What budget to travel Ivory Coast? Money and currency

What budget for activities and outings Ivory Coast?

Tours aren't usually very expensive - it's the guide who'll cost more - but the lack of directions and information often makes his or her presence indispensable, if not worthwhile. We therefore recommend local guides.

Hotel-restaurants by the lagoon and ocean, whether on the Ile Boulay near Abidjan, Grand-Bassam or Assinie, offer a host of free activities as long as you have lunch at the on-site restaurant (all-day package), failing which you spend the night. Starting with access to the swimming pool (which can also be paid for extra if you don't have lunch), but also canoeing, pétanque, volleyball, dugout canoeing, children's games... It all depends on the location! Then there are paid activities in addition, often boat trips, jet skiing, water skiing...

What is the budget for accommodation Ivory Coast?

Inland, the cheapest hotels offer basic comfort, with bedding, ventilation, toilet and shower, for as little as 7,000 FCFA.

Medium-category hotels add space, air conditioning and television, sometimes telephone, and a minimum of research into furnishings and decoration. The average night costs 15,000 to 30,000 FCFA or more, depending on whether you're in Abidjan or the provinces.

Finally, there are the luxury hotels, found mainly in Abidjan and Assinie, and to a lesser extent in San Pedro and Yamoussoukro. In Abidjan, they are divided between the business hotels of the Accor group, those of the pan-African hotel groups Onomo and Azalaï and the American chain Radisson Blu, independents such as the Tiama or the Wafou, and the hotels of the Société des palaces de Cocody.

Travel budget Ivory Coast and cost of living

Côte d'Ivoire is a rather expensive country for tourists, if you want to enjoy a pleasant vacation with a minimum of comfort. It's not a country where you can travel with your head in the clouds, your hair blowing in the wind and your bag on your back. Here, smart travel is not necessarily synonymous with economical travel, and before you set off on any trip with your flower on your shoulder, make sure you've (1) opted for a reasonably safe means of transport (choose your bus company carefully and avoid gbakas wherever possible); (2) gathered information about your destination (hotels in particular); (3) if possible, got in touch with local guides (we've included some in every major city in this guide). In some areas, such as the north or west of the country, the services of a guide will be invaluable, to enable you to access tourist sites easily and interact with local people, especially if you want to see traditional mask ceremonies.

Low budget. Of course, you can always opt for a backpacker-style trip, in which case you switch from the Western mode to the "Ivorian way of life", and while the experience can be fun on an occasional basis, for Ivorians, the white man has no money problems. Deliberately choosing to live "like a pauper" is nonsense for most of them. That said, it is of course possible to roam and live "local-style", albeit at the expense of certain standards of safety, hygiene and comfort. In this case, public transport in town doesn't exceed 300-500 FCFA, and varies between 2,500 and 7,000 FCFA for inland travel (bus, gbakas). You can eat in kiosks and maquis for between 3,000 and 8,000 FCFA a day, and sleep in ventilated or air-conditioned rooms in some local hotels or Catholic missions for less than 15,000 FCFA a night.

Average budget. For those who prefer to travel with a minimum of comfort, a night in a mid-range hotel rarely costs less than 40,000 FCFA in Abidjan, and 20-25,000 FCFA in the "provinces". For a full meal (starter+main course+drink+dessert) in a Western-style restaurant or maquis-restaurant, expect to pay at least 10-15,000 FCFA. Finally, if you choose to hire a car, you'll be looking at a minimum of 30-40,000 FCFA gross per day, not including per diem for the driver. The daily budget thus rises to a much higher category, flirting with 100,000 FCFA per day. An intermediate solution is to take the best buses in the country between the major cities, then travel by local cab or three-wheeled vehicle (bajajs), which are now very common in the countryside.

High budget. Expect to pay between 150 and 200,000 FCFA per day or more, for those who prefer (and can afford) grand hotels, good restaurants and the most comfortable means of transport. Since the end of 2014, the new national airline Air Côte d'Ivoire has restarted its domestic flights after 17 years of inactivity, with regular service to Korhogo (north), Bouaké (center), San Pedro (southwest), Man (west) and Odienné (center). A round trip costs between 40 and 90,000 for the best offers, which is very expensive, but at the same time it takes you 1 hour to fly (to the new terminal 2 in Abidjan) instead of 6 or 7 hours by road. With the advent of new roads in the country, this solution is less attractive, especially to get to San Pedro, as it takes 6 hours instead of 12 by road, and by luxury direct bus.

Tips. It's a good idea to leave a tip in bars and restaurants, or at the hotel for the staff or local guide, if the service provided is appreciated. The amount is random and varies according to the degree of satisfaction, but a tip is the least you can do, and sharing a meal or a drink at the end of the day with your guide will also be appreciated.

Haggling. In Côte d'Ivoire, as elsewhere in Africa, haggling is part of the institution and almost a social game, especially when buying handicrafts and souvenirs. Generally speaking, if someone says to you, "Pour toi, je fais prix d'ami", you can be sure it's a " toubabou price". The rule is that you divide the advertised price by four to get back to half; this is the start of an oratorical jousting match that can prove to be very tasty, provided you put in the right amount of humor and good (or bad!) faith... However, haggling must not become a habit applicable to all sectors of the economy, or turn into a crass indecency.