Cheap rooms in Mali/Muritania
 

What is the situation with Hotels in Mali/Muritania. I here its very expensive for the region, like EU prices. Is it possible to simply get a bare room in the poorer section of town, or sleep pay to sleep on someones roof? Any experiances in extreme budget travel anyone? I'm a bit of an anthropolgist and have an interest in getting out of the standard western accomodations.

Mali is somewhat more expensive for hotels then lets say Burkina. Dormitory style accomodation is between 2000 and 4000 cfa (650cfa= 1€), including 500cfa tourist tax. Having a white skin, it will be difficult to find cheaper then that. Maybe if you can arrange to stay at somebodies home.

Don't know to much about Mauri prices, but I thought it wasn't too expensive. But that's maybe because the dessert is so good for camping.

;-)

Hi,

Standard western accommodation in RIM and Mali? EU prices? There are one or to places like that in Bamako and Nuakchott. For the rest - forget it! A bare room with a tired bed is considered a swanky hotel. And in poorer section of town a bed is considered luxury. I gather you are not particularly concerned about privacy - well that will save you a lot of problems.



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Roman (UK)
www.overlandcruiser.com

I have only been to Morocco, but I would prefear to camp instead of getting some parasite disease, which will make the hotel to be more expensive as it seems (on the long).

in mauritania i stayed in nouadhibou, atar and nouakchott
most expensive place was 1500 ouguiya (something around 5 euro)
not sure about mali from personal experience but i've heard most towns have a place you can sleep on the roof for next to nothing

senegal is more expensive for the region re: sleeping

and in case you want them....

nouadhibou i stayed at auberge chinguetti on the main road in town, bed in an 8 bed dorm, 1500 ouguiya

atâr was at the bab sahara, on the edge of town on the road to azougui, mattress on floor in tent, 1500 ouguiya

nouakchott, auberge de jeunesse, small side street in the centre of town, twin room with a friend of mine for 1000 ouguiya each

all places very friendly, all recommended.. maybe take a cover for the bab sahara tent, it gets pretty cool at night

What kind of gear should I bring in order to sleep outside/onrooftops in April? Is it true most places will give you a mat? Is a sheet enough at that time of year or do you need a full cover or sleeping bag in order stay warm? Any tips?

i was there in april 2 years ago and i didn't sleep with any cover at night when i slept outside cos it was too hot. although in the middle of the night i would usually wake up from being too cold. but really a thin sleeping bag is all that you'll need... a sheet should be fine. i unrolled my cheche and slept under that.. this is all for mauritania, i don't know mali though.

Mali was warmer than Mauri when we were there in Feb - I expect it's even hotter now http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif
We took good sleeping bags and ended up sleeping on top of them mostly. now that the weather has warmed up I imagine they would be no use at all except as a mat to lie on. Save your money and get either a cheap thin sleeping bag , or a sleeping bag liner , which folds up to the size of a hankerchief, weights nothing and should be more than warm enough for all but the coolest nights.

Ray