# Madagascar Questions **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 17, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/madagascar-questions/213630 "2003-11-17T03:00:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JoeyThePenguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@JoeyThePenguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeyThePenguin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/madagascar-questions/213630/1 "2003-11-17T03:00:00Z")
I have a couple questions. 1. How much would a typical flight, both ways, to Madagascar from Seattle cost? Would the fare vary from city (in Madagascar) to city, by much? Are there many flights there at all? A friend has told me that there are very few airports there. 2. Does Madagascar have political problems at the moment? Joey. ---
**Author:** ![Opus1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/858c86/32.png) [@Opus1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opus1)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/madagascar-questions/213630/2 "2003-11-17T03:20:30Z")
1. Check out [orbitz.com](http://orbitz.com). Apparently there are direct flights from Paris to Antananarivo. Airports in Madagascar: > [@](#): > > Airports: > > 121 (2002) > Airports - with paved runways: > > total: 29 > over 3,047 m: 1 > 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 > 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 > 914 to 1,523 m: 20 > under 914 m: 2 (2002) > Airports - with unpaved runways: > > total: 92 > 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 > 914 to 1,523 m: 46 > under 914 m: 44 (2002) That’s not very many, and given the small size (and unpaved nature) of most of them, I would recommend highly against air travel within Madagascar. 1. Probably no worse than most third world countries: [http://travel.state.gov/madagascar.html](http://travel.state.gov/madagascar.html) ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/madagascar-questions/213630/3 "2003-11-17T03:38:07Z")
I can’t resist. WHY are you going to Madagascar? ---
**Author:** ![JoeyThePenguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@JoeyThePenguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeyThePenguin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/madagascar-questions/213630/4 "2003-11-17T08:09:15Z")
I’m not, after I found out that the cheapest ticket Orbitz could find was $2512. Joey. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/madagascar-questions/213630/5 "2003-11-17T11:58:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JoeyThePenguin \* > \*\* > > 1. Does Madagascar have political problems at the moment? > > Joey. \*\* There has been serious political problems last year, following a controversial election, both main candidates having declared themselves the winner, and each side controling part of the country. It lasted for a long time, but eventuallly, the issue was solved (the former president left the country under popular pressure), and AFAIK, everything came back to the normal state of affairs. However, you shouldn’t take my word on this, and should check your country’s (or/and other countries) foreign affairs advices and warning to travellers (can’t remember the site adress for the US…which by the way has the reputation of being quite conservative and cautious in its warnings) ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/madagascar-questions/213630/6 "2003-11-17T11:59:33Z")
A little bit cheaper… [Travelocity.com](http://Travelocity.com) found flights from SEA to TNR (Antananarivo) for $1709 with Air France. Not a cheap pace to get to, though. And probably too warm for penguins, anyhow. ---
**Author:** ![Bromley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Bromley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bromley)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/madagascar-questions/213630/7 "2003-11-17T14:48:33Z")
[FCO](http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390590&a=KCountryAdvice&aid=1013618386172) It mostly looked like standard fare, but I was surprised by this: > [@](#): > > You are strongly advised to register with the British Embassy in Antananarivo on arrival. The more adventurous visitors travelling off the beaten track should leave a rough itinerary with the Embassy and avoid travelling alone. Also, does it seem strange to anyone else that you can export 1 kg of jewels but only 100 g of vanilla? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/madagascar-questions/213630/8 "2003-11-17T15:37:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by r\_k \* > \*\*Not a cheap pace to get to, though. And probably too warm for penguins, anyhow. \*\* Well, we don’t know what breed **JoeyThePenguin** is. He could be one of those South African or Australian penguins, so he’d do okay on a Madagascarian vacation. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Bromley_ > **Also, does it seem strange to anyone else that you can export 1 kg of jewels but only 100 g of vanilla?** I wouldn’t be surprised if real vanilla costs more than topazes, ounce for ounce. It’s the most labor-intensive crop in the world. ---
**Author:** ![Ivar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ivar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ivar)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/madagascar-questions/213630/9 "2003-11-17T17:05:05Z")
I’ve been to Madagascar, in February of 1990. We flew from Oslo, Norway to Tana on Aeroflot, with stops along the way Moscow, Larnaca (Cyprus), and Aden (Yemen). It was with a school trip and Aeroflot was the cheapest, for obvious reasons. Only one airport I think is capable of landing large jets, and that’s the main airport in Tana. Feel free to email me directly if you have any questions. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/madagascar-questions/213630/10 "2003-11-17T18:04:33Z")
The [Madagascar Embassy in Washington](http://www.embassy.org/madagascar/) has a good site full of information. It is also one of the world’s hotspots for [interesting tropical diseases](http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/destinations/africa/madagascar.html), especially Malaria. ---
**Author:** ![rodent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4bbf92/32.png) [@rodent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rodent)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/madagascar-questions/213630/11 "2003-11-17T18:31:24Z")
Try the Lonely Planet site: > **[Lonely Planet | Travel Guides & Travel Information](https://www.lonelyplanet.com/)** > > Love travel? Discover, plan and book your perfect trip with expert advice, travel guides, destination information and inspiration from Lonely Planet. The Thorn Tree boards are especcially helpful for up-to-date travel information.