Serenity Holidays Traveller Reviews

The country is lovely however we arrived into a building site at the airport terminal, and the conditions were poor and too hot on departure no a/c. The hotel is presented as five star however requires updating the rooms bathrooms and pool area. Would not rate as a five star. Was disappointing. The weather was fantastic the people are fantastic. The transport to from the airport was excellent. The check in on departure was poor and some staff not helpful at all. The security checks on departure were poor they didn’t screen our liquids properly. I think for the cost of the holiday bearing 8n mind I am paying full adult price for my daughter too in half term who is 11 does not represent value for money. It is an expensive trip for what you receive. Also there are very few tour operators now so competition is not there.

Booking the holiday was simple and straightforward. Staff very helpful and courteous. The only thing we could not all sit to get her as a family on the return journey I was with my daughter who was 11. The plane is on the small side and the seats did not recline. Food not bad. Complimentary soft drinks and teas and coffee very good on the flight.

Good holiday to mix with people who regard themselves as British, the locals were friendly and wanted to increase their knowledge by talking to you, weather was hot and the beach was amazing, accommodation was good and the frontage was right on the beach, over. overall a great experience.

Pretty much dominate the package tours to Gambia at the moment, but are very professional, I do feel we should be getting a little more for our money, would like to see what percentage of trips etc goes back into Gambian economy.

This was a two-centre holiday, split between beach and jungle. We chose The Gambia to escape the worst of the British weather, but also to experience the diversity of birdlife the country has to offer.

The Gambia Experience provided us with everything we needed - excellent office support and local representation, good quality accommodation at a reasonable price - so that we could enjoy our holiday to the full without worry. We would certainly recommend them to others.

We have just taken our fifth winter sun holiday in the Gambia. The weather and value for money can not be beaten.

The Gambia Experience (serenity Holidays) have very experienced and mature local reps which is very reassuring. Everything always runs smoothly and we are ell looked after by the hotel staff also

A week of rest on the beach, reading and being well looked after by friendly staff, followed by three days at a delightful game reserve

Gambia Experience. We found them after Thomas Cook folded

We thoroughly enjoyed our week in Cape Verde at the Morabeza Hotel. Lovely hotel, great location and fab weather

Fantastic service from start to finish

Loved the quality of the lodges. Friendliness of the staff. Knowledgeable guides. Wonderful weather. The bird life is amazing! Second time there.... we will be back! First time at Mandina Lodge. SO pleased we went! Relaxing sleeping over the water in our fantastic lodge, waking up to bird sounds, and watching 200 baboons scurrying by!

So efficient and helpful

We stayed at the Bakotu hotel for the second time. It is quiet, tranquil and a perfect location for birding trips with guides from the Gambia Birding Association, a few paces from the hotel. At Mandina Lodge, we loved watching the sunrise over the creek and the sounds of the first birdsong. Also our early morning birding walks in the forest before breakfast.

It is our second trip to The Gambia with Gambia Experience. Again, we felt incredibly safe and well cared for at every stage of our holiday from arrival to departure. All our transfers in The Gambia were trouble free and enjoyable and, as before, we benefitted from the expert advice and knowledge of our representative. We had the most wonderful experience again, under the competent and professional umbrella of Gambia Experience.

Cape Verde Experience: staff - best in Sal (Tracy) & San Vicente (Edmon) . Not met at Santiago so missed chance of one excursion! Main trouble is that excursions can be very expensive if you are the only ones going on that trip! Otherwise CVE voucher system worked very well indeed. Sal: Hotel Morabeza. Splendid hotel by nice little town of San Maria at the one end of an island which is very flat and just like the Egyptian or Jordon desert, with just a couple of small hills to be seen! Morabeza Hotel rooms very good with plenty of shelf space, kettle, large shower room, air conditioning, more TV channels, right on beach on the edge of town. Food fair. The restaurant service can be terribly slow at night!! Soya milk & Gluten free bread is available. On the whole staff very helpful with mainly good English. Could do with information book about hotel in each room. Santiago: Quinta da Monthana. Splendid position in the mountains 20 min from very busy capital Paia. Ideal for walkers. Would give the owner 5 stars: a splendid fellow who occasionally plays guitar in the evening. Food quite good: probably best of all three hotels but no soya milk or GF bread available. Old city of Cidade Velha was very interesting on half day trip. Our room was clean but very small and simple with no air conditioning, and only a simple wardrobe & one bedside lamp! Many steps in hotel and Scottish lady slipped & pulled ligaments on wet steps! No swimming pools but great mountain outlook. San Vicente: Foya Branca. Splendid position by a large beach. A big hotel but were were there in low season, or so they said, so few guests but that was no trouble for us. Our room on ground floor very good with a terrace area. Nice furniture but no shelf storage for clothes and no kettle, but air conditioning good. Few TV channels. African News was best and only English! Again no English hotel guide book! Nearby airport not a problem because very few jets. Nearby island of San Antao is well worth a visit. Free shuttle bus to main city of Mindela. We enjoyed three hours visit there see fish and general markets and a museum. Reception & restaurant staff mostly rather poor, though room maid was most helpful. Main restaurant food rather poor - but we had been warned. Soya milk available but no

See note above

Excellent flight, fast transfer, beautiful hotel, good food and beach side location away from all the hussle and bustle

Gambia Experience excellent customer service, hotel as described, good rep. Highly recommended this tour operator.