We have travelled to the Gambia many times and have fallen in love with what they call the "smiling coast ". The Ocean Bay Hotel is the best out there, with it's beautifully kept gardens, amid a plethora of birds, lizards and a visit from the vervet monkeys. 
Some of the rooms have been a bit updated and kept very clean by housekeeping. Breakfast is great, the usual fruit , pastries, fresh cooked eggs any way you like. Dinner is buffet style and plenty to choose from, and on certain nights is served outside. 
The real stars are the staff from Mrs Bass as Guest Relations Manager, to reception staff, the gardeners,cleaners, bar staff, and the beach boys who will set you up anywhere you like on the fabulous beach, shout out to Ebrima,Musa and Mohammed because they work so hard doing this. Mariama and all the staff at the beach bar which is always full of fun at the end of the day. Entertainment in the evenings are organised by Ambrose and his team, a mixture of live bands and cultural music. Last but not least to the horse boys who have two lovely white horses and provide rides on the beach,horses name are Starlight and African Queen looked after by Dodou and Tia....book a ride and feel the wind in your hair you won't regret it. 
6 hour flight from the UK and a fantastic place to visit for winter sun...what's not to love.

We have travelled to The Gambia many times over the last ten years, and stayed at several different hotels, but always end up back at the Ocean Bay. It has consistantly upped its game over time, but as always in the Gambia things can happen slowly. The reception staff, under the superb guidance of Mrs Bass, do an admerable job, all staff connected with the preperation and serving of food and drinks are better than ever, and deserve praise for their  hard and often forgotten work, especialy by some guests who can be downright rude and ungratefull, as we used all of our stay on the beach, we have to give special praise and thank s to all the staff at the beach, and the beach bar who went out of their way to make sure a couple of old fogies had the best stay possible, we could write a very long list of individual names but to be fair to all, our praise goes to everyone, a big thank you to all and we hope to see you all again in the future.

Just spend a week at the Ocean Bay Hotel in Gambia, it was a lovely holiday, all the staff were very friendly and accommodating.  Food was good, beauty spa good and very reasonable prices.  Room was fairly large and if you wanted a bit of nightlife there is Senna Gambia 20 minutes away.  Nice nearby restaurant called Calypso.

We had a great stay at Ocean Bay.  We were walked to this hotel from another property we had booked and we are so glad we stayed at Ocean Bay.

Hotel has a ten separate buildings on its large property.  There is a beach that is very beautiful and a nice large pool.  The restaurant and main bar is beside the pool, as well as a bar in the lobby and on the beach.

The food is buffet style for all inclusive and it changes nightly and has everything from local foods, European foods, salads, fruits, pizzas, french fries/chips, etc.

The best thing about the hotel are the staff.  They are all wonderful and helpful  In particular I liked the two men and the lady at the beach bar.  The staff are all cheerful, helpful and hard working, despite the obnoxious and demanding behaviour of some of the guests.

Rooms have comfortable beds, fridge, nice bathroom and are very clean.  My mother has mobility issues and they were good enough to move her to a room on the first floor in building 1.  I was in block ten with my wife and my two sons had their room in ten as well.

The internet signal does not reach all the blocks in the hotel but is excellent in the public areas.

The only negatives are that certain European guests defy the rules and "block" sunbeds early in the morning, some of them block both the pool and the beach and leave them unoccupied for hours at a time.  It is very frustrating and obnoxious.

There is an ATM across the street from the hotel to get local currency.  There are tour guides available outside the hotel.  I recommend an guy called JJ, he looked after us all week and was fantastic.

I would stay here again upon return to Gambia.

WOW A amazing first Holiday in Gambia
December 2024
This hotel is lovely and this is down to every member of staff from when you first arrive till you leave. 
The Spa is amazing and the ladies are fantastic and its so cheap compared to the UK 
Please go B&B as the all inclusive basis is ruining the local economy, 
Best Guides for trips is the guys in the orange shirts you can find these opposite the hotel, We had Rhino and he was amazing we went to Senegal Safari, Slavery tour, the Strip and also did the 5 destinations in one day, the trips are made personal to you and in your own time too. 
Crocodile park is a short walk away from the hotel and you can touch a crocodile
The Fruit ladies are fab and we did cooking with them too as a bonus. 
I highly recommended the below to eat out (these where the only ones we managed to eat in due to shortage of time on holiday) 
Calypso
Mr Bass
Gibbs
Solomon's

we are looking at returning later this year or early 2026, 

Cannot recommend this hotel enough