Travel to Gambia

Upwind

Hi all,

Anyone a regular traveller or able to advise me about flights to Gambia. I beleive there is only one Destination Airport (Banjul), however I beleive that it is possible to travel from various Departure Airports.

I also understand that there are different carriers, but can anyone recommend a particular airline/route that is both reasonable and reliable?

As a first time traveller to Gambia Any other advice or help would be gladly received.

Thanks

ProDisc

Mick. Gambia Experience used to charter Monarch flights to Banjul and I think they still do at certain dates off the rainy season. Theres another airline called Viking(?) who now seem to be the main charter company flying out there.
Check Thompson and Thomas cook for flight too. One of those normally comes out much cheaper than booking flight only through Gambia Experience, who you might as well book the holiday with when you see the prices!
Also, check out the forum 'Bantaba in cyberspace'. There's a couple of tourist sections in there which if you take the time to read will give you a good grasp of what companies have and do fly to The Gambia.
If you're after wooden carvings try the craft market at Bakau and ask for Jawara. If you get to him first he'll walk you through the small market without being hassled because nearly everyone there are his relatives.
The Clay oven is a fantastic Indian restaurant also near Bakau and ridiculously cheap. Make sure you don't miss the drumming band if its on your hotels itinerary, they'll blow you away!
Lamin lodge is always worth a visit but arrange a fixed taxi fare there and back including waiting time (apx £6-12 for 3 hours). Doing it this way and avoiding the hotel party crowds you'll probably have the mangrove swamps to yourself with manned dug out canoes available to take you through the mangroves.

If I could offer one piece of advice its to never tell a local your name between Banjul airport and inside your hotel. These pests can make your holiday hell once they know your name by waiting outside your hotel to be your new best friend, but of course its your money they want. Be firm and say go away. Anything stronger and they pull the race card which is laughable but not worth the waste of energy in arguing over.

I've been 6 times now and love the place so don't let my ramblings put you off.

Have a good one.

Pro.

bcl999

Mick_Steel wrote: »

Hi all,

As a first time traveller to Gambia Any other advice or help would be gladly received.

Thanks

Don't be like me. I didn't know until after I booked that it is a chloroquine(sp?)-resistant area for malaria prophylactics. My cheap winter holiday there a few years ago cost me an extra £45 for malarone tablets for a week! There is a cheaper tablet you can get but one of the commonest side-effects from it is sun sensitivity which would have defeated the purpose of the winter holiday.