Attention to detail is what usually makes (or breaks) a holiday and the Corinthia Atlantic certainly prides itself on this. As soon as we arrived, porters were on hand to carry our luggage to our room and enough staff were available on reception to ensure that the booking in process was quick and effortless.

The hotel itself is situated on the "Downing Street" of The Gambia. The President lives opposite and the presence of police and millitary personnel is re-assuring rather than intimidating. The only inconvenience caused is from the "bumsters" (I will comment on this later) and the occasional closing of the main road when the President decides to pop out for whatever presidents pop out for.

The plan for my two weeks here was to relax, keep up my newly found enthusiasm for a daily workout in the gym and to explore Banjul. My partner's agenda was simply sunbathe and work on the perfect tan.

Day 1 & 2 was spent on the beach. The secton of beach owned by the hotel is vey clean. The hotel has security staff who patrol this area. They do a good job keeping the bumsters away who historically have continually pestered tourists.

Tip 1: A small tip (or bribe) to James the pool attendant at the start of your stay will ensure your favourite sunbathing spot without the need for the early morning rush for sunbeds.

The price of drinks at the hotel are similar to the prices that you would pay in the UK. However on the beach are two sets of juice bars. The juice bars to the right are run by Sammy and his pals. Their drinks are half the price of the hotel's and he does serve ice cold bottled beer with good conversation (Sammy is the only Gambian I met with a cockney twang. It's worth going to his bar just to hear him speak!)

I also ventured out of the hotel. Many other guests warned against this after they were hassled by the local bumsters. The bumsters are quite friendly and will readily engage you in conversation. They will often offer to buy goods for you claiming that you will be ripped off, spin you a sob story about one thing or another, or try some other scam to ensure that you part with your well earned money. One thing is for sure, almost every conversation with them will end with an attempt to squeeze money out of you.

Tip 2: Don't be too upset if you fall victim to their persuasive chat and part with your money. They are very good at what they do. Just remember, be a firm no thank you is usually enough. Gambia is trying to promote tourism and the police will readily arrest bumsters if they see them hassling tourists or if you complain to the police about them.

Banjul itself is a small town. I personally was not hassled too much when I walked about but I am a black British citizen and I did not stand out in the crowd like many other tourists. It is advisable to speak with a member of the hotel staff who will escort you around the town and show you the sights. You can see everything in Banjul in a day or two at a steady pace. If sightseeing is for you then I would advise going on the tour operators trips. These did seem expensive (I recall one costing £89) and some guests managed to find willing members of the hotel staff who would take them to these places for far less money.

There are not too many places to eat in Banjul. The food at the hotel was very good. You were spoilt for choice at the buffet style breakfast and dinner. The A la Carte restaurant also served fantastic food however the choice of dishes is more limited. You can eat a different fish dish every day and the African special night should not be missed. You can try a range of traditional dishes and the entertainment staff will dazzle you with traditional African music and dance.

One the whole the food was very good but it was let down by the fruit. The fresh fruit was often under ripe and tinned fruit often was served.

The entertainment team kept the day flowing with many activities including water basketball against the guests, volleyball and my partners favourite aqua aerobics (The young toned instructor in his gym gear may be the reason why she liked it so much. She never took part!).

My partner also had three massages in the health suite. The full body massage lasted about an hour and cost the equivalent of £13 - £15. Her tip is that Lisa was the best out of all the staff and she was well worth the money.

The housemaids cleaned the rooms daily and changed towels and bedding daily also. I had no complaints about the room: it was air conditioned, clean and spacious. Many other reviews I have read complained about the frequent loss of power. I did not experience any power cuts at all.

Tip 3: Bring plenty of mosquito repellent and apply it regularly especially in the evenings. There were many guests covered in bites. Also bring some fly spray so that you can spray your room a couple of times a day.

Overall The Corinthia Atlantic was an excellent place to relax in beautiful surroundings.