Hotel Senegambia Beach Reviews

We chose the Gambia as something a bit different. Well we were not disappointed. Fantastic - not something I would recommend to everyone but a holiday to remember for us. The people are lovely, friendly interesting and gracious. The country beautiful. The food great!! and cheap if you're partial to seafood/lobster. The hotel is not up to European standards but very clean and the service was great.

We read several sites on the net about the ";Bumsters"; however they seem to have gone. You do get hassled for a taxi or to buy fruit, wood carvings or generally to use the services of an official guide. They wear khaki green and have an ID card that anyone could make using a bit of cling film and a PC.

We were dubious at first but met TAMBA SUSO, a wonderful guy, only 27 and now a life-long friend who we keep in touch with by e-mail. He took us out in his jeep, showed us sights we would never have seen. Constantly looked out for our safety and kept us from being ripped off. We put fuel in his car, fed him and handed him a few Dalasi. Still cheaper than the tour operator excursions. If you stay in Kololi go to the hut outside the Senegambia Beach hotel and ask for Tamba.

A hint for dealing with the people trying to sell you something. Stay friendly and tell them ";Maybe tomorrow"; After the second day you look as if you're settled and they leave you alone.
We loved the Gambia and its people. Will always come back.

Rooms are basic but comfortable and clean. Cleaned everyday and towels changed daily, towels are provided by the pool and on the beach.

We stayed bed and breakfast where there was plenty of choice but don't expect a full english. Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve Gala meals were included New Year's Eve was better as this was out door on a large field with tables of 10 so you had to sit with people you didn't know but it made you make friends with people who you wouldn't have normally bothered with, entertainment was Ok, fireworks were fantastic.

The hotel now operates a system where you don't pay for things as you buy them but they go against your room, you can settle the bill as often as you like to ensure that you don't have a shock when you check out. Prices for drinks were more expensive in the hotel that what they were on the streets. This is not very well liked by the staff in the hotel as they no longer get tips and use to rely on the tips to ensure that they had adequate wages, also staff are only given 6 month contracts and then the hotel finishes them at the end of the season, this means the staff have very little job security. The hotel is now owned by lebanese and the money they make at the hotel is taken out of the Gambia, which is not good for the country, while we were there the staff went on strike against the pay and the short term contracts which they are given the strike was over after a couple of hours but whether the staff got what they wanted was unclear.

The hotel grounds has lots of wildlife including monkeys and monitor Lizards.

During christmas day there were Children choirs singing around the hotel, bands on the beach, and it was a nice way to spend christmas instead of sitting room and overeating.

It is a third world country so don't expect a lot, they have very little but they are the happiest people I have ever met.

We spent 2 days on Jinnack island which is a hut on the beach with no running water and no electricty, this was a good experience as it shows exactly how the Gambian people really live, we also visited a Gambian Compound which again just showed how happy the people are without such luxuries which we enjoy. it does make you think about what we take for granted.

All in all I would return to the Gambia for the climate and the friendliness of all the people we met and their hospitality even though they have nothing compared to us.