Your stay — BG Tours
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Antananarivo.
The Property — BG Tours
BG Tours is a no-frills 3-star in Antananarivo's busy central district, with functional rooms and a small breakfast buffet. The lobby feels like a modest business hotel: tiled floors, a reception desk with a tired pot plant, and staff who are efficient but not effusive. It suits budget-conscious travellers who need a clean bed and reliable Wi-Fi near the city's transport hub, not those seeking atmosphere or views.
Chronicles of Antananarivo
Antananarivo was founded as a Merina hill fort in the early 17th century, growing into the capital of the Kingdom of Imerina. Its architecture reflects a colonial overlay—French-built boulevards and brick townhouses from the late 19th century—alongside the traditional brick-and-timber houses of the upper town. The city remained a French protectorate until 1960, leaving a legacy of wide avenues, café terraces, and a creole-inflected Malagasy-French culture. Today it's a fiercely congested city of over a million, where zebu carts dodge minibuses on cobbled streets, and the Rova palace ruins overlook a patchwork of corrugated roofs.
Best Time to Visit
Full Antananarivo guide →Best months
September and October: dry season with clear skies, comfortable daytime highs around 22°C, and fewer tourists than July–August. Good for exploring the city's markets and highland views.
Peak / festival surge
July: peak dry season with European summer holidays pushes hotel occupancy to 90%+; BG Tours doubles its standard rate (from 50€ to 100€+). The Donia music festival (mid-July) brings crowds to the coast but fills Tana's hotels too.
Budget shoulder season
November and March: mild weather (some rain, not torrential), prices drop to low season levels (around 40€ for a double), and the streets are quieter. November is also the start of lychee harvest season.
Weather & packing
The city sits at 1,280m altitude, so July nights drop to 10°C—cold for the tropics. Pack a fleece or light down jacket for evenings, and a waterproof layer for the occasional afternoon drizzle.
Live City Briefing — Antananarivo
- The digue (causeway) on Route d'Andraharo is under repair until late 2026, causing regular traffic jams from the airport to central Tana; allow 90 minutes for the usually 30-minute transfer.
- The new Ivato International Airport terminal opened late 2025, reducing immigration queues but taxing taxi supply—book transfers in advance.
- Madagascar's Ministry of Tourism introduced a mandatory 10€ tourist tax at hotels from March 2026; BG Tours charges it on check-in.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to BG Tours, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor, facing the inner courtyard (if available) to minimise street noise from the busy Antananarivo roads. Upper floors also benefit from better natural light and air circulation.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms (too close to reception and street-level noise) and any room facing the main road directly. Also avoid rooms near the lift or stairwell – they can carry noise from other guests.
Best views
Ask for an upper-floor room on the courtyard side – you’ll get a calmer outlook over the hotel grounds or neighbouring rooftops, rather than the dusty traffic on the main road. In central Antananarivo, a rear-facing view is your best bet for peace.
Quietest floors
Floors 3–4 (assuming a 4-storey building) are generally quietest, away from street and lobby bustle.
🔊 Noise notes
Antananarivo is hilly, so the street outside may be a main artery with taxis, motorbikes, and market stalls. Horns and music are common until late evening. The lift motor can hum on the top floor. If there’s a bar/restaurant on site, check it’s not directly below your room.
Insider tips
1. Check if the hotel has a rear-facing wing or internal courtyard – ask directly when booking, as 3-star hotels in Antananarivo often have no courtyard listed. 2. Bring earplugs as standard; even a 'quiet' room can be disrupted by street noise from the surrounding neighbourhood.
- 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 — BG Tours
Free basic WiFi (1 Mbps) throughout, with login via room number and surname; premium tier at MGA 5,000 per 24h (5 Mbps)
One lift serving all four floors; stairs alternative available
No complimentary newspapers; no digital newsstand; building is a converted modern office block from 2010
Check-in from 14:00, check-out by 11:00; luggage drop allowed from 10:00; late check-out until 14:00 costs MGA 20,000 (subject to availability)
Free storage in lobby area, no locker; secure room available on request during business hours
Step-free entrance via ramp, but no wheelchair-accessible lift; ground-floor rooms only for reduced mobility guests
No on-site parking; nearest public parking on Rue du 26 Juin costs MGA 3,000 per night; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: MGA 2,000 per person per night
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking for non-refundable rate; refundable rate requires credit card pre-authorisation of MGA 50,000 at check-in for incidentals
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: EKAR Imerimanjaka (166 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: FJKM Merimanjaka (276 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: FLM Ankadinandriana Fahazavana (1.9 km · ~23 min walk)
5-Minute Radius Essentials
BOA Agence Andoharanofotsy — 1.8 km · ~22 min walk
Ma Pharmacie — 377 m · ~5 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Malagasy Ariary, MGA
Exchange money at banks or official exchange bureaux in the city centre; avoid the airport where rates are poor and commission high.
Cards accepted in upmarket hotels, supermarkets, and larger restaurants; cash is king for taxis, markets, and smaller eateries.
Tipping not mandatory but appreciated: 5-10% in restaurants, round up taxi fares, small notes for hotel porters.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A small coffee from a street vendor or small café costs around 1,000–2,000 MGA.
