Bijilo, Golden Beach Hotel Review

Overall Rating

Peace and quiet. Very courteous staff. The Golden Beach is a well kept hotel with aircon fitted in every room. Little pestering or hawking by locals, just genuine interest. No bumsters here!

The flight was cramped with slow and surly service.
ThomasCook Fly: Bring your own supplies or you might dehydrate to oblivion.
Twice previously I've gone with Monarch who were fine.

We were looking to go to Gambia again but for some real relaxation.
The Golden Beach Hotel is only a year old and is in Bijilo, an area 3kms from the main resorts. So it seemed like a good bet and likely to be free of the dreaded bumsters.
Bumsters is the Gambian term for young lads that hang around the hotels hassling for business or favours from the guests.

After enduring the flight, well it is a charter, we had a surprisingly short transfer to the hotel. We were welcomed very professionally with a cool drink.

The entire hotel was kept spotless at all times. It only has 26 rooms so they are really able to keep their eye on the ball.
The grounds are small but nicely laid out and fairly sheltered, which is nice in the evening if the wind picks up.
The hotel has quite a family run feel to it. Being small it isn't long before all the staff get to know you. This makes it just a little more special.

There is a medium sized pool there but really the relaxed mood of the hotel doesn't lend itself to exercise, so this is best used as somewhere to cool off or relax around.

The restaurant food and service is good if somewhat safe in it's choices. There was however some talk at the end of my stay to look at the menu again.
Food and drink prices are reasonable but you can get much cheaper if you venture out to the neighbouring hotel or restaurants, only a 5 minute walk away on the beach or highway.

The staff could not have been more helpful, polite or respectful.

The area is 3 kms away from the main tourist hub, so this is not an area to go to if you want to go to the clubs and bars, as you would be paying for taxis all the time.
It is quite safe to walk around both during the day or at night. You may attract an interested local, looking to chat as you walk, sometimes a taxi touting for a fare but we experienced none of the hassling, which can be so troublesome in Bakau and Senegambia areas.

If you want to relax away from the hustle and bustle, and have a base to see the real Gambia from, then I couldn't recommend this hotel more, especially in this price range.

They have a website. It's very true to life.
http://www.goldenbeachhotel.gm/