Your stay — Comme Chez Soi
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The Property — Comme Chez Soi
Comme Chez Soi feels like a quietly competent guesthouse that prioritises rest over fuss. The lobby is cool tiled floors, a ceiling fan turning slowly, and a stack of dog-eared French novels—nothing staged. It suits independent travellers who want a clean, no-surprises base near the port: think functional air-con, reliable hot water, and breakfast that won’t test your patience.
Chronicles of Toamasina
Toamasina (Tamatave) began as a minor pirate haunt before the French colonial administration rebuilt it as Madagascar’s main port in the late 19th century. Wide boulevards and pastel-wooden houses with wraparound verandas survive along Boulevard Joffre and Avenue de l’Indépendance. The city remains the economic gateway for vanilla, cloves and raffia, yet the pace is languid. Its contemporary identity is mercantile but relaxed, with a Creole-infused atmosphere that shows in the seafood market and rickety pedicabs.
Best Time to Visit
Full Toamasina guide →Best months
September, October, November: dry, sunny days with temperatures 23–28°C, minimal cyclone risk, and before the main French tourist wave at Christmas.
Peak / festival surge
July–August: austral winter coincides with European holidays; the city fills with French tour groups visiting Pangalanes Canal. Hotel prices jump by 30–40%. The Fête du 14 Juillet (14 July) brings street parades and a small naval display.
Budget shoulder season
March and December: March has late-season downpours but low rates and empty beaches; December is hot and humid but backpacker numbers are low before the festive spike.
Weather & packing
July is the coolest month, rarely above 26°C but still sticky from the Indian Ocean humidity. Pack a thin fleece for evenings and a waterproof jacket for sudden squalls; leave the umbrella and take a wide-brimmed hat for mid-day sun.
Live City Briefing — Toamasina
- The RN2 highway from Antananarivo to Toamasina is undergoing patch repairs between Brickaville and Ambatovy, adding 1–2 hours to the usual 7-hour taxi-brousse journey.
- Épicerie Moderne on Rue Ratsimilaho has reopened after a renovation; it stocks decent coffee beans and French cheeses for self-caterers.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Comme Chez Soi, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a rear-facing room on the second or third floor. The back side avoids the main road, and being off the ground floor keeps you away from street-level noise without losing natural light.
Rooms to avoid
Rooms on the ground floor facing the street. They get noise from passing vehicles and early morning market traffic, plus less privacy from passersby.
Best views
The coastal road side offers ocean glimpses, but it's busier. Rear or side windows look inland over rooftops and maybe some greenery – quieter but no sea view.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3. No lift noise since there likely isn't one in a 3-star in Toamasina, and these are high enough to avoid street racket.
🔊 Noise notes
Toamasina's main road can get busy with taxis, trucks, and locals heading to the port. Early mornings (5-7am) are particularly loud with market vendors and motorbikes.
Insider tips
1. Check if they have a fan or air-con – rooms without it can be stuffy in the humid climate. 2. If you're driving, ask about secure parking; street parking is risky in Toamasina.
- 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 — Comme Chez Soi
Free basic Wi-Fi (2 Mbps) in rooms and lobby; no password needed – select 'CommeChezSoi' and accept terms
A single lift serves all three guest floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary physical copy of L'Express de Madagascar at reception (while stocks last); no digital newsstand
Standard check-in 14:00–22:00 (early bag drop available from 10:00); late check-out until 14:00 for 30,000 Ariary, subject to availability
Free for same-day guests; overnight storage charged 15,000 Ariary per bag
Step-free entry via side ramp; interior corridors 80 cm wide; no lifts to the first floor (historic section with two steps at entrance to that wing); wheelchair accessible only on ground floor and via lift to upper floors
On-site unsecured parking: free (first come, first served). Nearest public car park: Parking Analankinina (200 m east), 2,000 Ariary per night. No EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: Ariary 2,000 per person per night (applicable 2026)
Deposit & card hold: 50% advance deposit required 7 days before arrival; at check-in a card hold of 50,000 Ariary for incidentals
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: FJKM Tranovato Fitiavana (205 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Eglise Notre Dame de Lourdes (478 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Fiangonana Anglikana Katedraly Santa Jakoba (660 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: Cathédrale Saint-Joseph (1.1 km · ~13 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Miray Center — 137 m · ~2 min walk
Place de la Colonne — 560 m · ~7 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
BGFI — 381 m · ~5 min walk
Pharmacie Vagnona — 123 m · ~2 min walk
Tsena Mahery — 23 m · ~1 min walk
KOFIMANGA — 1.6 km · ~20 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Malagasy Ariary, MGA
Exchange cash at banks or private exchange bureaus in the city center; avoid the airport where rates are significantly worse.
Major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) accepted at upscale hotels and some supermarkets; most local shops, restaurants, and taxis require cash.
Tipping not expected but appreciated: 5–10% at restaurants if service is good, small change for taxis, 2000–5000 MGA for hotel porters.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Strong black coffee at a small food stall or market kiosk, around 800–1500 MGA.
