we stayed at badala park for two weeks from the 11th dec till 25th dec 2010
weather was fantastic hotel very basic but everyone very friendly and helpful.... the hotel manager and reception staff were brilliant....breakfast was okay if you got any... beaches were lovely a bit rough if not a confident swimmer... bars, restaurant,and food out and about very good ... no street light so make sure you take tourches with you... please make sure you take the correct malaria tablets only 3 kinds are suitable .... 1 member of my party became very poorly with malaria (not recommended)luckily it was when we got home...english plugs so no adapters needed... we had a fab holiday when not mithered by the bumsters there are a pain in the backside they hang around outside hotel bars etc they need locking up they spoil ya holiday apart from that a fab holiday and would love to go again and back and to that hotel again as well....we also had the gala evening thrown in for free it was fit for a queen they worked so hard to make sure it all run smoothly food was excellent highly recommend .... we paid £928 for 4 people for 2weeks including xmas day well worth that

My pal and I stayed here in February and basic is what the basic means. The staff were brilliant but the gardeners could be a pain(trying to sunbathe and a wheelbarrowor a hose being trundled past you). Food was ok. The chinese restuarant was value - never had a bad meal. Going out of the hotel was like running a gauntlet, some bumpsters didn't take no as an answer, but good eateries close by. The tailor is great guy as is Amie the waitress from upstairs. Entertainment was ok and sometimes funny as in the darts/arrows competitions. The hotel was fine for my first experience of The Gambia and I will go back.

If your going to get a taxi they have green ones which are the tourist one which are more expensive and yellow ones that are proper cheap! BUT make sure you agree a price with them before you go anywhere! the market in Banjul is massive, I would suggest that you go with a local, (don't worry after the first couple of hours you would have made loads of mates), I would suggest making a mate with a Gambian that works in the hotel, because they cant afford to lose that job, and will make sure that your safe and happy, buy them a packet of fags for 70p or a little lunch and they will be happy. I would definitely go back to Gambia, but I wouldn't stay in this hotel ever again, but it was an experience!