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 The
Gambia's accommodation industry offers a wide and varied choice of
places to stay ranging from luxury or standard tourist
hotels to guest houses, lodges & self-catering apartments. As for
those looking for alternative boarding on a longer term basis there
are
holiday rentals which includes villas and bungalows with
additional services such as a cook or security provided by the
property's owner. And finally there are
houses for rent
for people looking for long-term stays in Banjul.
The
majority tourists who visit the Gambia have already booked their
rooms in an all-inclusive deal with one of the major European
tour operators. Rooms in the Kairaba Hotel, Sarges and
Senegambia Beach Hotel in Kololi are frequently heavily booked in the
winter tourist season which runs from mid-October through to
April. It is strongly advised that visitors confirm
accommodation bookings before making their outbound trip.
However, it is still always possible to find a last minute room
during the busy tourist season as there are numerous small guest
houses & lodges near the coastal holiday resorts of Kololi, Kotu
and Bijilo.
Most hotels are located on or near the coastal strip - see
map
(about 10 kilometres west of the capital, Banjul) in the tourist
resorts of Senegambia (Kololi),
Kotu,
Fajara,
Bakau,
Bijilo &
Kerr Sering.
Apart from the beach and coastal areas there are many rooms in purpose
built complexes located up-country in rural area locations or by the
riverside which would appeal to eco-tourists & independent travellers.
For budget travellers there are numerous guest houses & lodges dotted
around the fringes of the main resorts as well as further up-country.
It is also possible to stay with local families if you have the right
local connections though this is not advisable on your first visit.
One of the main features of the country’s tourist industry is it s
lack of high-rise hotel blocks as you may find in Spain and may
indicate sensitivity to the local environment. This may be due to the
country having learned from some of the environmental mistakes of more
well established vacation destinations. Currently the most rapid
development is taking place along the coastal region between Bijilo to
Kartong in South Gambia with Brufut having seen the opening of the
Sheraton 5 star hotel resort.
Main Tourist Hotels:
The vast
majority of visitors to Banjul choose this option as they
only intend to stay for around 2 weeks and want the basics such as
swimming pool, bar & restaurant and a beach to lie on. This category
of accommodation usually has all the above. In some lower rated
establishments the use of an A/C unit comes at an additional cost.
Small Hotels:
The Gambia has in recent years seen a rapid
growth in
smaller accommodations which appeal to the independent traveller. Many
have swimming pools as well as restaurants and the atmosphere is more
personal & informal however most are not on the beach. However they
tend to offer a quiet place to stay away from the hustle & bustle of
the main tourist areas.
Self-catering:
One way to cut down on cost is to consider
self-catering
accommodation. Many now feature a swimming pool, A/Cs, a restaurant as
well as room cleaning and laundry services. On average such places
tend to have larger rooms when compared to the standard hotels. Be
willing to haggle over prices especially if you plan to stay 2 weeks
or more. Do check for how close shops & restaurants are to the
lodgings.
Guest Houses:
 There
are many such places dotted on the fringes of the main resorts some of
which offer a cheap alternative. You usually get simple furniture and
some come with en-suite bathrooms though hot water is usually not
supplied but you can try to negotiate for a daily bucket of warm water
each morning.
Up-River & Bush Lodges:
 Though
they tend to be more limited in number such places can offer an ideal
retreat for tourists who are not bothered about being near the beach,
nigh-clubs or a lot of noise or to birdwatchers & anglers. Some are
located on the river banks while others are in the heart rural Gambia.
Quality of such lodgings can range from luxury to standard.
Camping & Backpackers:
This offers the cheapest alternative
particularly if you come
with your own tent as some lodges tend to hire out camping equipment &
tents. There are some dotted in the beach areas of Sanyang, Gunjur &
Kartong and others can be round further inland. There are places which
despite having rooms available are quite happy to allow you to pitch a
tent on their property for a cost. This has the added benefit of you
enjoying a shower & even possibly cooked meals on site. Whatever you
decide do not pitch a tent anywhere, always ask for advice and
permission to avoid a lot of bother.
Hotel Room Costs:
In Gambia these can start from around €15 a night
for for budget rooms. On average the cost is around €45 up to the
deluxe type which can start at around €120 per night for top quality
luxury lodgings. When booking a room in Banjul expect to pay around £20 per night for a twin room
with air-conditioning with an en-suite bathroom / shower with WC.
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Before You Sleep:
Once you have arrived at your
accommodation do check that everything you have been promised is
in place. For example mosquito netting (intact), as well as
functioning hot water, fan & A/C. Check whether local taxes are
included and don't settle for failed promises. Be prepared to
ask for a discount if a room does not meet your expectations and
a threat to leave usually gets you what you want or if you used
a tour operator then tell your tour representative.
And finally if you are an independent tourist and are booking
privately run accommodation then try and pay for just 1
night to try out the facilities & experience the local noise
levels.
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