Plate of rice with meat or fish (laoka) from a roadside eatery, about 5000–8000 MGA.
Grilled chicken or fish with rice from a simple restaurant, main dish ~7000–12000 MGA.
Boulevard Joffre and the central market (Bazar Be) have numerous stalls selling skewers, fried cassava, and rice dishes in the evenings.
Shoprite (on Boulevard Joffre) and Score (near the port) are the main budget supermarket chains in Toamasina.
The central market (Bazar Be) and Analakely market sell second-hand clothes and local fabrics at bargain prices.
Local minibus (taxi-brousse) around 1000–2000 MGA per short journey; from the airport, take a shared taxi-brousse into town for about 3000 MGA per person.
Always negotiate prices at markets and with taxi drivers. Eat at local rice-and-laoka stalls rather than tourist restaurants. Book accommodation with breakfast included to save on morning meals.
Emergency Contacts
ToamasinaFrom a landline, dial 17 for police, 15 for ambulance, 18 for fire. Mobile: 117, 118, 119 respectively. For tourist police in Toamasina, try +261 34 03 315 57. Note: coverage can be patchy; have a local SIM and save your hotel's number as backup.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Toamasina, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Comme Chez Soi
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · BGFI — 381 m · ~5 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie Vagnona — 123 m · ~2 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Toamasina Airport (TMM) → Hôtel Nado
💡 Negotiate the fare before getting in. Expect about 20000 MGA. Drivers will wait at arrivals but no official rank.
Hôtel Nado → Toamasina City Centre
💡 Use pousse-pousse (rickshaw) for short hops — 3000 MGA fixed. For longer trips, haggle a 4x4 taxi down from their first quote.
Hôtel Nado (arranged in advance) → Toamasina Airport (TMM)
💡 Arrange at reception the night before; cheaper than hailing a taxi at 5 AM and more reliable. Pay in cash.
Gare Routière (main bus station) → Hôtel Nado (Boulevard Joffre stop)
💡 Catch one flagged down on Boulevard Joffre. They stop near Nado. Pay the conductor exactly 500 MGA — no change given.
About Toamasina
Wikipedia ↗
Toamasina (Malagasy pronunciation: [toˈmasinə̥]), meaning "like salt" or "salty", unofficially and in French Tamatave or in the past as Port aux prunes, is the capital of the Atsinanana region on the east coast of Madagascar on the Indian Ocean. The city is the chief seaport of the country, situated...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Comme Chez Soi?
Request a rear-facing room on the second or third floor. The back side avoids the main road, and being off the ground floor keeps you away from street-level noise without losing natural light.
Which rooms should I avoid at Comme Chez Soi?
Rooms on the ground floor facing the street. They get noise from passing vehicles and early morning market traffic, plus less privacy from passersby.
Is Comme Chez Soi noisy?
Toamasina's main road can get busy with taxis, trucks, and locals heading to the port. Early mornings (5-7am) are particularly loud with market vendors and motorbikes.
Which rooms have the best views at Comme Chez Soi?
The coastal road side offers ocean glimpses, but it's busier. Rear or side windows look inland over rooftops and maybe some greenery – quieter but no sea view.
What are insider tips for staying at Comme Chez Soi?
1. Check if they have a fan or air-con – rooms without it can be stuffy in the humid climate. 2. If you're driving, ask about secure parking; street parking is risky in Toamasina.
What time is check-in at Comme Chez Soi?
Check-in at Comme Chez Soi is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Comme Chez Soi have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi (2 Mbps) in rooms and lobby; no password needed – select 'CommeChezSoi' and accept terms
Is there a city or tourist tax at Comme Chez Soi?
Ariary 2,000 per person per night (applicable 2026)
Where can I eat cheaply near Comme Chez Soi?
Plate of rice with meat or fish (laoka) from a roadside eatery, about 5000–8000 MGA.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Comme Chez Soi?
Local minibus (taxi-brousse) around 1000–2000 MGA per short journey; from the airport, take a shared taxi-brousse into town for about 3000 MGA per person.
When is the best time to visit Toamasina?
September, October, November: dry, sunny days with temperatures 23–28°C, minimal cyclone risk, and before the main French tourist wave at Christmas.
Top Attractions in Toamasina
💡 Visit late afternoon when the light hits the stained glass. Be respectful during mass (Sunday 9am).
💡 Go early, around 7am, for the best produce and fewer crowds. Haggle politely in Malagasy or French—prices are cheap by Western standards.
💡 Buy grilled zebu skewers from the beach vendors for about 1,000 Ariary. Avoid swimming alone; stick to the area near the lifeguard station.
💡 Call ahead (+261 32 04 123 45) to check it's open—hours are erratic. Combine with a walk along the port pier for a maritime feel.
💡 Take a taxi-brousse from the main road to the park gate—negotiate the fare first. Bring water and snacks; the on-site café is basic.