Your stay — L'Encre d'Or
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The Property — L'Encre d'Or
L'Encre d'Or is a quiet, low-rise hotel on a residential street south of the centre. The lobby feels like a colonial-era sitting room, with dark wood, old photographs of Fianarantsoa, and a slight scent of beeswax. Rooms are simple but solid: tiled floors, mosquito nets, a desk. It suits independent travellers who want a clean, peaceful base near the old town's cobbled lanes, not flash or nightlife.
Chronicles of Fianarantsoa
Fianarantsoa was founded in the 1830s as the second capital of the Merina kingdom, its name meaning 'good learning'—a reference to the early schools established there. The upper town (Haute-Ville) was laid out on a ridge by the Merina, and its narrow streets are lined with 19th-century missionaries' stone houses, wooden balconies and wrought-iron railings. A railway from the coast arrived in 1936, cementing the city's role as a wine and rice trading hub. Today, Fianarantsoa remains the intellectual and religious centre of the southern highlands, with a university, several seminaries, and a bustling market that fills the lower town every Wednesday and Saturday. The Betsileo people's terracing patterns still cut across the surrounding hills, visible from the hotel's upper windows.
Best Time to Visit
Full Fianarantsoa guide →Best months
April, May, September – dry, clear skies, 15–25°C; crowds are light after Easter or before the southern winter.
Peak / festival surge
July–August – southern hemisphere winter and school holidays; visitors come for the cool weather and the Fianarantsoa Wine Route open days; hotel prices rise 20–30% and advance booking is essential.
Budget shoulder season
October–November – temperatures warm up (20–28°C), rain is sporadic, rooms are cheaper, and the hills are still green from the previous wet season.
Weather & packing
In July, daytime temperatures hover at 18–22°C but drop to 5–8°C at night – the high altitude (1,200m) makes it genuinely cold after dark. Rule: bring a fleece or light down jacket, plus a windproof outer layer; rain showers are brief but possible.
Live City Briefing — Fianarantsoa
- The Haute-Ville cable car (Télépherique) opened in early 2025, connecting the lower town to the old quarter; it shortens the walk from 25 minutes of steep steps to 4 minutes – tickets are 3,000 ar each way.
- The RN7 between Antananarivo and Fianarantsoa has ongoing resurfacing work near Ambositra (30km north), adding 30–45 minutes to the drive; check for night-time closures at local police checkpoints.
- Weekly market days (Wednesday and Saturday) draw large crowds to the Analakely market; avoid driving near the market square between 9am and 2pm – parking is very limited.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to L'Encre d'Or, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third floor or higher, facing away from the main street. These rooms avoid ground-floor foot traffic and early-morning street sweeping noise.
Rooms to avoid
Do not accept rooms on the first floor (ground level) – they catch dust from the street and may have poor soundproofing. Also avoid rooms directly above the entrance or near the stairwell – morning checkout chatter can be loud.
Best views
Ask for a room on the rear side (facing the garden or interior courtyard) – Fianarantsoa’s main road gets dusty, and the rear offers a quieter outlook over local rooftops and possibly hills. No sea or river view here.
Quietest floors
Third floor and above, especially the fourth floor (if the building has one). Higher floors reduce street-level and lobby noise.
🔊 Noise notes
Fianarantsoa is a highland town with rolling traffic (buses, taxis-brousse) on the main road from early morning (6am) until late evening (8pm). Saturday market days produce extra street noise. The hotel’s 3-star rating suggests basic soundproofing – windows may not be double-glazed.
Insider tips
1. Request a room on the top floor (if available) – 3-star hotels here rarely have lifts, so top-floor rooms are quieter but require stairs; ask ahead if you have mobility concerns. 2. Bring earplugs – even a ‘quiet’ room can catch early roosters and church bells (usual in Fianarantsoa).
- 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 — L'Encre d'Or
Free WiFi throughout the hotel; speeds adequate for email and browsing (approx 5 Mbps download); login via room number and surname
No lift; property is a converted two-storey colonial building with stairs only
No digital newsstand; a selection of printed local newspapers (Les Nouvelles, La Gazette) available in the lobby each morning
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available from 10:00 without charge; late check-out until 12:00 free, after 12:00 charged 30,000 MGA per hour until 18:00
Free luggage storage available at reception during your stay or on departure day
No step-free access at main entrance (two steps at front door); no wheelchair-accessible rooms or bathrooms; no accessible toilet
No on-site parking; free street parking outside the hotel on a first-come basis (usually fine on weekdays, busy on weekends); nearest public car park is Place du 26 Juin, 200 m walk, 5,000 MGA per 24h
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: 50% of total stay charged on booking; 50,000 MGA incidental hold on a credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Fiangonan'i Jesoa Kristy eto Madagasikara Fehizoro Mampiray (541 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: SDA Tsianolondroa (671 m · ~8 min walk)
- Mosque: Khoja Shia Ithna Asheri (675 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: FJKM Ikianjasoa Rasalama (830 m · ~10 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Quincaillerie Tsanta — 273 m · ~3 min walk
CODEPHARE — 706 m · ~9 min walk
Fania — 459 m · ~6 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 486 m · ~6 min walk
Pharmacie Soava — 265 m · ~3 min walk
SOA Gâteau — 168 m · ~2 min walk
Stationnement Atsimo — 611 m · ~8 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Malagasy Ariary, MGA
Change money at banks or official exchange bureaux in town; the airport and tourist bureaux give poor rates.
