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Benguet

Benguet is a province in the Cordillera region of Luzon in the Philippines.

Benguet is home to the Ibaloy, Kankana-ey, and Kalanguya peoples. Benguet became a full province in 1968, being carved out of the larger Mountain Province.

Cities and towns
Benguet is divided into 13 municipalities, mostly rural and sparsely populated, each having a central town. Baguio is the only city, but is politically independent from Benguet, but is still part of Benguet geographically.

 * – Dubbed the "Summer Capital of the Philippines" and "City of Pines" for its cool climate and pine trees, it is the tourist hub and the commercial center or the province.
 * – Provincial capitals, with its draws like its strawberry farms and a village with painted houses reminiscent of the favelas of Rio de Janeiro

Other destinations

 * – The second highest mountain in the Philippines, and the highest in Luzon.

Geography
Benguet occupies over of land area, mostly mountainous terrain. The capital is La Trinidad.

At above sea level, the province lies on top of the Cordillera Mountains containing Mount Pulag, the second highest mountain in the Philippines. Amidst these mountain peaks is a wide plateau wherein the capital town, La Trinidad, is located.

The province is bounded on the south by Pangasinan and on the west by La Union and Ilocos Sur, Benguet serves as the gateway to the highland provinces of the Cordillera Region.

Climate
Benguet has a more temperate climate due to its altitude. Daytime highs rarely reach, but the nighttime lows can reach below during the cool season, causing frost that can destroy vegetables.

Many visit the province during the dry season between November and April, where temperatures are at its coolest and rainfall at its lowest. The rainy season is rather the same as with the rest of Luzon, but precipitation is somewhat higher. Heavy rain, especially those brought by typhoons, can cause seasonal road closures due to landslides and rockfalls.

People
In the sparsely populated Cordillera Region, Benguet stands out as having the highest population among the provinces with over 300 thousand and a population density of over 115 people per square km (300 people per square mile). Migrants have joined the local tribes such as the Kankana-eys, Ibaloys and Kalanguyas to settle in this rich highland province. Although the three tribes speak different languages and dialects, they share similar cultures and have common beliefs and rituals.

History
During the Spanish colonial era, Benguet was not a remote area for the Spaniards to explore. The vastness and promising economic potential of the place lured the Spaniards to conduct a series of expeditions. Series of attempts to pacify the Igorot have failed, and in 1846, Comandante de Galvey established his Commandancy at La Trinidad, which he named after his wife. The first Captain General of Benguet was Pulito of Kafagway (present-day Baguio), a village of about 20 houses.

The Americans came early in 1900 and established its government with H. Whitmarsh as the appointed governor of Benguet and Baguio City as the capital. This was the first provincial government to be established in the Philippines and this happened a year prior to the inauguration of the civil government of the Philippines. Their best administrators and teachers were fervent boosters and promoters: Worcester, Wright Forbes, Pack Barrows, Eckman and others who together with Filipinos committed to make the place a heaven.

The mines near Baguio were developed and became productive. Business in the city flourished with commercial centers put up. Recreation facilities were installed. The city was growing before the outbreak of the war.

Baguio was bombed December 8, 1941 by the Japanese and they occupied it on December 27 of the same year, However, the war changed course and on September 3, 1945, General Yamashita surrendered to the Americans at the U.S. Ambassador's residence in Camp John Hay, after which, Baguio immediately set to the task of rehabilitation.

Talk
The major language is Ilocano, brought by lowland migrants who settled in the province, but there are also many indigenous languages, such as Kankana-ey, Ibaloi, and Kalanguya. The people of the province can also converse in English, especially the younger populations. Ilocano or Tagalog is much useful when communicating with locals.

Get in
The province of Benguet can be accessed through five national roads; Kennon Rd (Rte 54), Marcos Hwy (Rte 208, also the Aspiras-Palispis Hwy) and Naguilian Rd (Rte 54, also Quirino Hwy) are the main routes coming from Manila, while the Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya Rd (Rte 110) and Halsema Hwy (Rte 204) offer entry from Nueva Vizcaya and to the rest of the Cordillera region.

Benguet can also be reached by air through Loakan Airport in Baguio, but is limited to general aviation and private aircraft.

Get around
One can get around the province by public transportation such as jeepney, bus, and passenger bus. Taxis are limited around Baguio and La Trinidad, and the more ubiquitous tricycle replace them in the towns.

By road, the most important highway is the winding Halsema Highway (Route 204, officially the Baguio-Bontoc Road), which starts at La Trinidad and stretching north through the town of Bontoc in Mountain Province. It is a critical lifeline between the mountain towns and Baguio, and has the highest point in the Philippine highway network, at above sea level over the municipality of Atok. Driving there is quite dangerous due to the numerous sharp curves, unguarded cliffs, and landslides during rainy season. Halsema Highway is a toll road, and you must pay at the toll barriers at each end of the highway.

If you have your own vehicle but are not familiar with the town you want to visit, people will be willing to help you with the directions.

Historical sites and land marks

 * Camp Utopia (Sagubo, Kapangan): This was the camp of the 66th Infantry Battalion during the Second World War. It was also the site where the late Major Bado Dangwa and Major Dennis Molintas led the defense of the Igorotlandia.
 * Kaliwaga Cave (Kaliwaga, Kapangan): The burial place of the British soldiers of fortune who came to Benguet during the 15th century.
 * Guerilla Saddle (Km. 26, Atok): Where the fiercest battle between the advancing Japanese Imperial Forces and the United States Armed Forces - 66th Infantry was fought to the advantage of the guerrilla resistance movement. A lot of Japanese soldiers have fallen and perished on this spot. Thus, Atok is known as the Vanguard of Freedom in Benguet.
 * Darew Ancient Ruins of Civilization (Kapangan): Located at the top of the mountain west of Kapangan. It commands a vantage view of the coastline to the west and fertile valley to the east. For many years, the people lived in peace and prosperity. From this area, they traded and intermarried, forged alliances and came to recognize as kin those who lived in more populous settlements of Tagudin, Agoo, Tubao, Ambanganan (Pugo), Lingayen, Dagupan, Binalonan, Tayug, Safid (San Manuel), Imogen, Ituy, Tinok and Ahin.
 * Hill WW II (Mankayan): Site where the 66th Infantry Battalion and guerrillas fought to make their way to Besang Pass. The capture of Hill WW II opened the right flank guard of the Japanese Imperial Garrison to bombardment and constant attack by Igorot freedom fighters.
 * Lamtang (Puguis, La Trinidad): The escape route of then President Sergio Osmena and party who were escorted by a detachment of the 66th Infantry Battalion to Camp Valhalla, Kapangan then to San Gabriel, La Union during the World War II.
 * Klondykes Stone Walls (Klondykes, Tuba): Remnant of the first American building used by the American engineers who constructed Kennon Road. It is believed to have been built in 1902 and is still visible today.
 * Cariño Cave (Eddet, Kabayan): The hiding place of Governor Ora Cariño and the place where he was captured by the Americans in 1900.
 * Manenchen (Manenchen, Kabayan): The site of the massacre of Eddet residents by the Japanese Imperial Army during the World War II.
 * Kennon Road (Tuba): One of the legacies of the American Administration. It was the first Benguet road to be constructed by the Americans in 1902. The completion of this road opened the entire Benguet Province to vehicular traffic and marked the entry of Americans, Europeans, Japanese, Chinese and lowlanders to the Province of Benguet. It was referred as the Benguet Road until it was renamed Kennon Road by virtue of Executive Order No. 9 in 1922, in honor of Col. Lyman W. Kennon, the American engineer who supervised and finished the construction of the road in 1905.
 * Kabayan Pyramid (Poblacion, Kabayan): It is also called the "Kinepol ni Nabaloi." The burial tomb of Henry A. Kamora, the Grand Old Man of Kabayan which is located at the municipal compound.
 * Embosi: It is the first known Ibaloi settlement. The place is found at Gusaran, Kabayan.

Other places to visit
and prayers; one is also blessed with a beautiful panoramic view of the city
 * Baguio City
 * Philippine Military Academy - the premier military school in the country, the West Point of the Philippines
 * Camp John Hay - former American military recreational facility now developed as a world class mountain resort
 * Teachers Camp - famous for its facilities for sports training, trainings and live-in conventions
 * Easter Weaving Room - first started as a Church School this facility has already transformed as a must-see for weaving aficionados
 * Baguio-Mountain Province Museum - built mainly to preserve the cultural heritage of the Cordillera
 * Baguio Convention Center - the main convention venue in the city of Baguio
 * Ifugao Woodcarvers Village - produces and sells beautiful hand-carved curio items at very low prices
 * Asin Hot Spring - water resorts supplied by nature's hot and cold springs
 * Mt. Sto. Tomas - for hikers, it is about 7,500 feet high and commands a majestic view of mountains, sea and valley
 * Lourdes Grotto - a religious shrine housing the image of our lady of Lourdes, about 252 steps lead to this shrine where pilgrims brave the steep climb to offer sacrifices, devotions
 * Burnham Park - It is thickly wooded and is a great place to have picnics and concerts.  The place is equipped with tennis and basketball courts, a football field, athletic oval and an orchidarium.
 * Mines View Park - Appropriately names for its breathtaking view of mountain ranges and Baguio's "mineral bowl where gold,silver and other ores were once quarried.
 * Wright Park - It is sometimes mistakenly called "ride park" by some who identify this tree park reserve for its kiddy horse rides. A long stairway leads to the "Pool of the Pines".

Other places of interest
Baguio Country Club; Baguio Cathedral; Bell Church; Session Road/Market; the many educational institutions; SLU Museum; Botanical Garden; Pine Trees of the World Park; churches, seminaries and convents.

Eat
Try the Igorot delicacies like the following:
 * Pinikpikan, the dish also known as "Killing Me Softly"
 * "Etag", salted and preserved meat
 * Kiniing, smoked pork jerky

Drink
Rice wine (commonly known as Tapey or Tapuy) - this is the native drink of the Igorots.

Strawberry wine - you can find this at the public markets

Stay safe
Watch out for pickpockets. There are a lot, especially in Baguio. You don't have to worry about them in the small towns, but Baguio and La Trinidad are their target.

title: Benguet


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Ben Gurion International Airport

Ben Gurion International Airport is Israel's primary airport. Named after Israel's first prime minister, it is near the town of Lod (hence its previous name - Lod/Lydda Airport), on the outskirts of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area.

Security
The airport is one of the most secure airports in the world, especially given its location. It's advisable to budget at least an additional two hours on top of your pre-flight check-in time to ensure timely arrival and completion of security procedures (though most of the time it will go much faster).

