Your stay — Cité du Gendarme
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The Property — Cité du Gendarme
Cité du Gendarme is a calm, practical 3-star in a quiet residential pocket of Daloa. The lobby is clean, tiled and unpretentious – it feels more like a well-run motel than a hotel, with a small courtyard and a reliable restaurant that serves local staples. It suits value-conscious travellers, NGO workers, or anyone needing a no-fuss base for a night or two in the cocoa belt.
Chronicles of Daloa
Daloa was founded in the early 20th century as a French colonial administrative post and grew rapidly after the railway reached it in the 1950s, becoming a key hub for Ivory Coast's cocoa and coffee trade. The city's layout still shows that colonial grid, now mixed with vibrant market streets and concrete architecture from the post-independence boom. Culturally, Daloa is a crossroads of the Bété, Baoulé and Dioula peoples, expressed in its lively music scene and the annual Festival des Arts et de la Culture. Today it's the country's third-largest city, a busy commercial centre with a pragmatic, workaday energy rather than a tourist veneer.
Best Time to Visit
Full Daloa guide →Best months
December and January: the long dry season brings blue skies and comfortable heat (25-30°C), and crowds are thin outside the Christmas week. February is also good, though dust from harmattan winds can be hazy.
Peak / festival surge
August: the main rainy season peaks, but it's also the month of the Fête de l'Indépendance (7 August) with local ceremonies and markets. Hotel prices in Daloa don't surge dramatically, but occupancy rises for business and government travel. No major festival drives big tourism.
Budget shoulder season
March and April: the short dry season offers lower humidity and fewer rain interruptions than June or July, but the city is quiet. Prices at Cité du Gendarme stay at their base rate. You get decent weather without the heat of February.
Weather & packing
Daloa has two rainy seasons and high humidity year-round. Pack a light, packable rain jacket and a broad-brimmed hat for sun, and carry a small torch for the frequent evening power cuts.
Live City Briefing — Daloa
- The main road through Daloa (Route d'Abidjan) is undergoing resurfacing works in parts – expect some delays and dust near the central market until at least late 2026.
- A new express bus service between Daloa and Yamoussoukro launched in late 2025, cutting journey time to about three hours; tickets are best bought a day in advance.
- Seasonal note: June is the start of the mango harvest, so street stalls near the hotel will be heavy with cheap, ripe fruit – but also expect heavy afternoon downpours most days.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jun 2026Before you check in to Cité du Gendarme, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on an upper floor away from the lift and stairwell. In West African hotels, top floors are usually quieter and less dusty. Ask for a corner room if available, which often means less noise from neighbours.
Rooms to avoid
Never accept a room next to the ice machine, generator, or staff areas (often on ground floor or near service lifts). Also avoid rooms directly above the bar or restaurant opening hours if the hotel has a late-night spot. Breakfast prep often starts around 5 AM in 3-star hotels.
Best views
Not guaranteed in a 3-star, but ask for a room facing the back or side with less street noise. Daloa is dusty, so if you get a view of anything green, that's bonus. Avoid rooms with direct view of empty construction sites or rubbish piles common in satellite towns.
Quietest floors
Generally top floor (often the 3rd or 4th in a 3-star) if stairs are manageable. Floor nearest reception can be handy but usually noisier from lobby and passing taxis. Look for rooms ending in odd numbers or far from lift core.
🔊 Noise notes
Expect some street noise, especially from motorbikes (clandos) and keke taxis starting at dawn. Windows in 3-star hotels often don't seal well. Pack earplugs. Friday and Saturday nights are rowdiest if the hotel has an outdoor bar. Sunday mornings can be quiet.
Insider tips
1. Before booking, call the hotel directly and ask for the 'chef de réception' — request a room away from the fridge/ice machine and on the quiet side. Small hotels respect this if asked nicely in French. 2. Bring your own mosquito net or check they provide one — many 3-star hotels in Ivorian towns have zippers that break. Also check if the power backup covers your room; request a room on the generator line if you need AC at night.
- 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 — Cité du Gendarme
Free basic Wi-Fi (5 Mbps, one device per room); paid premium 3,000 CFA/24h (20 Mbps, three devices, no login constraint)
One lift serves all three guest floors; no stairs-only sections
No complimentary digital newsstand or physical newspapers. Building is a converted 1950s colonial police station
Standard check-in 14:00–22:00; early bag-drop from 10:00 free (no room); late check-out to 16:00 costs 15,000 CFA
Free for same-day arrivals/departures; overnight storage 5,000 CFA per item
Step-free main entrance via ramp; lift to all floors; one accessible room (ground floor, roll-in shower). No wheelchair-accessible bathrooms in standard rooms
On-site guarded parking 3,000 CFA/night; nearest public car park at Marchier Central (2,000 CFA/24h, 200 m). No EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 500 CFA per person per night
Deposit & card hold: 50% advance deposit on booking; 50,000 CFA incidental card hold at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Communauté Evangelique le Roc de Daloa (536 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: Eglise Mipera (686 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: Eglise Celeste (1.0 km · ~13 min walk)
- Church: Assemblée de Dieu (1.0 km · ~13 min walk)
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Pharmacie Macy-ya — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
Kennedy 1 maison — 2.4 km · ~30 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →West African CFA franc, XOF
Exchange euros or dollars at banks or the official forex bureau in the main market area; avoid the airport or hotel exchange desks as rates are poor.
Cards are accepted only in upscale hotels and a few supermarkets; most shops, taxis, and street vendors expect cash.
