Palma Rima Hotel

We were allocated a room in the pool block when we arrived, it was clean if rather basic but perfectly functional with everything in working order, ie shower and ceiling fan. The only thing to note is that the corridors to the pool rooms seem to attract an array of different insects, (probably looking for shade) and if you leave your door open they will of course come into your room but this was not a problem for us. If you feel the need you can buy a can of bug-spray locally which will quickly take care of this. Towards the end of the first week we went to visit some friends who were staying in the Bungalow rooms and we thought WOW, so promptly upgraded for the last week of our holiday. The bungalow rooms are really spacious and in my opinion a lot cooler than the pool rooms. All of the windows have intact mosquito netting so perfectly safe to leave open at night so that it was comfortable to sleep at night without the need for the air-conditioning unit, which was a bit of a blessing because that was priced at £9 per night!! Rooms are cleaned daily, with fresh bedding every 2nd day and clean towels daily. However they seemed to be having a bit of trouble with the laundry at the time we were there and on many days we had no towels at all but this was normally rectified by a quick call to reception. Breakfasts had something to suit everyone ie, cereals, fruit juice, bread, toast, preserves, a lovely selection of fresh fruit, cheese, cold meats, fresh tomatoes and for those who prefer cooked there was fried potatoes, fried eggs, beans, fried onions and fried tomatoes, so as far as we were concerned there were no problems at all. One thing to note was that we never had Banjul belly for the whole time we were there and ate many of the local dishes and heaps of sea food, in my opinion the food in the Gambia is far fresher and far superior to anywhere else I have visited. Hotel staff can't do enough to help you and are all very friendly. There are safety deposit boxes located in an office next to reception and if memory serves me right this cost approx £18 for a fortnight and a £5 refund when you return the key at the end of your hol. The office was open from 0800 till 2000 with an hours closure in the afternoon between 1400 and 1500 (I think). There is also a an exchange desk in the hotel which at the time was was offering 45 Dalasi to the pound however better rates could be found outwith the hotel. There is a dedicated entertainment team at the hotel however I cant really comment too much as we did not stay in the hotel too much but from the little we saw it seemed to be fine and never heard anyone complain. Our Tour rep Jen from Thomas Cook was absolutely lovely and she will go out of her way to help in any way she can, unfortunately she seems to be particularly attractive to mosquitoes and was covered in bites while we were there so if anyone is going out please leave her your unused anti-histamines because she just can't stop scratching!! All in all an excellent holiday and would definitely return to the Palma Rima.

I have been to third world countries in the past i.e. India Thailand i have never experieinced anything like the Gambia terrible place horrible people very intimadating and aggresive, we stayed at this hotel and upgraded to the bungalows as soon as we saw prisoner cell block h. I personelly would not recommend this hotel or place to anyone, if you want heat and relaxation at this time of the year go to Goa it also costs half the price when you are their we found the Gambia more expensive than most places in Europe. DONT GO

Having been to The Gambia many times I know what to expect in the country and how to deal with the Bumsters, and would advise anyone not to be put off going by reading some of the stories written by people who should stick with spain, or other european destinations. I would however advise choosing a different hotel to the Palma Rima. On our arrival we were shown to our room in the main block, which I can only describe as prisoner cell block H. The first thing I noticed was the smell, which was quickly overtaken by the sight of the bugs large and small and too many to count, which got worse as the night fell(the floor looked as if it was moving). We had a lovely view from our balcony of a row of thick trees that blotted out the sunlight. We were the lucky ones, other guest were woken by the bugs crawling over them in there sleep. There is no air con in the block just an inadequate ceiling fan which just served to circulate the hot air and smells. After one night in this room it was time for the upgrade to a bungalow room, this had a cost of £274 for 13 nights with air con, if you go to this hotel pay for the upgrade with your tour operator it is much cheaper but the air con is still payable locally and is expensive. The bungalow rooms are excellent and I have only minor complaints but they were acceptable being in a third world country. The food was awful. Breakfast consisted of slimey bacon with onions, slimey sausage with onions, slimey mushrooms with onions, slimey eggs, all very well if you like onions and slime. We only ate 1 evening meal in the hotel and that was enough to put us off trying anymore, go B&B and eat out at night. The bar drinks and snack priced are too high it is much cheaper outside of the hotel, if you are going to this hotel I suggest you go to the supermarket over the road where you can buy rolls with your choice of fresh filling for lunch. The staff are excellent as in all Gambian hotels I have tried. They are helpfull, polite and extremely hard working. The pool is great but the evening entertainment leaves a lot to be desired. All in all I will be going back to Gambia as I have mant times in the past, but I will never stay at this hotel again.

