Ocean Bay Hotel & Resort

I need to find better

Lovely hotel. Friendly well mannered very helpful staff. They can't do enough for you. More of the older couples hotel, though families take children too. flat, easy to get around. Beautiful gardens. Beautiful rooms. Clean towels daily and beds made room cleaned daily.

The hotel grounds are beautiful kept, rooms cleaned to a high standard every day. The food is buffet style and there is enough of a selection for everyone. The salads and Gambian food section were excellent. The staff are absolutely amazing. Nothing is too much effort for them. The only downside is the harassment on the beach. The vendors just do not leave you alone especially if you’re a lady travelling on your own. Do take in a massage, excellent price and massage.

We have just returned from a 10 night holiday and our first time in Gambia and all that can be said about this hotel and the people is amazing. Hopefully some helpful points for you: You have to pay £20 per person to enter and exit Banjul airport. Bring cash, Gambia is a cash nation. The hotel will charge you for using your bank card to pay any bills. You can also keep your room on for 7 euros an hour, so no need to book in advance with Tui. There is a cashpoint outside of the hotel, but if it doesn't work it's a taxi ride into the town to find an ATM that is working. Mr Fixit just to the right of the hotel gives a good rate to exchange cash. Like all other reviews l used the guys in orange t shrts to book trips, they are honest, local people who go out of their way to make your trips memorable, safe and fantastic. We booked a Senegal safari and walking with the Lions with Modou who was absolutely the best. He made sure we were happy and even after our trip came to see us every day to make sure we were having the best holiday. The food in the hotel is some of the best we have ever had and we also went out to eat, Calypso does the best pint of king prawns and a speciality burger. You can eat really cheaply outside. The ladies selling fruit on the beach are really nice and the fruit is so fresh, please try it. One main tip is don't say to anyone that tries to sell you something ' maybe tomorrow or later' they don't forget and come back. You are better just being strong and saying no thanks. Listen to what you are told by those that are regulars at the hotel and you cant go wrong. All the locals that hang around the little shop outside and the streets will hassle you and it can be overwhelming but don't be put off by them, as they are friendly. The area is safe and full of smiles. Just remember you are in a very poor country, but do go out and see Gambia it is a beautiful country with beautiful people. The hotel staff bend over backwards to do all they can to make your stay the best ever. They are a credit to the management and all of them have made a place in our hearts, for their friendly and exceptional service. I left my sun glasses at the pool bar on my first day and one of the bar man kept them safe for me over night, handing them back to me in person the following day. If you want a really chilled holiday, with loads of smiles great food and service this is definitely the hotel to go to. One final thing, there is an English man called Rod who stays at the hotel for months on end and knows all the tips and will be happy to talk to you and offer advice. . We will be back next year as this has been the best holiday made by all the people we met. Love you Gambia.

After receiving a very warm welcome from the locals on our seventh visit to Ocean Bay, we settled down in one of the newly renovated rooms. We never usually return to the same hotel however like many of the repeat customers, the people draw us back every time. The local food is amazing, do not be afraid to eat outside the hotel. After a week eating prawns, lobster and local dishes our stomachs have been fine. We never go all inclusive as it is killing the trade outside. We eat our King prawns and amazing lobster at Gibby's on the beach. Prawn skewers are no longer on the menu (but they can be requested) so make sure you wander down, or phone him up, to ensure he has your favourite dish in (including chicken breast) to ensure you are not disappointed if he has run out in the evening. (Lobster and King prawns need to be ordered so he can get them fresh from the fish market generally). The beef is local most places, so be prepared for a bit of a chew. You can call Gibby from reception to come and pick you up, and he will also drop you off at the hotel after your meal. There is an Indian round the corner, and other local bars within walking distance. Taxis are cheap and they will wait for you until you are ready to return. The boys at the front are extremely trust worthy. Our guide is Babu, who we have known and trusted since day one. Go and see the Chelsea bar on the beach, he will make some bracelets as souvenirs to take home. We take clothes, trainers and anything we no longer need out there maxing out our luggage allowance, and only ever come back with hand luggage. No washing to come back to, and only 10 minutes from aeroplane to bus!

Had a lovely weeks stay for my birthday in March. Nice, quiet location. Temperature around 30°c. Rooms a little dated but clean & comfortable. Expect the odd mosquito bite at night in your room if you forget to ask Reception to arrange for your room to be sprayed with repellent in the evening. Lovely beach but expect to be approached by the odd person wanting you to visit their juice bar nearby etc. You can change your money either at the hotel Reception or at one of the bureau de changes which are a minutes walk from the hotel and at a slightly better rate. You can get a pack of water for your room from one of the shops just by the hotel & there are the recommended green taxis available from outside the hotel. There is a spa onsite where you can get your nails done at a fraction of the price in the UK. You will need to save 1400 Dalassi for your airport departure tax or £20/€20. We booked B&B as we wanted to eat elsewhere for lunch & dinner. The buffet breakfast was amazing & plentiful with absolutely everything available for anyone's taste. We usually enjoyed our lunch/dinner at Calypso the nearby restaurant where you could watch them feed the crocodiles daily at 4pm & also catch a glimpse of a few monkeys. The food was delicious. Will probably return again next March as we had such a lovely time. Note: Expect to tip from time to time!