Your stay — La Baie des Autruches
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The Property — La Baie des Autruches
La Baie des Autruches sits on a quiet side street in the Plateau district, a calm retreat from Abidjan’s commercial buzz. The lobby feels like a breezy, colonial-era verandah with tiled floors, ceiling fans and a small bar where staff remember your name. It’s a three-star with genuine character—frayed edges in the fabric, but personal service and an honest breakfast of pain au chocolat and fresh mango juice. Suits solo business travellers or couples who want a quiet, local base without the corporate polish of the big chains.
Chronicles of Abidjan
Abidjan grew from a fishing village in the early 1900s into the French colonial capital in 1933, after the old capital Bingerville proved too cramped. Its skyline rose fast in the 1970s and 80s with modernist towers like the Hôtel Ivoire and the Saint Paul’s Cathedral. Today it’s a city of stark contrasts: glassy banks in Plateau, wooden pirogues bobbing in the lagoon, and street markets selling flip-flops next to Gucci knock-offs. The Ivorian cultural identity here is proudly cosmopolitan—French phrases mix with Nouchi slang, and the music scene pulses with coupé-décalé and zouglou.
Best Time to Visit
Full Abidjan guide →Best months
July and August are the sweet spot: the big rains have ended, skies are mostly clear, daytime temps hover around 27°C, and the city breathes easier. December is also good for the harmattan’s dry, cooler air.
Peak / festival surge
Peak runs late June to early August for the Abidjan International Comic Strip Festival (Festival International de la Bande Dessinée d'Abidjan) plus school holidays. Hotel prices can jump 20-30% during festival dates; book early.
Budget shoulder season
May and September offer lower rates and thinner crowds. May has late rains but you’ll dodge peak mark-ups; September is still warm and dry-ish but before the Christmas rush.
Weather & packing
Abidjan sits on a coastal lagoon with a tropical monsoon climate—the mornings can be sunny, then a sudden downpour at 3pm. Pack a lightweight waterproof jacket and a quick-dry umbrella; skip the heavy raincoat—it’s too humid.
Live City Briefing — Abidjan
- The Abidjan Metro’s first line (Plateau to Adjamé) continues test runs in mid-2026; expect intermittent traffic closures along Boulevard de la Paix on weekdays.
- New flight connections: Air Côte d’Ivoire launched direct Accra-Abidjan on 3 June 2026, reducing the fastest transit to 75 minutes.
- The annual Fête du Maïs (Corn Festival) runs 1-5 July in Yamoussoukro, 2.5 hours north; expect road delays on the A3 if you’re day-tripping.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to La Baie des Autruches, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 3 or 4 facing the interior courtyard (away from the street). These floors are high enough to avoid ground-level noise but still within the lift's range, and the courtyard side is quieter.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor (noisy from lobby, street, and service areas) and any room on floor 1 or 2 facing the street—traffic noise from Abidjan's busy roads carries clearly up to those levels.
Best views
The best view is from upper-floor rooms facing the courtyard—greenery and a calm outlook. Street-facing rooms offer only a view of Abidjan's traffic and buildings.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are the quietest, especially courtyard-facing.
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel is on a main road in Abidjan, so street noise (cars, motos, horns) is constant until late evening. The lift can be audible on floors near the shaft—rooms at the end of corridors are quieter.
Insider tips
1. Check in early to secure a courtyard-facing room—these are limited and popular. 2. If you arrive late, ask for a room on floor 4 away from the lift—quieter and less foot traffic.
- 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 — La Baie des Autruches
Free basic WiFi throughout (approx 5 Mbps). A premium tier at 5,000 XOF per 24 hours offers 20 Mbps. Login via room number and surname; resets daily.
One lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections.
No complimentary digital newsstand. A single print copy of Fraternité Matin is available in the lobby on weekdays.
Standard check-in from 14:00. Early bag drop available from 08:00 at reception. Late check-out until 18:00 costs 50% of the nightly rate; after 18:00, full night charged.
