Check any travel advisories currently in place for Liberia. This information is available on the website of the State Department or Foreign Office of your home country. Read through all information carefully and note which areas of Liberia are considered dangerous and any other relevant advisory statements.
Make sure your passport is valid and is not set to expire for 6 months following your date of entry into Liberia. Make a photocopy of your passport and give it to a friend or family member who will not be traveling with you.
Obtain the necessary visa prior to traveling. American, Commonwealth of Nations and European Union citizens, as well as many other nations, should apply for a visa prior to entering Liberia. Liberia offers three different tourist visas: a single-entry visa valid for 3 months; a multiple-entry visa valid for 6 months; and a multiple-entry visa valid for a year. Prices for visas change, so contact the Liberian Consulate in your home country for prices. File an application for a visa at your local consulate. Visas are not issued at Liberian airports.
Visit your local doctor to receive a yellow fever vaccination. A certificate proving receipt of this vaccination is required of all travelers over 1 year old.
Discuss with your physician any medicine you might need while you are in Liberia. Get all your prescriptions filled and discuss with your doctor the possibility of taking antibiotics with you. Many doctors will prescribe a general antibiotic for travelers to Africa.
Book a flight to Liberia. Flights can be booked online or through a local travel agent. Flights to Monrovia are frequent from many American and European airports. The closest airport to Monrovia is Spriggs Payne Airport, a few miles from the city center. Roberts International Airport, the largest in Liberia, is 60 km from Monrovia.
Book a hotel in Monrovia for the entire duration of your stay. Be aware that hotel rates are quite expensive in Liberia. Book in advance as far as possible as the number of rooms in the city is limited. If you require air conditioning, ask the hotel if they provide it, as many hotels do not.
Inform yourself on Liberian food, weather, voltage and culture. Make a notebook with lists of emergency numbers and the number and address of your hotel.
Check the weather conditions in Liberia and pack accordingly.
Arrive at least 2 hours early at the airport the day of your flight. Hydrate well and enjoy your flight to Liberia.