Airport security is especially suspicious of travellers with Muslim names or passport stamps from countries that don't have diplomatic relations with Israel in their passports. Expect to be stopped and questioned for several hours if this is the case, both on the way in and on the way out. It would be wise to have some phone numbers of local contacts for security officials to call to verify your reasons for visiting.

The most evident security check is pre-check-in. Bag inspection, both by machine and hand, is routine and should be expected, in addition to repeated interviews about your time in Israel. (This is not done for everyone: should you go through it, you will be escorted to skip regular security check.) If you are traveling as part of a group, they will usually question you separately before cross-checking your accounts.

On joining the queue for this security check, a security official will ask you several questions. Based on these and a brief inspection of your passport, you will be assigned a number from 1 to 6. 1 signifies the lowest security concern and 6 the highest. Foreigners will typically get between a 3 and a 6. Age, appearance, stamps from Arab countries, evidence of visits to Palestinian areas, and other factors will be taken into account. Depending on the number you get (stuck on your passport and luggage), the security check is more or less thorough. Travellers who have visited Palestinian areas will almost certainly receive a 5 or 6 (but you can also get a 5 if you have never been to Israel before, and are of European descent). With a 5 or a 6, you can expect every single item of luggage to be taken from your bag and inspected in detail. Security officials have been known to check individual bank-notes. With a 6 (but sometimes even 5 if they have time), you can also expect to be taken to a cubicle and asked to remove your belt and shoes and have a personal inspection. If your clothes contain any metal that would set off a detector (such as studs in your jeans or a zip) even if plainly visible on the outside, you will be asked to remove the item of clothing. Travelers are regularly prevented from taking mobile phones, laptops, and even shoes in their hand-luggage, although there is no consistency, with reports of one policy one week and another the next week.

Arguing about such invasive checks is almost always fruitless and security reasons are the only ones that are ever cited. Though encouraging tourism, Israeli authorities would answer to criticism by angry travellers that Israel is a prime target of many international terrorist groups, and that people who are looking for sun with no security checks should rather head to the Canary Islands. The security check process can be very irritating, but it is one of the factors which makes TLV one of the safest airports in the world.

Unlike in many other countries, airport security staff is quite intelligent. They will be looking at how you answer questions as much as what you say. Also, over-careful procedures like removing shoes and throwing out liquids, which are standard in Western airports, tend to be lessened at Ben Gurion.

In addition, when driving to the airport, there is a security checkpoint on the road several minutes before you arrive. Expect your taxi to be stopped, and have your passports, tickets, and answers for some questions (how long have you been in Israel, where are you going) ready.

Airlines
Ben Gurion acts as a hub for Israel's three main international airlines:

Around 50 international airlines fly to Ben Gurion Airport from around the world, including Delta, United Airlines, American Airlines, Air Canada, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, Aegean Airlines, Ukraine International, British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, Iberia, ITA Airways, LOT, Austrian Airlines, Swiss, KLM, Royal Jordanian, Egyptair, Ethiopian Airlines, Korean Air, and Cathay Pacific.

Low-cost airlines flying to Ben Gurion airport from European destinations include Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz Air and Jet2.

Some low-cost airlines serve Ramon Airport near Eilat in the south of the country.

Terminals

A free shuttle bus runs between T1 and T3 every 15 min, taking 8 min. Terminal 2 has been demolished and Terminal 4 is not in routine use. Check with your carrier which terminal to use, and your inbound and outbound terminals may often differ. Don't ask your taxi driver, they haven't a clue and will drop you off wherever is more convenient for them.

By train
When available, this is often the best option in terms of price and speed. is just outside Terminal 3, on the ground level. Frequent service is available to most major cities in Israel. Day service westbound to Tel Aviv and Haifa, eastbound to Modiin and Jerusalem. Trains to Tel Aviv and Haifa run hourly all night long; most other routes stop overnight. No trains run on the Sabbath.

In order to ride the train or bus in Israel, you should have a Rav Kav smart card (in some cities, you must have one). In the arrivals area of Terminal 3, there is a 24h kiosk which sells Rav Kavs (or they can issue you a named one by passport for free), with a sign saying "Public Transportation Information Center", to your right as you exit from customs.

By taxi
You can get a taxi from Ben Gurion airport to almost any city in Israel. All taxi services can be easily identified by the yellow cap on the top of the car, and the stickers on the doors. Fares are fixed and published and all taxis from the airport belong to the Hadar (countrywide), Nesher (Jerusalem) and Amal (Haifa area) companies. The taxi queue is rapid and efficient and the attendants, though brusque, will help. The taxi point is just at level G next to exit gate 03. It is advised not to take random taxis that are not accredited with these stations, unless pre-ordered. A good preparation to find a taxi ride would be to visit the Ben Gurion Airport's taxi guidelines page.

By sherut
A sherut (shared taxi) is a taxi-van shared by 10 passengers and thus much cheaper than a regular taxi. However, it's slower - usually it waits until it's full, and only then departs. Neither train nor bus service is available on Shabbat (Friday afternoon to Saturday sunset), while the shared taxis operate 24/7 (although they might delay until they have a sufficient number of passengers).

By bus
Most buses don't get into the airport, but rather stop at a road junction near by, called ("Tzomet El Al" in Hebrew). To get to El Al junction, take bus #5, #13, #444 or #239 from the airport. These buses stop at level 2 of Terminal 3, and at a bus stop outside the Terminal 1 building. The ride to El Al Junction takes about 10 minutes.

Jerusalem, though has a direct bus which stops at Terminals 1 and 3; see Jerusalem for details. Tel Aviv also has a direct bus connection with line #445.

Recommended routes to popular destinations
Detailed entries should appear in the linked articles, not here.
 * Jerusalem — The train is best when it is running, followed by a local taxi or transit to your destination. When there are no trains, the 485 bus plus a local taxi is a good combination. If the train and 485 bus are not available, take a sherut.
 * Tel Aviv, Netanya, Akko, Nahariya, Beer Sheva and more — The train is best when it is running, followed by a local taxi or transit to your destination. Late at night, if you miss the hourly train, it might be faster to take a sherut if there is one. If your destination is within the Tel Aviv area, a taxi may be best.
 * Other locations - A train to a major city (Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, or Beer Sheva), followed by a local bus or another train, is often best. Late at night when most trains and buses are not operating, you may need to take a taxi from the nearest operating train station to your destination.
 * Anywhere on the Sabbath - take the sherut or (if no sherut is available) a private taxi.

Get around
Most passengers will stay in Terminal 3, which is well-designed and compact. If by chance you need to travel between Terminals 1 and 3, there is a shuttle bus.

Planespotting

 * In the departure terminal just before security are a set of large windows with a view of planes at the terminal.

 * Some of the closest-up views of plane operations (especially landings) are from just north of the airport, in Yahud or Or Yehudah (accessed by driving or bus 223).

Eat and drink
Not requiring boarding pass:
 * Terminal 3, departure floor, has a food court behind the check-in counters, before carry-on luggage inspection. It includes several fast food chains, offering burger meals, pizza, coffee, and Asian food.
 * The arrivals floor has coffee and candy stands.

Requiring boarding pass:
 * Terminal 3 duty-free has another food court. It is accessible only to departing passengers after passport inspection. It has several more possibilities of fast food chains, and lounges.

Buy
Terminals 1 and 3 both have duty-free airside malls.

The airport exchange desks have only a 5% buy-sell spread, good value anywhere let alone at an airport. Israeli currency is changing from B-series (paper) to C-series (plastic) shekels: see Israel. Both sets remain valid, and no date has been announced for withdrawal of the B banknotes. But shops look at them askance, and it's best to offload them as soon as you can.

Connect
Ben Gurion Airport operates a mobile website, along with mobile apps for Android and iOS (iPhone/iPad) devices. The airport operates free WiFi service, with network name: "Wireless_ben_gurion_airport".

Nearby

 * The closest city is Lod
 * A bit further west is the city of Tel Aviv

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Ben Gurion International Airport


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Beni

There's more than one place called Beni:

Bolivia

 * Beni (Bolivia) - a district

Democratic Republic of the Congo

 * Beni (Nord-Kivu) - a town in Nord-Kivu

Egypt

 * Beni Hasan - a small village and important archaeological locality in Middle Egypt

title: Beni


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Beni (Bolivia)

Beni is in the Tropical Lowlands of Bolivia.

Cities

 * – the capital of Beni, also called the "Jewel of the Amazon". It is a very eye-catching town that is slowly but steadily becoming a city.
 * – A northern border town with Brazil and reachable by boat.
 * – An interesting town with a serious frontier-like feeling, set in the northern Bolivian jungle.
 * – A popular base for jungle and pampa trips.
 * – Famous for the indigenous Moxos people.
 * – Gateway into the region and interchange point.
 * – A cute little town deep in Beni lowlands, gateway to other towns and places nearby.
 * – A cute little town deep in Beni lowlands, gateway to other towns and places nearby.

Understand
Beni department is rich in nature and culture. You can find big rivers there (most impressive is probably Mamore), and big lakes. There are nature parks and reserves (e.g., Serere). Many ethnic groups live there, most of them small and quite hard to locate, others bigger and more exposed (like Moxenos). The towns in Beni are not big, but they are charming (e.g., Rurrenabaque or Trinidad).

Being in nature, with an organized tour or on your own, you'll meet some communities, see interesting flora and fauna, maybe learn some survival techniques. Maybe you'll want to fly a bit, because the distances (i.e. to reach Riberalta) are quite big. If you can, take a chance and get on a boat trip along the river Mamore.

By bus

 * Buses from Yolosita to Yucumo: Many in the evening, but also during the day. 8-10 hr (+ 2 hr from La Paz, + 5 hr to Rurrenabaque, + 2-3 hr to San Borja). Bs. 40-50.
 * Buses between Trinidad and Santa Cruz: Mostly night buses between 18:00 and 21:00. 10-12 hr. Bs. 50-80 (semi-cama).

By plane
Flights from La Paz and others especially to Rurrenabaque and Santa Cruz exist.

By boat
Several slow and exciting cargo boat option exist to get in from the Brazilian border (Guayaramerín) and the Santa Cruz department (Puerto Villarroel) to Trinidad—see below.

Get around
The road conditions between Yucumo and Trinidad are awful, and it can take ages to travel this "trunk road", passing by San Borja and San Ignacio de Moxos. The road is under construction and larger parts should be available for faster travel in 2019. Nevertheless, road blocks in addition make the situation unpredictable and can stretch travel time to 2-5 days. So, you better do not use this road if you have a flight from Santa Cruz and urgently need to get there. You are better off going by La Paz in this case.

