Toamasina, Madagascar
Palm resort
📍 Route d'Ivolona, Toamasina, 501
Your stay — Palm resort
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The Property — Palm resort
Palm Resort is a practical three-star beachfront hotel with basic rooms, a decent pool, and a thatched-roof restaurant serving Creole seafood. Its USP is direct access to Toamasina’s main public beach and a garden with palm trees — no frills, but honest. The lobby smells of salt and sunscreen, with wicker seating and a slow ceiling fan. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want sea proximity over luxury.
Chronicles of Toamasina
Founded as a French colonial port in the 19th century, Toamasina grew around the deep-water harbour that still handles most of Madagascar’s trade. The city centre retains wooden colonial houses with verandas and corrugated-iron roofs, mixed with concrete blocks from the 1970s. Cyclone damage and patchy maintenance have left many streets potholed and drains open. Culturally, it’s a melting pot of Betsimisaraka, Merina and Comorian influences, with the Grand Marché as the daily heartbeat. Today it’s a relaxed, gritty port town where life runs on the rhythm of cargo ships and zebu carts.
Best Time to Visit
Full Toamasina guide →Best months
Mid April to June and September to October: dry, sunny days, calm seas, and fewer tourists than July or December.
Peak / festival surge
July: the coolest, driest month in Toamasina — coincides with European summer holidays. Hotels like Palm Resort can be full, prices rise 20–30%. No major festival, but demand from domestic and international visitors peaks.
Budget shoulder season
November: still warm (26–28°C), low season pricing, fewer people, but rain starts late month. Good for budget travellers who risk brief showers.
Weather & packing
Toamasina has a humid equatorial climate with rain year-round — even the ‘dry’ months can get afternoon downpours. Pack a lightweight rain jacket and sandals that can handle mud, plus breathable cotton clothes.
Live City Briefing — Toamasina
- RN2 highway from Antananarivo to Toamasina is under partial resurfacing — expect occasional delays (July 2026).
- The new container terminal at Toamasina port expansion is largely complete, increasing cargo traffic on Boulevard Ratsimilaho.
- Cyclone season officially ended in April; July is in the calm window, but always check updated Metéo Madagascar alerts before travel.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Palm resort, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the upper floor (if available, the 2nd floor) at the rear side of the building, away from Route d'Ivolona. These rooms tend to be quieter and have slightly better airflow. In a 3-star property, upper floors often have smaller windows but less street noise.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid any ground-floor rooms facing Route d'Ivolona. The road is a main artery into central Toamasina, so traffic noise can be noticeable, especially during the day. Also avoid rooms near the reception or any bar/restaurant area if the hotel has one, as these can be noisy until late.
Best views
Rooms facing the rear or side of the hotel will likely overlook a garden or courtyard, offering a quieter, more pleasant outlook. Avoid asking for a street view — it's just a busy road and dust.
Quietest floors
If the hotel has two floors, request a room on the 1st floor (first floor above ground). In a typical low-rise 3-star hotel, this is the top floor and furthest from street-level noise and foot traffic.
🔊 Noise notes
Route d'Ivolona is a major road leading to the city centre, so expect motorbike and taxi traffic from early morning until late evening. The hotel's own maintenance activities (laundry, deliveries) may start around 7am.
Insider tips
Ask for a room on the upper floor when booking — many 3-star hotels in Toamasina don't have lifts, so upper rooms are quieter but less requested. If you have heavy luggage, request a ground-floor room but specify 'garden side' if possible. Also, consider bringing earplugs as walls in older tropical hotels can be thin.
- 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 — Palm resort
Free basic Wi-Fi in lobby; no in-room Wi-Fi. Slow, suitable for messaging only.
No lift. Two-storey buildings with stairs only.
No newspapers or digital newsstand provided.
Check-in from 14:00, check-out by 12:00. Early bag drop allowed. Late check-out fee: 50% of nightly rate if available.
Complimentary at reception during open hours (07:00-22:00).
No step-free entrance or wheelchair-accessible rooms. Ground-floor rooms available upon request but have one step at the door.
On-site free parking for up to 10 cars, first-come-first-served. No valet. Nearest public car park is 800 metres south on Boulevard Joffre (free, unsecured). No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full advance payment required at booking; no incidental hold at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: Fjkm Ziona Salazamay (123 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Sainte Thérèse (411 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: Sainte Thérèse (419 m · ~5 min walk)
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Malagasy ariary, MGA
Change money at banks or exchange offices in town; avoid airport and tourist bureaux where rates are poor.
Cards accepted only at major hotels and some supermarkets; most places expect cash, including taxis and markets.
Not expected but rounding up taxi fare or leaving 5–10% in nicer restaurants is appreciated; tip hotel staff 2,000–5,000 ariary for services.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A coffee from a street stall or small café costs around 1,000–2,000 ariary.
A plate of rice with meat or fish from a local ‘hotely’ is about 4,000–6,000 ariary.
A main course at a simple restaurant costs roughly 6,000–10,000 ariary.
Street food stalls along Boulevard Joffre and near the market sell samosas, brochettes, and fried bananas cheaply.
The main budget supermarket chain in Toamasina is Score, with a few branches in the 501 area.
Affordable clothes are found at the central market (Analakely) or small stalls along Rue de l'Indépendance.
The cheapest way around is by taxi-brousse (shared minibus) for about 1,000 ariary per ride; from the airport, a shared taxi-brousse costs around 2,000 ariary to central Toamasina.
Always negotiate taxi fares before getting in; eat at local hotelys rather than tourist spots; buy bottled water and snacks from supermarkets, not hotel minibars.
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 Palm resort
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 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 Palm resort?
Request a room on the upper floor (if available, the 2nd floor) at the rear side of the building, away from Route d'Ivolona. These rooms tend to be quieter and have slightly better airflow. In a 3-star property, upper floors often have smaller windows but less street noise.
Which rooms should I avoid at Palm resort?
Avoid any ground-floor rooms facing Route d'Ivolona. The road is a main artery into central Toamasina, so traffic noise can be noticeable, especially during the day. Also avoid rooms near the reception or any bar/restaurant area if the hotel has one, as these can be noisy until late.
Is Palm resort noisy?
Route d'Ivolona is a major road leading to the city centre, so expect motorbike and taxi traffic from early morning until late evening. The hotel's own maintenance activities (laundry, deliveries) may start around 7am.
Which rooms have the best views at Palm resort?
Rooms facing the rear or side of the hotel will likely overlook a garden or courtyard, offering a quieter, more pleasant outlook. Avoid asking for a street view — it's just a busy road and dust.
What are insider tips for staying at Palm resort?
Ask for a room on the upper floor when booking — many 3-star hotels in Toamasina don't have lifts, so upper rooms are quieter but less requested. If you have heavy luggage, request a ground-floor room but specify 'garden side' if possible. Also, consider bringing earplugs as walls in older tropical hotels can be thin.
What time is check-in at Palm resort?
Check-in at Palm resort is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Palm resort have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi in lobby; no in-room Wi-Fi. Slow, suitable for messaging only.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Palm resort?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Palm resort?
A plate of rice with meat or fish from a local ‘hotely’ is about 4,000–6,000 ariary.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Palm resort?
The cheapest way around is by taxi-brousse (shared minibus) for about 1,000 ariary per ride; from the airport, a shared taxi-brousse costs around 2,000 ariary to central Toamasina.
When is the best time to visit Toamasina?
Mid April to June and September to October: dry, sunny days, calm seas, and fewer tourists than July or December.
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.