Need help for estimating costs in Ghana
Nov 29, 2011, 2:00 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: UA General
Posts: 334
Need help for estimating costs in Ghana
We are leaving in less than two weeks for Africa and are having a difficult time in estimating our costs. We have paid most of the Tanzania part of the the trip and knew the rest of the out of pocket costs there, but with the Ghana part, it is very difficult to gauge, so I would like to hear other people's experience.
We will be there for 7 days. So far, the only cost I know is the place we are planning to stay is going to cost USD 600 for the week in Accra. We plan to do some minor sightseeing, spend time with some friends there, and relax...nothing too exotic. If a guide is worth it and doesn't cost too much, we will hire one for a day or two too. How much money should we bring (2 people)? Is US dollars fairly usable there or do I have to exchange into cedi?
Thanks!
We will be there for 7 days. So far, the only cost I know is the place we are planning to stay is going to cost USD 600 for the week in Accra. We plan to do some minor sightseeing, spend time with some friends there, and relax...nothing too exotic. If a guide is worth it and doesn't cost too much, we will hire one for a day or two too. How much money should we bring (2 people)? Is US dollars fairly usable there or do I have to exchange into cedi?
Thanks!
Nov 30, 2011, 3:57 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,660
You can do Accra in three different ways.
You can do the upmarket expat style and you will find everything horrendously expensive. This means renting air-conditioned SUVs with security escorts and paying $200-300/day for the priviledge. It is not necessary IMHO.
Alternatively you can do it the backpacker style. Use the local tro-tros to get around. Eat at the chop bars or street stalls. Buy plastic sachets of "pure water" to drink. You can probably get by on $10-15/day but you'll smell of stale sweat by sundown.
The middle ground is probably the best one. Taxis are perfectly safe to get around and a full day taxi rental in town will cost you no more than $40 or so. Outside town, a bit more expensive when you factor fuel, etc. Meals at fast food restaurants will run you $5-10/person and at upper mid-range restaurants will run you around $15-30/person on average. Guides may be worth it, but finding a reliable one is probably the biggest concern. Your taxi driver can also serve as a pseudo-guide - there's really not so much to see in Accra! If you speak English and know how to haggle down prices, you can probably manage on your own. That said, the locals are very friendly and often overwhelmingly nice out of genuine hospitality towards foreign visitors so don't be too paranoid or worried by everyone calling you their long lost brother or similar.
USD is quite usable at most decent stores and restaurants (at not very favourable rates though) but not with street vendors or the like. There are Bureau de Change at every street corner in major areas of Accra. ATMs are easily available throughout Accra if you need to withdraw GHS - but are almost exclusively on the VISA/Plus network so don't rely on Mastercard/Maestro cards working.
All in all, Ghana is a perfect "introduction to Africa" destination. It's not as developed as South Africa nor is it as "unsafe" as parts of Nigeria. A happy medium.
Finally, please drop me a PM if you're in Ghana and want to catch up with a fellow FTer. I know at least one other FT member (in addition to myself) who is here in December, so we can maybe set up a mini Accra meet if the dates work out!
You can do the upmarket expat style and you will find everything horrendously expensive. This means renting air-conditioned SUVs with security escorts and paying $200-300/day for the priviledge. It is not necessary IMHO.
Alternatively you can do it the backpacker style. Use the local tro-tros to get around. Eat at the chop bars or street stalls. Buy plastic sachets of "pure water" to drink. You can probably get by on $10-15/day but you'll smell of stale sweat by sundown.
The middle ground is probably the best one. Taxis are perfectly safe to get around and a full day taxi rental in town will cost you no more than $40 or so. Outside town, a bit more expensive when you factor fuel, etc. Meals at fast food restaurants will run you $5-10/person and at upper mid-range restaurants will run you around $15-30/person on average. Guides may be worth it, but finding a reliable one is probably the biggest concern. Your taxi driver can also serve as a pseudo-guide - there's really not so much to see in Accra! If you speak English and know how to haggle down prices, you can probably manage on your own. That said, the locals are very friendly and often overwhelmingly nice out of genuine hospitality towards foreign visitors so don't be too paranoid or worried by everyone calling you their long lost brother or similar.
USD is quite usable at most decent stores and restaurants (at not very favourable rates though) but not with street vendors or the like. There are Bureau de Change at every street corner in major areas of Accra. ATMs are easily available throughout Accra if you need to withdraw GHS - but are almost exclusively on the VISA/Plus network so don't rely on Mastercard/Maestro cards working.
All in all, Ghana is a perfect "introduction to Africa" destination. It's not as developed as South Africa nor is it as "unsafe" as parts of Nigeria. A happy medium.
Finally, please drop me a PM if you're in Ghana and want to catch up with a fellow FTer. I know at least one other FT member (in addition to myself) who is here in December, so we can maybe set up a mini Accra meet if the dates work out!