We stayed at the palma rima in 2003, we had two bungalows, side by side, which was great. Our daughters aged 14, 10 both enjoyed the day time and the staff were very friendly, the food was very good too. The only thing that spoilt it was the lack of evening entainment, the nite club (if you can call it that) was always empty,We ended up going out most nights. we visted the dutch whale a few times, which is just round the corner. We went back the following year christmas/New year, we stayed in the blocks this time, it's like a different standed alltogether. (very bad) and nothing els had changed. Will won't be going to that hotel again.

We returned to palma rima march 04 for wedding anniversary. We 1st went jan 02 and loved it both times hotel did seem a bit run down but the lebones owner had it up for sale and i think lost interest. If i had won the lottery i would have bought it as it was rumoured selling for 375thousand. Some of the old staff were still there as was charlie at baileys bar. We will return again as the hawkers dont hassle you when you say you've been to the gambia before all you need to say is amun halis(i have no money) and they know not to bother you again as you know part of the language. Also if anybody going wants a taxi driver just reply to this and i will send modo mobile number he will take you where you want to go a lot cheaper than most of the tourist taxi. I have done many trips in the gambia if anyone wants any gumph on it just let me know.

My boyfriend and I stayed here for a week in November 2001. I have only just found this website and felt that I had to write a review after reading some of the comments made by people who obviously have no idea what poverty is like. I am disgusted at some of the remarks that have been made here. I had never been to a third world country before visiting Gambia, I knew that the poverty was going to bad and yes, I was quite shocked at how bad it actually was. The hotel itself, I thought was fantastic. I was not expecting a palace (which it wasn't) and yes, it was very basic but comfortable and clean. The staff were very friendly too. We didn't get any hot water (which didnt really bother me as it was so hot outside!) and to be honest after driving through some of the villages I would have felt ashamed of complaining as there were people living in tin huts with absolutely nothing to their names BUT they still had a smile. We went on a trip around one of the local schools and I left in tears. All these small children were so welcoming, they even sang a song for us! We made sure that we took pens, crayons and sweets as gifts. Everyone that we had the pleasure of meeting out there were fantastic people. The bumsters outside the hotel were actually quite entertaining (and completely harmless), if you were bothered by them at all, all you had to do was to be firm and say no and that you were not interested in buying anything. The lady that stated that they were all petty criminals... did you actually speak to them? Or did you just assume that becasue they were poorer than you they would almost certainly try to rob you... You should be ashamed of yourself. We enlisted the help of a tour guide from outside the hotel called Del Boy! He took us everywhere, he looked after us very well so we looked after him. I would definitely go back to this hotel.

