Relais des Plateaux is a hotel in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, built across a series of hills in the central highlands. Most international visitors arrive here, and many spend a night or two before heading east to Andasibe, west to the baobabs or south to Isalo. A comfortable city base is helpful for recovering from a long flight, arranging onward transport and seeing sights such as the Rova and Ambohimanga. The room types, restaurant and facilities are best confirmed when you book, because only the name and the city are available to go on, and the hotel is best treated as a practical base rather than a destination.
Location
Antananarivo is a hilly, busy city with steep streets, markets and old colonial buildings, and traffic can be heavy at peak hours. Ask how far the hotel is from the airport, from the Rova of Antananarivo and from the restaurants you want to visit. Journeys between sights can take longer than the distance suggests, so group them sensibly and use a driver arranged by the hotel when possible. Evenings in the capital are best spent in taxis or hotel-arranged transport rather than on foot, particularly if you are carrying valuables.
Madagascar is large, slow to cross and wonderfully varied, so where you stay shapes the trip more than in most countries. The highlands around Antananarivo hold the capital, the royal hill of Ambohimanga and the road east to the lemur forests of Andasibe. The west has the baobabs and the Tsingy, the south has Isalo and the dry coast, and the north has Nosy Be, the volcanic lakes and the red Tsingy.
Domestic flights save days but are limited and can change, and road journeys are long, so build slack into your itinerary and check how you will reach each place to stay.
What to expect
Only the name, town and general character are confirmed, so the details below are things to check rather than promises. Ask what is included in the rate, whether meals are served on site, how the power and water supply work and what the transfer arrangements are. In remote areas, activities such as guided walks, boat trips or snorkelling are often arranged through the accommodation itself, so it is worth asking what is available and what it costs.
Who it suits
First-time visitors, travellers in transit, families and anyone who wants a straightforward city base before heading into the countryside. It also suits visitors who want to arrange guides and drivers for the rest of their trip, since staff in the capital are used to organising circuits. If you arrive on a late flight, tell the hotel in advance and ask about airport pick-up. Check the cancellation terms because international and domestic flights can change, and keep a buffer night before a long-haul departure.
Booking tips
Book early for July to October, when the best places fill and flights are limited, and compare dates in the shoulder months if your plans are flexible. Allow a buffer day around international flights, because delays and cancellations of domestic services are not unusual. Keep copies of your confirmations, carry some cash in small notes and ask whether tipping for guides and staff is customary at the place you are staying.
Why stay here
- ✓Guest rooms (check room types)
- ✓Breakfast (check what is included)
- ✓Restaurant or dining room (check when you book)
- ✓Wi-Fi (check when you book)
- ✓Air conditioning or heating (check when you book)
- ✓Airport transfers (ask in advance)
- ✓Tour and driver booking help
- ✓Parking (check when you book)
Good questions
Where is Relais des Plateaux?+
It is in Antananarivo, Madagascar's capital, in the central highlands.
Is it close to the airport?+
The airport is a drive from the city, so check the distance and transfer options when you book.
Can staff arrange tours?+
Hotels in the capital can usually help with guides, drivers and onward transport. Ask in advance.
