What budget for activities and outings Ivory Coast?
The visits are generally not very expensive, it is the guide who will cost more, but the lack of indications and information makes his presence often indispensable, if not interesting. We therefore recommend local guides.
Hotel-restaurants located on the lagoon and ocean shores of Boulay Island near Abidjan, Grand-Bassam or Assinie, offer a host of free activities from the moment you have lunch at the restaurant on site (day package), if you don't spend the night there. Starting with access to the swimming pool (which can also be paid extra if you don't have lunch), but also canoeing, pétanque, volleyball, dugout canoe, children's games... It all depends on the place! Then there are additional paying activities, often boat trips, jet skiing, water skiing..
The loincloths. Contrary to a commonly held belief, the wax-printed loincloth known as "wax" is not a fabric of African origin, but a foreign fabric, an amalgam of Indonesian and Dutch technical traditions, which has "taken" so well on the continent that it has ended up colonising the spirits and becoming a claimed symbol of Africa, even though it actually represents an imposed part of its identity. It is in Ghana, a stopover on the road to India, that the epic of the loincloth begins. At that time, Dutch sailors had high hopes of swapping the fabrics brought back from Indonesia for the riches of Ghana, still known as the Gold Coast. But the fabrics in question did not meet local criteria and would have to be reworked to meet the demand. In the second half of the 19th century, the first Dutch-made wax ("Marianne") was introduced in the Ivory Coast and, in 1934, the industrialist Van Vlissingen (who gave his name to the Vlisco company) observed with satisfaction that most Bassamois wore fabrics produced in his factory. It is a curious fate that that of the loincloth, emblematic of African culture and yet designed in Europe, where designers isolated in their workshops project their fantasies of this faraway land onto fabrics intended for export to Africa. Through the motif, the loincloths are in fact the crucible of multiple cultural interactions since, in addition to Western designers, they are designed on the spot by artists recruited from the various art schools in the country, schools which themselves welcome young people from all over the sub-region. The specificities of the designs will thus reflect to a greater or lesser extent those of the origins of their drawers. Whether graphic, rhythmic, descriptive, floral or ethnic, these motifs borrow their particularities from textiles as varied as Korhogo canvas, bogolan, raffia or Akan woven fabrics, which they transcribe in the language of the loincloth. Although Côte d'Ivoire has several production units (including the famous Uniwax factory), Dutch loincloths still enjoy unequalled prestige, which is reflected above all in terms of price, as shown by the example of Vlisco's wax-prints, the most expensive and the most expensive on the market. Thus, although they are well aware of their origin, consumers of loincloths continue to claim wax as a typically African product. A key element of this (re)appropriation is the naming of the fabric, which guarantees its social and cultural viability. It is to the semi-wholesale women sellers, the famous Nana Benz, that we owe this phenomenon. True trendsetters, they are the first to see the fabric as it leaves the factory and the only ones capable of recognising a successful loincloth. The loincloths thus named will become "classics" that will mark their time with more or less happiness depending on whether they last or not, just like a timeless hit or the summer ditty. A truly successful classic becomes a "champion" loincloth, an indispensable attribute that should be part of the wardrobe of any self-respecting elegant woman. The classic will come in different colours depending on the region of the country where it is sold: more ochre for the North, and more colourful as you go down south. Some mothers will even keep their classics for many years without wearing them to give them to their daughters at the time of marriage, thus guaranteeing them financial independence when needed while ensuring the continuity of the family patrimony. The graphic word of the loincloth, which makes the body say more than the mouth, thus conveys an implicit message, weaving a silent network of affinities and/or inter-individual competition. The names given to loincloths also prove to be an excellent indicator of current social phenomena. Everything goes through them: from television series ("Dallas") to so-called "urban" loincloths ("Yamoussoukro goudron", "Abidjan c'est technique"), via historical loincloths, retracing the vagaries of the political and economic life of the moment ("Conjoncture", during the economic crisis of the 1980s; "La puissance de Laurent Gbagbo", or more recently the "Third Bridge" loincloth, celebrating the completion of the work of art that has been awaited for so many years). Among the "best-sellers", the loincloths of the unfaithful ("Ton pied mon pied", "Si tu sorsors je sors"), those of deceived wives ("oeil de ma rivale", a very practical way to get the message across to the unfaithful husband without alienating him further by shouting at him; also used to let his rival know that we know) and finally, the loincloths of social representation ("Capable husband" proudly displays the financial wealth of the spouse; "Braised fish" reveals a comfortable lifestyle with repeated outings in the bush). A word also about punctual or commemorative loincloths, which highlight a particular event, such as the loincloth published in 1982 on the occasion of the arrival in Ivory Coast of François Mitterrand, and on which one could see medallions in the effigy of the French and Ivorian presidents in the company of their respective wives, all on a blue or old pink background. However, it is not only the motifs that attest to the quality of the loincloth and the status of the person wearing it, and it is divided into several categories whose textile and aesthetic qualities already in themselves induce social differentiation: Dutch wax, English, Ivorian, java, fancy, soso, etc., the Dutch being the must and demonstrating the degree of respectability and financial affluence of the person who wears it. Fancy, for example, printed on only one side with less complex technical processes than wax, offers a poorer quality of fabric and its colours will fade quite quickly. Traditionally used for village work, it has long been assimilated to the loincloth of the poor. Prestige also depends on the models and cuts according to which the fabrics are assembled, little fancy will become big, enhanced by the care of a skilful tailor who will transform it into a maxi, a purely urban creation consisting of a top, a long skirt and a third piece of fabric, usually tied at the buttocks or tied into a head handkerchief
What is the budget for accommodation Ivory Coast?
