Madagascar

[Tinte]

Hotel, taxi brousse, police checkpoints the ID card in general to my experience was enough.

I guess when they want to screw you, they try to do so and are creative.

The same applies to the yellow fewer vaccination, it is for sure not mandatory. What are you Vahaza doing if the police tells you different?

[Dars Veider]

Thanks for the insights. Beginner question about Tinder / badoo. Are the girls usually up front about looking for P4 P?

Well, almost all write on their profile, that they would look for a "serious relationship" . But I always make it clear right from the beginning, that I'm looking only fo fun. 3% will then decline. The rest is happily accepting.

Just go for it, make your intentions clear and wait for the answer.

Cheers.

DV.

[Whorist]

Stayed in Tana in total 7 nights and checked out 2 hotels:

Hotel Glacier 70 k cheap, rooms are ok with safety box, fan and fridge, but noisy (Ave. The'Independance is noisy at night).

Hotel des Artistes 95 k small dark" rooms, safety box, fan, no fridge avoid rooms 1,2 and 3 as they are too hot and right in the restaurant" and it is not so nice if you walk by all the guests tables with your lady and enter your room next to a table where someone is having lunch or dinner.

Restaurant:

I went many times to a restaurant called Beteko" next to the stairs to the Jardin Antaninarenina / Place de l'Independance the food was good and tasty and cheap.

Gals:

Used Tinder / badoo lots of hits the problem is just, that many girls pretend" to not have any money and they cannot afford any means of transport to come to the city center so they ask for money upfront (I should have sent money somehow upfront) which I always declined so I missed some really hot ones but there are plenty more so I didn't care.

Girls in Glacier you can find them almost all day long a few around noon. More come around 4-6 pm and stay until 9-10 pm then some of them are heading to TaxiBe ratings: some young and hot ones, some older and fat ones. As you like. Some ask for 100 k short time but I refused some went down, some not but I sticked to the 40 k (short time) 60 k (long time) rule" and still got what I wanted but some also wanted 100 k and didn't want to go down.

Going to TaxiBe: ALWAYS bring your passport. Police will block one road after dark and stop each taxi with a Vazaha they will aks for your passport / visa and if you do not have your passport you will be in trouble. A copy of your passport / visa is NOT sufficient I was told that the minimum fine" to move on is a 80 k bribe.

You can make a certified copy of your passport and visa at the local townhall.

Make sure both are duly stamped an also make sure they are laminated.

The police has to accept this as identification.

Make sure they are laminated and foldable so you can easily carry them at all times.

[Berol Loz]

..

Gals:

Used Tinder / badoo lots of hits the problem is just, that many girls pretend" to not have any money and they cannot afford any means of transport to come to the city center so they ask for money upfront (I should have sent money somehow upfront) which I always declined so I missed some really hot ones but there are plenty more so I didn't care.

Girls in Glacier you can find them almost all day long a few around noon. More come around 4-6 pm and stay until 9-10 pm then some of them are heading to TaxiBe ratings: some young and hot ones, some older and fat ones. As you like. Some ask for 100 k short time but I refused some went down, some not but I sticked to the 40 k (short time) 60 k (long time) rule" and still got what I wanted but some also wanted 100 k and didn't want to go down.

..

Thanks for the insights. Beginner question about Tinder / badoo. Are the girls usually up front about looking for P4 P?

[Pokeris]

Stayed in Tana in total 7 nights and checked out 2 hotels:

Hotel Glacier 70 k cheap, rooms are ok with safety box, fan and fridge, but noisy (Ave. The'Independance is noisy at night).

Hotel des Artistes 95 k small dark" rooms, safety box, fan, no fridge avoid rooms 1,2 and 3 as they are too hot and right in the restaurant" and it is not so nice if you walk by all the guests tables with your lady and enter your room next to a table where someone is having lunch or dinner.

