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.
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. Hotel rooms 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.
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 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.
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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. 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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