Gambia - Kairaba Hotel
Discussion
I've just booked a week at this hotel. I leave on the 12th of this month.
Checked on Trip Advisor and it seems to be OK.
However, PH is the ultimate litmus test. So, over to you. Where have I made my biggest mistake? What's wrong with the hotel? Where in the World should I have gone to instead?
I know, I'm an idiot and should have asked you first.
I'll get my coat.
Checked on Trip Advisor and it seems to be OK.
However, PH is the ultimate litmus test. So, over to you. Where have I made my biggest mistake? What's wrong with the hotel? Where in the World should I have gone to instead?
I know, I'm an idiot and should have asked you first.
I'll get my coat.
Don't know this hotel, but The Gambia is a very lovely place. However, you WILL get hassled constantly (not in a menacing way), which is a shame. I say this as someone who has visited various countries and is used to dealing with street traders.
It has been a few years since I was there, but my understanding is that there are official guides that wear a brown uniform and have a photo ID card. Various people may SAY they are a guide, but unless they have the uniform and badge, then they are not. Ridiculously cheap to hire a pukka one anyway, so maybe think about hiring one if only to keep all the others at bay.
Sex tourism is rife - male and female. Food and wine in the hotel was surprisingly good - and cheap.
Someone (probably a hotel worker) will try to befriend you and invite you to their compound. Tis a ruse to elicit money.
Kunte Kinte (sp?) did not exist / did not come from The Gambia, but the river trip is nice anyway. Driving through the town on a market day is an experience - women dressed in vibrant colours carrying all manner of items on their heads. Local taxis (mini vans) with goats tied to the roof rack. Seemingly no rules of the road. Locals want your money and empty plastic bottles.
I never felt unsafe, even being hassled.
Have fun!
It has been a few years since I was there, but my understanding is that there are official guides that wear a brown uniform and have a photo ID card. Various people may SAY they are a guide, but unless they have the uniform and badge, then they are not. Ridiculously cheap to hire a pukka one anyway, so maybe think about hiring one if only to keep all the others at bay.
Sex tourism is rife - male and female. Food and wine in the hotel was surprisingly good - and cheap.
Someone (probably a hotel worker) will try to befriend you and invite you to their compound. Tis a ruse to elicit money.
Kunte Kinte (sp?) did not exist / did not come from The Gambia, but the river trip is nice anyway. Driving through the town on a market day is an experience - women dressed in vibrant colours carrying all manner of items on their heads. Local taxis (mini vans) with goats tied to the roof rack. Seemingly no rules of the road. Locals want your money and empty plastic bottles.
I never felt unsafe, even being hassled.
Have fun!
You should be happy with your choice. Until the building of the Sheraton fairly recently, the Kairaba was said to be the best hotel in the Gambia (I think they're both claiming that title at present). The grounds are lovely and very well tended. Plenty of bird life, including a pair of peacocks. You quite often see monkeys, generally en route from the Monkey Park to the Senegambia Hotel (as the Kairaba is between the two).
The food is pretty good, especially the choice at breakfast time. We only went in the posher restaurant once (as it was our 25th Anniversary) and though the food and service was excellent it was virtually empty most nights. I think most people just go to the restaurants on the Senegambia strip (which starts just outside the hotel entrance).
We went for a week in Feb 2008 and the temperature was around 30 most days, though it did rain once (very unusual, we're told).
I'd recommend that you wander over to the Senegambia Hotel at (IIRC) 11:00 one morning, as they feed the local vultures every day. It's quite a sight. We did 3 excursions: Boat trip up the river to James Island, Makasutu Culture Forest and a day trip which included a visit to a local school, a traditional village, a distillery and lunch by the beach. I'd highly recommend them all, as you get to see so much more of the country.
You've probably already read about, or been warned about, the Bumsters. You WILL get hassled everywhere outside the hotel, but it's generally harmless. You'll either keep calm and just accept it as an occupational hazard, or get really wound up, which could ruin your holiday. If you go on any of the day trips, you'll get a better understanding of why they do it. The Gambia is just total poverty everywhere, not just isolated pockets as in many other countries.
If you need any more info, send me an email.
The food is pretty good, especially the choice at breakfast time. We only went in the posher restaurant once (as it was our 25th Anniversary) and though the food and service was excellent it was virtually empty most nights. I think most people just go to the restaurants on the Senegambia strip (which starts just outside the hotel entrance).
We went for a week in Feb 2008 and the temperature was around 30 most days, though it did rain once (very unusual, we're told).
I'd recommend that you wander over to the Senegambia Hotel at (IIRC) 11:00 one morning, as they feed the local vultures every day. It's quite a sight. We did 3 excursions: Boat trip up the river to James Island, Makasutu Culture Forest and a day trip which included a visit to a local school, a traditional village, a distillery and lunch by the beach. I'd highly recommend them all, as you get to see so much more of the country.
You've probably already read about, or been warned about, the Bumsters. You WILL get hassled everywhere outside the hotel, but it's generally harmless. You'll either keep calm and just accept it as an occupational hazard, or get really wound up, which could ruin your holiday. If you go on any of the day trips, you'll get a better understanding of why they do it. The Gambia is just total poverty everywhere, not just isolated pockets as in many other countries.
If you need any more info, send me an email.
Blib said:
I've just booked a week at this hotel. I leave on the 12th of this month.
Checked on Trip Advisor and it seems to be OK.
However, PH is the ultimate litmus test. So, over to you. Where have I made my biggest mistake? What's wrong with the hotel? Where in the World should I have gone to instead?
I know, I'm an idiot and should have asked you first.
I'll get my coat.
heres what you do when you hit the beach ............your going to get more beach peddlars swarming around you like a bee to honey , Checked on Trip Advisor and it seems to be OK.
However, PH is the ultimate litmus test. So, over to you. Where have I made my biggest mistake? What's wrong with the hotel? Where in the World should I have gone to instead?
I know, I'm an idiot and should have asked you first.
I'll get my coat.
so the first large chappie you see ...chuck him 20$ to act as personal body guard , works a treat !!!
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