Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TheportersatIvatoarequiteaggressive.Beonyourguardand,unlessyouneedhelp,insist
on carrying your own stuff. They are well aware that new arrivals are unlikely to have any
smallchangeandwilloftenaskforeuros,feigningdisappointmentonbeinggivenanything
less than a small fortune. Remember even a single euro coin is five or ten times the usual
porter's tip in Madagascar, so if you need their services try to have some low-value ariary
currency to hand. If you are being met by a tour operator you won't need a porter, so be
firm.
You may also be approached by freelance guides offering to organise trips. Some trav-
ellers have reported these 'guides' disappearing with their money, never to be heard from
again. That's not to say they are all scammers, but do exercise caution and avoid handing
over cash upfront to agents not working out of the office of a reputable tour agency.
CHANGINGMONEY
Onarrivalmostpeoplewillneedtochangemoneyattheairportto
pay for a taxi into the city. There is a BNI bank (hours vary to coincide with major flights
but the ATM is 24-hour) and SOCIMAD bureau de change (
24hr
) which tends to have
more favourable exchange rates. Think carefully before changing a large amount of cash;
just €300 will give you a thick wad of at least a hundred ariary banknotes. There are plenty
of places to change money later in the city centre (see
Click Here
)
.
LEAVING
This has been streamlined and is now a normal procedure. You are no longer
required to reconfirm for Air Madagascar flights, although you may wish to be on the safe
side and also ask for a seat allocation.
You must exchange or spend any unwanted ariary before passing through security; the
souvenir shops, bar and cybercafé in the international departure lounge accept only euros
and dollars.
LOST LUGGAGE
Sometimes your luggage doesn't arrive. These days there is a relat-
ively efficient procedure: at the lost luggage kiosk near the baggage carousel, fill in a form
andthey'llphoneyourhotelwhenthebagarrives.Tobeonthesafesideaskfortheirphone
number so you can find out if your luggage has been traced yet. Depending on the policy
of the airline you are travelling with, your bag may be delivered to your hotel once it ma-
terialises, or you may have to collect it from the airport yourself. Some airlines now use a
system that allows you to track your bag's recovery online.
TRANSPORTTOTHECITYCENTRE(12KM)
Acomfortablenewairportshuttlebus
servicerunbyADEMA(
m
0320706256/0320706302
)runstothecitycentreaftermost
flights for 10,000Ar, and will make request stops at any hotels
en route
.
Most mid- and upper-range hotels offer airport transfers. Otherwise official taxis should
cost no more than 30,000Ar (you may be shown an 'official' price card indicating a higher
