A much more modern offering than its Best Western rival, Protea is also considerably closer to the town centre (walking distance to Kings square). It has clean lines and a contemporary feel. As you enter, you are greeted by a large figurine cast in bronze, a nod to the brass work produced at the nearby World Heritage site Igum Street. It’s a lovely touch, and one that immediately connects the hotel to its local environment in a way that some international hotels often fail to do.

Beyond the lobby, there is a small lounge bar and a clean, stylish open plan restaurant, both look over a covered veranda, a small swimming pool and a number of sun loungers. The adjacent site is a vacant lot and within its grounds there are several large indigenous trees in which several thousand fruit bats roost. As evening descends, it’s a remarkable site as they wheel and arc in the half light on their nightly feeding forays.

Rooms have floor to ceiling windows, meaning they are light and airy. Here the style is crisp and contemporary, laminate wood floors, simple veneer furniture, and stylish lighting complement the flat screen TV’s minibars and safes. Bathrooms have both bath and shower, modern fixtures, copious hot water, and eye pleasing blue mosaic walls. There is also a small but adequate gym, a small business centre (containing one PC and a printer), and a small conference room catering for up to 150 people. Probably the best combination of style and location in Benin City.