Kotu, Badala Park Hotel Review

Overall Rating

i have read many reviews that have been placed on here and see a mixed feeling.

As i have stayed at Badala Park Hotel for 3 weeks at a time over a 6 year period, about 4 months in total i believe i know it well.

firstly you either went to badala park or are considering going there because you are on a budget and we all know you dont get the hilton hotel for a few quid a night, you book budget you get budget.

having said that you can pay much more in the gambia and get no better, i have spoken to so many people who were on hoilday at the same time and though badala was as good if not better and there is no doubt that if its beach you want its probably the the best in the gambia, the sun loungers at the beach are free and there will be a bar porter ready to bring drinks and snacks if you require straight to you sunbed, a tip at the end of the day of around 50p will keep them happy. you can also take advantage of many juice stall the will squeeze you a drink from fresh fruit.

back to the hotel. well yes rooms are basic, no tv or stereo,but most are of a good size unless you are in one around the pool area which i dont advise if you want a little quiet before 11-12 pm. i find j block to be best for me and always go for upper floor, get to know your room cleaner and tell them to look after you and you will treat them on the day you leave, around 2 quid, will be one of the best things you do, you will soon see flowers layed apon your bed and other little things.

food at the hotel not outstanding but not too bad, but a taxi to senigambia strip will give you and abundance of night life and enough resteraunts to eat from for a month. i see people talking about taxis, yellow, green, well it dont matter what they are you dont have to pay more for the green ones than a yellow one just dont get one from the taxi rank because then the price will be fixed by the rank. get yourself out of the main gate and go right to the juction here you can tell them what you will pay, 20 delassi will get you to senigambia, if they refuse the offer keep walking and they will change there mind within 10 ft.

if you do make a local friend or seek a or someone to take you around remeber that thats all they can do, they will not be able to get rid of any bumsters that aproach you else they will get in trouble. my advise is to get your self out and about on your own, you wont be at any risk at all, they are just trying to make a few bob and have no intention of harming you, gambia has a vey very low crime rate and most of the bumsters are just ouside your hotel area, go beyond this and you will be fine and left alone apart from the odd one at serrikunda market. so remeber you can go about quite freely and enjoy the whole holiday if you try. dont ignore the bumsters that wont work, just say no ta mate have a good day and dont stop walking, dont matter if you do but as soon as you stop walking you have invited them to talk. like i said they are no harm and most are quite nice people.

the main rule is to get down on the beach get a little tan and then your free to go, you skin is no longer snow white so they dont see you as a new commer and belive that you have been there long enough to know your way.

there will be no doubt that someone will stop you but thats just part of the learning prosses and im sure they will be nice. dont use locals to book your taxis or trips, they say they can save you pounds and the can compaired to tour operators prices but you can do even better as the price they give you will include a split with the driver and on top of that you have someone with you all day.

barter on every thing you do or buy and dont be shy else you will pay well over the odds, a good statring bid would be a quater of the asking price not half, from that you will have fun working to a reasonable price that your happy with.

do get out into the local comunity and into the villages, we had some of our best days here, cooking with the locals and dancing with the children at there compounds, its nice to take something with you but they will happy to feed you for free aswell even though they are extremly poor.

walk to the local supermarket. turn left out the gate and go straight for about half a mile passing the old bridge over the river and passed the other hotels. there is also a money exchange there who you can barter with and get much more that you will at the hotel, dont change you money up on the street with locals its just not worth the shortfall risk.

dont let anyone put a free gift of beeds round your neck, or they will expect a free gift back lol.

ok now dont let any of this put you of that is not the intention because you can have a holiday to truly remember in the gambia with loads of fun for next to nothing and with such lovley people and that they are. most visitors return, i know that as i see them each year. the weather is second to none, the people great, beach at badala very good, night life in senegambia good.

from the beach walk to the monkey park, you will love feeding the roaming monkeys from your had as they come and stand in front of you.

try the crocadlie park, ever thought of stroking a live croc that is not contained but just lounging around, dont worry they say hes a veggie ha ha .

ho by the way if you want to take my advise on the room placement just ask at the recepton desk, you will already have been located a room but they are happy to change that for a nice cold coke at the most.

safe box in room is payable at desk in reception, not cheap but DO use it and dont skimp on that.

take your sun oil with you very expensive over there, a bottle for each week your there.

DO get jabed up at ya doctors before going, i have meet people who dont and im not sure why as its free with your doctor and maleria is tablets will need a prescription, that all you will pay for, you will need enough to cover your hoilday plus one week before and 4 weeks after. i find tesco always comes out at the best price for these, but do get the note from you doc and not just any of the shelf .

Members' Comments onGuest's Review

• C Laws on 9th Oct 2009

  Fantastic review................very helpful in all sorts of ways. Thank you.