Holiday Reviews
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same trip can have different views!
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Hotel in The Gambia, independent reviews
 Reviewed 10 Jan 2009 by Ellie Phillips |  |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The Gambian people were probably the most memorable part of a trip which included many exciting moments including spotting amazing birds, holding snakes, watching the fiddler crabs in the mangrove swamps and seeing wild baboons. The hotel owner at Hibiscus knew we were very interested in Gambian music and she let us know about an exhibition nearby with musical demonstrations and instruments. Aliaghe (hotel guide who has all the contacts) took my son and partner along and then arranged for the musicians to come and play at the hotel. We had a fabulous evening with them including some beautiful korah playing, great dancing from the hotel's chef and amazing drumming by 8 year old Mussa. It was a real highlight.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Stay out of the main tourist strip of Senegambia. It's not actually that terrible (there are a couple of nice hotels there) but it doesn't seem to be very representative of what we saw of the country. There is so much to see in this country and so many fabulous people to talk to - you don't want to spend your holiday eating English food, chatting to other English people and shooing the Gambian people away!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes - I think so. Many of the hotel's staff were from the local village. The Blue Bar, run by the hotel, is popular with locals. The hotel used solar power.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Just fantastic. We all loved it and want to go back immediately!
| Reviewed 20 Apr 2008 by Hannah Cresswell | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Being located in a non-touristy, local town meant that we had lots of opportunity to talk to local people which was the best way to learn about the country and make some new friends. It also meant that everywhere we went we saw real people living real lives, something that wouldn't necessarily have happened if we were staying in a resort.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be aware that to travel around you will be reliant on transport and that this can be expensive due to petrol prices and the strength of the pound. The hotel is in a lovely location but a bit out of the way.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Some of the employees were from the local village and water was heated using solar panels.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Something for everyone if you go out and look for it (or stay by the pool and think about it!)
| Reviewed 19 Dec 2007 by Tony Ellingham | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Great place to relax and recharge your batteries. An ideal choice if you want to combine experiencing a slice of Gambian life, but want the facilities of a quality hotel.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If you want a supermarket and lots of bars within walking distance stay in the tourist strip. If you want to avoid the crowds, but be in a good location for exploring this is ideal.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes. Owners of the hotel from the UK, but are committed to ensuring people who stay at the hotel benefit the local community. The hotel supports local schools and a local football team.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Loved it and would go back. Ideal choice if you want quality accommodation, but to experience the real Gambia.
| Reviewed 12 Jan 2009 by Lisa Smith | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The Gambian people in general and the staff at hotel in particular - very warm and helpful and interesting. The bird life is amazing.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If you are taking things to give away, the things needed are notebooks and rulers and pencils and coloured pencils rather than pens... also things like footballs, t-shirts, baseball caps etc, and kits - shorts and tops for sport.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
In some respects yes... hiring local guides and taxis, gifts and tips for individuals, and equipment for a school, but I’m not sure that the hotel is doing very much that gets passed on, and it is relatively expensive... I felt the profits were going straight out of the country and into a fat bank account in the UK.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Country - 7 / 10, food and drink - 7/10, people - 9 / 10, wildlife - 9 / 10, management / owner - 5/10.
Read the operator's response here:
Thank you for your review, all comments are much appreciated. However, I would just like to comment and clarify point 3. The hotel has been operating for nearly 3 years and all takings have been invested back into the hotel, including the addition of new rooms and a treatment centre. The construction and development of the hotel took significant financial investment and any true profit is a long way from being realised. The hotel is 100% family owned and run and our intention is to operate the hotel long term. All members of the family have worked hard to achieve what we have and it is as much a way of life as it is a business venture.I take note of your comments on the expense, however, the cost of eating and drinking within the Gambia has naturally increased with both a rising inflationary rate within the country over the past few years, coupled with a falling exchange rate of the Dalasi to the Pound Sterling. When the hotel was first operational the exchange rate was 54 Dalasi to the Pound but in recent weeks had fallen to 37 Dalasi to the Pound. We welcome constructive criticism and would therefore be interested to know if there is anything we could do to further improve the facilities and offer at the hotel.