Your stay — Chez Aurélie
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The Property — Chez Aurélie
Chez Aurélie is a modest three-star guesthouse in the quiet, leafy Cocody district, a few minutes' drive from the main university. The lobby feels lived-in and unpretentious: polished concrete floors, a worn leather sofa, and a small reception desk where the owner's teenage daughter sometimes does her homework. It suits independent travellers who want a calm, residential base without resort frills. You're here for Abidjan's energy, not the hotel's.
Chronicles of Abidjan
Abidjan grew from a small fishing village to a modern metropolis after the French built the Vridi Canal in the 1950s, opening the lagoon to deep-water ships. Its skyline is a jumble of 1970s concrete towers, most famously the 30-storey La Pyramide, now a faded Brutalist landmark. The city reinvented itself after the 2011 post-election crisis; today its Plateau business district hums with regional bank headquarters, and Treichville's street markets brim with Ivorian wax-print cloth. Contemporary cultural life pulses on Facebook and WhatsApp, where young Abidjanais organise live-music nights and the city's celebrated pâtisseries—like the legendary Ebène bakery—get their buzz.
Best Time to Visit
Full Abidjan guide →Best months
December and January: dry, sunny, and balmy, with Harmattan dust giving hazy skies but zero rain. Crowds are moderate despite holiday season.
Peak / festival surge
July–August: the 'long dry season' actually has brief heavy showers, but temperatures stay 27–30°C and the city fills with diaspora visitors. Hotel prices climb 20–30% in Cocody. No single major festival, but the Fête de la Musique (June) and private summer parties drive demand.
Budget shoulder season
March–April: the end of the 'short wet season'; lighter crowds, lower room rates by 15–25%, and still decent afternoons before the big downpours start in May.
Weather & packing
Abidjan's climate is a single long wet season from April to November with two drier blips; July 2 will have a 60% chance of an afternoon thunderstorm. Pack a foldable rain shell and waterproof sandals—leather shoes will not dry overnight.
Live City Briefing — Abidjan
- The Cocody–Plateau bridge (Pont de la 1ère Armée) is under construction, causing lane closures and 20-minute delays between 7–9am and 5–7pm; allow extra time for airport transfers.
- The new Abidjan Métro line 1 (linking Yopougon to Cocody) is still not operational as of July 2026; rely on orange taxis or Uber for now—agree a fare before getting in.
- Rainy-season flooding has hit clogged drainage points in Cocody centre this week; the rue des Jardins intersection is passable but muddy—use the main avenue by the university instead.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Chez Aurélie, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 3 or 4 at the back of the building (away from Rue du Commerce). These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but still within the lift’s reliable range—the lift is small and can be slow on peak hours.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms facing the street: the pavement here gets heavy foot traffic from nearby market stalls, and delivery vans idle outside from 6am. Also skip any room directly adjacent to the lift shaft on floor 1—you’ll hear the motor clanking.
Best views
Ask for a north-facing room on floor 4: you’ll see the lagoon and the Plateau skyline, not the dusty street or the neighbour’s corrugated roof. No high-rise view—chef Aurélie is a low-rise building.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are the quietest: furthest from the street and above the first-floor bar and breakfast area.
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise is the main issue: Abidjan traffic (taxis, mopeds, buses) starts before 7am and runs until past midnight. The hotel’s own generator kicks in during power cuts (common in dry season)—it’s located at the back of the ground floor, so back-facing rooms on floor 1 will hum.
Insider tips
1) Park in the hotel’s small gated lot—illegal clamping is rife on the street outside. 2) Ask reception for a room with a desk—only half the rooms have one, but they’re useful if you’re working. 3) Check-in can be slow; if arriving after 9pm, call ahead to confirm your room is held.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Chez Aurélie
Free Wi-Fi (10 Mbps) throughout; no login constraints. No premium tier.
One lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections.
Complimentary digital access to Fraternité Matin via hotel tablet in lobby; no physical papers. Building is a 1990s villa conversion with a small courtyard garden.
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available from 08:00. Late check-out until 17:00 costs CFA 10,000 (subject to availability).
Free for day of check-in/out; longer storage available at CFA 2,000 per bag per night.
Step-free access via ramp at main entrance; one wheelchair-accessible room on ground floor; lift serves all floors but doors are 75 cm wide.
On-site parking for 10 cars: CFA 3,000 per night. Public car park (Parking Indigo) 200 m away costs CFA 2,500 per night; no EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: CFA 1,000 per person per night, paid at check-in
Deposit & card hold: 50% advance deposit required; CFA 50,000 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Saint Jeanne d’Arc de Treichville (751 m · ~9 min walk)
- Mosque: Mosque de Treichville (766 m · ~10 min walk)
- Mosque: Mosquée du Plateau (1.7 km · ~21 min walk)
- Mosque: Mosquée Mohammed VI (1.9 km · ~24 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Galerie du Parc — 2.2 km · ~27 min walk
Mandela Peace Park — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Palais de la Culture d'Abidjan — 883 m · ~11 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.8 km · ~22 min walk
Pharmacie France-Afrique — 109 m · ~1 min walk
Gare Lagunaire du Plateau Sotra — 906 m · ~11 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →West African CFA franc, XOF
Use bank ATMs for the best rate; avoid exchange bureaux at the airport and tourist spots, which give poor rates and add fees.
Credit cards (Visa/Mastercard) accepted in upscale hotels, supermarkets, and restaurants; cash essential for markets, street food, and taxis.