By bus
The following are travel times for dry season:
 * Yucumo <=> San Borja (vans every 30 min, 2-3 buses a day): Bs. 15/30 by bus/van, 2-3 hr
 * San Borja <=> San Ignacio (vans every 60 min, 2-3 buses a day): Bs. 45/90 by bus/van, 4-5 hr
 * San Ignacio <=> Trinidad (vans every 30 min, 2-3 buses a day): Bs. 30/60 by bus/van, 3 hr

By plane
If you're going east or north from Rurrenabaque, there's a flight with TAM from Reyes to the cities of San Borja, Trinidad, Riberalta and Guayaramerín (on the border with Brazil).

See

 * Pre-hispanic hills (lomas) north of Trinidad

Eat

 * Keperi – Tasty piece of cooked meat. It is very tender and it is served with rice and cheese, fried yuca and cold beer. All meat dishes are usually big servings.
 * Piranha – The rivers are full of fish and piranha is a delicious treat.
 * Snake – As expected in places near a jungle, the Amazon cuisine includes species that are uncommon in other parts of the world. Those who try it ask for second servings.

title: Beni (Bolivia)


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Benicia

Benicia is a city in Solano County in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Although its service was short, Benicia was the third city to serve as state capital of California.

By car
You can take both Interstate 780 from Vallejo or Interstate 680 from Fairfield or the East Bay to reach Benicia.

On bike or foot
There is a bike/ped path on the southbound span of the Benicia bridge that is open 24/7. You can also use the Glen Cove waterfront park-Benicia State Recreation Area trail.

title: Benicia


text:
Benidorm

Benidorm is a seaside resort on the Costa Blanca in the province of Alicante. It has a large Spanish population and a large retired British population. Tree-lined wide avenues give a feeling of space, and there are over a thousand places to eat and drink and watch the town in full swing. The streets offer a very vibrant atmosphere day and night with something to offer visitors of any age group.

Understand
Benidorm was built compact thanks to the foresight of the town's mayor, who in the 1960s had a vision of a resort which grew upwards. Now it is slowly spreading westwards. Today Benidorm is famous for tall hotels and holiday apartment blocks, some of which are over 25 floors high. Benidorm offers a range of quality of accommodation, and the city attracts package holiday visitors and tourists who demand 5-star hotel and spa complexes. Due to the July–August crowd of young people, many apartments will insist on a refundable deposit for certain times of the year.

There are over 41,000 hotel beds and modern tourist apartments. The biggest assets are the 4 km of Blue Flag safe sandy beaches which draw people from all over Spain in the summer months and from all over Europe 365 days of the year. Benidorm is an ideal sun destination both in summer and winter due to the mild climate where day-time temperatures rarely fall below 18°C.

By plane
Alicante Airport is serviced daily by over 30 low-cost and scheduled airlines from most major European cities. The majority of incoming flights are from the UK which offer the best value seat prices due to high competition in this sector.

There are a number of online shuttle services from the airport to Benidorm for €10 or less each way. Private transfers operate from the terminal building with a journey time of 30–45 minutes to Benidorm.

By rail
Tram Alicante (el Trenet) operates a light rail train connecting all major settlements along the coast between Dénia and Alicante, with the exception of Xàbia. L1 (line 1) connects Benidorm with Alicante (1 hr 9 min) and Villajoyosa, while the hourly L9 connects the city with Dénia and other points between. You will need your ticket's barcode to get out of the station. For travelers with smartphones, there is a helpful official app (iPhone and Android) with a route planner and timetables. Guide dogs and small pets in carriers are permitted.

By car
Benidorm is close to the autopista A7 and well connected to the rest of Spain via the national motorway network, with both Madrid and Barcelona less than a five-hour drive away. Parking in Benidorm can be difficult as most streets have cars parked day and night on both sides of the road (some are pay spaces). A few hotels will have their own parking areas.

By foot
Discovering central Benidorm is easy on foot as that area is very compact especially the Levante Playa area which is chosen by most visitors as the area to stay. It is easy to walk a few miles and still remain in town. Walking time from one end of the resort to the other is over an hour's walk.

There are a few companies opposite the Wednesday/Sunday market which hire or sell motability scooters for the disabled and sometimes just plain lazy who want to get around town.

By bus
Llorente Bus is an excellent local bus service which runs until midnight, and also runs buses to the neighbouring towns of Altea, Finestrat, and Villajoyosa. Buses run between 06:00-24:00, and there are night buses between midnight and 06:00; schedules and route maps are available online. Individual fares are €1.50/€1.65 (day/night), payable directly to the bus driver.

Visitors who plan to use the bus a lot may want to consider purchasing a Tourist Card, valid for 24 hours (€11), 3 days (€20), or 7 days (€38), and which cannot be topped up. For those staying for a longer period the Eco Card is valid for 30 days and can be topped up (€54, +€2 for the plastic card). Both card types are for individual use only and cannot be shared with others; they can be purchased directly on the bus.

See
As a purpose-built beach resort, everything is geared toward fun and enjoyment; there is therefore not much to see for those looking for culture. The surrounding towns and villages, which are less than 20 minutes drive by car or 30 minutes by bus are well worth exploring for anyone looking for 'real Spain'. In Benidorm the old town does still retain some of the quaint past, from when the town was a small village. Head for the old town church, where you will find the most interesting part of the town.

Do
As a large resort, Benidorm offers a huge number of different activities for holidaymakers, in town and in the nearby area.

Blanket trips are free tours to nearby resorts, towns and markets. Unlike timeshare sales, there is no hard sell and if you do not want to buy anything, that is fine. The downside is that by the time you have sat through two demos and had something to eat, you arrive at a place at 12:30 or later as the shops are shutting and leave two hours later as they are opening again, or you get there when a market is mostly over.

Beaches
There are 4 km of safe, sandy beaches in Benidorm, including two spectacular Blue Flag beaches.

Walking
For those who enjoy walking there are many interesting places to walk if you take a local bus to the outlying villages such as Finestrast, Villa Joyosa and Albir, or Calp.

Another good walk is from the beach at La Cala. Use the number 2 bus from Benidorm, which goes to the out of town shopping malls. Here you can take an uphill walk to an old watchtower, which was once used as a look-out post for pirates and smugglers. There is a picnic site at the top. A good footpath, with benches every now and then to sit and rest. You can continue walking along the coast, through an olive grove for a few miles to Villajoyosa and return to Benidorm by tram.

Boat excursions
There are boat trips to the wildlife sanctuary and to Calp. You can also take a trip to Tabarca, a small but inhabited island off Alicante.

Buy
An abundance of cheap leather and shoes are on offer all year. Also look out for artisan markets which take place throughout the year during fiesta times and in July and August. At these you can buy local cheeses and produce plus jewelry, pottery and paintings. Most visitors from outside of Spain also take advantage of the cheap alcohol and cigarettes. Tobacco prices are set by the government in Spain so buy at any of the tobacco shops – there's no need to shop around. There are a number of bazaars around which sell products from €1 and up, and have a wide selection of essentials, knickknacks, food and other things at that price.

Eat
There are over a thousand places to eat. The best area for restaurants and tapas bars is in the old town, where you will find of course Spanish cuisine and also English, French, Algerian and Dutch food. It is best to search the old town if you want some real quality local food such as jamón and excellent local wines from the Jalón valley.

In the Levante area the food is typical tourist fare with many English café-bars offering home-style food to English visitors. There are also many Chinese restaurants from a fairly large Chinese community who also have shops with items from China. Breakfast is a favourite of many with a large fried breakfast starting at €2.

Drink
There are 800 bars selling alcohol and as such the competition is huge, with happy hours, two-for-one, etc. – whatever your tipple you will find it in Benidorm. Many small bars offer bottled beer at €1 and themed bars are in abundance. You will find British pubs, Dutch bars and Irish bars plus the many Spanish cafetería-bars which offer local Spanish favourites. Football is shown on large TV screens at many of them. A number of bars have live acts and other entertainment including karaoke.

Sleep
Benidorm offers over 240 Hotels and holiday apartment complexes with 1- to 5-star ratings. Everyone will find a room to fit their budget. It should be remembered that hotels have daily maid service and apartments have a less frequent maid service (once or twice a week). Competition is massive therefore prices are some of the lowest in Spain especially out of season. Shop around for good deals. Be aware that you may have to pay a €50-100 deposit before check-in.

The most popular places to stay are the lively Levante, which is ideal for families and groups. The old town is preferred by couples and more mature visitors offering a less frantic holiday. The Poniente is ideal for beach holidays and peace and quiet. Also La Cala Finestrat on the outskirts of Benidorm is preferred by those who want a relaxed holiday away from the late nights and discos.

Stay safe
One feature over the last few years on travel forums is pick-pocketing and even some cases of mugging in Benidorm. When someone asked about "Muggers Alley", two different locations were given. Be careful in crowds, notably the Sunday-Wednesday market which has general things which you can buy as cheap elsewhere and the Sunday boot sale market which has older things and collectibles. Valuables should not be left in (empty) cars or apartments. Lock all doors and windows when leaving your apartment. Most rooms will come with a safe.

Despite these warnings visitors should remember that at peak times Benidorm hosts up to 200,000 people, therefore the true crime numbers are actually quite small. Sadly crimes are talked about around the many bars and tend to be exaggerated somewhat. In reality Benidorm is as safe as any other busy tourist resort where the majority of petty crime takes place late at night and usually involves alcohol fueled crimes. The police have a very visible presence, in cars.

Connect
There are a number of internet cafés, some coin-fed. Free Wi-Fi is available at many pubs and restaurants.

Go next
If you hire a car you will be able to discover that the entire region is a hive of small villages and picturesque mountains. The following nearby towns are especially worth a visit:
 * Altea is a quiet up-market town with much more Spanish culture and a stunning well-preserved old town, as well as a weekly outdoor market.
 * Guadalest is a village worth visiting, as many of the houses here are over 400 years old and there are spectacular mountain views.
 * Wine lovers should head toward Calp (a 30-minute drive) and take the signs for Jalón, where you will find the wine-growing region and almond groves.
 * A recommended driving route to see the 'real Spain' is to head toward Finestrat, just 9 km from Benidorm, and drive from there into the mountains where you will find a different world.
 * The Algar waterfalls near Polop are a lovely place to escape the hustle and bustle of busy Benidorm.
 * For a great day out, the city of Valencia is a must, which you can reach by express coach in 90 minutes from Benidorm.

title: Benidorm


text:
Beni Hasan

Beni Hasan is a small village and an important archaeological locality in Middle Egypt, some 20 km south of the city of Minya.

Understand
Located on the eastern bank of the river Nile, the small but interesting site consists of cliff-hewn tombs overlooking the river valley with truly magnificent views in both directions. Very close nearby is the small rock-cut temple known as Speos Artemidos, also worth a visit.

