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snuggels
960 Posts |
 Posted - 23 May 2009 : 20:35:11
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How. My one suggestion is take away Gambia Experiences license I’m Shaw someone else would step into there shoes. I know of no other country in the world where the air fair you pay to the operator you are penalized for the length of time you stay..
I paid £300 with Thomas Cook returning 6 months later at the end of the summer season
If I had gone with Gambia Experience it would have cost nearly 3 times as much
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Hiz Princess
United Kingdom
464 Posts |
Posted - 23 May 2009 : 23:49:26
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Who do you think would take on this destination?
Most UK companies wouldn't as its not a viable option in our summer months the season isn't very long.
I actually think GE are the better company in Gambia. They are more professional than any of the others and now they price match same packages they would be my preferred choice anytime. |
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snuggels
960 Posts |
Posted - 25 May 2009 : 14:41:43
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Hiz
Yes there is always the argument Better The Devil You Know.
My point was maybe if someone else was to take over the role and get rid of Gambia Experience then we wouldn’t get penalized for flight tickets based on the length of time we stay... Thus bringing down prices and more people would go to Gambia because it would then be within their budget
As the saying goes at the end of the day its money that talks.
Last season I purchased a ticket from Thomas Cook for £300 and was not penalized for the length of time I was staying over the winter
At the moment for a 6 months flexi ticket from Gambia Experience is £675 for next winter. On a normal flight ticket to reschedule your flight it costs £150 double if not more than other airlines.
Both of which I think are a scandal. As it happens I did reschedule on line cost £37 with Thomas Cook
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Edited by - snuggels on 25 May 2009 15:00:59 |
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snuggels
960 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jun 2009 : 22:44:37
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| Dialema.Thinking of where to go next winter I think I will now only go back to Gambia to see my friends when Thomas Cook or Gambia Experience have a special offer going.For the £675 for a 4/6 month ticket from Gambia Experience for that I think I can fly to any where in the world. |
Edited by - snuggels on 05 Jun 2009 22:47:01 |
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Hiz Princess
United Kingdom
464 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jun 2009 : 19:50:44
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So sad but this is true the amount of times even for a 3 week trip it has worked out cheaper to book a package (hotel transfers etc) rather than a flight only
So you looking to Gambia for xmas? |
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snuggels
960 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jun 2009 : 00:05:59
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As I normaly go away for 4 to 6 months during the winter months
and Gambia Experience charging £675 Im now thinking of getting better value for money else where. As I said I will now not spend my winters in Gambia but only go when there is a special package deal.
Just to see my Gambian friends |
Edited by - snuggels on 08 Jun 2009 00:07:13 |
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snuggels
960 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jun 2009 : 21:28:53
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For next winter Im now sorted. I refuse to pay Gambia Experience rip off charges of £675 for long stay. So here are some current deals valid till the end of June.
Singapore Airlines is running a seat sale from London, with return flights to Melbourne for £389 and Sydney and Brisbane £399, including most taxes & charges (the next cheapest is c. £600). There’re also flights to New Zealand for an astonishing £359, as well as Singapore £295 and Bali £319 ALL-IN!
The deal's on flights departing from London Heathrow between 1 September to 09 December 09 and 16 January to 31 March 2010 - which is SUMMER time down under. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jun 2009 : 08:03:40
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How do the costs of living compare? Accommodation etc?
Australia and New Zealand dont appeal to me. Its a LONG flight.....
Think I still love Gambia too much to consider being unfaithful for a winter holiday.....
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snuggels
960 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jun 2009 : 14:13:54
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Gambiabev
“How do the costs of living compare? Accommodation etc?
Since the revaluing of the Dalasi Asia is now cheaper than Gambia – In Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand Hotels can cost £10/15 per night upwards.
However long stay visitors like myself as in Gambia do not usually stay in hotels.
For example in Thailand for a very nice a Condo/Flat with balcony fully furnished with every thing you need right down to tooth pics in the kitchen can cost from as little as £40 per week and food is cheaper than in Gambia.
In Australia depending where you eat Café Pub or Restaurant can cost as little as £5 upwards or less for an evening meal depends where you eat
Accommodation can vary enormously in the big cities or the Out Back. Being Hotels Guest Houses Hostels or even farms in the Out Back So can cost from £8 per night to the sky’s the limit
While in Australia one of the things I will be doing I will be traveling Along the Great Ocean Road which is a major tourist attraction being one of the most spectacular coast lines in the world and being of World Heritage status. So one expects to pay more and the average I’m paying for accommodation is £20/30 per night
All though I have been to all the other places previously mentioned on various occations. Regarding New Zealand this will be my first time there, and an all inclusive tour of both the North and South islands a 2 week tour is £1350 for 2 people. You can get it cheaper depending on length of time and what you want to do
“Australia and New Zealand don’t appeal to me. It’s a LONG flight.....”
