African Princess Beach Hotel
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Fast facts
Check in from | 14:00 |
|---|---|
Check out by | 12:00 |
Amenities
Wi-Fi
Parking
Air conditioning
Airport shuttle
Pool
Front desk 24 hour
Ratings and reviews
Cleanliness4.5
Location5.0
Service4.5
Rooms4.5
Value4.5
Sleep quality4.5
Traveller reviews
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Solo traveller
Comment: 11 Feb 2025
Very good hotel, some hiccups
The hotel itself is really nice: great rooms even though I stayed in an economy room, clean, delicious breakfast. I also had dinner at the hotel which was very good though the menu did not change during all my stay (twelve days). Most of my lunches were outside hotel – there are several very tolerable eateries just outside. Never a problem with sunbeds, additionally there are several very comfortable hammock couches to chill out. Locality is good too, though not as lively as Senegambia. On the other hand, it is perfect for bird watchers as it is very close to the bird watching point. Also the spa centre of the hotel is very recommendable.
Hiccups? There were several. I had issues with my room or rather rooms. At first, I was assigned to one room, it appeared there was some misunderstanding and I was relocated. Then I found out that my room door does not lock. After several attempts, it proved to be beyond repair and I was relocated again (that was twice in three days). Check-in was quite smooth, though no welcome drinks for our group (sufficiently big one), even though a group before us had them. Service is in some cases hit-and-miss. Our luggage was delayed by airlines and I had to go and ask for my luggage twice because it appeared that the shift at the desk did not leave any information about the luggage and it was just sitting in the storage room. No one bothered bringing it to the room or even informing me. A similar situation was with laundry. I had to ask twice whether it was ready and when finally someone knew where it was, I was asked whether I would like to have it brought to my room – I was standing in front of the man and the laundry was one pair of pants, so it sounded quite ridiculously. And finally, there is an ATM at the hotel, but it never worked during my stay, closest one being in Senegambia.
Hiccups? There were several. I had issues with my room or rather rooms. At first, I was assigned to one room, it appeared there was some misunderstanding and I was relocated. Then I found out that my room door does not lock. After several attempts, it proved to be beyond repair and I was relocated again (that was twice in three days). Check-in was quite smooth, though no welcome drinks for our group (sufficiently big one), even though a group before us had them. Service is in some cases hit-and-miss. Our luggage was delayed by airlines and I had to go and ask for my luggage twice because it appeared that the shift at the desk did not leave any information about the luggage and it was just sitting in the storage room. No one bothered bringing it to the room or even informing me. A similar situation was with laundry. I had to ask twice whether it was ready and when finally someone knew where it was, I was asked whether I would like to have it brought to my room – I was standing in front of the man and the laundry was one pair of pants, so it sounded quite ridiculously. And finally, there is an ATM at the hotel, but it never worked during my stay, closest one being in Senegambia.
Hotel response
Comment: 12 February
Dear Valued Guest,
Thank you for taking a moment to leave us a review, we appreciate your feedback, and we will improve on the points mentioned,
we are sorry that you faced these inconveniences during the beginning of your stay.
However, the ATM machine was beyond our control as it is not owned by the hotel itself and the bank responsible had been working on it.
Thank you for taking a moment to leave us a review, we appreciate your feedback, and we will improve on the points mentioned,
we are sorry that you faced these inconveniences during the beginning of your stay.
However, the ATM machine was beyond our control as it is not owned by the hotel itself and the bank responsible had been working on it.
Group traveller
Comment: 2 Jan 2025
Stayed in: Jan 2025
Cozy hotel
Nice beach clean rooms pool very cold service slow but friendly Gambian style slow 30 min from the strip blissful warm security staff keeps a close eye on everything breakfast tasty eggs and fresh pancakes for the rest lots of local juices you can taste
Hotel response
Comment: 2 January
Dear Valued Guest,
thank you for taking a minute to review us we appreciate your feedback, and we hope to have you again soon.
thank you for taking a minute to review us we appreciate your feedback, and we hope to have you again soon.
Couple
Comment: 20 Feb 2025
Top grade hotel, right on the beach
We stayed here for two weeks on half board. We were allocated a room on the sunny side of the hotel from the outset, which was amazing and very welcome. Check in was easy. As we came in on the Tui flight, we were not there until nearly 10pm as the trip from the airport using the free transfer was a nightmare, fighting through the Serakunda traffic. An hour and a half for what would have been a 20 minute journey with a private transfer. That said - the hotel directed us to the beach front restaurant and we could order what we wanted from the A La Carte menu. A wonderful first evening. The room was spacious and clean. A lovely comfortable bed, nice and firm. The shower took a bit of getting used to because it took quite a while for the hot water to come through, but when it did, it was very hot. The swim up room has a platform in the water with the sunbeds in the pool. A lovely touch.