The necropolis of Beni Hasan consists of 39 tombs in total, mostly dating to the Middle Kingdom 11th and 12th Dynasties. Of these, only 12 are decorated and most were left unfinished. The best examples belong to the local "nomarchs" (governors) of the 16th Upper Egyptian "Oryx" nome.

Get in
The most practical way to get to Beni Hasan is by private taxi from either Minya or Mallawi—expect the usual escort of tourist police. The taxi fare should be somewhere in the range of LE50-100, depending on the number of people travelling, how long you stay at the site and your bargaining skills.

See
The site of Beni Hasan is open daily 7AM-5PM, admission LE25.

The local guard will accompany visitors up the steps, cut into the relatively gentle slopes leading up to the cliffs, in order to unlock the tomb gates and operate the tomb lighting. Note that photography is reportedly no longer allowed inside the tombs.

With very little prompting, the guard will also provide a well-intentioned (if doubtful) commentary in mixed French and Arabic, as well as illuminate perceived highlights of the tomb decoration with a torch. For these services, of course, some baksheesh will be expected in return - expect to part with at least LE5 (or more).

 * the Tomb of Baqet III (BH 15)
 * the Tomb of Kheti (BH 17)
 * the Tomb of Amenehmet II (BH 2)
 * the Tomb of Khnumhotep II (BH 3)

Assuming the police allow you to do so, following the cliff-track southwards for some 1.5 km leads visitors to a wadi, 500 m within which is to be found:

 * Speos Artemidos (the Grotto of Artemis), known locally as Istabl Antar (the Stable of Antar, a local Arab hero-poet) - a small rock-cut temple shrine devoted to the local lion goddess Pakht and constructed by the 18th Dynasty pharaohs Hatshepshut and Thutmose III. The sanctuary consists of a small hall supported by Hathor-headed columns. The walls are decorated with relief scenes of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut making offerings to the gods, accompanied by inscriptions relating how she restored the land to order (Maat) after the rule of the foreign Hyksos.

Drink
A rest-house at the site is reported to serve very good coffee.

Sleep
Options are available at Minya and Mallawi.

title: Beni Hasan


text:
Benin

 * For the city in Edo State, see Benin City

Benin is a country in West Africa. You'll find culture through a large collection of palatial ruins and temples of the once powerful Kingdom of Dahomey (1800s–1894). Moreover, Benin is the birthplace of Vodun (Voodoo) and all that goes with it — Vodun is the official religion of the country, and an important part of the life of ordinary Beninese. Many important tourist sites are linked to Vodun or the slave trade. The national parks of Benin are well worth a visit for their wildlife. It is also, fortunately, one of the most stable and safe countries of the region for travelling. With its rich history, vibrant culture, protected wildlife, Grand Popo ocean beach, and artisan market in Se, Benin is one of the best kept tourist secrets in West Africa.

Cities

 * — The capital, if only in name, hosting the parliament and a unique Afro-Portuguese heritage
 * — The pre-colonial capital whose Royal Palaces are on the UNESCO World Heritage List
 * — Benin's largest city and de facto capital, the hectic and cramped home to many government offices and the country's port
 * — A sleepy beach resort town close to the Togolese border
 * — A border town with Niger, with not much else besides a border post
 * — Largest city on the way to northern Togo or Burkina Faso and a jumping-off point for exploring the Tata Somba
 * - A former slave-trading port that is a center for the country's vodun heritage
 * — The largest city in the central region and the capital of the Borgou Department

Understand
Benin, formerly a part of Dahomey until 1960, was one of the few countries to transition from Marxist rule to a democratic system in the 1990s. The country enjoys an island of stability and provides a complex heritage, handful of spiritual traditions and endless tropical landscapes.

History
To understand the roots of Benin, you must look at the Kingdom of Dahomey, whose origin story begins with the Adja of present-day Togo. Around the 12th or 13th century, the Adja people of Tado, a village on the banks of the Mono River, migrated to present-day Benin. Fighting for succession among three brothers split the Adja in the early 17th century. The brothers divided the territory and founded their own kingdoms. Kokpon founded the Kingdom of Allada, Te-Agdanlin founded the Kingdom of Hogbonou, which the Portuguese later named Porto-Novo, and Do-Aklin founded the Kingdom of Abomey, which would soon be known as Dahomey.

The Portuguese arrived in Benin's territory in the fifteenth century, and established significant trading posts in Benin's coastal areas. Soon following the Portuguese came French, Dutch, and British traders. Over time, Benin's coast developed into the largest center of the slave trade in Africa, run by the Fon people, who founded the Kingdom of Dahomey, a highly militaristic kingdom that actively sold their neighboring peoples to the Europeans. As the slave trade increased in volume (10,000–20,000 slaves shipped off per day), the coast of Benin became known as the Slave Coast. Around this time, the port cities of Porto-Novo and Ouidah were founded and quickly became the largest and most commercially active cities in the country, while Abomey became the Dahomey capital.

The fall of the Dahomey Kingdom was precipitated by the banning of slavery throughout Europe in the mid-19th century, followed by the French annexation of the territory under colonial rule. Much of the Dahomey leadership broke even in the annexation, being appointed to top government posts throughout all the French colonies in West Africa. In 1960, Dahomey gained its independence, under the name République du Dahomey, which set off a long and destabilizing series of coups. In the course of just one decade, 1960—1972, the government changed hands nine times, and experienced four violent coups.

In 1972, Major Mathieu Kérékou, a staunch Marxist, organized the fourth of the military coups, and renamed the country the People's Republic of Benin. Kérékou's regime proved more successful at maintaining power, and reorganized the country on his interpretation of the Maoist model. In 1989, the French government, in exchange for financial support of Benin's flailing economy, persuaded the Benin government to abandon its one-party Socialist rule, and to move to a multiparty republic. In 1990, the country was renamed the Republic of Benin, and in 1991, Benin held its first free elections with significant success, and Kereku lost to Nicephore Soglo—Benin was thus the first African nation to successfully coordinate a peaceful transfer of power from a dictatorship to a functioning democracy. Soglo remained president through 1996, but his administration was marred by poor economic performance, leading to his electoral defeat to Mathieu Kérékou in 1996, who ruled the country and maintained popularity despite corruption scandals until 2006.

Benin remains as an extremely poor country, suffering from poverty and corruption. Infrastructure remains very poor in condition, and the struggling economy is recovering after decades of political unrest.

Climate

The equatorial south of Benin experiences two rainy seasons of the year, from April to mid July and from mid-September through the end of October. The rainy period in the subequatorial north runs from March until October. The best time of the year to visit the country is from November to February, when the temperature moderates, and the weather is dry with low humidity.

Geography
Benin is smaller than its neighbours, being 112,620 km² or a similar size to Honduras or the US state of Ohio. The country is divided into five geographic zones, from south to north: the Coastal plain, the plateau, the elevated plateau and savannah, hills in the northwest and fertile plains in the north.

People
The nation consists of more than 60 ethnic groups. The major tribes include the Fon (40%), Aja (15%), and Yoruba (12%) in the south of the country, and the Bariba (9%), Somba (8%), and Fulbe (6%) in the north.

The most widespread religion is Christianity (43%), predominantly in the south, and Islam in the north (24%). Most interesting for many visitors, however, is the strong influence of Vodun on Benin, practiced as a principal religion by a good 18% of the populace, and which was spread about the globe largely by the massive number of enslaved people exported by the Dahomey Kingdom.

Holidays

 * January 1: New Year's Day
 * January 10: Traditional Day (Fête de Vodoun)
 * August 1: Independence Day
 * October 26: Armed Forces Day
 * November 1: All Saints Day
 * November 30: National Day
 * December 25: Christmas
 * December 26: Boxing Day

Visas
Nationals of all African countries and Macau can enter Benin visa-free for up to 90 days. Hong Kong citizens can also enjoy visa free for 14 days.

Citizens of all countries may apply for eVisa online. Visas can be 30 days single entry (€50), 30 days multiple entry (€75) or 90 days multiple entry (€100). For longer stays, it is recommended to come with an e-visa and apply for a permit in-country.

By plane
There are many international flights arriving at the main airport in Cotonou: Paris (Air France, Corsair), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Brussels (Brussels Airlines), Casablanca (Royal Air Maroc), Kigali (Rwandair), Dakar (Air Senegal), Douala (Rwandair), Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines), Tunis (Tunisair), Lome (Asky), Abidjan (Air Cote D'Ivoire), Pointe-Noire (Trans Air Congo).

To enter the country, you will need proof that you have had a yellow fever shot, and this will need to be readily available at the airport.

By train
There are no international train services to Benin.

By car
There are land crossings with all bordering countries, but due to conflict, it is only recommended to cross the two coastal borders with Togo and Nigeria.

By bus
There is an extremely timely and reliable bus system that typically operates a tour-style bus through every major city in Benin every day, and even some international services in and out of Benin. There are many major lines with a range of quality of buses. The main systems are Confort Lines and Benin-Routes. Confort Lines seems to provide more of a variety of routes, and you even get some water and a little sandwich for long trips. Reservations for Confort Lines can be made in advance for CFA 500 at any regional office or by calling +229 21-325815. Bus lines run through: Porto-Novo, Cotonou, Calavey, Bohicon, Dassau, Parakou, Djougou, Natitingou, Tanguieta, Kandi, and even all the way up to Malanville.

Buses run on the two major paved roads running north and south, and you can have the bus stopped at any point you would like to get off at, and for differing rates. No discussion of prices is needed with the bus, as they use fixed rates. To give you an idea of prices, buses running from Cotonou to Natitingou (or vice versa) cost CFA 7,500 one way, and Cotonou to Parakou (or vice versa) costs CFA 5,500. These are examples, because there are also buses that go as far as Tanguieta and Malanville.

By bush taxi
Bush taxi is possible between most cities, every day in major cities, periodically for the more remote ones. The price for long distances will be a little higher than by bus, and comfort and security are significantly lower. Drivers are often trying to maximize the number of people in the car so one can expect an intimate experience with the local population. However, bush taxis do offer flexibility that the bus systems do not; you can always find a taxi fairly quickly (at the autogarres). For trips of 3 hours (approx. 150 km) or less, a bush taxi might be a more flexible and reasonable option. Unlike the buses though, prices must be discussed in advance. Cost depends on the destination and price of gas. Ask other passengers what they are paying and always try to pay on arrival, although the latter is not always possible. A decent option for travelers not trying to go on the cheap is to buy up all the seats in a bush taxi, or at least all the seats in one row. It not only avoids having to wait until the taxi driver has filled up every seat, but it's much more comfortable than being crammed in with lots of sweaty people! If you do this, you'll typically need to give the driver some money up front so he can buy petrol along the way.

