Guinea
Tropical-weight suits and some business visitors wear ties, but these are not essential. Appointments should be made in advance. Knowledge of French is advisable and patience in all business dealings is required. Office hours are usually 0800-1630 Monday to Thursday and 0800-1300 Friday.
Residential and street crime is common. In an effort to counter urban crime, the Guinean government maintains countrywide roadblocks from midnight to 6 A.M. Banditry near the Sierra Leone and Liberia borders has also been reported. Criminals particularly target visitors at the airport, in the traditional markets, and near hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners. Visitors should avoid unsolicited offers of assistance at the airport or hotels as such persons may be seeking opportunities to steal luggage, purses or wallets. Travelers should arrange to be met at the airport by hotel personnel, family members or business contacts so as to reduce vulnerability to these crimes of opportunity.
Commercial scams and disputes with local business partners have occasionally created legal difficulties for foreign citizens.
In Conakry there are a few highly priced hotels of an adequate standard. The main hotels in Conakry are: the Hotel Camayenne (Located Midtown), the Novotel - Grand Hotel De L'independence (Located Downtown), the Hotel Le Galion (Located Uptown) and the Hotel Mariador (Located Uptown). Kankan also has a few hotels.
Telephone IDD service is available. The country code is 224. The communication is relatively poor and outgoing international calls must be made through the operator. Limited telephone and fax lines are usually available. There are currently three cellular phone companies in Conakry (Spacetel, Telecel, and Sotelgui). Competition between the three service providers affords customers reasonable rates. Malaysian investors are determined to expand and improve the services of the local phone company. Telex facilities are available at the Hotel de l'Indépéndence and Grand Hotel de l'Unité. There are numerous post offices in the capital.
Electricity is at 220 volts, 50Hz.
220 volts, 50Hz.
C,F,K
Restaurants, except in the capital where Western-style food is available, generally serve local dishes.
Main hotels, mostly in the capital, have reasonable restaurants where a wide variety of alcoholic beverages are served. Conakry has several French pâtisseries selling coffee and cakes.National specialties:
• Jollof rice.
• Stuffed chicken with groundnuts.
• Fish (served with rice).
• Cassava, yams and maize.
• Maize soup.
• Brochettes.
• Fruit (coconut and bananas).National drinks:
• Beer (West
African brands).
• Fresh fruit juice.Tipping:
A 10 per cent service charge will usually be included in the bill.Nightlife
Although there are theaters, nightclubs and cinemas, Guineans prefer to make their own entertainment. In the streets people can often be seen gathered together to dance, sing and play traditional musical instruments or home-made guitars. Conakry is a dynamic center for music and the singing of the Kindia people is renowned. There is also an open air cinema in the small town of Mamou.
