the south Tana. Morondava. Tulear. Fort Dauphin. Tana. But some of the connection flights are small planes and difficult to confirm a seat and each section will set you back 170 EU!

Suggestion for any traveler with less then 2 weeks time: focus on 2 places only: Tana (unavaiodable for 2 or 3 days) plus 1 town in south-west or north-east, depending on the time of the year. Take a plane to that destination and enjoy.

Accommodation however, is available outside Tana for average 20 EU. And that rooms are no flea bags:

Picture 1 = Serena Hotel, Tulear = 65. 000 MGA.

Picture 2 = Jardin Exotique, Diego Suarez = 60. 000 MGA.

Picture 3 = Chez George a Plage, Maglivy = 35. 000 MGA.

Just to name a few. All bkfst included, some with free wifi.

Add 8000 MGA for a meal plus drinks. It will sum up to 100. 000 MGA a day = 35 EU for the essentials. Avoir un jour heureux.

[Golfinho]

AirMad became so bad that sometimes during the flight the plane change the route to pick up other passengers from another route to fill the plane. Delays cancellation are norm.

Once you've experienced this, and it costs you missed connection, reservation, etc, you will never trust Air Mada again. Taxi brousse not necessary with so many guys private car or land rover willing to go to either coast. Just build in lots of extra time, you never know where fun will find you unexpected. Side note: there's a small air carrier going once a week Majunga-Nosy Be. Need more like that. Few things more fun than than bringing a Malagasy girl on her virgin flight, you know she remembers forever this.

[Member #4178]

Fly one way, then it can be nice to go overland one way. But you need time, not a rush schedule. Spectacular landscapes not seen anywhere on planet, rolling into little places for a food stop, unique. Instead of the taxi brousse experience an endurance contest, you can always find boys with decent cars or 4 WD to hire, price maybe the same or less than flight, but you get to see more and can take girls along too. Sorry don't share your proclivity for the 20 euro hotel scene. Though certain yes it is there if you have limited money or it is simply your comfort zone.

Taxi brousse is a nightmare. You sit like sardines waiting for hours to fill prior to departure. Not to mention safety. Its not possible to enjoy the view unless you are a masochist.

Flying both ways is the safest option. For example I got a flight to diego and from there I took a private taxi to Ramena. I paid small money for half a day so the driver was also my guide. I also find taxis for 100usd from diego to sambava some kind as a tour but eventually I took the plan.

AirMad became so bad that sometimes during the flight the plane change the route to pick up other passengers from another route to fill the plane. Delays cancellation are norm.

Sure, Botaki will never miss his Motorbike / 4x4 adventure picking girls in his way to Morandava. But this days its became more challenging due to safety.

[Golfinho]

I always fly when more then two hours drive.

Fly one way, then it can be nice to go overland one way. But you need time, not a rush schedule. Spectacular landscapes not seen anywhere on planet, rolling into little places for a food stop, unique. Instead of the taxi brousse experience an endurance contest, you can always find boys with decent cars or 4 WD to hire, price maybe the same or less than flight, but you get to see more and can take girls along too. Sorry don't share your proclivity for the 20 euro hotel scene. Though certain yes it is there if you have limited money or it is simply your comfort zone.

[Member #4178]

Last month, the Transpost from Tana to Mahajunga, it brokedown. We wait 5 hours by the road, a replacement comes. And trip is a 17-hour adventure.

I always fly when more then two hours drive.

what I am saying and this is not for everybody.

True.

With the infrastructure, you need a lot of time.

No! Just fly. Up to 50% discount if you came on air mad.

For hotels, sorry if you have no money and enjoy your mosquitos.

If you have no money just troll on ISG, no need to travel. But if you do then you get a very nice room around 20usd in small towns. (not cities). Bargaining is a norm.

But yes, The overall trip is bloody expensive due to the cost flights not other type of expenses. But for me the small town adventures are hard to find elsewhere in the world.

[Spelicci]

In the first years I was in Madagascar, people said girls here are very reserved.

But I was very surprised when I discovered that those Malagasy girls enjoy to be taken on nude pictures. They love it! Amazing!

[Spelicci]

For newbie tourists in Madagascar:

If you want to find good girls "safely", avoid looking them at night clubs alone. The best thing is to ask your driver or hotel receptionist who will be pleased to show you the place where you can meet girls "safely".

[Spelicci]

Like you, perhaps, I have been all over this country. Last month, the Transpost from Tana to Mahajunga, it brokedown. We wait 5 hours by the road, a replacement comes. And trip is a 17-hour adventure. We arrive so late, but behold the hotel is waiting up for us and welcomes in. You have to accept whatever comes is what I am saying and this is not for everybody. With the infrastructure, you need a lot of time. It is not love or hate but merely the reality. I've driven motorcycles through the countryside where girls see you coming and lift their shirts and skirts to show you what they have. Stop if you want, spend a week with her or keep going. This would traumatize you? Go back to Pattaya. For hotels, sorry if you have no money and enjoy your mosquitos. Regardez, what is to debate? We know what this country is. Enjoy the way you want, and while your at it you can tell all the world and invite them to come. Wouldn't that be nice.

Hi guys,

I think if you want to find good girls, cheap and without problem of any kind (transport, hotel,.) Madagascar is not the ideal destination for you.

In Madagascar, you have mainly two options:

1. Either, you're a rich tourist and :

- you can afford to pay a luxury hotel.

- air travel throughout the island,

- pretty and elegant girls proposed by the hotel or specialized agencies, without delay,

2. Either way, you're a simple tourist, with an average budget, and you should live rhythm like other tourists:

- with hotels and bungalows according to your budget, however very nice,

- the bus trips that are much cheaper,

- girls more "natural".

And this second option is not for busy people, because it will include real adventure (roads in bad conditions, traffic jam in towns, not comfortable taxi in comparison to european taxi, etc.) and is time consuming.

In any case, I really enjoy Madagascar and I hope to stay here for still many years!

[Golfinho]

'this is not a user friendly place "? I it very friendly but you did a big mistake to choose cities instead of towns. The reason you did so it you got bored very fast. For me Mahagenga, Diego, Tana, Tamateve was some kind of trauma. Then I went to Sambava and Antalaha and it was a world apart.

Like you, perhaps, I have been all over this country. Last month, the Transpost from Tana to Mahajunga, it brokedown. We wait 5 hours by the road, a replacement comes. And trip is a 17-hour adventure. We arrive so late, but behold the hotel is waiting up for us and welcomes in. You have to accept whatever comes is what I am saying and this is not for everybody. With the infrastructure, you need a lot of time. It is not love or hate but merely the reality. I've driven motorcycles through the countryside where girls see you coming and lift their shirts and skirts to show you what they have. Stop if you want, spend a week with her or keep going. This would traumatize you? Go back to Pattaya. For hotels, sorry if you have no money and enjoy your mosquitos. Regardez, what is to debate? We know what this country is. Enjoy the way you want, and while your at it you can tell all the world and invite them to come. Wouldn't that be nice.