By car
Hired drivers cost more and is the typical means of transport for foreigners. The price depends on the driver and a local (Beninois) helping to negotiate is recommended. For example, a three-hour car ride from the south central region along the main highway costs CFA30,000-40,000 if the car is hired, but a bush taxi would cost CFA 5000-10,000.

Traffic is chaotic and the rules of the road are rarely enforced. If you are planning on driving yourself in Benin, an International Driver's Permit (IDP) is required. Traffic flows on the right hand side of the road.

Hiring a local guide is recommended.

Police roadblocks at night occur regularly and traveling alone with a driver (especially if you are a woman) may put the driver in an awkward position explaining and/or bribing the police.

Travelling by car is recommended only between major cities. For example, to travel from Cotonou to Porto Novo or Cotonou to Abomey. Traveling by car within the city is not recommended because it is unnecessary and uneconomical.

It is recommended to travel with a local as much as possible, mainly from a financial aspect. Also, driving yourself around in a car is not a good idea. The roads are mostly of hard-packed sand, with a few paved main roads in the cities and on the highways between the major cities.

By moto
The cheapest way to travel within a city or village is by motorcycle taxi (moto, zemidjan or zem). They are cheap and the drivers usually know the city well. An average ride costs between CFA 100-300, and they are easily recognizable by their matching colored shirts with their ID numbers on them. Prices must be discussed beforehand, and payment is made upon arrival. Remember the driver's ID number just in case. Choose your driver carefully: drinking and driving in Benin is very common and moto drivers are sometimes involved in crime rings in major cities.

Motos have colors for different cities (for example):
 * Cotonou: yellow
 * Natitingou: green with yellow shoulders or light blue with yellow shoulders
 * Kandi: light blue with yellow shoulders
 * Parakou: yellow with green shoulders
 * Kérou: green with yellow shoulders

By boat
There are many pirogues (kayak/canoe) used for the fishing industry. Normally, one can use a pirogue to visit the lake villages.

By train
As of 2022, the train is not operating, but a new rail project is planned to connect Cotonou (and its port) to Niger via Parakou.

Talk
The official language is French — the language of the former colonial power. Native African languages such as Fon and Yoruba are spoken in the south, Bariba and Dendi in the north, and over 50 other African languages and dialects are spoken in the country. English is on the rise.

Cotonou and around
Benin is perhaps best known to the world as the birthplace of the Vodun religion—voodoo. Voodoo temples, roadside fetishes, and fetish markets are found throughout the country, but the best known is the skull and skin-filled fetish market in the Grande Marche du Dantopka — Cotonou's overwhelmingly busy, enormous, and hectic grand market.

Ganvie, just north of Cotonou and accessible by boat from Abomey-Calavi is home to 30,000 people, whose ancestors fled the brutal Dahomey kings by building their town on stilts right in the center of Lake Nokoué. Ganvie is without question a fascinating and naturally beautiful locale, and a popular stop as one of the largest of West Africa's lake towns.

West of Cotonou
Benin under the rule of the Dahomey kings was a major center of the slave trade, and the Route des Esclaves in Ouidah, terminating at the beachside Point of No Return monument is a memorial to those who were kidnapped, sold, and sent off to the other side of the world. Ouidah's local history museum, housed in a Portuguese fort, focuses on the slave trade in addition to other facets of local culture, religion, and history, and is a real must see for anyone passing through the country. As many towns, Ouidah has its own Sacred Forest, where guided tours on part of the grounds are given and different voodoo beliefs are explained; the other part of the grounds houses a convent for initiates and is closed to the public.

Continuing westwards from Ouidah towards Togo lies Grand Popo, a relaxed seaside town, often used for conferences and events. Grand Popo offers boat trips to the Bouche du Rois, the point where the Mono river meets the ocean, past mangroves, villages, birds and fishermen.

East of Cotonou
While manic Cotonou is the country's largest city and economic center, Porto Novo, the capital, is small and one of West Africa's more pleasant capitals. Most of the country's major museums are located here amidst the crumbling architectural legacy of French colonial rule: the royal palace of the king of Porto Novo (Honme Museum), the colourful mosque in style of a Brazilian church, the Ethnographic Museum and the Da Silva Museum.

A very short trip north-east of Porto Novo lies the village of Adjarra and the Black River (riviere noire), a slow-flowing body of water surrounded by lush vegetation with only traditional and engine-less wooden boats crossing it.

Central Benin
Abomey was the capital of the Dahomey Kingdowm, and its ruined temples and royal palaces, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, are one of the country's top attractions. The ruins, their bas-reliefs, and the Abomey Historical Museum in the royal palace (which contains all sorts of macabre tapestries and even a throne of human skulls) are a testament to the wealth brought to the Dahomey kings from the slave trade, and brutality with which they oppressed their enemies, fodder for human sacrifice and bondage.

Next to Abomey in the city of Bohicon lies the Underground Village (village sous-terrain), which in fact are many dug-out caves used for protection of the Abomey Kingdom. Soldiers used to hide in the caves in the forest and ambush their enemies from behind. A museum now showcases these caves and it is possible to climb down into some of them, as well as enjoying the forest overground.

South of Bohicon on the way to Cotonou lies the Lokoli swamp forest (forêt marécageuse de Lokoli) in southern Benin is the only known aquatic/swamp forest in West Africa. It is permanently flooded by a river and shelters a unique ecosystem, including populations of primates like the red-bellied monkeys.

The most important fetish in the country is the monstrous Dankoli fetish, on the northerly road near Savalou, which is a pretty good spot for beseeching gods.

Northern Benin
In the north, you'll find a very different sort of Benin from the mostly crowded, polluted cities of the south, of which Cotonou is such a prominent example. Pendjari National Park and W National Park (which Benin shares with Burkina Faso and Niger), is considered West Africa's best for wildlife viewing, and are set in beautiful, hilly highlands. However, due to the security situation (as of August 2022), a visit to these national parks is not recommended.

The unique and eccentric mud and clay tower-houses, known as tata, of the Somba people in the north, west of Djougou near the Togolese border, are a little-known extension into Benin of the types of dwellings used by the Batammariba people of Togo just west. Virtually all tourists to this area flock to the UNESCO-designated Koutammakou Valley across the border; the Benin side has the advantage of being even off the beaten path.

Do

 * Whale watching
 * Check out sea turtles
 * Shop for artisanal goods and handicrafts
 * Make your own pottery: While in Se (close to Gran Popo) be sure to stop by for a refreshing drink at North Pole or Victoria Palace. Peace Corps volunteers say Se is one of Benin's best kept travel secrets, where you can take a tour of the local pottery production and make your own pottery.

Buy
Prices for goods purchased in a store, restaurant, hotel, bus tickets, etc. are non-negotiable, but almost everything else is. Depending on the item, it's not uncommon for foreigners to be quoted a price that is double the final purchase price.

You can find any type of African commodity all over Benin.

Money
The currency of the country is the West African CFA franc, denoted CFA (ISO currency code: XOF). It's also used by seven other West African countries. It is interchangeable at par with the Central African CFA franc (XAF), which is used by six countries. Both currencies are fixed at a rate of 1 euro = 655.957 CFA francs.

The West African CFA franc is to be replaced by the "eco" in 2021. It would continue to be fixed to the euro.

There are banks in all the major cities, and most of the banks have cash machines. Keep in mind that many businesses and offices, including banks, close for several hours in the middle of the day.

MasterCard and Visa can be used to withdraw cash at the ATMs of Ecobank, Banque Atlantique, BIBE, and SGB.

Eat
In every city/village one will find street vendors selling anything from beans and rice to grilled chicken, goat and turkey. Prices are nominal. But one must be careful, always choose a vendor whose food is still hot, and they have taken care to keep the bowls covered with a lid or a cloth.

Signature dishes
 * Kuli-Kuli
 * Boulettes de Poulet avec Sauce Rouge (Chicken Meatballs with Red Sauce)

Drink
The beer is cheap and good! Local pubs (buvettes) are on every corner in every neighborhood. You can get a bottle of local beer "La Béninoise", Heineken, Guinness, Castel and others depending on the bar. They all cost about CFA 250 for a small bottle or CFA 500 for a large bottle. In the nightclubs beer is excessively expensive, like CFA 30,000 a bottle! So stick to the local pubs, or avoid buying beer at the nightclub. There is also the local vin de palme (palm wine), an alcoholic beverage that is made from the sap of the palm tree. A fermented palm liquor (Sodabi) is also available, it costs about CFA 2000 for a liter and it is very strong stuff.

Sleep
Benin's sleeping habit is a vast contrast compared to Westerners. While most rise before the crack of dawn, they all work hard straight til 12:30, when most take a 2½ hour siesta. Then it's back to work for 3 hours.

Depending on how far they've commuted to work, most are back home by 19:00. The next 3 hours are consumed by preparing dinner, TV, dancing or mingling with friends and neighbors. Then it's time for bed around 22:00, to rest and do it all over again tomorrow.

Stay safe
The best way to stay safe in Benin is to always always always be in the presence of a local person whom you can trust, such as a friend or even a hired tourist guide. They know which areas are safe and which are not, they know the prices of things so you won't get ripped off, they speak the native languages, they know which venues sell good food that is safe for westerners to eat.

For women, avoid travelling alone, try to be in the company of other people as much as possible. Do not travel at night alone: attacks along the beaches are frequent, and of course near hotels, nightclubs and other venues. Ignore any person who whistles at you during the night if you are alone. Benin is a peaceful country and the people are very kind and generous, but muggings and robberies occur everywhere, no matter how peaceful the place seems, so be on guard. If you are a victim of a crime, contact the Gendarme (Police) immediately.

LGBT travellers
Homosexuality in Benin is not criminalised, which means that the police and government authorities are there to help you in case of need. LGBT events take place across the country, often discreetly. Occasional violence against LGBT people, especially trans people, is unfortunately present.

There are many LGBT organisations in Benin, most notably Benin Synergies Plus (BESYP), Synergie Trans Benin, Hirondelle Benin.

Stay healthy
Watch what you eat/drink and where you eat/drink it. If you are going to eat street food, make sure it is served very very hot, since bacteria will not live in hot food. The most common causes of sickness is E.coli bacteria found in undercooked meat.

Drinking water is readily available, if you want bottled water there is "Possatome"- a natural spring water bottled in the city with the same name. It is very good and about CFA 500 a bottle. In Cotonou, the tap water is safe to drink but is treated with chlorine which some people may be sensitive to.

Malaria is a reality in Benin. Mosquitoes appear from dusk to dawn, and they use standing water as a breeding ground. Medications are available by prescription only. The only compulsory vaccination needed to enter the country is against Yellow Fever. The customs agents at the airport generally do not check to see if you have it, but it is strongly advised to get it before entering for your own health. Along with vaccines against polio, hepatitis A and B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Tetanus, Rabies and all the other standard childhood vaccines.

