Sorry to anyone who loves it but I feel I must post what I made of it.

Firstly I spent over 6 months researching after reading posts about bumsters and how annoying they can be. Most posts say you get used to it, the rep says after a couple of days they leave you alone, the locals say after you have a bit of colour they leave you alone, the rep says be firm they leave you alone! What a load of cobblers.

I am very opened minded and tolerent and expected some hassle, I am very calm and realise that when visiting another country there are some things we have to take into account but I have just had the worst two weeks of my life.

I got food posioning on the first which did not help, I know nothing to do with Africa as it could happen anywhere but I spent 3 days in hotel room so not a good start.

I will say firstly we stayed in Sunset Beach Kotu and the hotel was fantastic, rooms basic, staff wonderful, location excellent on the beach front, lovely gardens and the food in the hotel wonderful and good value for money.

When we first ventured to Kotu which we had picked because everywhere read to make out Kololi and Senegambia area was like Blackpool we thought Kotu would be quieter. There is the Captains Table (where I got ill but not holding it against them just unlikely), an Indian which was lovely and another restaurant. Another bar and restaurant were shutting up for end of season. From the hotel to Kotu was a normal 5 minute walk, however on being stopped by 10 people telling you they needed to give you information takes longer.

Then we discovered you could walk along beach to monkey park and then go to Senegambia area. 45 minute walk along beach, idyllic, what we always like to do, constantly being stopped to give us some information, come to my bar, I know this is normal but in the end we said to someone we have come for a quiet walk together do you mind leaving us alone. Then all we got was how they just needed a few dalasi for rice. We then left the walked and walked through a hotel to Senegambia strip. This however was nice, with plenty of eating places and the only bit of hassle was do you want a taxi. We had a laugh with a sunglass seller and out bartered him, I said 500 dalasi he said 450! It was nice here but we coulnd't endure the walk every night so resorted to a cab, I know cheap and you are giving someone some money but walking is always part of our holiday.

Anyway we still ventured out but every night I could get back stressed. I wouldn't go shopping as it was impossible to say no and I am usually very good at bartering. Some friends of ours were approached by a guy in a wheelchair and gave him some money, next minute some other bumsters ran up after having just cut their fingers saying we are disabled can you help us! I know the locals disppair and try to help but it is frustrating.

We did all the trips, went to Banjul, Monkey Park, James Island, Makasutu lodge and saw baboons, went up the river in dugout canoes and it was an experience but personally I have wasted my holiday this year.

To top it all, we came back on 20 April and the day before I went down with Banjul belly and am still ill! I know that put a dampner on it but still I was very disappoiinted.

Weather fantastic, locals (that work) fantastic and some genuine although we nearly got caught out several times with local stall holders, taxi drivers were thought were genuine.

As we say, not all holidays are for everyone, we can't all like the same thing but when you think you can cope with a bit of hassle think whether you can cope with it the minute you leave the hotel, every day for two weeks. If other people never got this I must have been wearing the wrong clothes or had the wrong haircut!