Ocean Bay Hotel & Resort

Quite,calm,near beach

Weird random staff caught staring at my wife & I.once confronted give some odd stupid awkward response,if we stay here…after seeing us check in. Manager who checked us in was real cool aswell as an elder male attendant from the kitchen.

Beware, despite searching the internet will tell you that the plug sockets are 3 pin like the UK, this resort uses 2 pin plug sockets. Adapters are available at reception for a £5 deposit, wh8vh is returnedat check out. Problem sorted!

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Hotel rooms are clean with towels changed every day and bedding every 2 days. If B & B as we were, worth noting only 2 bottles of water at start of holiday were free but only cost approx £3 to buy 6 large bottles from adjacent shop. We sun bathed on beach where Ebrima & his crew would provide loungers with cushions, table and towels to where ever you wanted them (many thanks to all their efforts) - don't forget to tip them as not only are they low paid but you will get even better service. Drinks are inexpensive with waiter service on beach. Local ladies on the beach sell plates of fresh mixed fruit which are very good - cost approx £3 for a medium plate which was enough for 2 to share. Buddha restaurant was very good but only open open 3 days a week so used Calypso Bar & Restaurant on the beach - only a short walk away.

Location, kind staff, great balconies on rooms and great internet for working. Great beach facilities.

Breakfast could have been better and fitness/weight room can be upgraded

Friendly hotel, lovely staff always smiling and helpful. Rooms are clean and comfortable with a fridge and hairdryer ok. Here now. Could do with the music being other way round, livelier in the mornings and chilled in the afternoons when you’ve had a couple of lunchtime drinks and want a little snooze. It’s 4 pm and just woken us up with music blaring out. Seen some pretty birds. Good variety of food though we’ve not got children with us and wouldn’t be enough variety for our grandkids, just pizza and chips. Wine and beer is good but some of the cocktails not great and have to pay for several.going outside in the day is a bit of a nightmare you get pestered by locals who want to be your guide for money and they are a pain. At night time they haven’t been about and walked out to local Indian and blue monkey restaurant where they had live music. Great if you want a chilled break in the sun but even if you’ve got all inclusive go out and eat as it’s so cheap to eat and drink out. Massage good only £12 so will have another before we leave and other treatments so cheap, facials, manicure pedicures etc

We had a loverly week at the hotel but please beware of the silver seller who sells his wear within the hotel near the beach. He lies and sells silver jewellery at silver prices ( not cheap) which in fact is copper . We have informed the hotel directly and through Tui but the hotel has not responded to either. I trusted this seller as he works from the hotel but sadly he is more like a street seller and I feel the hotel should take responsibility for this seller as he uses the hotels name so beware.

This was our 3rd visit to Ocean Bay and it did not disappoint. Making people’s holiday in Gambia as wonderful as possible is their business and all the staff do their utmost to ensure that this is the case. From the welcoming cool drink and face/hand wipe through all the personal touches to the final farewell, guests’ comfort is a priority. For example, I found my bed a bit too firm so, within a day, I had an extra duvet to lie on. Despite taking our own plug-in insect repellent, mosquitos found their way into the room so, almost instantly, mosquito nets were installed. Also, there’s no sunbed reservation because the pool attendants set them up to guests’ preference every morning. They even put the parasols up for you as well; mattresses and towels are provided. Food: We were all inclusive because it takes the strain out of meals and drinks. All meals are self service buffets with drinks served to your table. There was always a good variety of European/Western food as well as African dishes and curries. At dinner roast meats were carved to order and the local fish and seafood were plentiful. Plainer food like rice or pasta was always available plus pizza at lunch time and ‘seasonal vegetables’ cooked European style. Breakfasts offered freshly made omelettes, poached eggs, pancakes or waffles plus the ‘usual’ full English or cereals with nuts and dried fruit and pastries. New to us were the freshly made baguette/focaccia-type rolls filled with tuna or cheese and salad. Savoury cold cuts and cheese with sweet peppers or olives etc. added even more variety. Fresh fruit (ripe and delicious) appeared every meal time. The soups at lunch and dinner time were lovely. The selection of puddings was excellent and included various hot crumbles and custard. Negatives: some dishes could be unexpectedly spicey hot. Rooms: There was everything you need and they were kept clean and tidy by the housekeeping staff. The air conditioning was welcome. The wardrobe was a good size, the safe was easy to operate, and the en suite was roomy. Negatives: some lighting was a bit dim and better light around the dressing table area would be an improvement. Facilities: The swimming pool is pristine and rectangular which is good for swimming and water-based activities such as aquarobics. The beach is adjacent to the hotel and well provided with sun beds and a bar. The gym is well equipped and there are games such as table tennis or boules and a book exchange. The grounds are beautiful, nicely laid out and cared for. Watch out for the resident Hornbills, lizards and visiting monkeys and birds. Negatives: I can’t think of any. Spa: On offer are massages, beauty treatments, hair dressing and more. The staff are professional and friendly. Negatives: None. Staff: What can you say? Everyone greets you with a smile and people like waiters soon get to know you and your preferences. All are trying to make your holiday perfect and it’s hard to single out individuals. However, some names must be mentioned. The waiter Lamin is quiet and very efficient, always going the extra mile; his colleague Wandifa is a close second. Around the pool Amadou and Omar are outstanding. Finally, Amy, the masseuse, has wonderful hands. Negatives: None. Reception: Everyone is helpful and whatever the problem they do their best to resolve it straight away. There is a resident nurse/first aider whose services are free, just ask to see him. He is kind, helpful and also goes the extra mile. Negatives: None. On her own in cool, calm, can-do is Lobbeh, the Customer Relations person. Every holiday should have a Lobbeh and Ocean Beach is very blessed in having her.

TUI Representative Ocean Bay - Overnight Gambia Trip Ok, so first I must start this by saying I fell on an organised TUI excursion, fractured a bone in my leg, the treatment from the staff at our hotel was excellent, saw a medic on site, who referred me to a DR. He came picked us up, even dropped us at an ATM ! , x-rayed my leg, plastered it & organised crutches. Please read until the end! This is not about my leg per say, it really was about the breefing we got about the trip & indeed as it was an overnight stay in mud huts, about what we would encounter, it was asked by another member of the party if we needed special footwear ie : trainers, the reply was no! At no point did Clair (our rep) direct us to an online information on guidance for our trip. The footpaths in some areas were very uneven, we were following our guide through a very busy exit from coming off the ferry, at the beginning of our tour, going through back street markets to our mini bus pickup, trainers may of helped! We walked through the exit from the ferry, I tripped and fall….. the guide was aware I had fallen, and was struggling to walk, I had very little first aid care, on a 2 day trip, cream was rubbed into my ankle! No ice packs No medication No strapping I went over 30 hours with a suspended fractured leg, unattended, there really should have been a basic first aid kit on the bus. I just want someone to know, it maybe that we are in ‘Africa’ but as it was a TUI organised trip, TUI should have a duty to care, first aid kit is a basic requirement I would of expected, not go 30 hours without pain killers/attendance or ice pack, It really does need to be better. I know TUI reps are on commission, so to sell tours is their job, but compassion is also a basic human right, Claire had little, even told me I’d have to pay for extra seating if required, 2 days later I secured my own seating with extra leg room, then & only then, Claire the rep, offered to refund if we had to pay, retracting what she told me 2 days previously. I rang TUI chat & then a phone call, I believe was Kirsty, was extremely helpful & patient of which I do Thankyou for, she arranged assistance both ends. The Gambia is a beautiful country, with very welcoming people, it would not stop me from coming back.