AIDS is an issue in Benin as in all sub-Saharan African countries; use of a condom is highly recommended if entering into a sexual relationship with a Beninese partner. Other risks pertaining to unprotected sex are the same as in any other country whether developed or not: Syphilis, Chlamydia, HPV, etc.

If visiting Benin it is highly recommended that you speak to a doctor who specialises in travel. Ask your family doctor or public health nurse for the name of a travel clinic in your area. Go to them about 6 months prior to travel to Benin if possible. This information is designed as a guide and should not be taken as an expert account on how to stay healthy in Benin, only a licensed health professional can provide such information.

title: Benin


text:
Benin City

Benin City is one of the oldest cities in Nigeria, dating back to pre-colonial times. It was the capital of one of the most advanced and organised kingdoms in Africa before the arrival of the British. The city used to be the capital of the old Bendel state until this was divided into Edo and Delta states. Benin City is the capital of Edo State, and had a population of about 1.5 million people in 2015.

This article also covers Ovia North-East which houses Igbinedion University.

Understand

The original people and founders of the Benin Empire, the Edo people, were ruled by the Ogiso (Kings of the Sky) dynasty from 40 BCE to 1100 CE, who called their land Igodomigodo. The rulers or kings were commonly known as Ogiso. Benin grew rich during the 16th and 17th centuries due to trade within southern Nigeria, as well as through trade with Europeans, mostly in pepper and ivory. In the early 16th century the Oba sent an ambassador to Lisbon, and the King of Portugal sent Christian missionaries to Benin. Many Portuguese loan words can still be found today in the languages of the area.

On 17 February 1897, Benin City fell to the British in the "Punitive Expedition", in which a 1,200-strong British force conquered and razed the city after all but two men from a previous British expeditionary force were killed. Until then, Benin City had been known for its impressive architecture, including its city walls that were said to be four times as long as the Great Wall of China, but these were all destroyed by the British in the 1897 expedition. The Benin Bronzes, portrait figures, busts and groups created in iron, carved ivory, and especially in brass, were taken from the city by the British and are displayed in various British museums. Some of the bronzes were auctioned off to compensate for the expenses incurred during the invasion of the city. Various appeals have been made to the British government to return such artifacts. The capture of Benin paved the way for British military occupation and the merging of later regional British conquests into the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.

In Benin City, there is a notable house/building known as Palm House which according to records was built by the Military Government of Late Retired General Samuel Ogbemudia, to accommodate ministries and agencies in the 1970s. The name came about as a result of the two or three Palm Trees in front of the buildings. The palm house was then an ultra-modern 12-storey building complex, furnished with elevators, central air-conditioning system and other social amenities that distinctly defined comfort, to give the place an attractive honor to those who were privileged to have it as their work place.

Since Nigeria's independence from British rule in 1960, Benin City has been a regional capital.

Oredo is a local government area in Benin City. Oredo is home to Oba of Benin, Esama of Benin Kingdom and many notable people. Oredo has an area of 249km2 and during the 2006 population census, Oredo recorded a population of over 375,000. It is populated with different Benin indigenes and a few Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo indigenes.

Districts

 * — a densely populated northern district of Benin City

Get in
is a small airport with a few daily flights from Lagos and Abuja, with Arik Air offering the most flights.

Benin is known for its road transport, so a visitor can get to the city from almost any city in the country. From Lagos, it takes about 4 hours to get to Benin, but it's best to travel during the day because the bad roads make the journey a lot longer and more stressful. From Port Harcourt, it's about 4 hours 30 minutes to Benin. The journey from Port Harcourt is a lot easier because there are better roads on that stretch. The roads in Benin City are not very good and traffic regulations are rarely enforced in this busy city, so hold-ups and traffic jams are common in some parts of the city.

By bus
You can easily get into Benin by bus, there are several bus transport services that offer services from different states to Benin, some are: and many more
 * Iyare Motors
 * GUO Motors
 * Agofure Motors
 * Efex Motors
 * Muyi Line Motors
 * Muyi Line Motors

Get around
Getting around in Benin isn't too difficult. The roads are fairly well constructed, and the city is well linked and networked. If you come in by air, there are taxis at the airport to take you probably anywhere you wish to go for an affordable price. And if you come in by road and are taken to the terminal of the transport service, you will also find taxis ready to take you anywhere. Taxis and buses are supposed to be painted red or rather wine on their body and yellow on the roof. But there are some buses and taxis that don't obey that code.

Most roads lead to the ring road, so to get to some places, you actually have to get to the ring road and then take another bus or cab to your destination. Moving from one part of town to another is usually done by bus but on some routes, you can also take a taxi. There are no standard bus stops in the city so generally when you are in a commercial vehicle that has reached your destination, you would alert the driver by saying "stop" or "drop", and then he would come to a halt. Don't hesitate to say this as the driver will certainly take you past your destination if you don't.

The city has a very active nightlife, and getting around at night time is pretty much the same as getting around during the daytime, except that some routes become more dangerous at night time, so take precautions.

Apart from buses and taxis, you can also get around the city with motorbikes. But the state has a law that bans the movement of commercial motorbikes between 7 PM and 6 AM.

And of course, the popular car-hailing services (Bolt, Uber, and others) are readily available in Benin City, to get you around, all you need to do is to just place an order from the comfort of your home and a car, a driver would be assigned to your home to take you to your desired location.

Buy
Benin City has numerous markets where different items are sold and purchased. Many of the markets are found north of the city. See the Uselu article.

 * Suya (Nigerian equivalent of a barbecue) is generally much affordable in Benin City markets.
 * sore mail. the sawmill is located at egwadolo side on going to Benin south known for wood cutting and selling.
 * oliya market. the only a market is located at siloko road on going to ring road from the ogida market it is known for selling of livestock's vegetables fruits and most food items.
 * sore mail. the sawmill is located at egwadolo side on going to Benin south known for wood cutting and selling.
 * oliya market. the only a market is located at siloko road on going to ring road from the ogida market it is known for selling of livestock's vegetables fruits and most food items.
 * sore mail. the sawmill is located at egwadolo side on going to Benin south known for wood cutting and selling.
 * oliya market. the only a market is located at siloko road on going to ring road from the ogida market it is known for selling of livestock's vegetables fruits and most food items.
 * oliya market. the only a market is located at siloko road on going to ring road from the ogida market it is known for selling of livestock's vegetables fruits and most food items.

Eat
Edo people love pounded yam and orhe (ogbono) soup (draw soup).

Drink
Palm wine from local palm wine tappers. Bottled palm wine does not taste as good.

There are a lot of beer parlors in the Oredo area, as most occupants of the region step out to drink at any point they feel like doing so.

Sleep

 * Jerixs hotel and suits. 8 iyamu Street off textile Mill Rd, it is known for standards and quality reception.
 * B17 Hotel., 6 evbereke spare parts road of textile Mill Rd.
 * Pleasant hills. located at second junction on going to sloop from ring road roundabout.
 * Jerixs hotel and suits. 8 iyamu Street off textile Mill Rd, it is known for standards and quality reception.
 * B17 Hotel., 6 evbereke spare parts road of textile Mill Rd.
 * Pleasant hills. located at second junction on going to sloop from ring road roundabout.
 * Jerixs hotel and suits. 8 iyamu Street off textile Mill Rd, it is known for standards and quality reception.
 * B17 Hotel., 6 evbereke spare parts road of textile Mill Rd.
 * Pleasant hills. located at second junction on going to sloop from ring road roundabout.
 * Jerixs hotel and suits. 8 iyamu Street off textile Mill Rd, it is known for standards and quality reception.
 * B17 Hotel., 6 evbereke spare parts road of textile Mill Rd.
 * Pleasant hills. located at second junction on going to sloop from ring road roundabout.
 * Jerixs hotel and suits. 8 iyamu Street off textile Mill Rd, it is known for standards and quality reception.
 * B17 Hotel., 6 evbereke spare parts road of textile Mill Rd.
 * Pleasant hills. located at second junction on going to sloop from ring road roundabout.
 * Jerixs hotel and suits. 8 iyamu Street off textile Mill Rd, it is known for standards and quality reception.
 * B17 Hotel., 6 evbereke spare parts road of textile Mill Rd.
 * Pleasant hills. located at second junction on going to sloop from ring road roundabout.
 * Jerixs hotel and suits. 8 iyamu Street off textile Mill Rd, it is known for standards and quality reception.
 * B17 Hotel., 6 evbereke spare parts road of textile Mill Rd.
 * Pleasant hills. located at second junction on going to sloop from ring road roundabout.

Go next

 * Ibadan
 * Lagos
 * Nnewi
 * Warri
 * Anambra State
 * Yaba

title: Benin City


text:
Benjamin Constant

Benjamin Constant is a Brazilian town of 44,000 people (2020) across the river from Peru in Amazonas (Brazil) region. It lies about a half-hour motorboat ride southwest from Leticia and Tabatinga.

Understand
The area is inhabited by Ticuna Indians. In 1988 the town was the scene of the murder of 14 Ticunas in a dispute between them and logging interests.

The town was named after the Brazilian revolutionary Benjamin Constant (1836–1891).

Get in
About 30 minutes by fast boat from Tabatinga for R$ 15 (reais). Boats leave every half-hour or whenever they are full.

Do

 * Feast of San Francisco, 25 September to 4 October. On the last day, 4 Oct, the procession takes place, which is the biggest procession in the city. And the devotees who make a promise (request) or help to San Francisco that day, walk and neglect almost the entire city following the procession.
 * The Festival Folclórico Benjaminense (Folklore Festival) is the biggest festival of Alto Solimões, with the dispute between the "Boi-Bumbá Courajoso" and the "Boi-Bumbá Mangangá" in July. The Festival is held at the Cultural Center of Benjamin Constant (Bumbódromo de Benjamin Constant). The festival presents allegories, legends and typical figures from Amazonas and Alto Solimões.

Eat
There is a fruit and veg market down by the port.

title: Benjamin Constant


text:
Ben Lomond National Park

Ben Lomond National Park is in Eastern Tasmania. It's one of Tasmania's oldest national parks and contains one of two skifields in Tasmania.

Understand
Ben Lomond was declared a National Park and Scenic Reserve in July 1947.

Ben Lomond is Tasmania's only downhill skiing area. It offers skiing from approximately July to September (check the snow report ) and day walks in summer.

Flora and fauna
According to Tasmania's Parks & Wildlife Service, Ben Lomond National Park is invaluable for the conservation of the flora communities and species diversity of Tasmania's alpine areas.

