The Gambia Travel Forum

Hi All
Just booked the above holiday for 7 nts from the 20th December 08 from manchester.

Any advice on weather, eating out, nightlife, beer prices, taxis, etc would be really appreciated.
Are taxis cheap?
Any nice lively areas by our hotel?
Drinking holes?

Thanks in advance

hi.
Palma rima, has alot of nice bars and restaurants around, churchills which is a english restaurant, it is a very nice environment, and taxis can be cheap, if you come on with a good driver, i hope you will have a nice holidays... for more info contact me

Hi

there is someone called Smiley in Churchills
do you know him?

beer (julbrew) is about 50 Dalasi. The wheather should be nice.

Is Churchills still operating? I saw in the internet recently that it is for sale.

Gambia for Christmas!

Weather will be wonderful, no problems there! Lightweight cardigan/fleece etc for evenings, as it is often so hot during the day. Plenty of factor.

Local resturants near your Hotel to eat in, or you are just a taxi ride away from Senegambia (5mins) where it is very 'lively' at night, again plenty of places to eat, supermarkets, clubs etc. Suggest that you go here to change your money as you will get a good rate. Local (yellow) taxi's outside your Hotel will be no problem. Pay half of what they are asking for each trip (or less if your bartering skills are good!) but just bear in mind that they are trying to earn a living. The Dalsis is fluctuating at the moment, so hard to pin point prices. Julbrew the local beer is around D50 to buy when eating out, but obviously it can be bought cheaper in the supermarkets and local shops. You will find it very expensive in the hotels.

Plenty of places to go for a night out, entertainment most nights starting around 9.30 in all hotels. Get out and about with a local tourist guide (one in uniform, you will find these in Senegambia OK, if not outside your hotel) and maybe have a night out at Jokors in Serukunda, plus a trip to some eateries on Kariba Avenue. Lots of options.

Do go to the beach restaurants during the day, as they all serve good, cheap local food. I walked the beach one Christmas day, stop'd at nearly all of them for a drink and to listen to the drumming (mesmarising!)

Churchils was an English bar just down the road from Palma Rima. It is still up for sale as we speak.

Have a great time.

Hi Hilary



Thanks for all this



Would you know any good and reasonable taxi driver who can be our "guide" and a taxi driver as me and my wife would prefer all day taxi so the same person could accompany us everywhere including touring



I would rather pay a driver per day like 10.00 till midnight , that way someone is with you all time and saves having to haggle with taxi drivers.

This is our 1st time in gambia, although very well travelled and street wise but still a little nervoius about tghese "bumsters"

We dont mind them talking to us but dont feel too comfortable being followed

having said that we are of indian origin and can always say we cant speak english.



Also heard some bad reports about our hotel

Just see how it goes