Gambia

[Bear Foxtrot]

I thought you guys might like to see some pics of a Freetonian girl called Mary I met in Kololi last night. She tells me that she wants to find a good man for a husband, so I said I would advertise her on the internet. Nice girl!

Very nice...do you have any more info on her?

[Member #4364]

Sorry, Tomwannabe. Can't you read? Try Dandimayo. What would you do in the private compounds; the solarequipment is to small; so you have no light and sometimes no water. Are you on vacation or on a militarytrip? Do you travel only for sex? Outside of the tourist area; like in these compounds I won't spend my time there next time. But this is my own opinion; try Kenya and you will see the difference.

And it is not fair to report about gambia in other way. The small tourist area is really o. K. ; BUT forget the rest; only to look the nature, parks aso.

Sorry this was my own impression.

[Fourniceight]

I thought you guys might like to see some pics of a Freetonian girl called Mary I met in Kololi last night. She tells me that she wants to find a good man for a husband, so I said I would advertise her on the internet. Nice girl!

[Wanderinawe]

I'm going to Gambia tomorrow for a week. I'm not going hunting, I've been caught. However, I'll try to look around and just get a feel for things. Maybe I can see something that may help others. But as I have already said, my sympathies tend towards the Gambians. And by the way, Pros are people too. Mixed up? Maybe a bit.

Then by now you've probably seen that Destiny, Queen's head and Calabash are closed. Pity, hm?

[Wascolin]

I'm going to Gambia tomorrow for a week. I'm not going hunting, I've been caught. However, I'll try to look around and just get a feel for things. Maybe I can see something that may help others. But as I have already said, my sympathies tend towards the Gambians. And by the way, Pros are people too. Mixed up? Maybe a bit.

[Tomwannabe]

Tomwannabe, you mean girls from better homes won't put out, unless you promise to marry them? Is this what happened with girl #1?

Well, it depends. You can try, you can promise a lot of money or promise to marry them or whatever. If being an asshole makes you happy go for it. I wouldn't. But generally speaking, if you want to get down to business straight away stick to the pro's. If you are more of a romantic type guy who likes dining and all that and isn't completely fixated on a shag but rather relaxed and "goes with the flow" then you might get somewhere with a decent girl.

Sorry, but it's down to your own judgement, skill and so on and if you are good looking and younger you'll score better and easier than if you're fat and ugly - sorry, but even here it's no escaping basic human behaviour and economics. The main difference is that you don't have to be a millionaire to be considered rich :-) good luck.

[Tomwannabe]

Hi Steve German,

Tanks for your previous posts - I found them really interesting.

Hi Andy 1974 - is it because of my post you think you have to bribe 1000 dalasi per night? If so, I mislead you. Sorry.

I can only speak for the Alantic Hotel, but I suspect all (international) hotels are similar. I did not bribe anyone. I simply spoke to the security guy and told him what I wanted - which was to bring a friend back to my room. No problem, there is a "PROCEDURE", which involves paying 1000 dalasi per night to the hotel. This went on my bill. It was not a bribe. The desk staff, particularly the women, could be a little bit sanctimonious. The securtiy guy just steamrollered them, quoting the "PROCEDURE" I paid him 100 or 200 dalasi for his help, money well spent, i felt. He was really helpful - a guy with real authority.

I suspect - sorry if I sound like an old fart here - that some of the problems that tourists encounter with girls in hotels is because they try to be "clever", to entrap employees into risking their jobs in something underhand. Or even, and this seems really strange to me, that they are doing something "wrong". Why not simply say waht you want to do? If you were room only and wanted breakfast, you wouldn't try to bribe the waitress into giving you half price orange juice. Why spend hundreds of pounds going to Gambia and then try and cheat some guy who earns 5% of your income?

The hotels are there to provide a service for their guests. Use the facilities, and pay.

If I have misunderstood - apologies. I am a novice myself.

Wascolin,

Thanks for pointing this out very clearly. I have a policy that I don't touch hotel staff for not putting them into trouble. If they loose their job they are in real trouble. You as a tourist are only there for a few days or so and go back to your cosy life (by comparison) - no need to leave "burnt earth" behind. Oh, reflecting on another post of your's where you hooked up with a decent girl I chuckled. So you know. LOL yep, I can relate to this. I still think - after almost one year - of this one girl. So sweet.

[Tomwannabe]

Sorry; it`s not a good idea to book in advance; i made that and all was broken.

Book a flight, spend the first night in a middle class hotel and look by yourself or ask a taxidriver or waiter in your restaurant/hotel.

NEVER EVER AGAIN: Bokking a "compound" so called the hollidayapartments from the europeans; in the outskirts on a littering area, nothing works, all is primitive and many owners are women; so only the bed is in a good condition.

But you can try Dandymayo Apartments; i saw the rooms o.k. but for using as double round about 60 bucks per night; no long term discount.

Enjoy "Clean Gambia"

Gee, what's wrong with you man? This post reads like from someone who NEVER left home town before. Wake up to the real world - Gambia is one of the so called third world countries. What do you expect? But, as the saying goes: "Common sense is not so common after all..."

[Member #4364]

Hell; everytime I read here 1000 dalasi stories. A normal waiter earns round 800 dalasi per month; I would never pay 1000 dalasi for using my hotel room as double. 100 as a tip for the security is enough; if that is possible. And for the girl the whole night 500 is the price+food+drinks aso. So please avoid in this forum the 1000 +.

Furthermore I found the holidayapartments; full equiped in the clinic road; not cheap but we are in vaccation I think. No website and e-mailadress. Ask a taxidriver; near the clinic and kinderhilfswerk. Using as double so no problems; AND the whole time energy and water.

[Wascolin]

Hi Steve German,

Tanks for your previous posts - I found them really interesting.