We have stayed at The Palma Rima Hotel now 8 times over the past few years, we are always happy there, last time we went at the end of December and over the New Year Celebrations I took my mother too, who is 77, she did not know what to expect, but was really made to feel welcome as we always are. New Years eve was really good, plenty of food and the in house entertainment was good too. Reading other peoples reviews over the past year really seem to paint a dim picture of Palma Rima, but we have never found it like that. Tourists who have never been to a Third World country before must remember that it is not going to be like other western European Countries and Hotels, it is very basic in comparison. All the staff are friendly, yes and the bungalow rooms are better than the "block", but saying that, the first time we went we had a room in the "block" and found it acceptable, since then, we have always had a bungalow room which is better, but slightly more expensive, but if booking with a tour company you MUST book a bungalow room when booking your holiday otherwise you will end up in the "block". I agree the pool is fantastic, yes the biggest pool in The Gambia and not crouded. All the management at Palma Rima know us on first name terms and there is nothing they would not do for us if we ask. We have always stayed Full or Half Board and have never had any complaints about the food and both of us work in food here in UK, we have also been round the kitchen at Palma Rima and can see no cause for complaint. There are plenty of places to eat outside of the hotel too and it is good to see what is on offer elsewhere sometimes. At the front of Palma Rima there is a bar called "King Burger" which is part of the hotel, this is quite a lively outside bar, accessable from the hotel grounds and from outside the hotel, some of the locals do go in there, but tend to stay at the road end of the bar, There is usualy some entertainment in there and they have a large TV Screen normaly tuned in to Football for those that are interested, there is also food available there. As others have said, don't be put off by the local bumsters, they are harmless enough, but be firm, once they know you are a soft touch they will always be after you for money. All I can say is, try it for yourselves !!!

The main reason people seem come away from holidays to The Gambia with tales of disappointment is that they have unrealistic expectations. If you're reading this review because you re considering going to The Gambia (or Palma Rima hotel) ask yourself 1) what holiday are you looking for and 2) what you want to get out of your holiday. The Gambia is a poor country, and even though the standard of life in the hotels is far higher than that in the surrounding countryside or cities, that luxury is nothing compared to the life you may e accustomed to in the West. Expecting all mod cons and resplendent comfort prior to your holiday (maybe fuelled by expectations set up by travel agents and glossy magazines) will lead to disappointment. In addition to this, not preparing yourself for the hassle tourists (especially white tourists) get from the beach bums will lead to a general feeling of intimidation. We went to the Palma Rima as a cheap alternative to other holidays which seemed a bit staid - Tenerife, Canary Islands, Majorca etc etc. I knew the standard of accomodation was going to be ropey (it was) and that the culture would be a bit of a shock (it was), but I was not prepared for the warmth of the locals, and the feeling of humility the holiday taught me. I came back relaxed, revived and a richer person emotionally. The Palma Rima Hotel itself was ok... the food wasn't brilliant, but then we weren't all inclusive, the rooms were basic but clean and the staff were always happy to help. The pool area was superb and is definetely worth choosing here over other hotels in the area. It is "the largest pool in The Gambia" and it was an oasis of luxury at all times. The entertainment was pretty good, if poorly attended, and it was handily located for walks to the beach / trips to Kololi etc. TIPS 1) Don't bother going all inclusive. The food isn't that good, and the bar for all inclusive customers is pretty crap. Eat out and you'll try some great food (particularly the beach bars) from all sorts of different countries (recommend Lebanese - of which there is strangely lots...) 2) Expect hassle, but don't let that put you off. We found the best way to get rid of unwelcome attention from hustlers was to look them in the eye, be really forward and introduce yourself, take control of the conversation quickly (and friendily), and say firmly you came out here for a walk to sort some things out with whoever you're with, so maybe you'll meet another time. Worked every time - they are persistent, but if they suspect they may be being rude, they will walk away. Rude just has a different meaning out there! 3) STAR TIP OF THE DAY: Don't bother with expensive tours organised by package operators. You will be told all sorts of stroies about tourists getting ripped off by locals etc and therefore pay the extra for the peace of mind. Touring in groups will be frustrating though, and you will miss alsorts. Much more fun, and highly recommended are the guides sitting outside the hotel in green shirts. These are official tour guides employed by the government and are free to all tourists. They expect no tip, and need only for you to pay their way as they travel with you. Always happy to organise any trip, custom made, and are full of great information. IN PARTICULAR, they are useful when going round cities as no-one will hassle you with them around. If Assan is still working there when you go, he is highly recommended. Very friendly, intelligent and knowledgable. 4) Air con is extra. We paid our tour guide to get us a fan and smuggle it in the hotel for us. It cost a fraction of the cost of the air con, and the only people who will find out are the cleaners who are easily bribed at the end of the holiday with a few dalasi. You will not be the only people doing this in the hotel and the cleaners are discreet after their palms have been greased. 5) EXPLORE. I still stop and take stock everytime I remember Bakau, Serrakunda or Banjul. Amazing - truly amazing. Expect to see extreme poverty however - this has a funny effect on you and is incredibly humbling. Especially when everyone is so friendly towards you. In particular, I recommend getting your guide to arrange for an open top jeep, and cruise round Serrakunda / Banjul - even if you don't stop for a wander, you'll see what life in Gambia is like. If you do stop, get the guide to show you round a West African market. An experience all in itself. 6) Don't be so cynical. Not everyone is after your cash. We met loads of locals who just wanted to say hello / talk Premiership football / know your name / tell you their stories etc. 7) Get a guide book before you leave (Lonely Planet / Rough Guide) - great source of info, and tells it like it is. 8) Pay extra for a chalet. We heard the main block was pretty desparate, and chalets were pretty cool. We loved our holiday and plan to go back some time in the future. It is a different breed of holiday to the usual, but as long as you realise this beforehand, you'll love every minute.