Restaurant:

I went many times to a restaurant called Beteko" next to the stairs to the Jardin Antaninarenina / Place de l'Independance the food was good and tasty and cheap.

Gals:

Used Tinder / badoo lots of hits the problem is just, that many girls pretend" to not have any money and they cannot afford any means of transport to come to the city center so they ask for money upfront (I should have sent money somehow upfront) which I always declined so I missed some really hot ones but there are plenty more so I didn't care.

Girls in Glacier you can find them almost all day long a few around noon. More come around 4-6 pm and stay until 9-10 pm then some of them are heading to TaxiBe ratings: some young and hot ones, some older and fat ones. As you like. Some ask for 100 k short time but I refused some went down, some not but I sticked to the 40 k (short time) 60 k (long time) rule" and still got what I wanted but some also wanted 100 k and didn't want to go down.

Going to TaxiBe: ALWAYS bring your passport. Police will block one road after dark and stop each taxi with a Vazaha they will aks for your passport / visa and if you do not have your passport you will be in trouble. A copy of your passport / visa is NOT sufficient I was told that the minimum fine" to move on is a 80 k bribe.

Thanks for you report! Its was much more interesting to read your report than the last few pages of someone nonsense story in many post who just try collect more points!

[Dars Veider]

Routes and tariffs. Just forgot in my original post.

And yes. You are right. If the flight situation is improving (enough planes in operational status) and the prices are getting reasonable. I would prefer a flight rather than a road trip. But back in October. Prices were high and just one or two jets were operational. So I decided to go by bus.

[Amadeuss]

Cotisse.

Tana-Toamasina booked Premium for 50 k (and also travelled back):

It was a Mercedes Tansporter they are reliable, we always left on time, good drivers, friendly personnel, with Premium I had enough leg room (I'm 5'9), you can even rest a bit with their reclining seats.

Towards Toa: the first 4 hours the road is ok (until Andasibe), after that the road gets nasty towards Toa it is mainly downhill and the huge amount of trucks (Toa is the main port of Madagascar lots of trucks on the way) can be relativley easily overtaken it took me 10 hours to arrive in Toa the way back to Tana is mainly uphill and the slow moving trucks are difficult to overtake it took me 12 hours to get back to Tana..

Tana. Toamasina: take the VIP Cotisse bus at night. Seats very comfy, you can stretch, bring your own food and drinks for the night as they not have a food stop. Much less traffic although the horrible road is the same.

But then -- as prices for the flights are down again and now 3 planes in service, for 90 Euro its worth to go by air.

[Neddy69]

Cotisse.

Tana-Toamasina booked Premium for 50 k (and also travelled back):

It was a Mercedes Tansporter they are reliable, we always left on time, good drivers, friendly personnel, with Premium I had enough leg room (I'm 5'9), you can even rest a bit with their reclining seats.

Towards Toa: the first 4 hours the road is ok (until Andasibe), after that the road gets nasty towards Toa it is mainly downhill and the huge amount of trucks (Toa is the main port of Madagascar lots of trucks on the way) can be relativley easily overtaken it took me 10 hours to arrive in Toa the way back to Tana is mainly uphill and the slow moving trucks are difficult to overtake it took me 12 hours to get back to Tana...

I'm getting to old to suffer. Very easy. From mid January Coup de Coeur is back. At least three ATR72 500 are operational. In general if you book early enough flights are available one way from 100 to 120€. Mahajanga is pure suffering. Even Toamasina 12 hours is borderline. If there's no breakdown.

Other than that. Yesterday a French man was almost killed in Tamatave. After being almost tortured to death he revealed the location of his hidden stash of cash of 6000€. Inside job. I saw pictures. He didn't look pretty and medevaced himself to La réunion for treatment.

Bienvenue a Isle Rouge.

La Buse.

Legal résident the Isle Rouge.

