How to Find Luxury Hotels in Conakry, Guinea

The capital of Guinea, as well as its largest city, Conakry is a commercial hub thanks to its Atlantic port.

Things You'll Need

• Certificate of vaccination against yellow fever
• Passport
• Visa
• Telephone
• Computer with Internet access

Instructions

Choose Your Lodging

1. Call the tourism board (Office National du Tourisme) at 011 ([phone] for information on booking accommodations.

2. Stay at the Camayenne Hotel for deluxe rooms and great ocean views from the city center. Rates are relatively inexpensive by Western standards. Call 011 ([phone] to book reservations.

3. Lodge in the Dixinn district, which houses the University of Conakry as well as several embassies.

4. Choose a hotel right on the water, and take in the beauty of the ocean and the history of this ancient port city.

5. Stay and play in the Ratoma district, known for its exciting nightlife.

Organize Your Transportation

1. Fly into Gbessia International Airport, located on the west side of the city.

2. Rent a vehicle with a driver. This is the safest way to travel in a city with minimal public transportation.

Know Your Destination

1. Know that the city of Conakry is made up of 5 districts: Matoto, Matam, Ratoma, Dixinn and Kaloum. Matoto and Matam are located in the western portion of the city, Kaloum is in the center. Ratoma is known for its nightlife, Dixinn for its university.

2. Understand the limits of the infrastructure. Be prepared for a large part of the city to be without electricity from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

3. Obtain a tourist visa from the Republic of Guinea's embassy in Washington. Call the embassy at [phone] for information. Expect it to take at least two to three working days for your visa application to be processed and approved.

Tips & Warnings

• 011 is the dialing prefix used for telephoning abroad from the United States. If you're calling from another country, check which international dialing prefix to use. All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.

• French is the official language in Guinea.

• Use a major travel Web site to book online, when possible, and check the ratings given by other travelers.

• Beware of the drivers in Conakry. There are no working stop lights and erratic driving behavior is commonplace.

• Get a yellow-fever vaccination before traveling to Guinea; the disease is considered endemic there. To learn more, visit the Web site of the Centers for Disease Control (see Resources below).