The Gambia Experience we have been providing holidays to The Gambia for almost 25 years and have all the expertise you'll need to help plan your perfect holiday, be it a summer break or an escape for some glorious winter sun.
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Service rating : my friends and I are very happy with our experience so much so that we plan to travel to the Gambia again.Product rating : we are 3 friends who traveled to Gambia for the first time and really felt safe. we liked the people who were welcoming and friendly. we all said we would return again in the future.
Service rating : We have used The Gambia Experience many times and certainly will again. All staff have honest opinions and know exactly what/where they are talking about which is very refreshing and gives you total confidence in what you are booking.Product rating : Having not been to Gambia for over 7 years, we fancied a change in resort and especially as it was my husband's 50th birthday, also wanted a bit of 'a treat', we were not disappointed! We had a sea view Villa and would highly recommend it. All staff wonderful!
Service rating : Everything went according to plan. Very well organised.Product rating : The hotel, which is in a wonderful setting, was friendly, clean and the food was excellent. Nothing was too much for the staff.
Service rating : Couldn't fault Juba our Gambia rep. He was spot on.Product rating : I would have given this hotel an excellent but for two reasons I couldn't. The first being that the rooms, mostly the shower rooms are very tired. The second reason I wouldn't stay at this hotel is because the minute you step outside the hotel you are constantly pestered by people wanting to be your guide. I think the hotel should discourage this. Infact it is the one thing that would put me off returning to Gambia at all which is a shame.
Service rating : Yes excellent holiday will book with you againProduct rating : As above
Service rating : Several Visits. Love itProduct rating : Only thing is rooms need updating
Service rating : Very good experience in terms of booking, effieciency, problem solving and avilability. Rep Lydia in the UK dealt with us excellently and the Rep in Gambia also approachable, knowledgable and good to have around. I would definately do next group booking with GEProduct rating : Some of the rooms were not in good order with doors not locking and safes in the room broken. But the majority of the rooms were of a 3* standrad and I was happy with the location, the staff were excellent and the outside area immaculate.
Service rating : Good information before our trip; warm welcome upon arrival and friendly and efficient representative. We did not call upon any services from the company during our stay and so cannot comment further upon their responsiveness etc. but we would travel with them again and would receommend them to friends.Product rating : We really enjoyed our stay at the hotel. The beach was great, the location was quiet in the evening but it was easy enough to jump in a cab to a more lively spot. The staff were efficient and friendly and we would definitely stay here again once the hotel has been refurbished.
Service rating : Very easy to deal with, booking took minutes.Product rating : Nice hotel but where out of season very quite. Good location. Food choice could have been better and same for lunch, dinner and even breakfast on occasions. Prefered Kombo Beach!
My overall experience of the holiday was very good. The check in at Gatwick was very efficient and quick and the reception at Banjul airport was handled well - no problems there, apart from the somewhat aggressive baggage loader of the coach who was actively soliciting a tip. The Kairaba hotel was perfect. The gardens are so magnificent and kept in pristine condition. The room was good and we were well looked after there. The service at the bar and around the pool was a little erratic, but that's rather typical of Africa and no complaints. I come now to the flight. The boarding procedure and exit procedure was handled well, both in Gatwick and at Banjul and the return flight was half an hour early which was a bonus. I had booked the extra leg room seats for my wife and myself under the misapprehension that this was some sort of premium service such as we've had before with the Gambia Experience which offered complimentary drinks and other perks. The misapprehension was entirely my fault - I should have read what was offered in more detail. Howver, the cost of £120 return each in return for a few extra inches of room has left me feeling rather cheated - the 33inches of seat pitch which we had is standard in the economy cabin of most airlines - £120 is an outrageous price to pay for this. Added to that the rip-off prices charged on board by Monarch to their captive audience (£4 for a small can of beer, or £2.50 for a cup of tea) and I have been left feeling rather unhappy with this part of the holiday, although I will admit that a meal and some small drinks were provided free on each flight which were well received. Summarising, we had a really nice holiday - everything in the Gambia was excellent, but the flight was a rip off in several ways. We will probably be returning to the Gambia next year, but I will be considering other alternatives to the Gambia Experience because of the above reasons. Shame really, because everything else was really good.