First of all, I must congratulate the hotel for employing the happiest crew I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. I must give a call out to Mariama Marong, Modou Lamin Conteh, Alice Sissey, Modou Jobs, Fatoumatta Sanyang and Isatou Jobe who all played a part in making the holiday brilliant. Roy - thank you for your patience in handling the issues we had. Well resolved.
Breakfast is served buffet style. A very wide selection. Tea and coffee, fruit juices. Fresh eggs (fried or poached to order) omelettes, pancakes, crispy pork (like streaky bacon) chicken sausages, baked beans most mornings, tomatoes once or twice, hash browns or chips, porridge, salads, fresh fruits, jams, honey in different flavours, toast, rolls, french bread and pizza.
Lunchtime has a limited special menu that isn't advertised. Apparently, it dropped off the menu when it was revamped. Chicken burger is good, as is the chicken club sandwich, which can be takeaway. Otherwise, it is the same al la carte menu you see in the evening. The drinks from the bar are very good (thank you Modou) and reasonably priced. All can be charged to the room. Check your bill at the end as mistakes can happen.
The pool has enough sunbeds and there are many also on the beach. Every room has at least 2 on the deck. All the pools are kept clean, the water clear and fresh by the team of attendants.
The grounds are well kept, grass kept watered and trimmed, with lots of trees and other plants scattered around. There are several hanging seating pods (single and doubles) in the garden too.
Any maintenance issues were very quickly resolved. The hotel also keeps on top of the maintenance of the appearance, with some painting going on around.
Half board. The evening meal is served buffet style when the number of guests on half board is greater than 20. Under that it is a la carte. When we were there the hotel was full, so we were on buffet. I know the Tui write up says to expect it, but we were under the impression is wasn't going to be every night. The write up also told us to expect local cuisine, which is what we got. Sadly, there was no explanation of what was in it other than the headline meat or fish. It looked like beef stew - but was it spicy? The chicken biriani was very scarce of chicken, what was there was on the bone and very skinny, I counted 2 pieces in the whole tray one night. The rice had gone dry on the top and the chef got quite heated when I challenged him on it and he told me it is a dry dish (no sauce), I agreed but it shouldn't have been dried out. A beef dish the top layer of beef had dried out. At least give it a stir from time to time! At no time was there a European dish offered. We had to go on the lazy day river trip to get cottage pie! It all looked very 'brown'. Nothing inspiring. That might be the way of Gambian dishes, but not all the time, please. A nice tray of saucy Chicken Tikka Masala with plain boiled rice would have been wonderful. Incidentally we went up to the Kombo Beach hotel to meet some friends and their buffet lunch knocked spots off the food at the African Princess. It is cheaper and all-inclusive but not the same quality of rooms.
I did complain to Tui about the quality of evening buffet meal for the money we paid to upgrade and we managed to negotiate a local compromise. I know Tui did contact the hotel, which made the compromise possible. Next time we come here we will go B&B as there are several restaurants within a short walk, and many more down 'the Strip' which is a 5 minute 200 or 300 dalasi taxi ride away. The a la carte menu is always available if you don't feel like going out.
All in all, we have had a fabulous time, among some fabulous people, in a fabulous hotel. Only the Coco Ocean hotel is meant to be better in the Kololi area - I would disagree (too many steps), the African Princess is a definite go to.
Well done and see you again (if we can get a room on the sunny side!!!)
First of all, I must congratulate the hotel for employing the happiest crew I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. I must give a call out to Mariama Marong, Modou Lamin Conteh, Alice Sissey, Modou Jobs, Fatoumatta Sanyang and Isatou Jobe who all played a part in making the holiday brilliant. Roy - thank you for your patience in handling the issues we had. Well resolved.
Breakfast is served buffet style. A very wide selection. Tea and coffee, fruit juices. Fresh eggs (fried or poached to order) omelettes, pancakes, crispy pork (like streaky bacon) chicken sausages, baked beans most mornings, tomatoes once or twice, hash browns or chips, porridge, salads, fresh fruits, jams, honey in different flavours, toast, rolls, french bread and pizza.
Lunchtime has a limited special menu that isn't advertised. Apparently, it dropped off the menu when it was revamped. Chicken burger is good, as is the chicken club sandwich, which can be takeaway. Otherwise, it is the same al la carte menu you see in the evening. The drinks from the bar are very good (thank you Modou) and reasonably priced. All can be charged to the room. Check your bill at the end as mistakes can happen.
The pool has enough sunbeds and there are many also on the beach. Every room has at least 2 on the deck. All the pools are kept clean, the water clear and fresh by the team of attendants.
