Hotel Sunset Beach (Kombo-St. Mary Area, The Gambia)

For many guests, it's the staff who make this hotel, with their consistently polite and friendly attitude, and their ability to quickly respond to queries and resolve any issues. Guests seem to return again and again because of the service.

As well as keeping the inside of the hotel clean and comfortable for guests, the outdoor spaces are also maintained to a high standard. Guests comment on the attractive garden areas and the clean pool.

It's always a lovely surprise when resort buffet food rises above the average and you actually look forward to it - and Sunset Beach seems to achieve that. Guests generally enjoy their meals here, with plenty of variety at each sitting.

Air-conditioning in the hot weather is more or less vital, so guests are not impressed to arrive and find that it costs extra. Just be prepared to fork out a little bit more for comfortable nights' sleep while you're there.

Guests say that the bar prices are expensive for the area. If you want the convenience of drinking at the hotel, be prepared for the price mark-up; otherwise, guests recommend heading out to the Strip, where drinks are cheaper.

The hotel has certain companies who operate within it, selling tours to guests, and taxis wait outside to transport you around the area. This can create some hassle if you don't want these services - a polite but firm 'no' usually works.