In the interior of the country, the cheapest hotels offer basic comfort, with bedding, ventilation, toilet and shower inside, for as little as 7,000 FCFA
Mid-range hotels add space, air conditioning and television, sometimes a telephone, and a minimum of research into furnishings and decoration. The average night costs 15,000 to 30,000 CFA francs or more, depending on whether you are in Abidjan or the provinces
Finally, the luxury category hotels, which can be found mainly in Abidjan, Assinie and to a lesser extent in San Pedro and Yamoussoukro. In Abidjan, they are divided between the business hotels of the Accor group, those of the pan-African hotel groups Onomo and Azalaï and the American chain Radisson Blu, independent hotels such as the Tiama or the Wafou, and the hotels of the Société des palaces de Cocody
Travel budget Ivory Coast and cost of living
Côte d'Ivoire is not - is no longer - a country where you can travel with your head in the clouds, your hair blowing in the wind and your bag on your back. Here, smart travel is not necessarily synonymous with economical travel, and before making any trip with your flower on your shoulder, make sure you have (1) chosen a safe means of transportation (choose your bus company carefully and avoid gbakas whenever possible); (2) have viable information about your destination and have made prior inquiries about security conditions (this is especially true for the West, especially the areas bordering Liberia); (3) if possible, have contacts and/or drop-off points in the area, for example a friend of a friend to whom you have been recommended and who knows the area well (one of the best ways to discover the country and its inhabitants). In some areas, such as the north or west of the country, the services of a guide will be invaluable - if not necessary - in order to access the various tourist sites without hindrance and to interact with the local population. Of course, you can always opt for a backpacker trip, and in this case, indeed, you limit the risks of ruining yourself, but this option implies switching from the western way of life to the "Ivorian way of life", and if the experience can be convenient, even amusing, in a punctual way, it is much less so in the long term and can even sometimes be dangerous. Not to mention that the image of the friendly backpacker is no longer valid, and that the backpacker will tend to be considered in a rather negative way in Africa, particularly in Côte d'Ivoire where some regions are still suffering from the decade of crises and where almost half of the population lives below the poverty line. Moreover, for Ivorians, the white man has no problem with money, so let's face it. In this light, deliberately choosing to live "like a poor person" is nonsense for most of them: if you are really poor, you don't travel. This being said, it is of course possible to travel and live "locally", at the expense of certain safety, hygiene and comfort standards. In this case, you will have recourse to public transport which often does not exceed 300-500 FCFA ("provincial" rates versus Abidjan), and oscillates on average between 2,500 and 7,000 FCFA maximum for travel within the country (bus, gbakas) from the economic capital; one can eat in kiosks, maquis and other itinerant canteens for prices varying between 1,000 and 6,000 CFA francs per day depending on the region and the accommodation, and one can sleep in a ventilated room in certain neighborhood hotels or in Catholic missions for an amount equal to or less than 10,000 CFA francs per night. In theory, it is possible to get away with less than 20,000 CFA francs per day, but besides the fact that it will take a lot of your energy and ingenuity, you will also have to sacrifice your personal safety and well-being at times, and give up the idea of planning your trip or controlling your schedule. For those who prefer to travel with some leeway and a minimum of comfort, you should know that a night in a mid-range hotel rarely costs less than 40,000 FCFA in Abidjan, and 20-25,000 FCFA in the "provinces". For a full meal (appetizer+main course+drink+dessert) in a Western-style restaurant or a maquis-restaurant, count on a minimum of 10-15,000 FCFA. Finally, if you choose to hire a vehicle, you will be charged a minimum of 30-40,000 FCFA gross per day, not including the per diem of the driver. The daily budget thus moves to a much higher category, flirting closer to 100 000 FCFA than 10 000. Moreover, having a personal vehicle will put a strain on your budget. An intermediate solution could be to share expenses by traveling in a group.
