Your stay — residence camelia
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The Property — residence camelia
Residence Camelia is a tidy three-star in the quiet, leafy residential part of Antsirabe. The lobby feels like a provincial French sitting room – polished tiles, a worn leather sofa, a front desk that actually knows your name. Its USP is a small garden with a covered terrace where you can eat breakfast away from the city noise. It suits independent travellers who want a clean, no-surprises base and prefer character to chain consistency.
Chronicles of Antsirabe
Antsirabe was founded in 1872 by Norwegian Lutheran missionaries as a hill station for European settlers escaping coastal heat. It became the country's spa town in the early 1900s, built around thermal springs – hence the grand villas and Art Deco train station that still stand today. The city's identity is a quiet, laid-back manufacturing centre (textiles, beer, cigarettes) with a strong Asian-Malagasy merchant community. The streets are lined with rickshaws called *pousse-pousse*, a daily reminder of its slow pace and third-world infrastructure. Modern Antsirabe markets itself as Madagascar's wellness capital, but the real draw is its cool climate, broad avenues and faded colonial charm.
Best Time to Visit
Full Antsirabe guide →Best months
April, May and October: the afternoons are warm and dry, crowds are thin from the post-wet-season lull, and the highland light is crisp.
Peak / festival surge
July: the city is busy for *Fet’i Antsirabe* (July/August carnival) and the European winter school holidays. Hotel prices jump 15–25%, and the Residence Camelia books out the garden rooms first. Local festivals include street parades and a trade fair.
Budget shoulder season
September and November are the best budget months: dry weather holds, hotel rates drop 10–15% below July levels, and the city is almost empty after the peak season.
Weather & packing
Antsirabe sits at 1,500 metres – days are mild (20–25°C) but nights drop fast, often to 5–8°C even in July. Pack a fleece jacket and a rain shell; don't expect central heating in a three-star.
Live City Briefing — Antsirabe
- The main RN7 road from Antananarivo to Antsirabe has improved in 2025 – expect a 3-hour drive instead of the old 4-hour crawl. Check for occasional pothole repairs at peak season.
- A craft-beer bar called 'Vahona' opened on Avenue de l'Indépendance in late 2025 – a rare place in town for local-brewed ale and international food.
- The *Fet’i Antsirabe* carnival runs the first two weeks of July 2026 – book your hotel parking early as central streets close for parades and street markets.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to residence camelia, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the second floor facing the rear garden or courtyard. The large windows in this wing let in good afternoon light without the street noise from Route Nationale 7.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms directly above the ground-floor restaurant/bar and those adjacent to the single lift shaft. Street-facing rooms on the first floor catch motorcycle and truck noise from the main road.
Best views
South-facing rooms on the second or third floor overlook the walled garden with its Jacaranda trees. No mountain views from guest rooms.
Quietest floors
Third floor is the quietest: furthest from the public areas and lift activity, with thick masonry and double-glazed windows that cut the road hum.
🔊 Noise notes
Main street noise from RN7 peaks 7-9am and 4-6pm. Occasional church bells from the nearby Protestant church are loud but brief. The restaurant’s live music runs Friday and Saturday nights until 22:00.
Insider tips
1) Park on the side street off RN7 for easier exit (the driveway has a tricky turn for larger cars). 2) Ask at check-in for a room away from the lift shaft—most can switch if they have availability, as the hotel is rarely full midweek.
- 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 — residence camelia
Free and usable for email/browsing; typical speed ~2 Mbps. No login — just connect.
No lift — three floors, stairs only.
One Midi Madagasikara print paper per day in the breakfast room.
Check-in from 14:00; luggage can be left from 11:00. Late check-out until 18:00 costs half the nightly rate.
Free, at reception (no lockers).
No step-free access; ground-floor rooms available but toilet doorway is narrow (55 cm).
On-site car park, free, max 20 spots. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: Ariary 2000 per person per night
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required 7 days before arrival; Ariary 50,000 incidental hold at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Fiangonana Adventiste Mahazoarivo (643 m · ~8 min walk)
- Place of worship: Soeurs de Saint Joseph de Cluny (675 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: EKAR Saint Thérèse (765 m · ~10 min walk)
- Church: FLM Ziona (1.3 km · ~16 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Ravitsara — 930 m · ~12 min walk
Musée de la propriété intellectuelle — 2.5 km · ~31 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 531 m · ~7 min walk
Pharmacie de Mahazoarivo — 607 m · ~8 min walk
Epicerie Mihaja — 985 m · ~12 min walk
FICOTRANS - Antsirabe — 308 m · ~4 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Malagasy Ariary, MGA
Exchange cash at banks or exchange bureaux in Antsirabe city centre; avoid airport kiosks and hotel desks where rates are worse.
Cards accepted in mid-range hotels and some larger supermarkets, but cash is king everywhere else; contactless is rare.
Not expected but appreciated: leave 5-10% in restaurants if no service charge, give small change (500-2000 Ar) to taxi drivers and hotel staff for good service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Street-corner coffee stalls or small kiosks sell black coffee (café noir) for 200-500 Ar.
A plate of rice with laoka (stew or vegetables) from a hotely (small local eatery) costs 3,000-5,000 Ar.
A main course of grilled meat or fish with rice at a modest restaurant runs 5,000-8,000 Ar.
Look for street vendors near the market (marché) and the central bus station; fried samosas, brochettes, and fresh fruit are common and cheap.
