How to Book Travel on Afrique Airlines

With its colorful markets and voodoo-steeped culture, Benin is natural choice for travelers seeking a destination with a bit more personality than your typical tourist trap. Afrique Airlines offers service between Benin and France.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• French phrasebook
• Passport and visa
• Condoms
• Proof of yellow-fever vaccination
• Proof of vaccination against yellow fever
• Travel agent
• Antimalarial drugs

Book Travel on Afrique Airlines

1. Book your tickets using a creditable travel agent. Online booking is not possible, since Afrique Airlines does not offer a Web site.
2. Afrique Airlines is based in Cotonou, Benin. Its main hub is Cotonou's Cadjehoun Airport.
3. Save money by booking Afrique Airlines. Although their schedule is very limited, as they operate only one aircraft (an Airbus A310-300), their prices compare favorably to Air France.

Prepare for Travel to Benin

4. Contact your country's Benin embassy to obtain a visa, unless you're a West African citizen. All foreigners need a visa to enter Benin, except those from the West African nations of Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
5. Purchase a book that teaches a few basic French phrases. French is Benin's mother tongue, and you'll need a rudimentary grasp of the language to effectively make your way around the country.
6. Contact your doctor to get a prescription for antimalarial drugs to take with you on your trip. Malaria is all too common in Benin, and you will want to be properly armed should you be bitten by an infected mosquito.
7. Get vaccinated for yellow fever. You may be required to show paperwork proving that you've been vaccinated once you arrive in Benin.

Navigate Benin

8. Save money by exploring the town of your choice via motorcycle taxi. This is the cheapest way of getting around in Benin, and the drivers are very familiar with the country. Choose your driver well, though—drunk driving is common in Benin.
9. Learn about the Vodun religion, commonly known as voodoo. Benin is the home of Vodun, the religion spread to other parts of the world via the slave trade. January 10 is a national Vodun Holiday, marked by many public celebrations and ceremonies.
10. Budget your trip by keeping in mind that the estimated daily cost of staying in Cotonou is approximately $140 per day, depending on which hotel you've selected. The cost can be as low as $50 to $90 per day in other regions of Benin.

Tips & Warnings

• Ensure safe travels by hiring a local to accompany you on your journeys. A local companion will be able to tell you which places to steer clear of, and will be the best person to acquaint you with the ins and outs of the country.
• Preserve your health by avoiding unprotected sex with Benin nationals. AIDS and HIV are big problems in this country.
• Afrique Airlines has no English-language Web site or direct booking telephone number.