What budget for activities and outings Togo?
If you want to discover the flora and fauna of Togo, or get up close and personal with the country's culture, it's best to use an incoming agency that can put together a tailor-made program and accompany you during your stay. Prices will be higher than if you were to travel alone, but you'll be sure to make the most of your stay.
Togo's 56 km coastline is a popular source of leisure activities. What a pleasure to stroll between coconut palms to the rhythm of ocean waves, just a few steps from the hustle and bustle of the capital! The big market is just around the corner, and the autonomous port of Lomé is bustling with activity. Deep-sea fishing is an option on the Togolese coast. Several professionals offer their services to sea tourists, with day or half-day outings on 4 to 6-person boats. On the outskirts of Lomé, the Golf Club de Lomé, which was closed for a while, offers a 9-hole par 36 course, and has recently opened up the lush green grounds of the Mercure Sarakawa hotel. With its exceptional birdlife and flora, Togo will delight nature lovers. Several agencies and organizations offer nature walks, including 1001 pistes, run by a French scientific couple who head the Observatoire de la faune, de la flore et des aires protégées (OFFAP) association.
Sometimes you'll have to negotiate prices. Here's a tip: divide the advertised price by two, then increase it little by little until you reach an agreement with the dealer.
What budget to eat Togo?
There is something for every taste and color, one might say, but also for every budget. One can eat in the street or in a maquis (between 1,000 and 2,000 FCFA) as well as treat oneself to a gourmet meal in a good restaurant. The maquis and cafeterias offer very simple dishes: braised chicken or peanut sauce, spaghetti, kidneys and "rice sauce": tomato sauce, peanuts, palm nuts. The atmosphere of the maquis is very hot. The sound systems play the latest Ivorian or Congolese hits and conversations become animated after a few beers. Near some bars, you can eat meat skewers or portions of mutton for a handful of CFA francs. These cheap eateries are often a good opportunity to meet the local population and make friends. Small restaurants offer African and European cuisine, in addition to these cheap eateries. In Lomé, a few gourmet restaurants prepare excellent French cuisine. Gourmets will not be outdone. Fish and shellfish lovers will also be delighted. It is advisable, outside the big cities, to always ask what is on the menu rather than to consult it. Indeed, it is not uncommon to be told when you order: "there is not".
In the maquis, count around 600 FCFA for a local beer. In the more westernized bars, you will have to pay between 1,200 and 5,000 FCFA, depending on the brand of beer. For a cocktail, count around 5,000 FCFA.
What is the budget for accommodation Togo?
Despite the crisis in the sector, Togo's hotel structures remain relatively good quality. Several hotels, witnesses of the golden age of tourism in Togo, have aged or deteriorated due to lack of investment. Some of them have even become "hotels de passe", renting rooms by the day at relatively low prices. Lomé offers a vast choice of hotels. From luxury hotels (between 55,000 and 150,000 FCFA per night, or between 85 and 230 €) to charming hotels (between 20,000 and 55,000 FCFA, or between 30 and 85 €) to small hotels (between 10,000 and 20,000 FCFA, or between 15 and 30 €), there is something for everyone. The prices do not always take into account the tourist tax, which amounts to 1,000 FCFA per night. Outside the main and secondary cities, you have to make do with what is available. It is therefore advisable to travel from the major urban centers. Prices vary according to comfort. Outside of Lomé, prices range from 10,000 to 35,000 CFA francs for decent housing. Below these prices, comfort becomes rudimentary (outdoor shower and toilet, dilapidated). It is advisable to always bring a sheet and an insecticide spray. There are more and more guest houses in Togo and it is a good option for a comfortable stay. They are small and friendly structures, with less than 10 rooms. They offer a pleasant and peaceful setting for a successful vacation. You will feel at home, with a welcoming and caring staff. The home cooking is generous and delicious, usually with Togolese specialties on the menu. It is often necessary to pay between 20,000 and 35,000 FCFA. There are also many hostels in Togo, some of which offer a good quality/price ratio. It's a bit of a toss-up: you can find good, well-maintained hostels, as well as others that are deteriorating over time. The rooms are mostly ventilated, but there are also some air-conditioned rooms. The water for the shower is usually cold, but a bucket of hot water can be brought to you. This type of accommodation can be an economical choice for people who are not looking for western comfort. For a ventilated room, it is necessary to count between 7,000 and 8,000 FCFA per night. Beware: very few accommodations offer a credit card payment service. It is therefore necessary to always bring cash, knowing that all banks in the country are equipped with ATMs and that they work with Visa or Mastercard.
Travel budget Togo and cost of living
The cost of living in Togo is relatively low. However, it's important to stress the word "relatively", as visitors often seem surprised at the final cost of their trip. The budget increases quite rapidly as soon as you start to travel (hotels, restaurants, car hire, guides) or bring back a few gifts. So it's important to keep an eye on your budget and prepare your trip carefully. Of course, you can cut costs by staying and eating in small maquis and cheap hotels, and by taking bush cabs and motorcycle cabs. For a "comfort" or "luxury" discovery tour, expect to pay around €200 per day per person (accommodation, meals, vehicle + petrol, guide). For the more adventurous who travel by taxi-brousse, nibble in cafeterias and make do with modest accommodation, count from €40 per day per person.