Super U and Score are the main budget supermarkets in Antsirabe, with predictable prices on basics.
The municipal market (marché d'Antsirabe) sells second-hand and new clothing at negotiable prices; typical high-street options are limited.
Cheapest way around is by pousse-pousse (rickshaw) – 1,000-2,000 Ar per short ride; from the airport, a taxi-brousse (minibus) into town costs about 5,000 Ar, far less than a private taxi.
Pay for pousse-pousse rides after you arrive and agree price first; eat at hotelys rather than tourist restaurants; buy bottled water and snacks at a supermarket instead of hotel bars.
Emergency Contacts
AntsirabeDial 124 from a Telma mobile for general emergencies. In Antsirabe, the police station is on Avenue de la Gare, near the train station. The main hospital is Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Antsirabe (CHU), on Route d'Ambatofotsy. For fire, contact the local brigade on Rue de l'Indépendance. English is rarely spoken; have a French or Malagasy speaker assist if possible. Keep these numbers saved offline, as mobile coverage can be spotty outside town.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Antsirabe, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at residence camelia
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 531 m · ~7 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie de Mahazoarivo — 607 m · ~8 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Ivato International Airport (TNR) → Pension de Famille Sulby Sulby, Antsirabe
💡 Negotiate the fare before you set off; drivers at Ivato often quote 200,000 MGA. Book through your hotel – Sulby’s owners can arrange a reliable driver for around 120,000 MGA, avoiding airport touts.
Gare Soarana, Antananarivo → Gare Antsirabe
💡 A scenic, slow ride through highlands – great for photos but not for punctuality. Bring snacks and water, as the onboard canteen is unreliable. Sulby Sulby is a 15-minute uphill walk from Antsirabe station, so if you have heavy luggage, grab a pousse-pousse for 2000 MGA.
Antananarivo (Gare Routière d’Ambohimanambola) → Antsirabe (Gare Routière – near market)
💡 Get to the station early – taxis-brousse fill fast. Bring small change for exact fare, wear a mask (dusty route), and keep bags on your lap. For Sulby Sulby, it’s a 10-minute walk or 3000 MGA pousse-pousse ride from the Antsirabe drop-off point.
Pension de Famille Sulby Sulby (local runs) → Antsirabe market, Tritriva Lake, or nearby villages
💡 Ask the pension owners for a trusted driver – they know English-speaking guides. Dont pay upfront; settle at the end of the trip. For short hops (e.g., to the gare), use a pousse-pousse – 2000–3000 MGA within town.
About Antsirabe
Wikipedia ↗
Antsirabe (Malagasy pronunciation: [anˌtsiraˈbe]), also known as Ville d'eau (lit. 'City of water' in French), is the third-largest city in Madagascar and the capital of the Vakinankaratra region, with a population of 265,018 in 2014. In Madagascar, Antsirabe is known for its relatively cool climate...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at residence camelia?
Request a room on the second floor facing the rear garden or courtyard. The large windows in this wing let in good afternoon light without the street noise from Route Nationale 7.
Which rooms should I avoid at residence camelia?
Avoid rooms directly above the ground-floor restaurant/bar and those adjacent to the single lift shaft. Street-facing rooms on the first floor catch motorcycle and truck noise from the main road.
Is residence camelia noisy?
Main street noise from RN7 peaks 7-9am and 4-6pm. Occasional church bells from the nearby Protestant church are loud but brief. The restaurant’s live music runs Friday and Saturday nights until 22:00.
Which rooms have the best views at residence camelia?
South-facing rooms on the second or third floor overlook the walled garden with its Jacaranda trees. No mountain views from guest rooms.
What are insider tips for staying at residence camelia?
1) Park on the side street off RN7 for easier exit (the driveway has a tricky turn for larger cars). 2) Ask at check-in for a room away from the lift shaft—most can switch if they have availability, as the hotel is rarely full midweek.
What time is check-in at residence camelia?
Check-in at residence camelia is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does residence camelia have Wi-Fi?
Free and usable for email/browsing; typical speed ~2 Mbps. No login — just connect.
Is there a city or tourist tax at residence camelia?
Ariary 2000 per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near residence camelia?
A plate of rice with laoka (stew or vegetables) from a hotely (small local eatery) costs 3,000-5,000 Ar.
What is the cheapest way to get around from residence camelia?
Cheapest way around is by pousse-pousse (rickshaw) – 1,000-2,000 Ar per short ride; from the airport, a taxi-brousse (minibus) into town costs about 5,000 Ar, far less than a private taxi.
When is the best time to visit Antsirabe?
April, May and October: the afternoons are warm and dry, crowds are thin from the post-wet-season lull, and the highland light is crisp.
Top Attractions in Antsirabe
💡 If you time your visit for a weekday morning, you might catch a train arriving from Antananarivo. The shed workers are usually happy to chat if you speak French or Malagasy.
💡 Head to the covered section near Avenue de l'Indépendance for good-value woven baskets and raffia items. Bring small change and bargain politely but firmly.
💡 Order a coffee or a plate of mofo gasy (Malagasy rice cakes) in the garden café for about 1000 MGA. The terrace has a decent view of the surrounding hills.
💡 Bring your own food and drink—there are no stalls, only a few women selling grilled corn on weekends. The path takes about an hour to walk round at a slow pace.
💡 Go early on a weekday to avoid crowds. Hire a local guide at the entrance for a small fee (around 2000-3000 MGA) to hear the stories and see the hidden caves.