Tipping is not expected but appreciated: round up the fare for taxis, leave 5–10% in better restaurants, and give 500–1000 XOF to hotel porters.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Instant Nescafé with sweetened condensed milk from a roadside kiosk; around 200 XOF.
Plate of attiéké with grilled fish or chicken from a maquis; about 1500–2500 XOF.
Bowl of aloco (fried plantains) with sauce or brochettes; roughly 2000–3000 XOF for a main.
Evening food stalls near the grand marché and along Boulevard de la République sell grilled meats, alloco, and fried fish.
Superette local chains like Supermarché Daloa or small grocery shops; no big Western hypermarkets.
Second-hand clothing (fripes) stalls at the main market, plus local tailors on Avenue Houphouët-Boigny.
Shared taxi (woro-woro) within town for 200–300 XOF per ride; from the airport, take a shared minibus or taxi-brousse to the gare routière for about 500 XOF.
Always negotiate prices at the market; eat at maquis where street food is half the price of sit-down restaurants; buy water in sachets (100 XOF) rather than bottles.
Emergency Contacts
DaloaFor all emergencies, you can also dial the national emergency number 112 (may work from mobile). The main hospital in Daloa is Centre Hospitalier Régional (CHR) Daloa, phone (+225) 27 32 78 26 00. Keep your passport and visa copies handy – police may ask for ID. Local SIM cards from Orange or MTN help for calls on the go. Roadside assistance: contact your rental agency or dial 115 (Plateau, mostly Abidjan-based, so it's not guaranteed). In case of serious issues, contact your embassy in Abidjan.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Daloa, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Cité du Gendarme
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: pharmacy · Pharmacie Macy-ya — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Gare Routière de Daloa → Cité du Gendarme (via drop-off point near hotel)
💡 Shared taxis run fixed routes. Ask the driver to drop you at 'Cité du Gendarme'—they'll let you off at the main road junction, then walk 200m. Confirm price in advance to avoid being charged as a tourist.
Centre-ville, Daloa → Cité du Gendarme, Daloa
💡 Worry drivers (on motorbikes) are the quickest way around town. Agree on the fare before boarding—locals pay 300 XOF for short trips within the city. Wear a helmet if offered; it's not mandatory but safer.
Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport (Abidjan) → Cité du Gendarme, Daloa
💡 Negotiate the fare beforehand; ask your hotel to arrange a driver to avoid price hikes. The road is mostly paved but potholed near Daloa—insist on a car with AC and working seatbelts.
Gare Routière d'Adjamé, Abidjan → Gare Routière de Daloa (central bus station)
💡 Take a 7-seater minibus (badge 'Daloa') for the cheapest ride. Buses leave when full—arrive early. From the Daloa bus station, a moto-taxi to Cité du Gendarme costs 500 XOF and takes 10 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Cité du Gendarme?
Request a room on an upper floor away from the lift and stairwell. In West African hotels, top floors are usually quieter and less dusty. Ask for a corner room if available, which often means less noise from neighbours.
Which rooms should I avoid at Cité du Gendarme?
Never accept a room next to the ice machine, generator, or staff areas (often on ground floor or near service lifts). Also avoid rooms directly above the bar or restaurant opening hours if the hotel has a late-night spot. Breakfast prep often starts around 5 AM in 3-star hotels.
Is Cité du Gendarme noisy?
Expect some street noise, especially from motorbikes (clandos) and keke taxis starting at dawn. Windows in 3-star hotels often don't seal well. Pack earplugs. Friday and Saturday nights are rowdiest if the hotel has an outdoor bar. Sunday mornings can be quiet.
Which rooms have the best views at Cité du Gendarme?
Not guaranteed in a 3-star, but ask for a room facing the back or side with less street noise. Daloa is dusty, so if you get a view of anything green, that's bonus. Avoid rooms with direct view of empty construction sites or rubbish piles common in satellite towns.
What are insider tips for staying at Cité du Gendarme?
1. Before booking, call the hotel directly and ask for the 'chef de réception' — request a room away from the fridge/ice machine and on the quiet side. Small hotels respect this if asked nicely in French. 2. Bring your own mosquito net or check they provide one — many 3-star hotels in Ivorian towns have zippers that break. Also check if the power backup covers your room; request a room on the generator line if you need AC at night.
What time is check-in at Cité du Gendarme?
Check-in at Cité du Gendarme is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Cité du Gendarme have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi (5 Mbps, one device per room); paid premium 3,000 CFA/24h (20 Mbps, three devices, no login constraint)
Is there a city or tourist tax at Cité du Gendarme?
500 CFA per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Cité du Gendarme?
Plate of attiéké with grilled fish or chicken from a maquis; about 1500–2500 XOF.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Cité du Gendarme?
Shared taxi (woro-woro) within town for 200–300 XOF per ride; from the airport, take a shared minibus or taxi-brousse to the gare routière for about 500 XOF.
When is the best time to visit Daloa?
December and January: the long dry season brings blue skies and comfortable heat (25-30°C), and crowds are thin outside the Christmas week. February is also good, though dust from harmattan winds can be hazy.
Top Attractions in Daloa
💡 Visit around 5pm for the best light and a breeze; bring your own water as kiosks are unreliable.
💡 Haggle politely but firmly; traders expect it. Avoid the fish section in the afternoon when it gets hot and smelly.
💡 Remove shoes before stepping onto the prayer area carpet. Best photos in late afternoon light from the east side.
💡 Hire a guide (5000 CFA) at the forestry station to avoid getting lost; the trails aren't marked. Wear long trousers and closed shoes for chiggers.
💡 Go early (before 9am) on a weekday to avoid crowds and get the best swimming spot under the main cascade.