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help guys
will be in Cotonou July
need your best comments.
thanks
Cotonou
Unfortunately, Cotonou used to be much better in terms of nightlife than it is now.
Still, there is some nightlife. Go to New York-New York after 11p.m. (any cab-driver knows). All girls there are from Nigeria, Gahna or Togo (although some will claim to have, or even have, Benin passports). For some reason, Benin girls do not openly prostitute or they do so elsewhere.
A few girls hang around hotels too.
Hotels are never really good value for money in Africa, but at least you're free to bring in whomever you want. Try Hôtel du Port (well-situated for New-York/New-York). Also has a swimming pool. Some nice non-pro locals often come there to swim, especially on Sunday.
Benin has some advantages over other African countries. It is poor, but hassle-free. The people there are gentle and very peaceful. Police don't usually ask for bribes and crime is low provided you don't do anything foolish like walking along the beach in the middle of the night.
I arrived in Cotonou on the last leg of my trip a bit worn out. The distances involved were not long but crossing the borders, the heat, etc.. was taxing. I stayed at the Marina Hotel, a big international type hotel on the beach not too far from the airport. I was in Cotonou for 2 nights so I decided to make an effort to do the place right. I had done a little homework and found out that the red light district in Cotonou was a place called Jonquet. I'm still not sure whether it is a street or a neighborhood but it is near the U.S Peace Corps office.
Unfortunately there are few taxis to be had at night in Cotonou so I was forced to pay for an expensive hotel taxi to take me there. He dropped me off in front of the Peace Corps office and I started to stroll. Not many Westerners around but plenty of people so I felt OK. Keep in mind that people here, especially criminals, see Westerners as being rich so we stick out and are easily targeted - so watch your back. Fortunately, 99% of people will treat you as an honored guest. I sat down at a corner bar to take in the scene. Unfortunately I think this is another bottom of the barrel red light district. I heard and saw a lot of Nigerians, male and female. Skimpily dressed young girls. I did not get an idea of prices but this really isn't a place where you should be strolling. I did see some Westerners but they got out of taxis and went into two of the discos on that street. There are plenty of hissing girls on the main drag but the real action seems to be in the side streets. When I was leaving I saw one side street absolutely teeming with girls. Poontang on the hoof as far as the eye could see down an unlighted street. If this scene is your thing Jonquet is where you want to hit at night or try one of the discos in that area.
I had to take a moped taxi back to the hotel. There were two girls in the hotel bar. One of them was beautiful but was sitting at the bar with a pissed off look on her face - unapproachable. The other was skinny, shapeless but cheerful. It was late and my options were limited so I sat motioned the skinny one to come over. I did not feel like small talk and negotiating so I simply asked her to come up with me. I always negotiate first but I wanted to get out of the bar as quick as possible. The bar is across the way from the elevators so she did not have to leave her i.d or anything. I was pretty worked up from my evening out so I immediately went to action. It took me 5-10 minutes to unload but she actually enjoyed herself. The annoyances started afterwards. First she begged me to turn off the A/C. She was an OK person but she absolutely would not shut up. Yapped about the various nationalities she has had, when I turned on the TV she waxed philosophic that the U.S and Iraq should not fight because people die in wars, I turned off the TV and turned on the radio and some rap song came up and she had a brother who was an aspiring rapper, have I ever met Rambo? That's her favorite movie, Oye! I had drained my sac pretty good and just wanted some peace so I gave her 10,000 CFA and sent her on her way. I don't even think she does all nighters because like most girls she did not have an overnight bag.
I did not try the New York, New York disco but I understand this is the pick up place in Cotonou. Unfortunately it doesn't get going until 11 PM or so which is a bit late for me. I only had 3 girls during this trip but I am absolutely mongered out. Visiting the red light districts in Lome and Cotonou I saw a lot of girls so it feels like more than 3. I think on my future trips I'll try to find one reliable girl in each town. Of course the problem is that they get attached to you. I'll let you guys know.
Also I forgot to mention. If you plan on traveling in this part of the world, it would be a good idea to go to Walmart or similar and buy little sampler kits of toiletries or make-up. If you find a girl that treats you right, instead of overpaying and spoiling the market she would appreciate such a gift. Things you would find common such as talc, deodorants, maybe packaged up would be a nice touch.
Dear Waywardson:
Thanks for another informative report.
A quick comment about hotels requiring that girls leave their ID at the front desk before going up to your room - it's actually a good idea, and the hotels are doing it for your protection, not to check up on you. Remember, Africans have a more relaxed, natural view about sex and prostitutes than Westerners, and the front desk staff could care less about a guest's social life, unless the result is a trashed hotel room the next morning.
I stayed at the Tiama Hotel in Abidjan once for several months and always felt annoyed about having to have the girl leave her ID at the front, until one time I had a dispute with a young lady who tried to grab something and run away. I called the front desk and they made her give back what she had taken before they would give her back her ID, and her name was then entered on a "do not allow entry" list at the front desk for future reference, so that future mongers don't have the same hassle.
Visited Cotonou in June. After 2-3 days wondering, I asked the hotel reception boy that how I can use a condom!! He, understood and promised to send a girl in my room. The girls was sort of Ok, too thin but with big tits. She was nice and gentle and fully cooperated. Though price was not negotiated before I gave her 20,000 CFA, which she accepted with thanks.
Was in Benin early November, and end of November again, for a week each time. Stayed at Hotel Marina (ex Sheraton). Very girl friendly, and plenty of girls.
Leave Hotel towards the pool area and turn immediately left when leaving the main building. Walk along the terrace along the building, go down the stairs at the end of the terrace, and walk along the service road towards the barrier of the hotel service entrance. you will find a wide variety of Beninoise ("en jupe et pas en bouteille" as the local beer is also called beninoise) willing to join in fun.