The grounds are well kept, grass kept watered and trimmed, with lots of trees and other plants scattered around. There are several hanging seating pods (single and doubles) in the garden too.
Any maintenance issues were very quickly resolved. The hotel also keeps on top of the maintenance of the appearance, with some painting going on around.
Half board. The evening meal is served buffet style when the number of guests on half board is greater than 20. Under that it is a la carte. When we were there the hotel was full, so we were on buffet. I know the Tui write up says to expect it, but we were under the impression is wasn't going to be every night. The write up also told us to expect local cuisine, which is what we got. Sadly, there was no explanation of what was in it other than the headline meat or fish. It looked like beef stew - but was it spicy? The chicken biriani was very scarce of chicken, what was there was on the bone and very skinny, I counted 2 pieces in the whole tray one night. The rice had gone dry on the top and the chef got quite heated when I challenged him on it and he told me it is a dry dish (no sauce), I agreed but it shouldn't have been dried out. A beef dish the top layer of beef had dried out. At least give it a stir from time to time! At no time was there a European dish offered. We had to go on the lazy day river trip to get cottage pie! It all looked very 'brown'. Nothing inspiring. That might be the way of Gambian dishes, but not all the time, please. A nice tray of saucy Chicken Tikka Masala with plain boiled rice would have been wonderful. Incidentally we went up to the Kombo Beach hotel to meet some friends and their buffet lunch knocked spots off the food at the African Princess. It is cheaper and all-inclusive but not the same quality of rooms.
I did complain to Tui about the quality of evening buffet meal for the money we paid to upgrade and we managed to negotiate a local compromise. I know Tui did contact the hotel, which made the compromise possible. Next time we come here we will go B&B as there are several restaurants within a short walk, and many more down 'the Strip' which is a 5 minute 200 or 300 dalasi taxi ride away. The a la carte menu is always available if you don't feel like going out.
All in all, we have had a fabulous time, among some fabulous people, in a fabulous hotel. Only the Coco Ocean hotel is meant to be better in the Kololi area - I would disagree (too many steps), the African Princess is a definite go to.
Well done and see you again (if we can get a room on the sunny side!!!)
Hotel response
Comment: 25 February
Dear Valued Guest,
Thank you for taking a moment to leave us feedback and a review, we appreciate it, and we are glad that you enjoyed your stay with us.
we will also improve on the points mentioned below and hope to have you again soon.
Thank you for taking a moment to leave us feedback and a review, we appreciate it, and we are glad that you enjoyed your stay with us.
we will also improve on the points mentioned below and hope to have you again soon.
Couple
Comment: 16 Feb 2025
Smart hotel, good beach access and great location for local restaurants
Nice clean hotel maybe lacks a bit of character but certainly quiet. Lots of pools, great access to beach. Lots of good restaurants around to eat. If you want a taxi ask for Alex from the green Taxi rank outside. Nice young lad who will take you around to all the places offered by TUI at your own pace.
Hotel response
Comment: 19 February
Dear Valued Guest,
Thank you for taking a moment to give us a review,
We appreciate your feedback, and we hope to have you again.
Thank you for taking a moment to give us a review,
We appreciate your feedback, and we hope to have you again.
Couple
Comment: 7 Feb 2025
Fantastic Holiday
Stayed for 3 weeks in January in a swim-up room and the whole holiday was lovely. All staff made us welcome as return guests from the moment we checked in to the moment we checked out so we felt valued. The hotel is ideally located right on the beach with bars & restaurants on your doorstep outside which makes it great choice for a newcomer to the Gambia.
The only downside this year was that the new General Manager berated his staff publicly on two occasions which is very unprofessional - once at the poolside and once in the breakfast area. Your guests don't want to witness this and it made it awkward for us to see. We thank him for upholding high standards for the hotel but please do this behind closed doors if it is required in the future.
The only downside this year was that the new General Manager berated his staff publicly on two occasions which is very unprofessional - once at the poolside and once in the breakfast area. Your guests don't want to witness this and it made it awkward for us to see. We thank him for upholding high standards for the hotel but please do this behind closed doors if it is required in the future.
Hotel response
Comment: 10 February
Dear Valued Guest,
Thank you for taking a moment to leave us a review we appreciate your feedback and observation, and we will work on the point mentioned below as well.
Hope to see you again soon!
Thank you for taking a moment to leave us a review we appreciate your feedback and observation, and we will work on the point mentioned below as well.
Hope to see you again soon!
Exceptional location
Kotu Beach, Serekunda, Gambia|2.28 km from Ngala Rocky Beach
10 things to dowithin 2.62 km
2.28 km
1.41 km
0.32 km
0.78 km
Check in and check out
Check in from:
14:00
Check out before:
12:00
African Princess Beach Hotel: FAQs
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