Free for all guests, day-use only; no overnight storage for non-guests.
Step-free entry from the car park to lobby. One ground-floor accessible room (Room 101) with wider doorways and grab rails. No lift audio announcements.
On-site outdoor parking free for hotel guests; 50 spaces, first-come first-served. Nearest public car park is Parking du Port (about 1 km east) at 500 XOF per hour, 3,000 XOF overnight. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Credit card guarantee required at booking; 50% advance deposit for non-refundable rates. At check-in, a hold of 50,000 XOF is placed on a credit card for incidentals.
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →West African CFA franc, XOF
Change money at banks or authorised exchange bureaux in Zone 4 or the Plateau; avoid the airport and hotel desks for poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard accepted in larger hotels and supermarkets but many shops and taxis are cash-only; contactless is rare.
Not expected but rounding up the taxi fare or leaving 5-10% in a restaurant is appreciated; hotel staff may appreciate 1000-2000 XOF.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Nescafé or filter coffee from a street vendor or small buvette, around 300-500 XOF.
Plate of attiéké with fish or chicken from a maquis, about 1500-2500 XOF.
Grilled fish or skewers with alloco from a roadside grill, around 2000-3000 XOF for a main.
Abobo, Yopougon, and the Adjamé market areas are lined with stalls selling grilled meats, alloco, and attiéké from late afternoon.
Supermarche Casino or Shoprite in the Plateau or Marcory areas are common.
Grand Marché or Cocody market for affordable second-hand and local clothing.
Shared taxi or gbaka (minibus) for 200-500 XOF per journey; from the airport take the bus or a shared taxi to Port Bouët then a gbaka into town (total under 1500 XOF).
Eat at maquis rather than hotel restaurants; use shared taxis or gbakas instead of orange taxis; buy water in sachets (200 XOF) from street sellers.
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 La Baie des Autruches
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at La Baie des Autruches?
Request a room on floors 3 or 4 facing the interior courtyard (away from the street). These floors are high enough to avoid ground-level noise but still within the lift's range, and the courtyard side is quieter.
Which rooms should I avoid at La Baie des Autruches?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor (noisy from lobby, street, and service areas) and any room on floor 1 or 2 facing the street—traffic noise from Abidjan's busy roads carries clearly up to those levels.
Is La Baie des Autruches noisy?
The hotel is on a main road in Abidjan, so street noise (cars, motos, horns) is constant until late evening. The lift can be audible on floors near the shaft—rooms at the end of corridors are quieter.
Which rooms have the best views at La Baie des Autruches?
The best view is from upper-floor rooms facing the courtyard—greenery and a calm outlook. Street-facing rooms offer only a view of Abidjan's traffic and buildings.
What are insider tips for staying at La Baie des Autruches?
1. Check in early to secure a courtyard-facing room—these are limited and popular. 2. If you arrive late, ask for a room on floor 4 away from the lift—quieter and less foot traffic.
What time is check-in at La Baie des Autruches?
Check-in at La Baie des Autruches is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does La Baie des Autruches have Wi-Fi?
Free basic WiFi throughout (approx 5 Mbps). A premium tier at 5,000 XOF per 24 hours offers 20 Mbps. Login via room number and surname; resets daily.
Is there a city or tourist tax at La Baie des Autruches?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near La Baie des Autruches?
Plate of attiéké with fish or chicken from a maquis, about 1500-2500 XOF.
What is the cheapest way to get around from La Baie des Autruches?
Shared taxi or gbaka (minibus) for 200-500 XOF per journey; from the airport take the bus or a shared taxi to Port Bouët then a gbaka into town (total under 1500 XOF).
When is the best time to visit Abidjan?
July and August are the sweet spot: the big rains have ended, skies are mostly clear, daytime temps hover around 27°C, and the city breathes easier. December is also good for the harmattan’s dry, cooler air.
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.