Hotel La Benoue — Hotel in Communauté urbaine de Garoua

The Hôtel de la Bénoué is listed as the best place in the capital of the district Nord in Cameroon. It must have around 80 rooms, a secure parking, a pool and a garden, a small climatised restaurant and some tennis courts. The room I had (30.000 FCFA) was rather spacious, had a new air-conditioning, looked a little rough but was clean. The toilet seat was missing (standard in Cameroon) but was installed once I complained. To my surprise I found two condoms offered to the clietel in my bathroom.||We decided to have dinner on the terrace by the pool. They had some kind of local music show on that attracted some locals. Hookers sat around but were of no nuissance. We ordered ice-cubes for our drinks but learned they would have been made of tap water.||Dinner was okay. Breakfast rather strange. Some beef hacked to pieces, croissants, rolls, fresh pineapple. Very good Folléré juice, locally made red coloured juice that comes close to hibiscus juice. Friendly, rather shy staff. No good alternative in Garoua known to...

Fortunately, I had read TA reviews on this hotel before checking in here - and thusfound it not as bad asexpected. One doesn't have much of a choice in Garoua and I don't blame my hosts for booking me here. The receptionists are indifferent and grumpy. The rooms are stuffy with old carpets and you could expect something to be out of place. I checked in here twice and on the first instance the toilet seat was missing and the second time around, the flush wasn't working. Wifi connectivity is available only in the lobby and thus you need to lug your laptop down there to check your emails. You could also work at one of the tables at the pool side restaurant by the side of the lobby - but take care to apply a good mosquito repellent. I had just breakfast here which is just of average quality. My driver advised me to eat at another restaurant - La Marquise - which turned out to be a great suggestion! I may have to stay here again for want of a...

Not perfect, but at least the staff seemed to care, which was a big plus. It took one couple in our group three tries to find a room where the toilet had a seat, but the staff member took them patiently around to look at the rooms. The room was decent-sized and had a balcony overlooking the restaurant area and stage where a local singing group played until 11pm or so for the diners. The room was clean. There's an indoor and outdoor restaurant. The buffet for breakfast is OK, with the waiter being very attentive so that you don't choose any fruit or hot foods meant for the higher-priced buffet if you choose the Continental breakfast. Hot coffee and hot milk in Thermoses ready to serve when we arrived at breakfast. Dinner was OK, not great but fine. The AC was...