Beneville Hotel & Apartment

I visited some years ago, so I can’t say whether the slow service has improved since then. I remember the place as beautiful, clean, secure, and peaceful. If a tidy and secure setting matters to you, it could be a good choice when visiting Calabar.

The rooms were tidy and had the basic facilities, and booking by phone got me the same rate when I arrived without any hassle. The bar is pretty bare, with only basic beer and nothing else. The receptionist tried to be pleasant, though the other staff could be friendlier. Even so, I’d like to stay here again.

They have a nice pool and good rooms, and the hotel seems to be trying to improve. But the service needs work. I called in the morning for the complimentary breakfast and was told the chef had gone to the market to buy ingredients. Lol. I got breakfast at noon and was charged for it, even though it was meant to be complimentary.

We were meant to stay four nights, but left on the second because the experience was awful. The first night’s food was good, then the next night’s was trash. We paid 25k for a deluxe room, but it hadn’t been cleaned properly. I pointed out stains on the stool, and the woman said that was just its colour. The toilet was tiny. Sitting down, you could nearly hit the bathtub or sink with your leg or jaw. The next morning they woke us to ask us to move rooms, and we agreed. The new room had a leaking toilet that left water everywhere when flushed, and it was even smaller. That night I ordered afang soup and rice. The afang tasted like it had been kept in the fridge and reheated for a while, almost sour, and it gave me diarrhea for two days. I’m never going back.