Hi Andy 1974 - is it because of my post you think you have to bribe 1000 dalasi per night? If so, I mislead you. Sorry.

I can only speak for the Alantic Hotel, but I suspect all (international) hotels are similar. I did not bribe anyone. I simply spoke to the security guy and told him what I wanted - which was to bring a friend back to my room. No problem, there is a "PROCEDURE", which involves paying 1000 dalasi per night to the hotel. This went on my bill. It was not a bribe. The desk staff, particularly the women, could be a little bit sanctimonious. The securtiy guy just steamrollered them, quoting the "PROCEDURE" I paid him 100 or 200 dalasi for his help, money well spent, i felt. He was really helpful - a guy with real authority.

I suspect - sorry if I sound like an old fart here - that some of the problems that tourists encounter with girls in hotels is because they try to be "clever", to entrap employees into risking their jobs in something underhand. Or even, and this seems really strange to me, that they are doing something "wrong". Why not simply say waht you want to do? If you were room only and wanted breakfast, you wouldn't try to bribe the waitress into giving you half price orange juice. Why spend hundreds of pounds going to Gambia and then try and cheat some guy who earns 5% of your income?

The hotels are there to provide a service for their guests. Use the facilities, and pay.

If I have misunderstood - apologies. I am a novice myself.

[Wanderinawe]

I wouldn't give a Gambian to much money at once... memory is short here, people can manage to think about three days ahead on average.

And you'll be dealing with different security people, as shifts rotate.

Keneba hotel on the dirt road opposite the Senegambia junction, or to be more exact, opposite the footballfield to the left of it, has an hourly rate of 300 Dalasi . Or 500 Dalasi all night; alas, used to be 300 just half a year ago before renovations.

Of course, an hourly rate spells no raised eyebrows... and it saves your name at the hotel

[Member #4364]

I believe; forget that. You can't bribe the staff ot the two 5 Starhotels:

Senegambia and Kari. I forgot.

You have to book a double; real price. And if you try to change the girls many times the management will advice you to check out; "we are a hotel and not a brothel" they say. This story was told me from a tourist.

But try it

[Andy1974]

Hi Guys,

This is my first message on this forum (or any in fact!) and I wanted to say thank you for all the excellent advice that I have read here.

After much deliberation on where to go on my holidays, and after reading your many recommendations, I have just booked time of work for the first 2 weeks in February to come to Gambia :-)

I will be staying at the Senegambia Hotel as its right where the action seems to be, I understand that I will probably have to bribe girls into my room at the door if I decide not to go back to their place. I may see if I can come to an arrangement with the security though, has anyone tried this?

My thinking was along the lines of this: If I have to bribe 1000 every time to bring a girl back here for 14 nights then that’s probably too much and I will just stay at the girls places for a few hours late at night, or how about if I give the head security 5000 now and we have no problems bringing girls back at 2am etc. Do you think that would work?

If it did we could call it BiB: Bribing in Bulk!

Anyway, I am really looking forward to my time out there and will be happy to post a detailed report of everything that happens when I am there.

Finally, if anyone is around the same time as me then I'll happily buy you a beer :-)

Have fun!

Andy

[Wascolin]

Just back from the Gambia - what a great place! I feel I should post, even though my experience is markedly different from others I have read, and my conclusions (and sympathies) are probably opposite, simply as a mark of gratitude. I probably wouldn't have gone were it not for previous posts. I do agree with some previous posts however - avoid the "nice" girls unless you are looking for a wife, or are a total twat. The WOW club is easier. I am an old fart, unused to clubs for decades, and the only reason I didn't score was because I took a girl with me. The atmosphere was great - it reminded me of a methodist youth club from 30 odd years ago - crap decor, loud music (reggae, rather than soul), drink (julbrew not woodpecker), the promise of sex, but thankfully no fighting. AliBaba Gardens on friday nights had a lovely open air feel, a live reggae band and quite a few working girls (later seen at WOW) for those who don't want to wait until after midnight to score - I am sure there are many other places similar - just look.

I picked up a last minute package from Airtours (UK tour operator) and stayed at the Atlantic. I wouldn't recommend this hotel - too packagey, too isolated, but quite comfortable. Guests can visit your room, but it costs 1000 dalasi per visit. I don't think that is too unreasonable - hotel facilities cost money. Talk to security first, the desk staff can be a bit petty. They wanted my girl to register again on her second visit - I refused - possibly the only raised voices I heard on the whole trip.
You could use it as a quiet base if you want cheap 4* - a yellow taxi to Senegambia, return, with 4 hours waiting cost only 400 dalasi

I planned to stay for one night, move down the coast, and return for the last night. Quite simply, my week was hijacked by the "nice" type of girl I advise you to avoid. A truly nice girl can be very persuasive, in more ways than one. I won't be posting the wedding pics, if we get that far.

I'm going back in a few weeks, I wonder why? - Excel airways from Manchester £142, not sure yet about accomm but look on the internet, there's loads.

Pick up a sim card at the airport - 95 dalasi including airtime. Frequency is 900Mhz - like O2 and Vodaphone - thus only matters if you are using an old throwaway phone, all modern ones are multi band. Oh an don't mind the bumsters - they're only kids trying to get by. They can help you, run errands.

The Gambia is a nice place, but if you are even half decent, beware. HIV is not the only risk.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I certainly hope that the author or somebody else will post a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please Click Here for more information.

[Warpfield]

Phuky the link is helpful however, I don't think any of the hotels listed are girl friendly unfortunately to bring a girl back to your room, in The Gambia you pay extra mate. I stayed at Europa Apartments one time and even when women just visited me in my room for a chat the Europa staff were worse than the British Exchequer. For trying to prise extra funds out of me if anybody knows better I open to suggestions.