TUI BLUE Tamala

Merry Christmas to the TUI Blue Tamala family. I loved my time at this beautiful resort and plan to return soon. Everyone on the customer service team works hard every day, and TUI are lucky to have them. Thanks to Kaddy, Fatima, Ngone, Awah, Pasqual, Bakar, Sharif, JeyJey, and the many others I can’t remember by name. Thank you all.

The staff and service were so good I’d give them 10 stars if I could. I gave the hotel five stars on TripAdvisor, and I’m doing the same here, though there are a few things worth mentioning. The hotel has lovely architecture, a prime beachfront position, beautiful shared spaces, and pools. The huge balconies and probably the most comfortable chairs I’ve seen in a hotel were great for relaxing. The food was good, the entertainment was excellent, and we had a fantastic time. The daily vulture feeding at 11 am was something to see. At the See Breeze bar, Kaddy, the Cocktail Queen, makes the best cocktails. Her smile and lovely personality make you feel welcome and accepted in The Gambia. For a 5-star hotel, though, I think the place needs a serious refresh. Some exterior room doors are peeling and look worn. Our room was generally good, with plenty of storage, a fridge, tea-making facilities, and four bottles of water each day, which we appreciated. But the area around the basin looked tired, the toilet had yellow staining, and the hair dryer seemed unsafe and didn’t fit the plug, so we couldn’t use it. Toiletries included shower gel, shampoo, and hand wash. There was no hair conditioner, skin balm, sewing kit, or some other things usually available in 5* hotels. I’m mentioning these issues because I noticed feedback is being read and acted on, which is commendable and gives the impression that improvements are genuinely happening. The hotel has enormous potential, and some updating could help it fully live up to its star rating. One thing that surprised us was the massage price, €81. Given that local monthly wages are £25-80 GBP, it felt unreasonably high. This is just an observation about the contrast, not a criticism of the therapists or the pricing. Mind you, a medical massage in a good area of London costs £60. My five stars are for the exceptional staff and the fabulous time we had at the Blue Tamala.

The grounds were amazing, picturesque, and well kept. Our rooms were clean, beautiful, and well maintained, and Meghana was great with housekeeping. All the staff were lovely, friendly, and chatty. Max was great with entertainment, and the artists were amazing, except for Thursday. Enough said! There was lots of choice at mealtimes and the food was great overall, but the serving staff made things move at a slower pace. Some nights the drinks we ordered were hit and miss, but that’s part of an all-inclusive stay.

The people are what made our holiday unforgettable. The team at Tamala were kind, attentive, and genuinely wanted us to be happy. They made a lovely holiday into a special celebration when we came for my friend’s 40th birthday. Amina in guest relations helped arrange thoughtful personal touches, Kaddy in the restaurant was always smiling, friendly, and attentive, and our room attendant Mbengeh kept everything spotless and added birthday surprises and decorations that meant a lot. The entertainment team also deserve a big thank you. They were fun and welcoming without being intrusive. The traditional shows and dances were vibrant and energetic, and a lovely celebration of Gambian culture that made the evenings memorable. Food was lovely throughout, well presented, full of flavour, and varied, from fresh breakfasts and relaxed lunches to themed dinners. The restaurant team worked hard to keep things running smoothly. From the warm welcome, genuine smiles, and great hospitality at Tamala Beach Resort to the beautiful surroundings, we left with full hearts and fantastic memories, already talking about coming back. For beautiful surroundings, delicious food, and outstanding service in The Gambia, Tamala Beach Resort is a perfect choice.