Otherwise, hang around the front entrance of the hotel, most girls going to the casino will walk up the main road from the main entrance after 10pm, or just go directly to the Casino itself.
Alternatively, take a motorbike "taxi" to the Hotel du Port, maybe 10 minutes away. Go to the Atlantis Night Club. Again, its your choice to enjoy.
Everyone will be happy to join you at the hotel. LOCK your things away however, empty pockets of whatever is not locked away in a suitcase, and negotiate a price first. It is popular to make a racket late at night to negotiate a fee should you not have done so prior to inviting the girls in. They will shout so so loud that the security guards (on each floor there are several) will converge immediately. Then, you will owe everyone a tip of some sort.
Many hotels have large numbers of Belgian military, on temporary assigment in Benin for military co-operation. Large groups of these soldiers roam these sites and occasionally after midnight, you will not find a soul left.
Bonne chance
Hi all,
I am Korean, and I am going to Benin after visiting Burkina Faso and Togo in August. I got Burkina and Togo visa from France Embassy in Korea, but not for Benin.
Some people tell me that I can get the visa upon arrival at Cotonou airport, is it true? I will be in all the African nations for business purpose.
Can anyone help?
I sure look forward to meeting with nice African ladies after work. I'll post my reviews after I return from my biz trip.
Thanks
Make sure you go to any African country with a visa if it is a requirement otherwise the immigration will suck you dry out of your money.
Thanks
Le Baron
Dear friend, can you tell me if is it better Burkina Faso, Togo or Benin for sex? I don't like to enter into night clubs but I look for outside girls and not prostitute gilrs. I like to find a girl friend for a week.
Where can I look for them?
thanks
Dear FoxesHunter,
Sorry for the late reply. Hope this posting will be useful for you and in time.
With regard to your question, I personally prefer Burkina becuase I used to live there, so I am quite familiar with the country. I can say that amongst the 3 countries, Burkinabe (yes, this is the adjective for Burkina Faso) are the most kind.
There are 3 types of places you can try to meet ladies.
1. Discos
Not recommended. The locals in these places are pros. The foreigners in these places are mostly living in that country. You can see many students but they would not be available for the kind of relationship we are seeking. In any case, you would be looking for Africans, and they are mostly pros.
2. Maquis (local restaurants)
Highly recommended. Although pros are present in these places also, there are many semi-pros also. If you are lucky, you can meet ladies who come there to enjoy. You will be surprised by the number of girls approaching you asking to join you.
3. Hotel
When everything fails, just go back to your hotel and take a seat by the pool or in the bar-restaurant, and you will be approached by semi pros or some college kids needing some money for their tuition fee or books or whatever.
Good luck
Hôtel du Port has renovated some rooms but got marginally pricier at 550 euros for 7 nights. The large swimming pool was its major assets because it used to attract local girls especially on Sundays. Now this too has gone quiet. Less and less people are coming to Cotonou and the night-life is dwindling. The only positive consequence is that girl prices may have gone as far down as 10000 CFA. That's under one sixth of 100 euros, say around 18 euros. I didn't bother to ckeck, I had my girl waiting for me and I was on another business.
The biggest pain in the neck is transportation. Hôtel du Port is a ten minutes' walk from a square where lies the main disco (New York - New York) and two first-rate restaurants. Only you're not supposed to walk after dark so there's nothing for it but to use what goes for a taxi, i.e. the run-down car waiting outside the Hôtel. If there's one waiting that is, because if you're out of luck there's none and there's nothing the hotel can or will do about it. Since there's no competition, you can't bargain. Four euros for a 3 minutes's drive, four euros to get back: that's already more than the price of the meal (if you go to one of the two restaurants) and nealy half the price of the girl. Once we remained stranded in the restaurant because the "taxi" had driven away. We had to use one of the many "zemi-johns", i.e. motocycle-cabs.
Zemi-Johns are very cheap and are found everywhere but I don't regard them as an option because they have too many accidents, many of which involving heavier vehicles. I'll bareback any reasonably healthy-looking girl in Africa or elsewhere, have been doing so for over a decade now actually, but I've seen too many broken faces in Africa to consider motocycles as a means of transportations, if I die or get crippled let me do so for the sake of pleasure, not for the sake of getting to a damned restaurant. Beninese consider motocycle cabs dangerous as well but they have no alternative.
This being said, for people with their own transportation (plus their own house etc.), Benin can be a paradise. A place to retire on a reasonable pension, unmolested by holiday mongers like myself.
Back from Cotonou today and nothing to add or retract from my previous post except that I would not longer recommend Hotel du Port. I was told the owner's mother (!!) insisted that girls on the game should no longer be allowed around the pool. Now I understand why the pool scene looked so dead compared to what it was years ago.
I'm told the ex-Sheraton (can't remember the name right now, very near to the airport) is now the place to meet girls. Expensive though (130 dollars upwards).
I was in New York disco at half past midnight on a week-day and there were no more than 5 girls present, none of them stunners.
Was in Cotonou about three months ago. Small weekend trip from Lagos. Sheraton was way to expesive for us. We stayed at the Croix du Sud. Great place, all bungalows so you don't have reception looking over your shoulders. The guy showing us the rooms even offered to bring us girls!
There is a diso on site that is very lively.
Will post a full trip report a little later.
If you're planning to visit Benin, don't do so without getting some update on the energy situation. Cotonou is plagued by power cuts right now. Even mobile phone operators can't maintain service levels. Visitors fall back on the few hotels equipped with electricity generators. Prices go up. Food is scarce, expensive or gone bad.