Hiya
We absolutely love the Gambia but it is one of those places that it is difficult to recommend to someone you don't know!
We have been three times now and know many people who go back year after year but have also met some who found it a bit overpowering for them. This is mainly due to the 'bumsters'who hang around outside the hotels and try to earn money by taking you places and selling you anything and everything! Also trying to relieve you of your hard earned cash!
We always tell them no but also take time to chat to them and you will find the majority become quite friendly. However we have spoken to people who are put off going outside the hotel by this.
This is the only real complaint we have heard about the Gambia - apart from that the people are extremly friendly and will usually do anything for you.
We have had some superb meals here - we always stay bed and breakfast as there are some excellent restaurants. There are not that many bars around the resorts but enough to keep you going!!!
There are loads of beach bars aswell which are a must - very entertaining and again we have had some superb food at them.
The beach itself has been vastly improved - they had a problem with erosion a few years ago but have worked very hard to correct this and now have a lovely long white sandy beach. We went to a place called Paradise beach this year - there were 8 of us and not a soul to be seen for miles -BLISS!
There are loads of taxis which are very cheap - most people end up using the same taxi driver during their stay and they are a good way of getting between the resorts especially at night.
Which hotels have you looked at?
Any more questions just ask.
Caz and Dave

Have a look at this topic for more info on the Gambia:

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=12894

If you've still got any other questions then please ask!

Hi. The 2 hotels we've looked at are the mansea beach resort in kololi and the hotel Badala Park in kotu, the badala park seems like the better out of the two, but you can never tell!

Gambia, has so much going for it short flight, nice beaches, sunshine, but it was like being in prison for 2 weeks, unless you paid for a guide, be it a local lad, or one supplied by the hotel, you could not go out on your own.
On one occasion 4 of us went out 2 were men and we only managed to do a circuit of the hotel as we all felt threatened, we were surrounded by people who would not take no for an answer.
On another occasion 2 women were mugged on the steps of the hotel. This is just my personal opinion but this is one place i would never return to.

Not trying to put you off, but i've read bad reviews of badala park, but reading through many reviews the comments seem to change from year to year, perhaps change of management etc?
It is a fascinating place and outside the hotels gates it really is a different world, the people are very friendly but there are some , ie the bumsters who really are a pain. I'm an easy going person and quite laid back but some of them made my blood boil, i know people say that if you say no they will go away, but they don't, its like having a full time stalker, you try to laugh it off see the funny side etc, but it comes down to intimidation and complete hassle, you don't go on holiday for that.
One night we ventured out for a meal only 5 mins walk from the hotel, and a chap was hanging around and saw that i had cigarettes, he just walked in and sat at the table while we were eating, the owner wanted to throw him out , i said no, and let him have a cigarette, and started chatting to him , telling him about the hassle etc they cause and asked him why don't you lot just chill out and treat tourists with a bit of respect etc, he said the bumsters were out of order and could see the damage they were doing, we talked about football etc haviing a laugh about different stuff, he then asked if i could give him 50 dalasi to buy food for his family, i gave it to him and he shot off. This sums it all up , 1. its sad that he's so desperate for equiv £1, 2. to him its worth him giving me 10 mins of his time to get the equiv of a days pay , thats why you get hassle , if we could all hassle someone for a few minutes to get the equiv of our days pay none of us would work. To me its seems the easy way is to take 1 dollar bills and just give them out as you walk down the road just so you can get to the other end.
I think as a holiday its great, excellent weather, cheap food, a bit of culture, wildlife, somewhere different, but do not underestimate the bumsters, its not just a case of saying no.

That was the word i was looking for Intimidation, we could not move without feeling intimidated, and i am sure any body who has been to the gambia has had the buying of the babies milk for their poor brother, sister scam, whilst in a shop, which is promptly sold back to the shopkeeper once you have gone.
To me not being able to walk around freely without having to pay for a guide is not a holiday.

I was really surprised with the bumsters behaviour, you know that wherever you go on holiday you will get a sort of unwanted attention, i had been to zanzibar before gambia and thought it would be similar, but in zanzibar the people were really so friendly and kind , full of fun and so happy. Walking along the beach one day i saw a chap in a Liverpool football top and called over " Hey Liverpool" while tugging my shirt , he started to run off, his mates called him back and i told him i'm from england and talked about football and Liverpool, he thought i wanted his prized Liverpool shirt which was his only special possesion he had, the next day i gave him one of my england shirts, and he noticed my leather flip flops, he had tatty plastic ones so i gave them to him for some shells he had collected. He had nothing and asked for nothing, he thought all i wanted was his prized possession, thats the difference between the Africans i met in Zanzibar and the ones in Gambia, i was really dissapointed as i like to get out see things and meet people