I don’t think there are many people that fly straight to Australia or New Zealand they break the journey by stopping over at Hong Kong or Singapore for instance. But there are many places you can stop over.
When I have stayed in Gambia over the winter months I have traveled to Senegal Ghana, Sera Leon, and Guinea Conackry. All of which by plane are not to far away
In Asia the distances are far greater and the best way to do it is buy a world ticket.
Depending on what you want to do or where you want to go can cost as little as £600.
As I’m going to various countries I have 8 flights at a cost of just over a £1000
At the end of the day its horses for courses or put another way one mans dream is another mans nightmare
In conclusion as I said previously I think Gambia Experience cost of £675 for long term stay is a scandal. When you can fly for 2/3 weeks at say £300 or £400.
It costs no more to fly to Gambia for 2 weeks or even 4/6 months the costs are the same?
So to get the tourists to come back to Gambia or more to come is lower the price to a more realistic level
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Edited by - snuggels on 19 Jun 2009 14:17:37 |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jun 2009 : 17:17:49
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| Aussie/Kiwi, while expensive, the value for your money is greater than Gambia in terms of tourism. Nice infrastructure, nature, cities. Everything is much better than Gambia and its the tourism product for the money you spend. Except the people. They are very boring. Weekends you can't find people to ask an address. Shopping Centres close at 5pm. Very weird people. |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
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snuggels
960 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jun 2009 : 01:57:12
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Turk
"Aussie/Kiwi, while expensive"
As this will be my first time in New Zealand as a matter of interest what are the costs of food etc.?
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Edited by - snuggels on 21 Jun 2009 02:00:09 |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jun 2009 : 11:07:47
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Sydney same/or slightly cheaper than london. Auckland and Wellington are cheaper than london. If I give you rate
London:10 Sydney:9 Auckland:8
In terms of food, Bangkok/Istanbul/Kuala Lumpur have the best value for money and much cheaper. NZ/Aus have good Thai food. Indian food not as good as UK. Nice Italian restauarants. Others are comparable to London. |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
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snuggels
960 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jun 2009 : 12:49:52
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| So from excluding London (But there are places you can get resonably priced food there to) From the places you have mentioned plus my experinces in Hong Kong Cambodia Vietnam Thailand and Australia you can eat cheaper than down the strip in Senegambia. Of course you can always have Chicken Yasa. The fact is now you can buy a full English breakfast cheaper in the UK than in Gambia. As you know it never used to be so. So all in all with the costs of the fights Gambia is an expensive place to go to |
Edited by - snuggels on 21 Jun 2009 15:00:23 |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jun 2009 : 15:05:44
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| snuggles you are right about the costs to eat out, the price have not changed in gambia which I find weird, they do not move up or down, there might be specials but look at the mian senegambia strip, 300 ds now for a meal was always 300 dls, but in those days i go 50 dls one pound £6.00 a meal, now 35 dls one pound = 9 a meal. the tourist trips are still the same price. |
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snuggels
960 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jun 2009 : 16:50:34
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Yes £9 for an evening meal and a few beers on the strip in Senegambia works out expensive.
In Chang Mai last year 3 beers an evening meal £5.
I think the tours im Gambia are expensive for what you get. Like a trip to the Crocodile pool its a rip off. Go by taxi at a fraction of the price.
I think the 14 day fully escorted coach tour In new Zealand Im taking at £675 per person is great value. Which includes all hotels and meals and any entrance fees to places enroute also includes a boat trip between the island.
What I do when booking a world ticket and going to many countries I have a fair idear of what I want to see or do. But on arrival in each country I get hold of tourist brochures and map out what I want to see or do. Then get a local taxi and negotiate a price.
Much better value and I find more fun cos i also say now take me to where you go and meet the locals
Yes there are time when I have been in Egypt Cruiseing the river Nile or the Caribbean or Cruiseing round the Mediteranian that an organised trip is more appropriate. As will be the case when Im in Australia Cruiseing the World Heritage WhitSunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef.
The high cost of airfairs and The value of the Dalasi is killing the tourist trade and also making life very hard for all Gambians |
Edited by - snuggels on 21 Jun 2009 17:51:09 |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jun 2009 : 22:24:39
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So why Gambia is an expensive?
1. Gambia imports most products other than a few local grown items. Input is expensive.
2. Government does not legislate regulations for tourism industry charging ridiculous prices
3. Perception by Gambians that Tourist are rich and dumb
4. Greediness/Tourists are seen as $$$$$$
5. Tourism industry is lacking the knowledge/experience for Tourism
6. Instead of long term strategy, short sighted vision of tourism, 'hussle tourist as much as possible'. |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
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