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Holiday Reviews > Africa > Gambia > Cape Point > Cape Point Hotels > Sunbeach Hotel > Read Reviews
| Board Basis: |
Bed & Breakfast |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Mar 2008 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomson |
| Submitted
By: |
Mr P Reeve |
| Overall
Rating: |
9/10 |
| Comments: |
It was everything we wanted in a hotel. Clean and attentive staff that cared that you had a good holiday. They helped when needed and stay away when not...it made the holiday for us. Meals were OK in the Bistro , but you could be adventerous and eat outside the hotel, which we did every night. Not as cheap as you would think for the poverty....Be prepared for a lot of walking, as the taxis will follow you until you give in or need them. No hassle , if you simply explain no, without expletives. Brilliant holiday all round.... will be back
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| Board Basis: |
Bed & Breakfast |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Dec 2007 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomas Cook |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs D Bainbridge |
| Overall
Rating: |
9/10 |
| Comments: |
We have been to the Sunbeach every year since 2004, either as a couple, or with children or family members. We keep going back because the hotel provides all that is needed for a wonderful, relaxing holiday.
The hotel is very clean and the staff and facilities top rate. The food is excellent although the price for dinner is expensive compared with outside restaurants so we go B+B and eat out at night. The staff are all friendly, efficient and well trained. The rooms are spacious and the pool area very clean. There is no rush for sun beds and it is quiet and relaxing around the main pool where you can be the only person using the pool at any given time. There is also waiter service. You can sign all bills to your room but we pay as we go so we can leave tips (5-10 dalasi which is 10-20p) because The Gambia is a poor country and wages are very low. The staff will remember you each year you visit. Every day there is happy hour at 17.30-18.30 and we use this to try out the cocktail of the day for half price, although the drinks are not expensive anyway.Each year we return we see others that are regular visitors to the hotel, which just goes to show that others view it as highly as we do. I have been to many places which I have enjoyed, but the Sunbeach is my only regular return base. My brother and his wife came with us on this holiday, and loved it so much they are returning with us in 2008.
It is true that you get a bit of hassle from porters at the airport but use them and just give them a pound for their trouble or say no and they will move on. you also get a bit of hassle when you leave the hotel. I suggest you use the official tour guides (OTG's) who sit outside the hotel. They are there to keep the bumsters away and will take you wherever you want to go, they can arrange any trip you wish for less than the tour operators and taxi fares are all pre-set prices. They don't get paid any money by the hotel but are there to keep tourists happy so please tip them if you use them. Anyway, the hassle is not so bad and a firm no will get rid of them.
Trips-I suggest the monkey park, the crocodile pool, Paradise beach, the 'Roots' trip and Banjul market is a real eye-opener. Don't be afraid to haggle over the price. You should aim to pay a third to half of the original asking price. If you do you will get a good bargain and the seller will be happy too. Wood carvings are good gifts but do vary in quality so shop around and the cloth colourful bags on every stall are strong and great for work.
Food is excellent wherever you go. We like the Chinese restaurant, Chapman's, the Hungarian and go to MR Bass if you want a good atmosphere and African entertainment. All in all an excellent choice for your holiday base in The Gambia
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| Board Basis: |
Bed & Breakfast |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Dec 2007 |
| Tour
Operator: |
First Choice |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs S Higgins |
| Overall
Rating: |
8/10 |
| Comments: |
The Hotel is spotless and well managed. Food is fab, very high standard, lots of variety. Plenty of fish dishes which were really nice and I'm not a fan of fish.
A few restaurants outside the hotel, food not up to much. On the positive side didn't have any sickness problems so it all must have been cooked enough!
Entertainment excellent a mix of African and one night a fantastic band with Reggae and European pop from 60's up to date. The African style acts were particularly good. I would say it was the best hotel entertainment I have seen.
Outside the hotel you need to be firm as you get pestered all the time by locals who want to show you around for money. It could be a bit intimidating if you were say a group of females or elderly. The local are nice people and we felt safe walking out at night.
Plenty of sun beds. Nice beach but beware of the rocks in the sea!
There are daily aerobic sessions, jogs, water and beach volley ball and they entertainment team are a nice group of people.
Beware at the airport there are "porters" trying to grab your luggage for money. They are greedy and expect £1 and as soon as they get it they abandon you. There is no need for a porter as the airport is tiny and they coaches are nearby. On the return journey they were asking for paper money for the pound coins they had. They must be making a mint in local terms. It is good to help the locals but this was not the way to go about it.
Would definitely go to Gambia again a perfect climate and nice people. Perhaps may try another resort next time.
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| Board Basis: |
Bed & Breakfast |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Oct 2007 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Gmbia Experience |
| Submitted
By: |
Mr N Dyer |
| Overall
Rating: |
8/10 |
| Comments: |
The Sunbeach Hotel is an attractive hotel situated right on the beach so it`s a great location. It does need a little sprucing up which the new manager said was going to happen this year, although alot of the work has to be done in the holiday season (you can`t paint outside in the rainy season).
We liked the area as it was quiet with only a few restaurants serving good cheap food which is why we went bed and breakfast, as the hotel restaurant is good but you pay the full European rate. Outside most good hotels there are official hotel guides who will take you anywhere you want to go for a cheaper rate than if you went with your holiday agent. They will even walk with you down to the shops or market stalls which I recommend if it`s your first stay in Gambia as you will get pestered by people even though they are not supposed to do this. As they are very poor you can understand this and as this was our second stay here we were much more comfortable and when you learn a few words like "no thank you" in the local language you don`t get bothered much.
In fact, once you realise these people are in fact very friendly and you talk to them your holiday just gets better and better. The hotel staff are great and you can learn about their lives if you take the time to get to know them. The only downside is that some are given English money as a tip which is of no use to them and will keep on asking you to swap it for Gambian money which is ok but I could have done without it on my holiday.
My best market stall was no23 run. His carvings are very good but shop around and have fun haggling. We have two sons and they really loved it and want to go back every year!
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