Visitor information

 * Park website

Get in
Located 50 km south-east of Launceston, Ben Lomond National Park is accessible via the Blessington Road (C401) near Upper Blessington. Wheel chains must be carried between June and September - they are not available on the mountain, but can be rented or purchased from outlets in major centres.

If travelling at night, please watch out for native animals!

During the ski season McDermott's Coaches provide a daily shuttle service to and from Launceston. http://www.mcdermotts.com.au/

Also, a shuttle bus service runs from the snowline to the top car park daily within season. The service starts from around 9AM daily in season and is a great option if you prefer to leave the snow chains at home. (Adults $12, child/concession $8).

Do

 * Carr Villa to Alpine Village: This walk takes approximately 1.5 hours one way with steep gradients up the side of the plateau. The route takes you up onto the plateau and then along the plateau to the highest point.
 * Alpine Village to Little Hell: This walk takes about 1.5 hours return. From the top of Little Hell there are views across the southern part of the plateau to Stacks Bluff.
 * Alpine Village to Little Hell: This walk takes about 1.5 hours return. From the top of Little Hell there are views across the southern part of the plateau to Stacks Bluff.

Eat
Only places to eat at the hotels.

Go next

 * Launceston

title: Ben Lomond National Park


text:
Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the United Kingdom, at 1344.527 m / 4413 ft - it gained about a metre during a 2016 official survey. It's near the town of Fort William in the Scottish Highlands, at the southwest end of the Great Glen. It's reckoned that over 100,000 people climb it each year, usually by the straightforward "Mountain Track". The North Face has 700 m cliffs, with routes only suitable for skilled mountaineering and rock- or ice-climbing. There's a ski resort on its north flank, Aonach Mor.

The mountain's Gaelic name Beinn Nibheis is variously translated as "venomous mountain" or "mountain with its head in the clouds". In the Devonian era 400 million years ago it was a volcano, then in the Carboniferous 350 million years ago its inner chamber dramatically imploded. What's left is the imploded dome, much weathered by glaciation.

Get in
Ben Nevis is on the outskirts of Fort William, which is reachable by road from Glasgow (105 miles) or Inverness (65 miles) via the A82. Fort William has a three times daily rail service from Glasgow, and an overnight sleeper train from London Euston. There are also regular buses from Glasgow, Inverness, Oban and Portree on Skye.

Shiel Bus N41 runs between Fort William and Roy Bridge, via Torlundy (for the North Face route), Nevis Range Ski Centre and Spean Bridge. It runs seven times a day M-Sat. Twice a day (at around 09:00 and 17:00) year round, it extends from Fort William to Glen Nevis Youth Hostel. May to Oct it's supplemented by Bus N42, which run six times daily to the Youth Hostel, with three buses extending to the Lower Falls. This means that if you use the bus to start and finish your walk, the earliest you can reach the foot of the ascent is 09:00 M-Sat and 10:00 summer Sundays, and your last bus back is around 17:30 M-Sat and 17:00 summer Sundays. It's barely enough to climb up and down again, and you don't want to be hurrying downhill when you're tired.

Parking around the mountain: please don't use Achintree Lane (north bank of Glen Nevis) unless you've accommodation there. It's so cramped and limited, you'll end up reversing a mile to let a tractor past.
 * one mile up Glen Nevis Lane is handy for the West Highland Way, but a mile short of the path up the mountain. Free, space for 30 cars.
 * near the start of the usual mountain path has toilets. Cars £4 per day.
 * is at the top of Glen Nevis Lane. A tough ascent of Ben Nevis starts here, and the four-munro "Ring of Steall". Free, space for 40 cars.
 * car park is off the A82 at Torlundy. Free, space for 30 cars.

Glen Nevis
Glen Nevis is the valley on the south and west flanks of Ben Nevis: see Fort William for accommodation here. It's the usual access route to the mountain, but it's also worth visiting in its own right (and not just as a fall-back if you called off a climb). Two roads run up it from Fort William but do not connect. North bank of the River Nevis is Achintree Road: from town take Claggan Road and turn right just before the Spar supermarket. It runs for three miles, past the football ground as far as Achintree Farm and the Ben Nevis Inn. Here a footbridge crosses to the south / west bank, the road ends and the path up the mountain begins.

South bank of the river is Glen Nevis Lane - this is the N41 / 42 bus route. It starts in town from the A82 roundabout just south of the river bridge. It winds past "Braveheart" car park to Ben Nevis Visitor Centre (park here and cross the footbridge to ascend Ben Nevis). It continues past the Caravan & Camping Park, Youth Hostel and Lower Falls to end at Nevis Gorge car park. From here a path goes up the scenic rocky river gorge, until the scenery opens out in the broad upper glen. A wire bridge crosses the river - grab two wires firmly and balance on the third - and a path leads up to Steall Falls, a 120 m three-tiered cascade. The nearby Steall Hut is a mountain cottage available to long-distance walkers (see Landranger sheet 41, grid ref 178684) - call Ewen Kay on 01224 587390 if you plan to use it.

The ridge above the glen to the west / south of the river, opposite Ben Nevis, is the most northerly section of the West Highland Way, a 15-mile hike from Kinlochleven. The mountains to the south are the Mamore range.

Climbing Ben Nevis
Then come the main zigzags, a series of eight switchbacks, over scree. The path is less distinct here, you could lose it on a foggy day, and those crosses dotted about are where bodies of climbers have been found. There's a lengthy straight up the last slopes before veering left onto the summit plateau. If the path here is obscured by snow follow the line of little cairns, don't shortcut straight to the summit else you'll plunge into a snow-filled gully. At the is a cairn, the ruins of a weather observatory (active 1883-1904, now used as an emergency shelter) - and a cliff edge. Ice here may form a cornice - an overhang - unsafe to stand on. The track is 7 km / 4 miles, reckon four hours up and two to descend. Newcomers to the mountain must descend by the same path, because other routes have hidden pitfalls which you won't have had an opportunity to check out on the way up. To descend in fog, start from the summit cairn and walk 150 m on compass bearing of 231 degrees, to avoid the abyss of Gardyloo Gully on your right. Then hold a bearing of 282 degrees, which will take you down to the zigzag path clear of hazardous Five Finger Gully.
 * The Mountain Track (aka the Pony Track or Tourist Route) is the usual route. Start from the Visitor Centre in Glen Nevis, all of 20 m above sea level, so you've only 1324 m to climb. Cross the footbridge to Achintee Farm and head up along the traverse. Another start is from the Youth Hostel, crossing the footbridge there; this is initially steeper then the two paths join. From here it's a relentless slog along a path much eroded by tens of thousands of people every year. The route is steadily uphill through a couple of small zigzags, curving left at a cleft in the hill before levelling out at "Halfway Lochan" at 570 m, Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe. (The big rock below the path here is the only cover on this bare mountain if you need the loo . . . but it gets kinda gross back there.) Cross the Red Burn waterfall.

 * The CMD route involves climbing Càrn Mòr Dearg (say "karn mor jerrack" or just "CMD"), then traversing an arete to Ben Nevis. This route is longer and tougher, and only suitable for hardy adult hill-walkers, but has great views of the North Face cliffs. Start from the North Face car park above Torlundy. Ascend the lane which becomes a path climbing alongside the stream, Allt a' Mhuilinn, up to the Charles Inglis Clark Hut. This is about halfway; the water pipe here draws from above the sheep grazing, so you can refill your bottle in relative safety. (Walkers on the Mountain Track can also branch north at Halfway Lochan to reach the hut.) There's now a choice of routes, all involving a very steep climb - rated a "scramble" in summer but technical "Grade 2 mountaineering" in winter. These ascend Carn Dearg Meadhonach to reach the summit of CMD, a Munro of 1220 m. Here you teeter along the arete (the narrow sharp ridge) onto Ben Nevis, for the last stiff climb to the summit. It's 1500 m to ascend as there's a bit of up-and-down along the arete, reckon six hours up and three to descend. The CMD descent is tricky, bail out onto the Mountain Track if you're running out of daylight, weather or stamina.
 * From Steall Falls: park at Nevis Gorge and follow the trail up the gorge to the cable bridge. Now turn north into Alt Coire Ghiuthsachan and up the grassy slopes of Bealach Cumhann. This leads to the west end of the CMD arete, then up the steep scree to the summit.
 * The Three Peaks Challenge involves climbing Ben Nevis (Scotland and UK's highest mountain), Scafell Pike (978 m, highest in England) and Snowdon (1085 m, highest in Wales), usually in that order, and as a charity dash. The record for up and down all three is just under 12 hours, by Joss Naylor in 1971. He used a rally car & driver between peaks so in the age of the speed camera this may never be bettered. You must have a non-climbing driver, as falling asleep on the soporific M74 / M6 is all too likely.

Stay safe

 * Consider the weather, and specifically check the Ben Nevis forecast. Expect it to be cold, windy and foggy up there - it's seldom above 10 C even in mid-summer. A glorious day can turn to fog or lashing sleet very quickly. Also consider the hours of daylight available: they shorten rapidly in late August. If avalanche warnings are in effect, do not climb the mountain. People who have ignored such warnings have been killed.
 * Clothing: you will need strong walking boots (ideally broken in) and try and avoid trainers. Wear water & windproof outer gear plus gloves and a warm hat.
 * Take high-energy food and plenty of water. There is no fresh water on the mountain itself.
 * Maps: Ordnance Survey Landranger Map 41 covers this area. Carry a compass and know how to use it.
 * Let someone know your plans (e.g. at the visitor centre) and check in with them once you're back. Don't rely on your mobile phone since coverage is limited.

Go next
Walk a long distance path:
 * The West Highland Way starts or finishes at Fort William, running 154 km to Milngavie, near Glasgow
 * The Great Glen Way also starts or finishes in Fort William, going 127 km to Inverness

Climb some more of the Munros - hills over 3000 feet (914 m) in Scotland. There are 282 listed Munros, as well as 227 subsidiary tops. Though not as high as Ben Nevis, many of the hills are interesting in their own way - many are more scenic or more of a challenge to climb.

title: Ben Nevis


text:
Bennington

Bennington is a town in Southwestern Vermont. Boasting five covered bridges it is a classic Vermont country town, and is also home to Bennington College. This article also encompasses the neighboring town of North Bennington.

Understand
Bennington is a historically important town that contains many 18th- and 19th-century buildings, as well as much greenery in season. Its skyline is largely dominated by the Bennington Battle Monument, a large obelisk jutting into the sky that honors the achievements of the Green Mountain Boys, who fought effectively for the Revolutionaries in the American War of Independence. By so doing, the Green Mountain Boys also were able to make an effective case for Vermont to be admitted as a separate state from New York, and they were admitted in 1791 as the 14th state.

Get in
Bennington is the second-to-southernmost town in Vermont on US Route 7 and as a township, it borders on New York State.