We have never stayed at the two hotels you mention but I think the Badala Park might be the better of the two. I seem to remember someone mentioning the Mansea being a bit isolated.
We have stayed at the Sennegambia in Kololi and the Palma Rima between Kololi/Kotu. Thoroughly enjoyed both - rooms are quite basic but always kept very clean. We had clean towels every day and the sheets changed every few days. Breakfasts are better at the Sennegambia but then again it is quite a bit dearer to stay there.
There are more bars and restaurants in the Kololi area but as I said before taxis are so cheap it is easy to get around.
Unlike the previous posts we have honestly never felt intimidated or the need to take someone with us when we go out. We wander around the resorts and along the beach every day and have never felt threatened.
However there are guides always available if you need them.
Still think it is a great destination for guaranteed sunshine,great beaches,good food and nice people - well most of them!!!

Here's the topic that I started about the Badala Park last year:

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=76

As you'll see, it caused a lot of mixed reactions. I don't have any more info to personally add on the hotel, but if you go to the Holidays Uncovered website (http://www.holidays-uncovered.co.uk/frames.htm), there is a new review there from Nov 04.

Personally I would highly recommend the Senegambia Hotel - you can see my review on this site and on Holidays Uncovered.

HTH

Thanks everyone for your advice, our main reason for thinking of the gambia was because of the weather, the price (it costs the same price to go to the canary islands!) and the short flight. To be honest the bumsters don't really put me off, but would any innoculations be needed? We went to dominican republic last winter and had to have a hepititas jab, which we are still covered from, but would we need any others? Someone mentioned the mansea park hotel seemed isolated, from what i read i think it is, there is an unlit dirt track to leave it i think and it says make sure you take a torch That put me off it a bit! lol! Everyone's has said really nice things about the senegambia, i'm gonna look that one up and see if we can get in there. Thanks again for all your advice!

We had to have Diptheria, Tetanus and Polio boosters along with Hep A, all of which we got for free at the doctors. We were advised to have Yellow Fever as well, which we had to pay £40 each for (and go to a specialist travel clinic). A bit expensive, I know, but it lasts for 10 yrs and we're hoping to go to Kenya in the next couple of years, so we decided to have it done. We had also heard that some countries don't like it if you've been to the Gambia and not had the jab.

We also had to have 6 weeks worth of Doxycyline malaria tablets as advised by our doctor. I can't remember how much they cost though, but they weren't that expensive. We covered ourselves with Jungle Formula for the whole week as well and didn't get bitten once. There were some other guests who were covered in bites though!

i stayed at the badala park hotel in november 2001 it was brilliant. Id love to go again.

Just got back from the Gambia on Saturday, It was my fourth time there.
We went 4 years ago and stayed at the Tafbel in Kololi, nice resort and hotel. The second year was Badala Park (awful place) like Tenko. Last year back to the Tafbel. This year I stayed in a European compound that was a Gambian experience, the electricity was off a lot and the water too, but I had a great time, having met people over the years. Its a good idea to get a guide when you arrive and then you will not get the hassle, he can take you out and about especially to Banjul and Serrekunda markets. I would not go there on my own.
The weather was great about 89, beaches lovely, no jet lag.
Any questions, just ask me.
Cher

Could anyone tell the average price for food and beer in a typical Gambian bar / cafe.
k&j

The price is cheap for food.
Garlic prawns with rice £2.
1/2 chicken with bbq sauce ,chips and salad £1.90.
You can pay more but the food is good without paying too much.
Beer I do not drink, so I do not know.
Soft drinks 20-30p.
Hope this helps.
Cher

Hi,
cher thanks for your reply i think i will give it a go.

keith & judith

I hope you have a good time.
I have been 4 times already and i am thinking of going again in April.
Any questions, email me.
Cher

Oh dear, really can't make my mind up over the Gambia Really want to go somewhere that is warm this time of year and not too long a flight for a weeks stay. It does seem ideal..........

Maybe i'll just have to try it and make up my own mind

The best place realy to stay is The hotel Palma Rima, in i think its kololi... everything you need is really in the hotel grounds and it's a lovely hotel to stay in. The rooms/bungalows are fantstic quality and you are just about far enough away from most of the bumsters and beggars...for night time entertainment there are a few good bars just outside the hotel but also the entertainment in the hotel is a good laugh. There are outdoor bbq nights 3 times a week where evryone meets and mingles with everyone...its real family fun and the activities during the day also please the most stubborn traveller....
but also whilst your thinking of going short haul, hot..id also recommend morocco...both fabuloous places to go and experience...