'''Port-au-Prince''' is the capital and largest city of Haiti.
Understand
Get in
By plane
Port au Prince airport (PAP) is served by several major airlines--Air France, Spirit Air, American Airlines, Copa--and smaller flights from the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and other spots in the Caribbean. Taxis from the airport to your destination in Port au Prince will be about $20, standard fare. Try to bargain down to $15. Tap taps going to all places pass the airport and will cost about 15 gourdes (less than 50 cents).
By train
By car
By bus
Getting in to the capital by bus is relatively easy from the Dominican Republic, on a bus run by the firm terrabus it costs around $30 and there are 2 daily. Within the country however it is a different story.
It's no more $30 but $ 45 one way. ($90 round trip).
By boat
Get around
See
'''The Musee du Pantheon National Haitien''' For $1 admission you will be led on an individual guided tour through a chronology of Haitian history. Each period is divided into a muraled section containing paragon items of that time: the anchor of the Santa Maria, Christopher Columbus's flagship, is the centerpiece of the exploration age section.
Do
Learn
Work
Buy
Markets
Marche en fer (Iron Market) A densely packed market of vendors selling everything from crafts such as voodoo paraphernalia to fresh food such as turtles. It a challenging, stressful, and maddening place to walk through as throngs of desperate merchants grab you and tight huddle of shoppers, stalls, and moving goods impede your every step, requiring you to swim through humanity. You will find a breathtaking inventory of hand crafted art: sculptures, masks, staves, paintings, globes, tea sets, coconut belts, etc.
Banking
There are at least two banks with ATMs: Scotiabank and Sogebank. The closest Scotiabank to downtown is at the intersection of Blvd Jean Jacques dessalines and Rue Pavee. Even the ATM is closed on Sunday. Banks here close very early, even on the weekdays.
Eat
Eating out in Port-au-Prince is surpringly expensive. Even at modest restaurants a full plate of food will usually cost around 200 gourde. A good amount of food from street vendors will even cost up to 100 gourde.
Budget
'''Foodies''' (near the National Palace) A clean fast food joint serving hamburgers and fries. Expect to spend about 120 goud for a cheeseburger, fries and drink. Ask for the owner, a Haitain of Lebanese ancestry, who will answer your questions in Brooklyn English.
Mid-range
'''Pizza Garden''', one of the best pizzerias in the whole city, although hard to find if you do not know its location. There is "Old" Pizza Garden and "New" Pizza Garden, the latter being as a result of a split in co-owners. The decor is typical of a Haitian cafe, with handcrafted tables and lamps. The atmosphere feels intimate due to the soft lighting. Try the extra cheese pizza.
Splurge
'''La Souvenance''', 48 Rue Geffrard, (509) 257-4813. One of the best restaurants, it features French cuisine, some of it with a Creole twist.
Self Cater
There are grocery stores all over town at least two in the center of town, both located on Capois. The Big Star Market in the Champ de Mars area and the Primera Market nearby the Hotel Olafson.
Drink
''Cremas'', an alcoholic beverage made of coconut and vanilla.
Rhum Barbancourt
Biere Prestige
Sleep
There are not cheap places to stay, just less expensive choices.
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Budget
'''Wall's Guesthouse''' A clean secure compound popular with missionaires located in Delmas, a residential neighborhood, far from the action of Port-au-Prince. The electricity is constant and so is the water but it's cold. You may be placed in a room with other people but considering the low number of visitors this is unlikely, however, you will be sharing a bathroom. A buffet style breakfast and dinner is complementary. If you don't mind the toilsome journey from the guesthouse to interesting parts of Port-au-Prince then consider the place. The cost is $30 per person.
'''Palace Hotel''' The cheapest hotel in the centrally located Champ de Mars. A good choice if you want to stay out late in Champ because the hotel is so easy to return to. A faded grand balcony occupies the entire second floor. There is a vintage feeling of being where aristocrats used to hang out. It's a lonely place as they are no other Western travellers. The accommodations are rough: electrity and running water (no hot water) are on and off. The cost of a double was negotiated down to $40.
Mid-range
Splurge
'''Hotel Olofson''' An illustrious hotel with unmistakable past grandeur which has served as a mansion, Marine base, and now a popular hotel for Westerners in Haiti. The guests--UN employees, filmmakers, academics, etc.--all mingle easily with the owner, Richard, and each other on the front porch. The cost of a single/double is about $70/$80. If you have are traveling with many consider a suite; they are huge.
Contact
A recommended guide is Jean Eteme Lundg (cell: 740-0703 or ask for him at the Olafson desk). He charges $15/day. Try to ask for price advice before entering the Iron Market because he like other guides don't want to be seen as undermining the merchants.
Stay safe
You should not be outside, on the streets, after dark unless you are wandering around the busy Champs de Mars area.
Cope
Get out