Winter sun in style in The Gambia

28 November 2007 - The Sunday Times - Richard Green

My wife and I want some winter sun in late January or February. We have enjoyed the Canaries and North Africa in the past, but now we'd like to try The Gambia. Is that a dry time of year in the country, and do you know of any luxury-style of accommodation there? We don't want to break the bank, but it would be nice to stay somewhere that felt a bit special. Ronald Page, Haywards Heath

Sunday Times travel expert Richard Green responds:

The flight time from London is 5 1/2 hours, with no time difference, daytime highs nudging thirty degrees, and an exquisitely timed dry season, from November to February. In fact January and February might see about 6mm of rain in total, compared to London¹s 94mm.

The Gambia has it's fare share of nondescript beachfront hotels, the cheapest of which can be had for £429pp for a week's B&B including flights and transfers. But if you trade up to one of the new boutique or resort style properties, you¹ll get guaranteed sun and excellent value.

The Coconut Residence is a colonial styled 36 room boutique hotel, with large rooms, two pools, and a great restaurant and bar. It's not on the beach, which is less than a mile away, but it does have an exotic and stylish ambience. The Gambia Experience has a week¹s half board in Jan/Feb from £899pp, with flights from Gatwick and transfers.

New this May is the Sheraton Gambia Hotel Resort & Spa, with 195 rather smart rooms, a lovely stretch of beach, nicely designed swimming pools, and several good restaurants. Seven night prices from £749pp B&B, with flights and transfers, also from The Gambia Experience.

And for a relaxing and luxurious jungle experience, the splendid Mandina Lodge has a handful of jungle lodges, or beautiful over-water bungalows built along a conservation area of waterways and jungle a few miles from the coast. It's surrounded by birdlife, and there's even a colony of chimpanzee¹s nearby. Seven nights half board is from £999pp, with flights and transfers, from The Gambia Experience. Or you can easily combine say, four nights at the beach, with three in the jungle.

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The Gambia Experience is a trade name of Serenity Holidays, a fully bonded operator under ATOL 1866 and a member of ABTA, IATA and AITO.