Holiday Beach Club Hotel

I have said it before and I will say it again, this hotel is fantastic, the people are wonderful, and the position is perfect! My husband and I spent 2 weeks at the Holiday Beach Club at the end of January this year this was our 4th visit to the Gambia and our 3rd time at this hotel. Yes the hotel is basic, but it is clean and the beds, although a bit on the old side are amazingly comfortable and huge! On this trip we had arranged through our friend and bird guide to do a four day trip up river staying at the Bird Safari Camp. We notified TJ on reception and our cleaner, and asked them to keep an eye on our belongings. I had no worries anyway, but all this was only confirmed on our return, our room was spotless and our cleaner bless her had taken a pile of our dirty washing and washed and ironed it all - you show me a hotel where you get that treatment without paying through the nose! I find it very hard to find any fault with this lovely, quiet little hotel, in fact I can't. The staff are wonderful and always have time for a chat and are never rude! We have just booked for next January when we will be taking our whole family - In some respects I don't want to recommend this hotel, because it's appeal is the fact that it is quiet and I would hate anything to spoil that, however it is a great hotel and it deserves the praise!!

Stayed in this hotel in May 2006 for one week, could have stayed there forever. The hotel itself was spotless, maids came in every day. We asked for a double bed with a balcony and was given this. Our room was also very spacious. We booked half board but admit we didnt always make breakfast but when we did it was enough to keep us going for the day. I would recommend this hotel to anyone and it was excellent value for money too.

We stayed at the Kololi Beach Club and yes it was basis and i had my own apprehensions and worries from reading reviews on this site, but found it to be great with very friendly people, and are always up for a chat! Everyday there were clean towels and sheets and the room was always swept out and kept tidy and clean. The gardens were beatiful and kept really well and i would recommend a room nearest to the pool, a single storey room as they are bigger with 2 queen beds in them. We fed the monkeys each afternoon between 5 & 7, dont be scared of them - they are only after a few peanuts and we had no problems with them! The breakfast is basis, (cheese, ham, bread, cereal, tea & coffee) but when you consider where you are and what some of the locals are waking up too each monring, then you cant help feel fortunate. The bbques are good and the people are great, maybe even a crab races tickles your fancy!!

On arrival I was a bit disapointed with the rooms, however after talking to some people in the pool bar who were onto their 3rd visit here, I learned to have a bit of a sense of humour about the decor, the rooms were very clean, linen & towels changed every day & hot water everytime we had a shower. The main thing about this hotel is the staff, always smiling & always got time for a chat. The gardens are very large & well looked after, we were in the older block B & every night about 7pm the monkeys all came from the monkey park next door to sit on your terrace & wait for some nuts, they are great fun & v cheeky. Breakfast was basic but adequate, snacks from the pool bar are good if you dont want to go out for lunch. This hotel is in a great position in resort, right at the end of the strip so you are in easy reach of all the restaurants, Chinese/Thai/Indian/Italian but you are not as pestered as other more central hotels, the bar opposite is GTS, that stands for Gambian Tourist Support & is run as a non profit making organisation to put all profits from the bar back into the local community & encourage employment & education so spending money there is a great excuse for a drink & listening to some live regge. All in all a great place to spend a winter week.

This is one holiday we will be going back to it was worth every penny. Anyone going take some taped music for the pool bar they need some. the rooms were clean the staff excc what more can i say.

holiday beach hotel is basic but has everything you need really ive been to this hotel 3 times and I have booked to go again the begining of april this year I cant wait I have been to the Gambia 7 times now and im always sad to go home It is a bit of a shock the first time you go because of the differance in their culture but once you get used to it its a very relaxing way of life I think its one of those places you either love it or hate it hope this is usefull to someone vivette.mullaney@btinternet.com

We recently made our 3rd visit to the hotel and again was really pleased with our stay. the staff are excellent and very helpful. meals in the hotel are basic, but good. eating out in the resort is great as there are a large variety of cuisines to try. the beach is amazing and the people are the friendlist and all want to know you, they never forget your name. don't feel intimated by them. if you say you are not interested they do leave you alone. we will be looking to go back next January

myself, my husband and daughter stayed at the holiday beach club for christmas and new year 2005, having been to the gambia three times previously, and staying at two other hotels i can honestly say we had the most enjoyable holiday there. the staff were friendly, the rooms were basic but cleaned every day, breakfast was minimal but that did not bother us as we ate out anyway. i am really looking forward to returning in november. jacquie bloxwich.

After reading so many terrible reports about The Holiday Beach, I felt I had to write a review as I feel this little hotel does deserve some nice comments! I have just returned from a two week stay and I have to say I was expecting the very worst but in fact was pleasantly surprised. It IS true that my standard room wasn't the prettiest room I have ever stayed in BUT it was kept spotlessly clean with clean towels every day,fresh bedlinen every 3 days and always piping hot shower water (even at 9pm). The bed was really comfy and there were no sightings of ants, mozzies, cockroaches or creepy crawlies of any description. As I was holidaying alone,I was a bit worried about hotel safety/security but again everything was fine with friendly guards both at the main gate and patroling the gardens by the beach entrance (where my room was situated) All of the staff were very friendly and helpful and always ready to chat and laugh (and how they love to chat !!) The gardens and pool area again lovely and well kept and the pool was cleaned every morning. It might be better if the restaurant dropped the "a la carte" title ! but I ate there a few times and the food was always nice and well cooked. The superior rooms are of a much better standard especially the bathroom, but only worth the extra if you are going to spend a lot of time in your room. With the standard rooms I really think it's just the luck of the draw as some are larger/ brighter/ nicer decor etc than others. The hotel is situated in a fairly quiet area just off the main Kololi strip and opposite the GTS (Gambia Tourist Support) Bar and restaurant-a fab place with cheap drinks, lovely food and great staff. I don't think it's a hotel for children-no facilities at all for them not even a kiddies pool and likewise not good for adults who want lots of daytime/evening entertainments available. But if you want to chill out in a friendly place you can't beat it. So, my advice is to remember that it IS only a BASIC 2* hotel in a very poor country,be realistic in your expectations and go with an open mind. Would I go back? Absolutely and hopefully for three weeks!!

After reading some reviews on this page, felt I had to say something, there are no rats at this hotel, I would have seen them, and my sister would have had a fit. I can only say I think the person who said she saw them was mistaken, I think it may have been lizards as there are quite a few of them, it is africa and im sure the lizards would have got rid of rodents. This hotel is basic, clean and friendly, it is ideally situated for restaurants, bars etc, It is on the beach, we have stayed in gambia 4 times now and this hotel is ideal for a clean bed and some where to place your clothes etc, we dont go on holiday to stay 24 seven in our rooms, As for being pestered, just tell them you have gambian friends say thanks and walk. If that dont work ignore them you would a begger at home wouldnt you? Take my word for it, its a wonderful location and a lovely place, just chill the weathers fantastic and the people are too. If you want cheap trips with someone you can trust and have a laugh with my advise is --- ask for Rodney and you will not go wrong, you wont get no hassle when he his with you. He will give you the true gambian experience. Also he will not be like your shadow he will come when you want him to. We have known him 4yrs and would certainly trust him. good luck have a great time remember your on holiday in africa init