We have just returned from The Gambia, having stayed at the Palma Rima Hotel. The hotel itself was clean, rooms cleaned daily, sheets changed and clean towels, but as we didnt spend much time in the hotel room the decor didnt bother me ( it was plain ). The entertainment wasnt up to much but there are plenty bars/restraunts in walking distance. We found an excellent beach bar called The Kotu Beach bar. It was frequented by a lot of the locals but you got personal service. Your waiter tends to your every need the whole time you are there, we tipped him ( Morgan ) 50d everyday as he also walked us back to our hotel if we stayed late at night. He also aranged cheap trips to the monkey park and the crocodile pond and serrakonda market, i reccomend you look this guy up, he also kept our kids happy by chasing lizards, searching for sea shells and playing football on the beach, for this we tipped him extra of course. The food is simple but freshly made at this bar, i can reccomend the fish, chicken and bbq nights. we were fed for about £10 a night and that included all our drinks ( there was 4 of us btw ). We stayed b&b at the hotel, we didnt have any complaints. You could have fruit, cereal, porrige, cooked breakfast which consisted of beans, toast, eggs fried poached or scrambled, eggy bread, cous cous balls, onions with bacon bits, saute potato's. This changed from day to day but you could eat as much as you want. Drinks were tea, coffee fruit juices. The juices were very sweet and the milk for the coffee was uht, but it was all drinkable and eatable and i never once had the runs!!!!! We took some clothes for the children, and gave them out at the beach, next year we will take more and take them to the slums. We also found that we were asked for toiletries so we gave out what we had left at the end of our holiday and it was greatly appreciated. Please remember when going to The Gambia that this is a 3rd world country and dont expect a palace, but the people treat you like royalty. Outside the hotel you will find local bumsters, they are not criminals they just want to sell you something or take you somewhere, and they are much cheaper than the reps. We found them all very interesting and funny but never felt threatened by any of them. Try not to fall for the hard luck stories though. The markets are an experiance you will never forget but they are so cheap i wish i could have brought more back. If i can answer anyones questions please dont hesitate to email me on yammysr at btinternet.com, i really do reccomend The Gambia for a holiday and i have no reason not to reccomend the Palma Rima Hotel, unless your used to 5* hotels.

The hotel reception is quite grand however the rooms are very basic and are somewhat dated. However the grounds are well looked after and the rooms are cleaned daily. Overall the staff are friendly and helpful. The pool bar is pleasant althought the disco is a bit deserted. Our group attended very little of the entertainment preferring to venture out to many excellent restaurants, bars and clubs nearby but we did enjoy a night in the bar at the hotel with a local band. The pool at the hotel is excellent, very large and clean. The location of the hotel is ideal - a short walk from the beach - which is beautiful, taxis are available outside - we found them safe and reliable and there is a good selection of restaurants/bars around the corner (and a couple of mini markets). The weather was excellent and overall we found Gambia to be a fantastic holiday destination - we are all very sorry to be home again.