Ocean Bay Hotel & Resort

L'emplacement magnifique et très clame

Super venligt personale, dejligt indrettet hotel hvor der er skabt et behageligt miljø.

A warm welcome and great team

Amazing staff very helpful

The location is great and the conduciveness of the environment, very close to nature. The rooms and the entire environment is clean. However, the breakfast buffet was the same meal for the four days I ate, there should be other varieties.

Just Ok breakfast

I liked everything: the service, the cleanliness, the hotel room, the quiet. Nice beach and clean pool.
The only downside is the very poor breakfasts—or rather, not poor—a lot of bread and processed foods, not enough natural ones. There's no fish in the morning at all, there's some weird sausage—very chemical-tasting, lots of all kinds of cereal from packets—in short, everything from bags—and the price is listed as in a 5-star hotel. People say it's like that everywhere: a lot of bread and all sorts of chemicals from bags and nothing natural for breakfast.

Just back from 11 nights at the ocean bay. We loved it and can’t wait to go back. Everything about the hotel was excellent, especially the friendly staff, cleanliness and quality of food. The Gambia is known as the smiling coast and no wonder, everyone was happy, chatty, not pushy at all, delighted to have you visit their country. English is a second language to all, so chatting and communicating is not a problem at all. Our room was kept spotless and had a comfy bed. Pool was just perfect temperature and plenty of sunbeds with matresses to catch some rays. Animation team were friendly and had plenty activities for you should you want to participate but equally happy to chat if you wanted to lounge by the pool. The local wildlife was also plentyful and we even got a visit from the wild monkeys, who seemed to view us as much a curiosity as we did them. They had a look around then left without causing any problems. The hotel sits on a beautiful wide beach where there’s a hotel beach bar and plenty sunbeds. All the staff scored 10/10 for us. We will definitely go back.

Great hotel, great grounds and pleasant staff. When going off resort the locals with jump on you but if your pleasant and tell them your not interested they will be fine.
We ate out most evenings and the food everywhere was really good.
We had the best taxi driver Abba - highly recommended.
Seeing the monkeys on the resort was amazing.

Never been to Gambia before so this was a new and very daunting surprise holiday for me as I was worried about the monkeys getting too close to me and they did and I don’t know why I was worried because they are adorable you only see them probably once a day.. The hotel was lovely very clean and the room was cleaned everyday. Pool was gorgeous beach was gorgeous and the food was gorgeous and my other half is vegan and even he was impressed. I had a massage in the spa which was extremely cheap (my partner had 4 in 11 days that’s how cheap it was) Entertainment was good I enjoyed it glad to have no kids clubs and mini disco’s (because we don’t have young kids so bonus for us) The staff was super friendly very laid back and helpful there was no pushing us to do activities simply do you want to join in? No that’s fine you chill!!! I liked that. The Tourist guides outside just want to earn a living we had Laiti as our tour guide and when anyone else pesters just tell them your guides name and they leave you be they all look after eachother which I was pleased about Laiti took us to Senegambia, waited for us whilst we ate and shopped then took us home it’s so cheap and he gave us so much insight about Gambia and I had taken sweets for the children out there but didn’t see any as it was Easter holidays so he took them off us and sent us a video of himself giving the children the sweets so if your out there ask for Laiti he is a super guy can’t say anything about excursions as we didn’t do any on this trip we just went to chill but I will definitely go back and plan to do more then. One piece of advise is take travel plugs don’t listen to chat gpt who told me it was all English plugs we ended up having to hire some but overall I can say it as been the best holiday I have ever had I was extremely impressed with Gambia and the 39 degrees we had everyday 😄

What a gem! This hotel is immaculately clean ( Joma, our room service lady was fabulous), indeed all staff cleaning and servisihf rooms were fabulous, as were all the staff serving in the restaurant, amd waiting on in the bar.

The animation team do well to engage sleepy tourists who are mostly of a certain age, and who just want to recover and rest from relentlessly working in the UK to earn enough money to have a holiday!

I would highly recommend getting out and about, The Gambia is a beguiling country with lots to see and do.

The best way to see the country is by engaging the services od a local Gambian Tourist board guide. Eddi Janha was our guide his experience, expertise and knowledge were invaluable when we went to visit the slave post of Kunte Kinteh Island ( formerly known as Fort St James).
I would highly recommend Eddi Janha and the team of drivers, boatman and local people and delicious lunch that he fixed. Eddi was excellent as our guide!

From. Cape Point resort, we also used Ibrahim taxi who took us to Katchikally croc pool. He was knowledgeable and helpful. The crocs were huge!

Taxi Dolphin-man took us to Senegambia ( not our bag - bit of a seefy tourist strip) but not the driver's fault - we askec to go therr - it was just not our ' vibe' . He also took us to Bijilo forest to see the monkeys which was incredible to be so close to such amazing animals.

Everyone we met was friendly, knowledgeable and keen to ensure you had a great experience.

Had the most wonderful holiday at this hotel.
We went B&B and ate either at the hotel restaurant or out at local restaurants every evening.

The breakfast is great and plentiful, the hotel grounds are immaculate and the rooms spotless. Lots of wildlife around the hotel including monkey, lizards, cats and birds.

