As it is the location of the country's major international airport, most visitors will find their trips beginning or ending in the Malagasy capital. Clients may well pass through it several times on their way between places.
Antananarivo, shortened to Tana by tourists and locals alike, is the bustling capital of Madagascar. Built on hillsides and ridges and ringed with rice paddies, Tana is an interesting place to spend a few days either at the beginning or end of your holiday. The summit near the centre of the ridge was easy to fortify, surrounded by marshland suitable for rice cultivation and provides an excellent vantage point. It became the site of the royal palace and centre of the Merina kingdom. The conquests of King Radama I elevated the city to capital of Madagascar, a position retained under the French.
Le Royal Palissandre Hotel and Spa
Situated on a hillside overlooking the Grand Avenue de l'Independence, just 10 minutes walk from the centre of Antananarivo, Le Royal Palissandre offers the best hotel facilities in the capital. With stunning views, friendly staff, an excellent spa, Hammam facilities, outdoor swimming pool and sundeck, and a new fitness centre, it makes a great stop over hotel.
Built with traditional Malagasy pink-coloured bricks, Matasoa stone and marble, its 46 air-conditioned rooms are simply but well furnished with a generous amount of Palissandre ‘purple‘ wood. All have balconies with panoramic views as well as en-suite bathrooms, mini-bars and satellite TVs.
Its restaurant not only offers excellent French cuisine and local specialities but also tremendous views from its terraces.
Tsara Queen House
After Tsara Komba in Nosy Be, High Spirit Lodge opened Tsara Queen House a wonderful private house in Antananarivo. Situated on the Queen Palace Hill in the historical area of the Upper Town each brick is a piece of memory and overlooks the city of Antananarivo.
Tsara Queen Lodge is a unique place where you will find “art de vivre”, calm and intimacy.
Residence Lapasoa
Lapasoa Hotel is in a lively area of Antananarivo housed in a large colonial-style mansion attractively and funky decorated with traditional Malagasy artefacts and with an attractive brick façade, situated close by are at least half a dozen restaurants.
It has a restaurant under the Hotel, one of the trendiest meeting spots in Antananarivo, the Kudeta Restaurant and Lounge Bar, with excellent Franco-Malagasy fusion cuisine.
Rooms have an airy uncluttered feel, with wooden floors, whitewashed walls, wooden framed beds, and in most cases a small balcony or window offering views across the city centre.