Service rating : good companyProduct rating : very nice ... like the beach area
Service rating : 4th booking with the Gambia Experience to the Gambia staff always been very helpful without any problems with my bookingProduct rating : 2nd time to this hotel but have been told it is under new management. Things that have changed we did not like were Not being able to eat in main restaurant inside in the evening without paying more Too much loud music every night at dinner Food got cold very quickly outside Could not use the inside bar in the evening without paying extra for the drinks As we came all inclusive and had a wrist band on it was annoying having to sign for everything from drinks to beach towels. As it was not like that the year before March 2012. It would be nice to be able to drink inside in the evening in a lounge bar not out in the pool bar which is used during the day for people to sit on with wet swim wear and it is nice to have a change in the evening. Had no problems with the staff, very polite and helpful. Lunchtime food was very good. Room was of a nice size and staff always cleaned it well and left clean towels. It was a lovely holiday and will use Gambia Experience again.
Service rating : The staff, both here in the UK, and in the Gambia were very helpful, and made the whole holiday something we want to repeat next year.Product rating : The hotel was in need of some TLC, but we understand that it is currently closed for a revamp. The staff at the Ocean Bay were friendly, and fun to be with. They made us feel really welcome.
Service rating : Good service from booking to arriving home. Obviously a well organised company which knows its market well.Product rating : Hotel could do with some refurbishment, bot comfortable enough and clean. Staff extremely friendly and helpful. Our main criticism is the excessive 5% charge for paying by credit card, which is not displayed anywhere and too late to be avoided when checking out.
Service rating : Well organised, but would have liked a more obvious presence by repProduct rating : Hotel is slightly jaded. As a sigle woman, I would have liked a wider range of organised activities as individual exploration was always interrupted
A very nice company to deal with, allways helpful and very fair
Service rating : Excellent says it allProduct rating : Ngala Lodge was suberbe inevery way...friendly staff, beautiful accommation,magical setting and Jenny so hel[ful and caring. Great holiday.
Excellent
Service rating : Really impressed with the customer service of the company through to booking, tickets and info pack and airport guidesProduct rating : Beautiful destination, lovely rooms. Staff could earn themselves a few more tips if they were a little more proactive with table service i.e. clearing the tables but also upselling drink orders. Restaurant - no real A La Carte - all buffet style which on a 4* star holiday it would be nice to be waited on, as due to being a little out from the main strip, going out to eat was a bit of a chore. Apart from that - lovely.
Service rating : Exceeded expectations in all areas especially at check in! 4th visit now, 1st time with Gambia Experience.Everything was perfect!Totally out classes the competition!! Will definately come back!Product rating : Lovely place, nice genuinely friendly staff. Good breakfasts. Definately one of the better hotels ive stayed at!
Prompt courteous & very helpful
Service rating : Helpful staff and excellent brochure. We really liked how regular contributions are made to local schools although slightly disappointed that when we were out there the schools were on holiday!Product rating : Location was excellent for us although some people we spoke to felt it was a bit limited being so far from the tourist strip. All the staff were extremely friendly, welcoming and polite. We had no problems being pestered on the beach by 'bumsters'. Our only real criticism was the evening meals which were a bit samey and, although different from home, didn't offer a great deal of 'local' flavour. The fish dishes thouigh were good. Hotel grounds lovely and excellent beach. Pool a bit basic (and cool!) but we NEVER had to fight for sun loungers - and the pool boy used to put our towels out each morning in exactly the right place! We had a great holiday.
Service rating : Think of everything, and excellent repsProduct rating : Hotel was fantastic, superb service, very clean and secure.
The bumsters, definitely, were the worst of their kind we have encountered. They ruined it for us.08-May-2013Restaurant service far too slow and food when it finally arrived was mediocre.
Service rating : Good service, friendly rep.Product rating : Friendly staff, single rooms too small. Moved to a better room- many thanks!
