Hello Nairalanders. I have plans to visit Benin republic for business purpose(s).
I am a recent graduate and with the scarcity of jobs in the country, the best option is to start something of my own.

Things I want to know are:
1. Cost of travelling to Benin republic by road.
2. Documents needed to make the trip.
3. What part of Benin republic can one get quality items at a cheap price?
4. I'm thinking fashion accessories and the rest but other ideas are welcome.
5. Cheap hotels to lodge during my stay.
6. How much should I budget in total?
7. Any other tips that will make my trip/stay worthwhile.
I know there are countless number of related topics here but I'm looking for something recent. Kindly help a sister.

Hello Nairalanders. I have plans to visit Benin republic for business purpose(s).
I am a recent graduate and with the scarcity of jobs in the country, the best option is to start something of my own.

Things I want to know are:
1. Cost of travelling to Benin republic by road.
2. Documents needed to make the trip.
3. What part of Benin republic can one get quality items at a cheap price?
4. I'm thinking fashion accessories and the rest but other ideas are welcome.
5. Cheap hotels to lodge during my stay.
6. How much should I budget in total?
7. Any other tips that will make my trip/stay worthwhile.
I know there are countless number of related topics here but I'm looking for something recent. Kindly help a sister.

Benin republic is a good country, wish you all the best. Firstly,
1. You can go the through two means, either ur self or through big marcopolo buses. Going your self is cheaper. Just go to berger bustop in ojodu lagos or any good ones, like mile 2, agege, oshodi, but ojodu berger is good. Board a bus/danfo going to seme . Its normaly 800 or 1k. Take bike to cross the border. You dont need any thing except your id card, either national or student id or work. The bike to cross you will at most 500 and at least 200. He will settle minor guys with 50, 50 naira at borders, ask the bike man for seme garage. Take car to cotonou at most 5,000cfa thats like 1600 naira.
Note: once you pass the border try exchanging your currency as soon as possible. Exchange rate is 1 naira = 2.9 cfa.

And if by straight bus from lagos to cotonou. You will go to agege to take direct bus. Its around 15,000 cfa thats 5000 naira.

2. Document: Id card only ,no need to collect new passport. And if you already have, then Good luck.

3. You can get all fashion stuffs mordern boutiques at cotonou which are european standards at cheaper rates, others at sakandji, pondji, and port-novo. Mostly african attires like ankara and other amazing fashion accessories are sold at pondji and other market. Like tokpa market in cotonou.

4. Buy clothes, wears, beads, jewellery (they call it bijouterrie in french) thats where it is the cheapest in west africa. After togo and probably senegal.

5. Hotels in pondji are generaly 10,000cfa/nights. Thats 3k. But you can get cheaper in cotonou at around 1,500 naira per night. Or go to a 'residence' its like hotel but not hotel. Price ranging 20,000cfa a week. Thats like 6k.

6. I'll advice you have 50k naira for transport, accommodation, food and others. Which you can never exhaust!

7. You wont feel like coming back to nigeria, because of their unexplainable 24hours power supply everywhere you go. Dey take light 30 minutes per week. You will also enjoy the roads and french lifestyle. If you realy wanto enjoy africa, i beg you checkout to ABIDJAN, i swear, you will never regret! Good luck.

Harzontorh:
6. I'll advice you have 50k naira for transport, accommodation, food and others. Which you can never exhaust!

7. You wont feel like coming back to nigeria, because of their unexplainable 24hours power supply everywhere you go. Dey take light 30 minutes per week. You will also enjoy the roads and french lifestyle. If you realy wanto enjoy africa, i beg you checkout to ABIDJAN, i swear, you will never regret! Good luck.

is Abidjan in benin republic ? I think its cotedivoire oo

Abidjan is not in Republic of Benin that's why he said you should visit the country, I have visited the country the country is a similitude of Europe in Africa

And please don't forget too buy poule (chicken) and lakayei(fatty yoghurt with condense milk) and try visit any beach.. I don't miss benin every december too chill.. I bet you gonna love it and less I forget, them get big/fat/plump babes incase you got a great taste like me #winks.

Harzontorh:
And if by straight bus from lagos to cotonou. You will go to agege to take direct bus. Its around 15,000 cfa thats 5000 naira.

2. Document: Id card only ,no need to collect new passport. And if you already have, then Good luck.

3. You can get all fashion stuffs mordern boutiques at cotonou which are european standards at cheaper rates, others at sakandji, pondji, and port-novo. Mostly african attires like ankara and other amazing fashion accessories are sold at pondji and other market. Like tokpa market in cotonou.

4. Buy clothes, wears, beads, jewellery (they call it bijouterrie in french) thats where it is the cheapest in west africa. After togo and probably senegal.

5. Hotels in pondji are generaly 10,000cfa/nights. Thats 3k. But you can get cheaper in cotonou at around 1,500 naira per night. Or go to a 'residence' its like hotel but not hotel. Price ranging 20,000cfa a week. Thats like 6k.

Pls can you tell me more about this residence...I really want to relocate to Benin republic, but don't have much on me right now. What about communication? I don't speak French.

flexxyworld:
And please don't forget too buy poule (chicken) and lakayei(fatty yoghurt with condense milk) and try visit any beach.. I don't miss benin every december too chill.. I bet you gonna love it and less I forget, them get big/fat/plump babes incase you got a great taste like me #winks.