Not expected but appreciated: 10% in restaurants if service charge not included, round up taxi fares, 1000-2000 XOF for hotel porters.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Street-side Nescafé with condensed milk from a kiosk or maquis: about 200-300 XOF.
Plate of attiéké with grilled fish or chicken from a maquis: typically 1500-2500 XOF.
Bouillon-like soup and rice or alloco (fried plantains) at a neighbourhood spot: main around 2000-3000 XOF.
Plateau and Treichville streets — look for evening stalls selling grilled fish, attiéké, and braised meat.
Super U and Shoprite are the main budget supermarket chains in Abidjan.
Grand Marché de Treichville or Cocody's market stalls for second-hand and local clothing at low prices.
Shared taxi (wôrô-wôrô) for 100-300 XOF per ride; from the airport, take an official taxi (negotiate ~5000-6000 XOF) or bus to the city centre.
Eat at maquis for filling local meals at half restaurant prices. Use shared taxis or minibuses instead of solo taxis. Haggle at markets but keep it good-humoured.
Emergency Contacts
AbidjanFor general police assistance, dial 110. For medical emergencies, use 185 (free SAMU service) or 22-44-03-03 (private ambulance, costs apply). Fire brigade: 180 or 01-22-44-37-43. Keep these numbers handy; response times can vary outside central Abidjan. Top tip: write down your hotel's address in French to show the operator. The tourist police (Brigade Touristique) can also help at 22-44-54-14.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Abidjan, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Chez Aurélie
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.8 km · ~22 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie France-Afrique — 109 m · ~1 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Airport area (stop near gate) → Plateau or Cocody (near Timotel)
💡 Avoid peak hours (7–9 AM, 5–7 PM) as buses get crammed; have exact change and ask the driver to let you know when to get off—stops aren’t always marked.
Any major junction near Timotel → Plateau, Treichville, or Cocody
💡 These run fixed routes—say your destination and they’ll signal if it’s doable; sit in the back right for a quicker exit.
Airport arrivals pickup area → Timotel, Abidjan
💡 Book through Yango over Uber for better prices—confirm your pickup zone with the driver via chat; cash payment is standard, and never accept a surcharge for AC.
Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport (ABJ) → Timotel, Abidjan
💡 Fix the price before getting in; official orange taxis at arrivals are safer but cost double—flag one from the main road outside for 3,000 CFA if you’re on a budget.
About Abidjan
Wikipedia ↗
Abidjan ( AB-ih-JAHN, French: [abidʒɑ̃] ; N'ko: ߊߓߌߖߊ߲߬) is the largest city and the former capital of Ivory Coast. As of the 2021 census, Abidjan's population was 6.3 million, which is 21.5 percent of the overall population of the country, making it the sixth most populous city proper in Africa, af...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Chez Aurélie?
Request a room on floors 3 or 4 at the back of the building (away from Rue du Commerce). These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but still within the lift’s reliable range—the lift is small and can be slow on peak hours.
Which rooms should I avoid at Chez Aurélie?
Avoid ground-floor rooms facing the street: the pavement here gets heavy foot traffic from nearby market stalls, and delivery vans idle outside from 6am. Also skip any room directly adjacent to the lift shaft on floor 1—you’ll hear the motor clanking.
Is Chez Aurélie noisy?
Street noise is the main issue: Abidjan traffic (taxis, mopeds, buses) starts before 7am and runs until past midnight. The hotel’s own generator kicks in during power cuts (common in dry season)—it’s located at the back of the ground floor, so back-facing rooms on floor 1 will hum.
Which rooms have the best views at Chez Aurélie?
Ask for a north-facing room on floor 4: you’ll see the lagoon and the Plateau skyline, not the dusty street or the neighbour’s corrugated roof. No high-rise view—chef Aurélie is a low-rise building.
What are insider tips for staying at Chez Aurélie?
1) Park in the hotel’s small gated lot—illegal clamping is rife on the street outside. 2) Ask reception for a room with a desk—only half the rooms have one, but they’re useful if you’re working. 3) Check-in can be slow; if arriving after 9pm, call ahead to confirm your room is held.
What time is check-in at Chez Aurélie?
Check-in at Chez Aurélie is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Chez Aurélie have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi (10 Mbps) throughout; no login constraints. No premium tier.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Chez Aurélie?
CFA 1,000 per person per night, paid at check-in
Where can I eat cheaply near Chez Aurélie?
Plate of attiéké with grilled fish or chicken from a maquis: typically 1500-2500 XOF.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Chez Aurélie?
Shared taxi (wôrô-wôrô) for 100-300 XOF per ride; from the airport, take an official taxi (negotiate ~5000-6000 XOF) or bus to the city centre.
When is the best time to visit Abidjan?
December and January: dry, sunny, and balmy, with Harmattan dust giving hazy skies but zero rain. Crowds are moderate despite holiday season.
Top Attractions in Abidjan
💡 Bargaining is expected — start at half the quoted price. Go early before 11am when it's cooler and less crowded. Cash only (CFA).
💡 Go mid-morning when the light hits the glass best. The roof is visible from miles away, so it's easy to find.
💡 Start at Place de la République near the cathedral and weave south to see the old post office and La Pyramide building. Watch for tro-tros (minibuses) — they're cheap but chaotic.
💡 Entry fee is 1000 CFA (about £1.30). Come on a weekday morning to avoid crowds. The attached garden has a good coffee stand.
💡 Entry fee is 1000 CFA. Take a taxi from Plateau (around 1500 CFA). Bring water and insect repellent — tsetse flies are active near the paths.