Since my last review about my stay in September 2006 I have stayed again at the Marina for 2 weeks in January 2007 and for 3 weeks spanning February and March 2007. What I stated in my original review still stands; my January stay was fine, however, my most recent stay was trying because the hot season has just begun (daytime temperatures between 35-40C) and the hotel's central aircon is not effective under those conditions; the director of the hotel explained to me that the system was 25 years old and that I was in a poolside bungalow at the "end of the line". The hotel provided me with a fan but nevertheless some nights were uncomfortably hot.
The phone service from the room broke down for about a week and wireless internet access suffered as well.
All signs that there is insufficent investment in renovation by the hotel's owner, i.e. the government of Benin (the hotel is run by a private hotel management firm - european I think - and the managing director does his best with what he's got)
To add to the experience, although this is outside of the hotel's control, Benin is experiencing severe shortages of electricity so that power cuts are frequent; the hotel's generator did its best to keep up but kept breaking down. To top it off water supply was cut a few times by the utility company because pumps could not be activated.
I might be returning to Cotonou next May or June and I think I will try the newly renovated Novotel next door and let you know in a review how that went.
Cheers,
Ian Davies