TRAVEL
TIPS
| Driving |
International
Driving Permit Required |
| Currency |
(XOF)
Africaine Franc |
| Electrical |
220 Volts |
| Telephones |
Country
Code 226, City Code, Western Provinces 20+6D, Eastern Provinces
40+6D, Central Provinces 50+6D |
Burkina
Faso's currency, the West African franc (CFA), is fixed against
the Euro dollar. For as little as US$15 a day you can get a decent
room (albeit with shared bathroom facilities), clean sheets and
a foursquare meal from one of the local hole-in-the-wall diners.
If you want to be closer to the centre of the city, are looking
for airconditioned rooms, swimming pools, and a bit of ambience
with your meal, you'll be paying about US$60 a day. Fancy hotels
and French cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner will set you
back about US$150-200 a day.
Ecobank in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso
charges little commission on travellers cheques and changes most
currencies; it's best to carry American Express traveller's cheques
in French francs. Banks generally require proof of purchase to
change travellers' cheques, so tuck receipts away in a safe place.
BICIAB in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso gives cash advances on
a Visa card.
Tipping in Africa is a grey area.
It's tied to the notion of a gift or cadeau, which roughly translates
into the western idea of noblesse oblige, with wealthier citizens
obligated to those less well off. Since all westerners (with the
possible exception of hitchhikers and backpackers) appear to be
rich, a tip is not out of order in most instances. A standard
10% is a reasonable tip. Check the bills in restaurants to ensure
that a 10% service charge has not already been added on.
