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jambo
3300 Posts |
 Posted - 10 Nov 2009 : 20:18:18
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hELLO PEEPS, I AM OFF TO GAMBIA TOMORROW. i meant to let people know before today but life got busy. I am so looking forward to seeing my friends and families in the villages. UK at the present seems like a struggle.
I managed to get a good deal on thomas cook through JLM travel 9 nights for £319 band breakfast in badala park, basic but as I have a program which see me out every day    bed, breakfast, air condition and shower were my requirements.
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toubab1020
12311 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2009 : 23:18:42
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Ah so you are not living "local" then:
"air condition and shower were my requirements." 
Enjoy !! |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 10 Nov 2009 23:19:45 |
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molly75
United Kingdom
86 Posts |
Posted - 29 Nov 2009 : 05:26:40
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| Jambo you must have been at Badala Park the same time as me!! Hope you enjoyed your trip and hope you also enjoyed badala. : )) |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 29 Nov 2009 : 08:36:41
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2 people at Badala at the same time with very different experiences.
Can anyone tell me if Pap Mbowe still works there in entertainment?
I've not been for 2 years now and I miss all my Gambian friends.
I've heard from someone on here that Solomon Gibba is still using his car to take people out on trips and he is a good guide. Lovely guy. Nice to hear some success stories for individuals. |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2009 : 14:23:56
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hi molly75, my stay at BP WAS INTERESTING, it started wtih me checking in, i have my own arrangements and got a lift from the airport to the hotel, so I arrived without an escort, no guide. they gave me a room that was horrendous, there were a number of youths sitting on the walls inside the hotel, no uniforms and no id badges on them, asking me qustions. i ignored them. The fun started the next day at breakfast, same menu for days, but i ate well, eggs, tomatoes, porridge, cheese, ham, jam, bread and watermelon. It gave me a kick start for my long days, most days I was breakfasted and dressed and out of the hotel by 8.30am.
The orginal room was so unhygenic, I asked to change the room, they showed me two rooms, I choose one of the them and asked for cleans towels, and bed linen and for the floor to be swept, get the picture.
I am glad i have been to gambia before because if this was my first trip I would have been upset.
Two of the staff pestered me, one followed me to my room to pitch his project. i wrote most of this in my feedback sheet to the tour company. I know if I had a choice I would not stay there, but it was a good package, i needed a base and got what I paid for.
I can see why gambia experience dropped the hotel.
How was your stay Molly75, mine as always was too short.
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brusubi
Netherlands
43 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2009 : 17:58:02
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it is said that the staff of Badala doesn,t get paid a normal salary, people tell that they only get transportmoney and free meals. but the management of the hotel let the staff get involved with the guests what is forbidden in other hotels. so this seems to be the reason that the hotel is popular to work in anway.i don,t know if this is the full truth but it explains why many people feel bothered in this hotel and they don,t like the proposals the staff is making to them.
roger |
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molly75
United Kingdom
86 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2009 : 13:07:10
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Nice to hear about your trip Jambo. Some of the rooms at Badala are horrendous, but like you say most people just use the hotel as a base. You say that you would not stay at this hotel if you had a choice, but this hotel is always my first choice. I love it for all the reasons you did not! : )) Firstly i love it for the relaxed atmosphere and the wonderful friendly people i meet there. Brusubi says that the hotel is popular to work in because the staff are allowed to get involved with guests, but because of this it is also popular with a lot of tourists too. Not all torists like the staff and locals to stay clear of them. It's nice to meet new friends and interact.
The rooms are not up to western standards, but this makes the hotel even more fun! We just laugh at all the faults, the doors handles on upside down, the huge gap under the door allowing all the insects to congregate in my room and the shower falling off onto your head! It all adds to the experience.
I can also see why the Gambia Experience dropped the hotel...they do not want tourists to have a REAL gambian experience they want them to pay huge amounts of money to stay in western style hotels...so they can make even more profit for themselves. I've been holidaying in Gambia for 10 years and i used to stay at Senegambia, Palma Rima and Cape point hotel, but after having to stay at Badala one Easter due to other hotels being full...i've never looked back!
As for the people who were pestering you, did you ask them to go away or explain to them that you were not happy with them? sometimes a firm word in the ear stops anyone hassling you. I never had any problems whatsoever. I loved every minute of my stay, but like you say it was too short. I'm hoping to head back to Gambia in January and WILL be staying at Badala Park. : )) |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2009 : 13:15:06
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Molly perhaps we should meet there sometime?!
As the saying goes it takes all sort of people to make the world! It wouldnt do for us all to like the same things.
On my first visit to Gambia I expected things to be MUCH WORSE than they were at BADALA..... People had said its very basic.... I loved it! A proper Gambian experience.
Id rather have that than sanitised luxury any day. |
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molly75
United Kingdom
86 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2009 : 13:32:05
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| I agree with you Bev, Badala is much better than 'sanitised luxury'! If ever you are at Badala let me know and if i'm there i would love to meet up. I once went to badala with a woman i met on a travel website, who had been to Gambia before and someone else she met on a flight back from Gambia, it was a spur of the moment trip. None of us knew each other, but we all had a fantastic time and we are still good friends 2 years later. So yes it takes all sorts to make the world go round and its great to meet new people! |
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