We ate in the restaurant from the a la carte menu for lunch a couple of days. Everything we ordered was exceptional. Try the beef shawarma wraps - you won’t regret it.

We also had evening meals twice from the menu - it does take a long time for food to arrive but this is because it’s freshly prepared to order.
We felt the restaurant food was as good as the local restaurants and a bit more fine dining style.

The staff really listen to you and remember your orders and do everything they can to make your stay special. A lovely lady on the egg station made me pancakes with a smiley face.

For seafood Calypso was our best meal - the king prawns are to die for!

Our biggest shoutout is to Sarja nicknamed 56 from Victoria Mini market (shop outside the hotel to the left). We went in to convert money and ended up booking three trips (Fathalal, makasutu and the crocodile pools & monkey park). We cannot recommend him as a tour guide enough! He made us feel safe, laughed with us and made us feel like part of his family.
He was also cheaper than TUI and from listening round the pool cheaper than people paid with the orange top tour guides outside the hotel.

We have travelled on many tour holidays but our experience with Sarja was the best we have ever had. Everything we did was just the three of us, even the safari we had an entire jeep to ourselves and private tour guide from the park that Sarja organised. Our favourite trip was the crocodile pool and monkey parks as Sarja was so passionate about these places in his local town, he even introduced us to some friends who let us play an authentic drum as they sang for us.

Unforgettable experience in The Gambia and we will be back to do it all again! We never go back to the same place twice but this hotel will be our exception.

It is lovely hotel with lovely staff. Room was clean and as expected for Gambia.
We decided to upgrade to all inclusive four days in as we had been out and about a lot the first few days-BIG mistake!
As soon as we upgraded the drinks were awful. Beer was watered down at the pool bar, spirits were not as nice, we could not have large beers as they were for paying customers only and service declined slightly(at night)

Pool was nice and chilled with the staff around during the day. Never had an issue getting a subbed and pool staff more than happy to help.

I think due to the star standard it could do with updating the rooms.

The heartbreak for me are the dogs on the street but they are fed and watered by locals.

Only advise-do not upgrade to all inclusive and if you go out tell the tour guides you’ve been before or they will hound you

Returned again Feb-March 26 - So many people return to this hotel, and every year we see someone we have met before. It is very relaxing with lovely helpful staff. The massages are wonderful and very inexpensive. Most people go All Inclusive first time, then say they will return B&B. This is because the locals are struggling so much. Make sure you visit Gibbi's on the beach whilst you are there! The reps don't promote it. But the fresh fish is amazing. His phone number is (220) 7559192 or email him on gibbaceesay@yahoo.com to phone his fish man to get what ever you want in. We took 14 people from the hotel down there and it was amazing. We pre-booked Lobster, king prawns and let him know which beers and wine to get in. The table was all made up and ready when we got there. Just go out of the hotel, turn left, walk for 5 mins then there is a sign to turn left and he's at the end of the road. He will pick you up and take you back if you don't want to walk. Or the boys out the front will accompany you (They are so trustworthy)

We will be coming back to this hotel next year. It's the only hotel that we return back to, and we've travelled a lot. We hope you enjoy your stay on the back of this review!

Unexpected pleasure.. We booked last minute and we were so pleased with everything. From Modou Corr at reception our welcome was fab. He found me the perfect room for my disability. Kiki the house keeper what an amazing Woman.
We had room 101. Ramp to front door perfect wheelchair room. Wet room in bathroom with shower mat brilllant.
We arrived as guests and left like family.
Abudallah, Anthony and Emmanuel at the pool boor first class and the best service.
The animation team where brilliant to help us get involved from pool to darts.
Omar wow you are brilliant. The help you gave us, first aid to pool service we are indebted to you. We will be back.
Everyone says about the spa. They are right. It is amazing for the price.

Lovely hotel. Large clean comfortable rooms with plenty of storage. Large pool with plenty of sunbeds, although quite a few hide in the shade for periods. The Animation Team struggled with the Aqua Aerobics early on in our stay due to the fact that the pool was freezing in the morning. It wasn’t exactly that warm mid afternoon.
Breakfast was fine. The egg station was brilliant. I had a few excellent omelettes and she had fried eggs and pancakes on different days.
Goldfinch beer was 300GMD £3.23, draught beer by the litre and G&Ts were 350GMD £3.68. The tonic was awful. To be fair it was hit and miss throughout Bakau.
There’s live entertainment every night. We saw the Reggae bands on Wednesday and Sunday, both for very good. The African Dance Show was also very good. We also caught the Karaoke Night. That wasn’t so good.
We kept the room on for 3 hours as we had a late pickup. The charge was £30, but 2610GMD in local currency which works out £2.53 cheaper. Don’t laugh, that’s best part of 2 beers by the way.
The orange shirted Tour Guides parked opposite the hotel can be a bit overwhelming. Two of their number latched onto us, following us to the shop when we went for water, Barry’s and all 5 restaurants we walked to.
Exchange Rate: We got 90.3 at the hotel (we arrived after 10pm), 93 at the Victoria shop (out the hotel, left 25 yards) and 95 at Barry’s (out the hotel, right 45 yards).
The Exit Visa at the airport is $20 or €20 or £20. If you pay in Dalasi, it’s 1400GMD, which is £14.74.