How to Find Cheap Hotels in Freetown, Sierra Leone

Freetown is the capital city of Sierra Leone, a West African country bordering Liberia and Guinea. The city is far from being a popular tourist destination, but its residents are generally friendly to travelers and the bustling marketplaces can be interesting to explore.

Things You'll Need

• An international immunization card
• A valid visa
• A computer with Internet access
• A valid passport
• Yellow fever vaccination

Instructions

Know Your Destination

1. Shop for precious items. Freetown, Sierra Leone is known for its diamonds and gold.

2. Exchange your U.S. dollars for Leones. The exchange rate varies, but is roughly 3 Ln for 1 U.S. dollar.

3. Get out and explore. Sierra Leone is a small country, so it's possible to use Freetown as a base as you travel around to different sites. Surrounding points of interest include Mt Bintumani, Outamba-Kilimi National Park and the Banana Islands.

Transportation to and from Freetown, Sierra Leone

1. Get a little air under your wings and fly to Freetown, Sierra Leone. The closest international airport to Freetown is the Freetown International Airport.

2. Use a bush taxi or bus to get to and from your accommodations. Minibuses in Sierra Leone are called poda-podas, and provide service within the city as well as to most major towns.

3. Move over to the passenger's seat. If you rent a car in Sierra Leone, it almost always comes with a private driver. But while this is undoubtedly the most convenient way to get around, it's not necessarily cheap.

Lodging in and Around Freetown, Sierra Leone

1. Find cheap accommodations by booking ahead. Because there are a limited number of hotel rooms available in Freetown, you will want to reserve your rooms well in advance. To book accommodations, contact National Tourist Board of Sierra Leone at 011 ([phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources, below).

2. Venture outside of Freetown for cheap accommodations on the beautiful nearby beaches.

3. Stay on the nearby Banana Islands, which are just off the coast of Freetown. They offer fantastic snorkeling and an opportunity to explore historical sites, such as a 19th-century church.

Tips & Warnings

• All phone numbers include the international prefix "011." When calling internationally but not from the United States or Canada, substitute that "011" with "00." All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.

• Register with the U.S. Embassy when you first arrive in Sierra Leone (see details on the U.S. State Department Web site).

• Police response in Freetown, Sierra Leone can be much longer than what Americans are used to.

• Areas outside of Freetown usually don't offer basic services like lodging, power, or dining options.

• While English is the official language, if you travel outside of Freetown you may have a difficult time finding someone who speaks the language.