The Gambia??

[itsmefolks]

My wife and I are thinking of going to the Gambia next year. We have been to Tunisia a few times and feel the Gambia may be a bit more Africa!! Can anyone assist in hotel venue etc? We are looking for a beachside hotel with somewhere to look around in the evening. Decent food in the hotel is also a priority. My wife loves shopping and markets!! My preference is bird watching and butterflies!! Anyway any help would me most appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[theshedman]

Hi, my sister has recently visited Gambia and said that she enjoyed it, but there were a couple of things she found off putting. Firstly was that when on the beach the hotel supplied security guards to help keep the people trying to sell her and others stuff away from them. Without the security they would have had no peace. The second thing was that whenever they went out from the hotel they had beggars on to them the whole time which can put you off as you get no time to enjoy the scenery as you are always on your guard against them. I have friends who have been to Tunisia and I have been to Egypt and this is often a problem in those countries too. I would go to Goggle and put in "The Gambia" and also take a look at Trip advisor as you may get more info from there.

[boxtops]

My SIL went there and enjoyed it, but much the same as shedman - you are not free to wander about. It's a thin country with the coast being at one end. As shedman suggests, have a Google - Google "birds Gambia", not sure what you might find. If the markets in Gambia are anything like the souks in Morocco, you'll need guide/guard there too....!

[itsmefolks]

Thanks for that. Seems a shame these people are spoiling everything! I can understand the situation, but from experience I feel they are shooting themselves in the foot!. I remember going to Tunisia 25 years ago before it became touristy and it was rife with beggars in the town centre. Even then we got the “remember me I work in your hotel” routine! I also remember other locals getting mad at the beggars and kicking them to stop! I guess it will always go on. Last year we came home with nearly all our spending money. The constant hastle meant we could not look at anything or make up our minds on a purchase. Instead we ended up giving the lads working on the beach our spare money. Also the cleaners in the hotel and the ancillary staff at the airport. I think anyone who wasn’t on the make got our holiday money to be honest!! Education from the tourist boards would go a long way in these poor tourist areas I feel.

[dzug2]

Also bear in mind that tropical diseases - malaria, yellow fever - are prevalent in Gambia and you really can't afford to pretwend there's no risk

[DTCwordfan]

that is a challenge - try the black card concierge staff at Amex Black card holders....