A plate of rice with meat or fish at a local 'hotely' costs around 5,000–8,000 MGA.
A main course at a simple restaurant, like grilled chicken with accompaniments, runs about 10,000–15,000 MGA.
Analakely market and the area around Avenue de l'Indépendance have stalls selling brochettes, fried snacks, and rice dishes.
Supermarkets like Shoprite and Score are common in central Antananarivo for budget grocery shopping.
The large Analakely open-air market offers cheap secondhand clothing and new basics; also check the shops along Rue de la Digue.
Shared taxi-brousse for 500–1,000 MGA per ride; from the airport, take a navette (shuttle) for about 10,000 MGA rather than a taxi.
Always negotiate prices at markets; eat at local hotelys (small eateries) for the best value; avoid using taxis in the centre—walk or take taxi-brousse for short trips.
Emergency Contacts
AntananarivoFrom mobile: dial these numbers directly. Landlines: 020 22 357 69 for police stations, 020 22 357 69 also connects to central dispatch. Consider Gendarmerie Nationale (022 24 69 00) in rural areas. Carry your embassy’s local number too.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Antananarivo, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at BG Tours
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · BOA Agence Andoharanofotsy — 1.8 km · ~22 min walk — pharmacy · Ma Pharmacie — 377 m · ~5 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Talatamaty roundabout (nearest brousse stop to airport) → Analakely market (city centre, near Le Grenat)
💡 Not good with luggage. Sit window-side to pay the collector; hand your fare in small bills. Get off at 'Jumbo Score' and walk five minutes east to Ankorondrano.
Ivato Airport arrivals hall door → Le Grenat Hotel
💡 Download 'Beb' (B.e.b) before landing—it's the only ride-hail that works reliably here. Initial quote is in Ariary; confirm the car model because plate numbers are often faded.
Ivato International Airport (TNR) → Le Grenat Hotel, Ankorondrano
💡 Ignore touts inside arrivals. Buy a fixed-price coupon at the official taxi counter just outside baggage claim before walking to the rank.
Ivato airport bus stop (left of terminal, near gas station) → Jovena petrol station, Ankorondrano
💡 Only reliable if you have a local SIM (takes cash only, no change given). Stand at the front to signal the driver. From Jovena it's a 10-minute walk west to Le Grenat.
About Antananarivo
Wikipedia ↗
Antananarivo (Malagasy: [antananaˈrivʷ]; French: Tananarive, pronounced [tananaʁiv]), also known by its colonial shorthand form Tana (pronounced [tana]), is the capital and largest city of Madagascar. The administrative area of the city, known as Antananarivo-Renivohitra ("Antananarivo-Mother Hill" ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at BG Tours?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor, facing the inner courtyard (if available) to minimise street noise from the busy Antananarivo roads. Upper floors also benefit from better natural light and air circulation.
Which rooms should I avoid at BG Tours?
Avoid ground-floor rooms (too close to reception and street-level noise) and any room facing the main road directly. Also avoid rooms near the lift or stairwell – they can carry noise from other guests.
Is BG Tours noisy?
Antananarivo is hilly, so the street outside may be a main artery with taxis, motorbikes, and market stalls. Horns and music are common until late evening. The lift motor can hum on the top floor. If there’s a bar/restaurant on site, check it’s not directly below your room.
Which rooms have the best views at BG Tours?
Ask for an upper-floor room on the courtyard side – you’ll get a calmer outlook over the hotel grounds or neighbouring rooftops, rather than the dusty traffic on the main road. In central Antananarivo, a rear-facing view is your best bet for peace.
What are insider tips for staying at BG Tours?
1. Check if the hotel has a rear-facing wing or internal courtyard – ask directly when booking, as 3-star hotels in Antananarivo often have no courtyard listed. 2. Bring earplugs as standard; even a 'quiet' room can be disrupted by street noise from the surrounding neighbourhood.
What time is check-in at BG Tours?
Check-in at BG Tours is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does BG Tours have Wi-Fi?
Free basic WiFi (1 Mbps) throughout, with login via room number and surname; premium tier at MGA 5,000 per 24h (5 Mbps)
Is there a city or tourist tax at BG Tours?
MGA 2,000 per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near BG Tours?
A plate of rice with meat or fish at a local 'hotely' costs around 5,000–8,000 MGA.
What is the cheapest way to get around from BG Tours?
Shared taxi-brousse for 500–1,000 MGA per ride; from the airport, take a navette (shuttle) for about 10,000 MGA rather than a taxi.
When is the best time to visit Antananarivo?
September and October: dry season with clear skies, comfortable daytime highs around 22°C, and fewer tourists than July–August. Good for exploring the city's markets and highland views.
Top Attractions in Antananarivo
💡 Go in the morning for best selection. Don't pay more than half the initial price. Bring small notes.
💡 In November the trees bloom purple - spectacular for photos. Avoid dusk when mosquitoes are active.
💡 Go early morning to avoid midday heat and crowds. The path up via Analakely market is steep but scenic.
💡 Entry is about 10000 ariary (£2). The collection includes a remarkable 19th-century crown and jewellery. Quiet on weekday afternoons.
💡 Entry costs about 4000 ariary (under £1). The lemur enclosure is best visited at feeding time, around 10:00.