[Neddy69]

Stayed in Tana in total 7 nights and checked out 2 hotels:

Hotel Glacier 70 k cheap, rooms are ok with safety box, fan and fridge, but noisy (Ave. The'Independance is noisy at night).

Hotel des Artistes 95 k small dark" rooms, safety box, fan, no fridge avoid rooms 1,2 and 3 as they are too hot and right in the restaurant" and it is not so nice if you walk by all the guests tables with your lady and enter your room next to a table where someone is having lunch or dinner.

Restaurant:

I went many times to a restaurant called Beteko" next to the stairs to the Jardin Antaninarenina / Place de l'Independance the food was good and tasty and cheap.

Gals:

Used Tinder / badoo lots of hits the problem is just, that many girls pretend" to not have any money and they cannot afford any means of transport to come to the city center so they ask for money upfront (I should have sent money somehow upfront) which I always declined so I missed some really hot ones but there are plenty more so I didn't care.

Just some add ONS. Get a copie certifiée of your passport. That has been mentioned many times before. I don't like the internet. There's plenty of Photoshop going on now. Girls are catching up unfortunately. Prices. I never pay more than 40 k ST. As an exception 50 k. 100 k ST never! I already heard some girls trying to get 200 k. That's almost a months minimum wage. NFW. The transport scam is starting here too. Don't be taken for a ride. The Taxi Be is just 1200 MGA. LOL.

Apparently La police is getting greedy too. LOL. The legendary police checkpoint on the way to to Taxi Be. In the past 10 k was sufficient. Or you go later at night. Usually the police packs up around 9 pm. They just want to fleece commuters. At night it's dangerous. So you won't see any police moving. They usually lock themselves up in the commissariats. There's another solution. Walk. And take Taxi back late night.

La Buse.

Who avoids late night all together. I have my harem here. No need to look for late night pussy. In fact you find plenty during the day. If you know where to look that is.

[Dars Veider]

Some delights I had tasted during my trip in Tana.

[Tinte]

Not at all! Thanks for letting me take so much forum-space, LOL! I do like to read it for my self, again and again, great adventure it was.

Besides I knew that sooner or later something like that would happen to me, and It will to you.

I forgot one thing: La Madame Justice did advice me on the second morning to take a advocate since I will need one. And yes after a moment of thinking I declined, since it would get more complicated, time consuming and costly for sure on my own will.

I have learned a lot about the people first hand and how strange to me this people mental work, more predictable now.

How ever I booked already for next February, I am hooked up.

[Dars Veider]

Cotisse.

Tana-Toamasina – booked Premium for 50 k (and also travelled back):

It was a Mercedes Tansporter – they are reliable, we always left on time, good drivers, friendly personnel, with Premium I had enough leg room (I'm 5'9), you can even rest a bit with their reclining seats.

Towards Toa: the first 4 hours the road is ok (until Andasibe), after that the road gets nasty – towards Toa it is mainly downhill and the huge amount of trucks (Toa is the main port of Madagascar – lots of trucks on the way) can be relativley easily overtaken – it took me 10 hours to arrive in Toa – the way back to Tana is mainly uphill and the slow moving trucks are difficult to overtake – it took me 12 hours to get back to Tana.

Soatrans.

Tana-Majunga – booked Premium for 70 k and back VIP for 130 k:

It was a VW Crafter (Premium) – they are reliable, we always left on time, good drivers, friendly personnel, but less leg room than in the Cotisse Mercedes Tansporter, and the seat is also more uncomfortable, but you can still rest a bit with their reclining seats.

Towards Majunga: much less trucks, but the road is a mess – it took me 15,5 hours to get to Majunga (incl. A flat tire break) and 13 hours back.

For me Premium is the choice – VIP (was a Chinese Mini-Bus) is 60 k more expensive, but you only get a coffee a croissant and a bottle of water, wifi in the bus is depending on the network and was mostly not working, A / see was only rarely switched on by the driver (I guess to get more motor power and to save on fuel).