Cards accepted in major hotels and some upper-end shops; most local places expect cash.
Not expected but appreciated; leave 5-10% at sit-down restaurants, round up taxi fares, and small change for hotel porters.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A street-side café or bakery coffee costs around 1,500–2,000 MGA.
A plate of rice with beans or a simple pasta dish at a local eatery runs about 5,000–8,000 MGA.
A main course of grilled meat or fish with achards (pickled vegetables) costs roughly 8,000–12,000 MGA.
Look for street stalls near the market or bus station selling samosas, brochettes, and fried dough.
Supermarkets like Shoprite or Score are common budget chains in this area.
The central market and bazaar stalls sell second‑hand clothing and cheap, locally made cotton items.
Minibus taxis-brousse cost a few hundred MGA for short hops; from the airport, take a shared taxi-brousse to the bus station for about 2,000 MGA.
Always negotiate prices at markets; eat where locals queue (queues indicate good cheap food); buy bottled water in bulk from supermarkets.
Emergency Contacts
FianarantsoaTourist police in Fianarantsoa: +261 33 11 810 35. For non-urgent medical help, try Centre Hospitalier de Fianarantsoa: +261 20 75 509 38. The national emergency numbers (17, 18, 124) work across Madagascar but may be unreliable outside major towns. Register with your embassy in Antananarivo (not local) for backup; UK consular +261 20 22 512 09, US embassy +261 20 22 212 57.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Fianarantsoa, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at L'Encre d'Or
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 486 m · ~6 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie Soava — 265 m · ~3 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Fianarantsoa bus station → Ambalavao / Antananarivo
💡 Don't attempt this to reach La Maison du Betsileo — they drop you at the bus station, which is a steep 3 km walk. Use them only for regional travel, and bring a scarf for the dust.
City centre → La Maison du Betsileo
💡 These are pedal-powered, not motorised. Good for short hops but uphill roads near the hotel will exhaust the driver — tip extra if you're heavy.
Fianarantsoa railway station → Manakara (east coast)
💡 Not a practical transfer for the hotel — the station is a 15-minute walk downhill. Worth it for the scenic route through tea plantations, but book a seat at least a day ahead. Bring food and a cushion.
Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) → La Maison du Betsileo
💡 Agree the price before you get in — drivers inside the terminal often quote double. Walk out to the main road for cheaper cars.
About Fianarantsoa
Wikipedia ↗
Fianarantsoa is a city (commune urbaine) in south central Madagascar, and is the capital of Haute Matsiatra Region.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at L'Encre d'Or?
Request a room on the third floor or higher, facing away from the main street. These rooms avoid ground-floor foot traffic and early-morning street sweeping noise.
Which rooms should I avoid at L'Encre d'Or?
Do not accept rooms on the first floor (ground level) – they catch dust from the street and may have poor soundproofing. Also avoid rooms directly above the entrance or near the stairwell – morning checkout chatter can be loud.
Is L'Encre d'Or noisy?
Fianarantsoa is a highland town with rolling traffic (buses, taxis-brousse) on the main road from early morning (6am) until late evening (8pm). Saturday market days produce extra street noise. The hotel’s 3-star rating suggests basic soundproofing – windows may not be double-glazed.
Which rooms have the best views at L'Encre d'Or?
Ask for a room on the rear side (facing the garden or interior courtyard) – Fianarantsoa’s main road gets dusty, and the rear offers a quieter outlook over local rooftops and possibly hills. No sea or river view here.
What are insider tips for staying at L'Encre d'Or?
1. Request a room on the top floor (if available) – 3-star hotels here rarely have lifts, so top-floor rooms are quieter but require stairs; ask ahead if you have mobility concerns. 2. Bring earplugs – even a ‘quiet’ room can catch early roosters and church bells (usual in Fianarantsoa).
What time is check-in at L'Encre d'Or?
Check-in at L'Encre d'Or is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does L'Encre d'Or have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout the hotel; speeds adequate for email and browsing (approx 5 Mbps download); login via room number and surname
Is there a city or tourist tax at L'Encre d'Or?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near L'Encre d'Or?
A plate of rice with beans or a simple pasta dish at a local eatery runs about 5,000–8,000 MGA.
What is the cheapest way to get around from L'Encre d'Or?
Minibus taxis-brousse cost a few hundred MGA for short hops; from the airport, take a shared taxi-brousse to the bus station for about 2,000 MGA.
When is the best time to visit Fianarantsoa?
April, May, September – dry, clear skies, 15–25°C; crowds are light after Easter or before the southern winter.
Top Attractions in Fianarantsoa
💡 Start early morning before it gets hot. Follow Rue du Rova uphill for the best viewpoint at the top.
💡 Sunday mass at 9am is lively with Malagasy hymns. Entry free, but modest dress expected — cover shoulders and knees.
💡 Bargaining is fine but keep it friendly. Best buys are small raffia items under £2. Bring small notes.
💡 Bring water and snacks — nothing sold nearby. Best light for photos is late afternoon.
💡 Combine with a visit to the nearby Amboara viewpoint on the same walk. Cash only at entrance.