Is it safe to use bike to cross? Someone recommends Vespa. I am with my Voters Card. Am i safe? And, is Jon K a cool place to stay? I'm going tomorrow. Gonna be staying for 4 days. Please advice. Thanks!

Harzontorh:

Well, safe journey and if you havent gone yet. Both bike and the other is safe. Bike is the common means. You can even cross on your own by walking past the border. Just make sure you are careful and respond to only officials in uniforms. Dont pay more than 1k. Or 2thousand c.fa. To cross. And the issue of Language, lol, you are right. French is the every day language over there, you will have to learn if you are staying very long just to be free and 'expressive'. You can also speak english as its the 2nd language they speak. Most bussiness persons speak yoruba too.
Note: abidjan is a commune in ivorycoast NOT benin. I mean you should plan for abidjan one day ,just an advice. Thanks if you need futher help .08085090448. I am an african tourist. I work for worldstravellogue..com coming up soon.

I came back this afternoon. It was pretty easy at the border too. Used #500 while going in. I paid nothing on my way out!

I plan visiting Port Nuovo this Xmas. Can anyone give me travel details and hotels?

afroxyz:
I plan visiting Port Nuovo this Xmas. Can anyone give me travel details and hotels?

Hotels? I don't know cos i stayed in Cotonou. As for the travelling details, you need not stress yourself much. Just get to Seme from Mile 2, find a bike in front of the Filling Station the Bus/Cab you took from Mile 2 drops you. They won't charge you more than #500. Viola, you are in!

Timbuktu14:
Hotels? I don't know cos i stayed in Cotonou. As for the travelling details, you need not stress yourself much. Just get to Seme from Mile 2, find a bike in front of the Filling Station the Bus/Cab you took from Mile 2 drops you. They won't charge you more than #500. Viola, you are in!

Hello if I may ask, can I use my mtn line there to browse and make calls


Because what you guys wrote enticed me.

So I was wondering if I were to go there, will I be able to maintain my internet life from there.

BekBek:


Hello if I may ask, can I use my mtn line there to browse and make calls


Because what you guys wrote enticed me.

So I was wondering if I were to go there, will I be able to maintain my internet life from there.

Yes, you can use your lines... Albeit at a very higher rate than what you would be charged in Niger. Internet on Glo is charged at#1 per Kilobyte. That's way too much for me. I was using it until i finished my airtime of 1000 within 25mins. So, i got myself GloBenin. I didn't finish the 500MB i subscribed to... And, it was just 1200Francs.

What of if you have an existing internet connection before you left Nigeria.

Would it be able to work over there

BekBek:
What of if you have an existing internet connection before you left Nigeria.

Would it be able to work over there

No, it won't. Except you have postpaid lines. Their lines doesnt need any registration. Its buy and insert. So, free yourself off the rip offs. Will be cool if you have a glo line to make/receive calls from back home... They charge just #8 to receive calls, #35 for calls to Glo network in Nigeria and #75 to other network. Sms charge is #25 per sms. Download the attached file below. But, for any data usage, its advisable for you to get their SIM or stay in an hotel that has WIFI. Golden Bed Hotel at Jonquet does. Their rooms are 13500 Francs per night plus supplementary breakfast (Tea and Bread).

Like how much can I get a room self contain over there in Benin Republic

Is there any flight from Lagos to Cotonou....I checked out TripAdvisor for tourist attractions there and I am so enthusiastic about visiting there Anyone knows of any?

Ariel20:
Is there any flight from Lagos to Cotonou....I checked out TripAdvisor for tourist attractions there and I am so enthusiastic about visiting there Anyone knows of any?

Arik Air has a flight to Cotonou i.e. Lagos > Cotonou > Douala.
However, you should be prepared for delays of upto 4 hour (typical of Arik).

I was goin through some Apps in various countries and i saw an App in Sydney called Trip View - http://www.techsonite.com/tripview-app-download-tripview-sydney-app-australia/

Cant Nigerian developers have something like this? An app that collates all transports and systems?

kayo80:


Pls can you tell me more about this residence...I really want to relocate to Benin republic, but don't have much on me right now. What about communication? I don't speak French.

I hv just a drivers license, m i good to go?

flexxyworld:
And please don't forget too buy poule (chicken) and lakayei(fatty yoghurt with condense milk) and try visit any beach.. I don't miss benin every december too chill.. I bet you gonna love it and less I forget, them get big/fat/plump babes incase you got a great taste like me #winks.

how is life there for someone that does not understand French?

youngsahito:
how is life there for someone that does not understand French?

most of them speak or understand a bot of yoruba but your best bet is too get a trusted person that understands English and speaks french too.

flexxyworld:


most of them speak or understand a bot of yoruba but your best bet is too get a trusted person that understands English and speaks french too.

I wish to travel to Benin but I have only my student id with me.hope am good to go?

youngsahito:
I wish to travel to Benin but I have only my student id with me.hope am good to go?

very good too go!

What is the cost of a resident permit in Benin republic?,how can I get it and howvfast can I get it?

Can one drive through?? Plan on visiting the casa del papa for a few days..

AngelSpace:
Can one drive through?? Plan on visiting the casa del papa for a few days..

Yes and No
Nigeria costom around that get serious problem.
They will milk you no matter how your paper complete reach

Please guys.

What is the cost of a resident permit in Benin republic?,how can I get it and howvfast can I get it?

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