[Dars Veider]

Stayed in Tana in total 7 nights and checked out 2 hotels:

Hotel Glacier 70 k – cheap, rooms are ok with safety box, fan and fridge, but noisy (Ave. The'Independance is noisy at night).

Hotel des Artistes 95 k – small „dark" rooms, safety box, fan, no fridge – avoid rooms 1,2 and 3 as they are too hot and „right in the restaurant" and it is not so nice if you walk by all the guests tables with your lady and enter your room next to a table where someone is having lunch or dinner.

Restaurant:

I went many times to a restaurant called „Beteko" – next to the stairs to the Jardin Antaninarenina / Place de l'Independance – the food was good and tasty and cheap.

Gals:

Used Tinder / badoo – lots of hits – the problem is just, that many girls „pretend" to not have any money and they cannot afford any means of transport to come to the city center – so they ask for money upfront (I should have sent money somehow upfront) which I always declined – so I missed some really hot ones – but there are plenty more so I didn't care.

Girls in Glacier – you can find them almost all day long – a few around noon. More come around 4-6 pm and stay until 9-10 pm – then some of them are heading to TaxiBe – ratings: some young and hot ones, some older and fat ones. As you like. Some ask for 100 k short time – but I refused – some went down, some not – but I sticked to the 40 k (short time) – 60 k (long time) „rule" and still got what I wanted – but some also wanted 100 k and didn't want to go down.

Going to TaxiBe: ALWAYS bring your passport. Police will block one road after dark and stop each taxi with a Vazaha – they will aks for your passport / visa and if you do not have your passport you will be in trouble. A copy of your passport / visa is NOT sufficient – I was told that the minimum „fine" to move on is a 80 k bribe.

[Dars Veider]

I travelled with Turkish Airlines to Tana in October 24 I booked the flight in May 24 for 724 Euro but it was a multistopf light Europe-Tana and Nairobi-Europe but I guess the flight Europe-Tana-Europe would have been the same price range.

I hope Turkish will have these kind of offers also in the upcoming years, because Air France and Ethiopian are just ridiculous expensive.

The flight to Tana was via Mauritius. The vast majority of the passenges left there just 70 passenges went on to Tana.

Immigration, baggage: all went smoothly visa on arrival for up to 30 days cost 35 Euro - . After 20 minutes I was through and was heading to the exit.

ATM: there is a MCB ATM in the arrivals hall. MCB does NOT charge any fee and I took 800 k on my credit card (my credit card does also not charge any fee).

Took a taxi into town for 70 k (right in front of the arrivals).

At the orange store in Ave. The'Independance bought a SIM (2 k) and data 5 GB (30 k) and some credit for calls and texts (20 k) you need your passport to buy a SIM.

Gals:

Tinder and Badoo work well and is a good starting point, lots of hits in Tana, Toamasina and Mahajanga, no hits in Moramanga at all.

[Tinte]

The Lab! : " There was no venom in the sugar you gave to them " seconds after the Inspector comes with my Passport in and passes him to Madam. Some words exchanged, shake hands and my passport in my pocket.

Where are you going now? Ni zangazangana to the road Soatrans will pick me up as you informed them. I left, went out down the road twenty meters and sat under a tree next to the road in the shade.

Hundert meters away a checkpoint takes notice of me. Policeman comes over and asked what I am doing here. I just said I am waiting for the Soatransbus to pick me up. The Policeman walks up the road into the Police-station and comes back in a minute. " The Inspector is having his Lunchbreak and will drive you with his scooter to the Station! " The all knew me and the case.

Seconds after he comes, stops and with no word I sit behind him on the Scooter. The ride of shame for the Inspector to the station, I guess. Me no helmet and on that three Kilometers about 20 saluting hands up. At the station right on the entrance, no words exchanged, I walked off in the building. I should have asked them if they got any phone calls? No I did not.

Minutes after we drove pass the main Police-station, me as a free man not bribing them!