Kombo Beach Hotel, Banjul Review

Good Points
Great location with a fantastic breakfast (omelettes, sausage, bacon or pancakes, a hard choice) before walking onto the beach and having your mattress to the lounger you wanted carried for you. The rep was fantastic and a credit to the Gambian Experience and took time to have a chat and make you feel wanted. Most of the staff were excellent outside the security and reception areas.

Bad Points
The security was suffocating even on looking at photographs afterwards there they were, in the background. The women of the beach were very friendly and we took time to interact with them but when they were invited to talk with us the security chased them. Security sitting around the gate gave such a bad impression and we felt we were being treated like criminals. Make sure to have a shower when the hot water is available as it does not seem to be on demand when most needed on coming off the beach.

General Comments
Don't expect to leave the hotel and go for a walk or select any other means of transport other than the green taxis parked outside. It was much better to walk up the road and get one with a yellow stripe which was much cheaper or get a bush taxi much cheaper still. You just need to be firm with them, they are only trying to make a living in the holiday season. If you had guests they had to be signed in by a certain time and signed out by a certain time through another gate. This was more akin to a convent school where you were being watched all the time. What you need to do is get local guides as they are brilliant people who will look after you well and make sure you get the best out of your holiday. Agree your price up front or daily and expect to include them for drinks along the way. They will take you to their homes (buy a bag of rice) where you will taste the REAL local food which is fantastic meet the families and build relationships you will want to return to again and again. I have just booked my third holiday to the Gambia but it will not be to the Kombo.