By car
Bennington's downtown is at the intersection of US Route 7 (which goes south through the Massachusetts Berkshires and north to Rutland) and Burlington) and Vermont Route 9 (which goes east to Brattleboro and to the west, beyond the New York State line, becomes New York State Route 7 and connects with Troy). Although these routes have short stretches of limited access, they are mainly one lane in each direction, with stoplights. New York State Route 7 even has some hairpin curves a few miles to the west.

By plane
The closest major airport is in Albany.

By bus
The closest Greyhound Bus stop is in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

Get around
Downtown Bennington is walkable, but you'll probably need a car if you plan on doing much.

Do

 * - located in Peru
 * - located in Peru

Go next

 * Williamstown, MA is about 30 minutes away (Williams College, Williams College Museum of Art, more shopping and dining).
 * North Adams, MA is about 40 minutes away (Mass MoCA).
 * Albany is about one hour away.
 * Brattleboro is an hour's drive via Route 9 East.
 * Saratoga Springs is about 1½ hours' drive
 * Boston is 3 hours away.
 * Montreal and New York City are about 4 hours away.

title: Bennington


text:
Bensalem

Bensalem is a residential suburb next to the bustling metropolis of Philadelphia. Bensalem is a great place to stay if you want to avoid the hustle, bustle and high prices of the inner city. Buses and trains are available nearby, as well as an accessible car rental service.

Understand
Bensalem is connects to the city at its northeastern point of the city. However, just because it's residential, don't assume that it's only houses and fast food chains. There are a few interesting gems nearby without even entering Philadelphia.

By car
Interstate 95 provides access to the southern part of Bensalem Township from Philadelphia to the south and Trenton to the north. U.S. Route 1 provides access to the northern part of Bensalem Township from Northeast Philadelphia to the south and Trenton to the north. The Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 276) toll road provides access to Bensalem Township from the northern and western suburbs of Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and other western points from the west and from New Jersey and New York City from the east. The Pennsylvania Turnpike has two interchanges in the township: the Bensalem interchange that connects to U.S. Route 1, and the Street Road interchange, an eastbound exit and entrance that is accessible to E-ZPass tagholders only. Pennsylvania Route 132 (Street Road) is a major surface road in Bensalem Township providing access from the northern suburbs further northwest and connecting to U.S. Route 1, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and Interstate 95 within the township.

By plane

 * Philadelphia International Airport - Fly in from any other major airport. It is about a 30 Minute Drive from Philadelphia to Bensalem by way of Interstate 95.

Get around
Getting around Bensalem and Northeast Philadelphia is a bit more difficult than Center City: there are no subways or local train systems throughout Bensalem. The easiest way to get around Bensalem Township is by car.

There is a SEPTA train station at 700 Station Avenue, Cornwells Heights; which is nearby to Bristol Pike in the Bensalem Township area. Cornwells Heights is one of the largest park and ride train facilities in the Philadelphia Area. The Trenton Line Regional Rail, the train which passes through Cornwells Heights, takes you to all of the major stops in Philadelphia, within walking distance of many major attractions in the inner city. Taking the train is less stressful and cheaper than driving in the inner city. For train rides and ticket costs, refer to the SEPTA Regional Rail website.

SEPTA operates bus service in Bensalem Township, connecting points of interest within the township such as the Neshaminy Mall and Parx Casino to Philadelphia and other suburbs. For details on routes and schedules please refer to SEPTA's website.

Ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft can be used to get around Bensalem.

However, if you choose to rent a car, there is more than one car rental facility in Bensalem.

 * Budget Rent-A-Car - 2054 Street Road - +1 215 244-1713

 * Enterprise Rent-A-Car - 1328 Street Road - +1 215 638-8155

title: Bensalem


text:
Bensheim

Bensheim is a town in South Hesse, Germany.

Understand
Bensheim along with other similar towns is on the Bergstraße, a mountain road running on the western edge of the Odenwald mountain range.

The Altstadt in Bensheim is part of the town's central shopping and restaurant district along Hauptstraße, a pedestrian mall about a half kilometre long that passes through the Marktplatz. The Altstadt also includes some streets crossing and parallel to Hauptstraße. The Altstadt has many half-timbered buildings, some picturesque fountains, a creek under an attractive bridge, and tower that might be part of an old city wall.

By train
Bensheim is on the railway line running from Darmstadt and continues south of Weinheim. There is also a branch line from Bensheim to Worms.

Bensheim is served by the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Neckar (VRN) public transportation network which offers day tickets to explore the Bergstraße region southwards from Zwingenberg by regional train, bus or tram. The railway station has a staffed ticket office (DB Reisezentrum) where you can purchase VRN as well as DB (railway) tickets.

There are trains to Darmstadt and to Worms roughly every hour.

By car
Bensheim is on the A5 between Darmstadt and Heidelberg.

Get around
The Altstadt is quite walkable and is very close to the railway station.

Go next
Other places in the Bergstraße region are:
 * Darmstadt
 * Zwingenberg
 * Lorsch
 * Heppenheim
 * Weinheim
 * Schriesheim
 * Heidelberg

Places away from the Bergstraße region are:
 * Worms

title: Bensheim


text:
Benson

There is more than one place called Benson:

United Kingdom

 * Benson (Oxfordshire) - A town in Oxfordshire in England.

United States of America

 * Benson (Arizona) - A town in the state of Arizona.
 * Benson (Illinois) - A town in the state of Illinois.
 * Benson (Minnesota) - A town in the state of Minnesota.
 * Benson (New York) - A town in the state of New York.
 * Benson (North Carolina) - A town in the state of North Carolina.
 * Benson (Pennsylvania) - A town in the state of Pennsylvania.
 * Benson (Utah) - A town in the state of Utah.
 * Benson (Vermont) - A town in the state of Vermont.
 * Benson County (North Dakota) - A county in the state of North Dakota.

title: Benson


text:
Benson (North Carolina)

Benson is in North Carolina.

title: Benson (North Carolina)


text:
Benton (Arkansas)

Benton is in the Central region of Arkansas.

title: Benton (Arkansas)


text:
Benton (Kentucky)

Benton is a city in the Kentucky Lake region in Kentucky's Western Waterlands. Unless noted, the area code for all listings is 270.

Get in
The main routes into Benton are:
 * Interstate 69 – A controlled-access highway built as the Purchase Parkway, part of the state's "parkway" system of toll roads, but now a freeway. The highway, which runs in a general northeast-southwest direction, funnels in traffic from Interstate 24 to the north. It's now signed as I-69 between Calvert City and Mayfield, with the rest (south to Fulton) to become part of I-69 in the near future. The main exit to Benton is Exit 43 (Kentucky Route 348). A second Benton exit, Exit 41 (US 641), is less useful for traffic heading into town, as it mainly serves to direct traffic heading to Murray.
 * US 68 – A two-lane east-west highway whose western end is near Paducah, it provides access to Land Between the Lakes and the southern tier of Kentucky.
 * US 641 – North of the city, it is a two-lane road running parallel to the Purchase Parkway. South of the city, it becomes a four-lane divided highway running to Murray.

Do

 * Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge, 91 US-641. Small wildlife refuge with a pond and hiking trail. May or may not see birds. +1 270-527-5770

Family Fun

 * Maggie's Jungle Golf, 7301 US-641, Gilbertsville. Exotic miniature golf and petting zoo. +1 270-362-8933
 * Maggie's Jungle Golf, 7301 US-641, Gilbertsville. Exotic miniature golf and petting zoo. +1 270-362-8933
 * Maggie's Jungle Golf, 7301 US-641, Gilbertsville. Exotic miniature golf and petting zoo. +1 270-362-8933

Golf

 * Benton Golf and Country Club, Golf Course Rd., +1 270 527-9673. 18 Holes / Open-Private.
 * Birmingham Pointe Golf Club, Golf Course Rd., +1 270 354-5050. 18 Holes / Open-Private.

Buy

 * Shop-O-Rama, US 68E, +1 270 527-8361.
 * Shop-O-Rama, US 68E, +1 270 527-8361.
 * Shop-O-Rama, US 68E, +1 270 527-8361.

Eat
In addition to many chain restaurants, there are some local establishments in Benton:

 * Benton Drive In, 1509 Main St. +1 270-387-7079
 * Benton Drive In, 1509 Main St. +1 270-387-7079
 * Benton Drive In, 1509 Main St. +1 270-387-7079
 * Benton Drive In, 1509 Main St. +1 270-387-7079

Drink
All of Marshall County, including Benton, is now "wet", allowing full package alcohol sales.

Sleep

 * Dinner Bell Cottages 13444 US 68 E, +1 270 354-6521.
 * Dinner Bell Cottages 13444 US 68 E, +1 270 354-6521.
 * Dinner Bell Cottages 13444 US 68 E, +1 270 354-6521.
 * Dinner Bell Cottages 13444 US 68 E, +1 270 354-6521.
 * Dinner Bell Cottages 13444 US 68 E, +1 270 354-6521.

By phone
Most telephone numbers in Benton consist of +1 270 plus a seven-digit number, but the area is now served by an overlay complex of two area codes, with +1 364 being the second. A local or in-state telephone call now requires all 10 digits of the local number be dialed (omitting just the leading +1 from a local landline call).

Signage on many established businesses may still display the original seven-digit numbers; dial 270 before these if no area code is indicated.

title: Benton (Kentucky)


text:
Benton (Pennsylvania)

Benton is a small borough nestled in the upper Fishing Creek valley in northern Columbia County.

Get in
Benton is about half an hour's drive north on Pennsylvania Route 487 from Interstate 80 (exit 236b). It is several miles south of Ricketts Glen State Park on Route 487. Benton can also be accessed from the east or west via Pennsylvania Route 239. The tiny Benton Airport is in the northwest corner of the borough.

Get around
By car or on foot. The main street (Route 239/487) has sidewalks in the borough.

See
The Benton Dam (pictured) is located in Benton.

The Benton Rodeo has been held in Benton every year in July since 1985.

Do
One thing to do is visit Ricketts Glen State Park. It is several miles northward from Benton on Pennsylvania Route 487 and Pennsylvania Route 118. Benton is also on Fishing Creek, a known trout stream that is also navigable by canoe or kayak.

Buy
There are a number of stores on Main Street in Benton. These include at least two antique stores and a coin-and-jewelry store.

Eat
There are two restaurants in Benton. One of these is on Hess Street and the other is on Center Street.

Drink
Colonel Rickett's Hard Cider is located on 3rd Street in Benton.

Sleep
'The Mattress and Muffin Inn' is located on Main Street in Benton.

Go next

 * Bloomsburg (on Route 487 south)
 * Shickshinny (on Route 239 south)

title: Benton (Pennsylvania)