Dec 1, 2011, 1:12 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: UK & Ghana
Programs: BA, VS,
Posts: 224
And you will likely get really bad food poisoning from it. And yes, I am the other FT member who is in Accra this week!
Dec 1, 2011, 1:57 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: UA General
Posts: 334
You can do Accra in three different ways.
You can do the upmarket expat style and you will find everything horrendously expensive. This means renting air-conditioned SUVs with security escorts and paying $200-300/day for the priviledge. It is not necessary IMHO.
Alternatively you can do it the backpacker style. Use the local tro-tros to get around. Eat at the chop bars or street stalls. Buy plastic sachets of "pure water" to drink. You can probably get by on $10-15/day but you'll smell of stale sweat by sundown.
The middle ground is probably the best one. Taxis are perfectly safe to get around and a full day taxi rental in town will cost you no more than $40 or so. Outside town, a bit more expensive when you factor fuel, etc. Meals at fast food restaurants will run you $5-10/person and at upper mid-range restaurants will run you around $15-30/person on average. Guides may be worth it, but finding a reliable one is probably the biggest concern. Your taxi driver can also serve as a pseudo-guide - there's really not so much to see in Accra! If you speak English and know how to haggle down prices, you can probably manage on your own. That said, the locals are very friendly and often overwhelmingly nice out of genuine hospitality towards foreign visitors so don't be too paranoid or worried by everyone calling you their long lost brother or similar.
USD is quite usable at most decent stores and restaurants (at not very favourable rates though) but not with street vendors or the like. There are Bureau de Change at every street corner in major areas of Accra. ATMs are easily available throughout Accra if you need to withdraw GHS - but are almost exclusively on the VISA/Plus network so don't rely on Mastercard/Maestro cards working.
All in all, Ghana is a perfect "introduction to Africa" destination. It's not as developed as South Africa nor is it as "unsafe" as parts of Nigeria. A happy medium.
Finally, please drop me a PM if you're in Ghana and want to catch up with a fellow FTer. I know at least one other FT member (in addition to myself) who is here in December, so we can maybe set up a mini Accra meet if the dates work out!
You can do the upmarket expat style and you will find everything horrendously expensive. This means renting air-conditioned SUVs with security escorts and paying $200-300/day for the priviledge. It is not necessary IMHO.
Alternatively you can do it the backpacker style. Use the local tro-tros to get around. Eat at the chop bars or street stalls. Buy plastic sachets of "pure water" to drink. You can probably get by on $10-15/day but you'll smell of stale sweat by sundown.
The middle ground is probably the best one. Taxis are perfectly safe to get around and a full day taxi rental in town will cost you no more than $40 or so. Outside town, a bit more expensive when you factor fuel, etc. Meals at fast food restaurants will run you $5-10/person and at upper mid-range restaurants will run you around $15-30/person on average. Guides may be worth it, but finding a reliable one is probably the biggest concern. Your taxi driver can also serve as a pseudo-guide - there's really not so much to see in Accra! If you speak English and know how to haggle down prices, you can probably manage on your own. That said, the locals are very friendly and often overwhelmingly nice out of genuine hospitality towards foreign visitors so don't be too paranoid or worried by everyone calling you their long lost brother or similar.
USD is quite usable at most decent stores and restaurants (at not very favourable rates though) but not with street vendors or the like. There are Bureau de Change at every street corner in major areas of Accra. ATMs are easily available throughout Accra if you need to withdraw GHS - but are almost exclusively on the VISA/Plus network so don't rely on Mastercard/Maestro cards working.
All in all, Ghana is a perfect "introduction to Africa" destination. It's not as developed as South Africa nor is it as "unsafe" as parts of Nigeria. A happy medium.
Finally, please drop me a PM if you're in Ghana and want to catch up with a fellow FTer. I know at least one other FT member (in addition to myself) who is here in December, so we can maybe set up a mini Accra meet if the dates work out!
Dec 1, 2011, 2:28 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: UA General
Posts: 334
Dec 4, 2011, 4:46 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: IC.Spire Amb. Turkish Elite
Posts: 222
The second option by B747-437B is about the best option. However please do not drink "pure water" satchet. Immodium and antibiotics may not help you out of your 'stomach flu'. The aftermath of drinking "pure water" is almost as bad as catching malaria IMHO.
Dec 6, 2011, 5:45 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: UA General
Posts: 334
Wow, thanks for reminding me on that. I was not sure why he said that, but then just now I googled it, umm, bad news. Thank god we would be coming from Tanzania which supposedly is one of the countries that have the worst water in the world, so we are equipped with water filter and tablets that kills everything else remaining.
Dec 9, 2011, 4:19 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: UK & Ghana
Programs: BA, VS,
Posts: 224
I drink both bottled water and the sachets of water, I have never had any I'll effects from it.
Dec 13, 2011, 7:16 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: IC.Spire Amb. Turkish Elite
Posts: 222
Dec 15, 2011, 4:56 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2006
Programs: BA GGL; SPG Plat; HH Diamond
Posts: 439