In terms of transportation and air expenses, since the end of 2014, the new national airline Air Côte d'Ivoire has started its domestic flights, with regular service to the cities of Korhogo (north), Bouaké (center), San Pedro (south-west), Man (west) and Odienné (center), seventeen years after their suspension by the defunct Air Ivoire, on the basis of a round trip between 40 and 90,000 for the best offers. The three main items of expenditure that determine the daily budget are the means of transport, the comfort of the accommodation and the quality of the food. The cost of access to the various points of interest is often low, or even free, or at the discretion of the tourist, as many sites have not been maintained or rehabilitated, or only very little. The average entrance fee for foreigners is between 1,000 and 5,000 CFA francs, with additional guide fees, even if a few sites, relatively few in number, are exceptions. In conclusion, Côte d'Ivoire, like all countries in the world, has three types of budgets
The "backpack" budget, between 10 and 20,000 FCFA per day, for travelers who tend to adopt the local lifestyle and travel by public transport. It is obvious that by opting for this mode of travel, one cannot cover the same extent as in a private vehicle nor enjoy one's trip in a totally autonomous way. For those with a small budget, there is no need to try to see more than is reasonable: it is better to take advantage of the privileged contacts with the population that this way of traveling offers
The classic budget, between 90 and 130,000 FCFA per day, for those who travel in a private vehicle and want a certain comfort
The luxury budget, between 150 and 200,000 FCFA per day or more, for those who prefer (and can afford) grand hotels, good restaurants and the most comfortable means of transportation. Debates on the question remain open, but it seems that Félix Houphouët-Boigny wanted to make Côte d'Ivoire a prestige destination, favoring the emergence of luxury tourism, aimed at politicians and businessmen more than at neo-babas looking for thrills or a presumed return to their roots. This desire has resulted in the construction of hotels of international standing (Hotel Ivoire, Hotel President, etc.), accompanied by the establishment of infrastructure that is among the largest and most ambitious in Africa. In short, the Ivory Coast in XXL, it is earned, and the wallet must follow
Tips. As in the case of many destinations, and even more so in a country recovering from many years of crisis, it will be welcome to leave a tip in bars and restaurants, or at the hotel for the staff, if the service rendered has been appreciated. For local guides, the tip will often be equivalent to the daily wage, especially since in the current context, most Ivorians who will offer to serve as guides will not necessarily be trained. Prices remain random and will vary according to the degree of satisfaction, but the remuneration remains the least of things, and sharing a meal or a drink in the maquis at the end of the day with your guide will also be appreciated
Haggling. In Côte d'Ivoire, as in all of Africa, haggling, especially for handicrafts, is part of the institutions and is almost a social game with the other person. The prices charged will vary in inverse proportion to the tanning of the skin (i.e. the less tanned you are, the higher they will be), and in general, if someone says to you "I'll give you a friend's price", you can be sure that it is a " toubabou price". The rule is to divide by four the announced price to get back to half; a whole oratorical joust is then engaged which can turn out to be very tasty, as long as one puts in the right amount of humor and good (or bad!) faith... However, haggling should not become a habit applicable to all sectors of the economy, nor should it turn into crass indecency. Some relentless tourists do not hesitate to nitpick on the equivalent of 1 or 1.50 euros, out of principle or for fun. Without falling into angelism, keep in mind that such a sum, almost insignificant for you, can ensure the daily bread of the shopkeeper and his family. Don't haggle for the sake of haggling: haggle in a measured and intelligent way, know how to be realistic and set the price you think is right, not forgetting to take into account the quality of the object of the commercial transaction and the amount of work it may have required
