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S$215
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nonieNorthumberland
Northumberland
1610
Perfect Holiday
5.0 of 5 bubblesReviewed 13 Mar 2010
Perfect holiday, wonderful friendly staff. Hope to go again next year. We did a safari to Governers safari camp, Masai Mara, Swam with wild dolphins, snorkeled in marine park and did the sundowners Dohw trip all arranged by the hotel. Excellant.
Date of stay: February 2010Trip type: Travelled with family
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
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Reviews (1,135)
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Reviewed 28 February 2010

We went for 10 days with our 4 secondary age children and had a fantastic time. The rooms were comfortable although not luxurious.They were kept very clean by the hotel staff. We loved the fact that the balcony looked over the pleasant gardens. The pool side reasturant served buffet style food with good choice and plenty of fruit and vegetables available. i particularly enjoyed the grilled fish which was availalbe daily in the evening. There were pancakes each day at4pm - a great hit with our teenagers and late night snacks if you were still hungry. we also ate at the pizzeria at lunch time and watched a local heron come to the fish pond for his lunch.
The swimming pool was lovely and uncrowded although there is an adult only pool even even a few well behaved children are too much for you. the pool staff were ahppy to find us loungers in the shade overlookign the beach and there was a regualr drinks service.
We found more than enough to do locally. We enjoyed the snorkeling from the beach as well as a dolphin trip, snorkelling safari in the coral garden at he marine national park, creek fishing(chef cooked the fish for our dinner), trip to the local ruins at Gede, trip to snake and crocodile farm at Malindi and into the local villge . We also went on a 2 day safari to Tsavo East. The hotel runs a good range of activites. Our teenagers enjoyed the windsurfing lessons very much. Although the are not part of the all inclusive package they were great value with excellent, patient one-to-one tuition. You could also learn to Scuba dive, go on guided birdwatching trip (apparently excellent - we found the bird life fascinating).

We enjoyed the returnees who were very friendly and didn't find the beach boys too much hassle= they added to the characte and are licensd by the hotel so you can complain if they bother you (which they didn't)

The staff are fantastic, friendly and helpful. I think almost everyone knew our children by the end of the first week and they loved it.
Our only disappointment was that we had to leave. We are saving for a return trip!

Date of stay: February 2010
  • Trip type: Travelled with family
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4  Thank fromstalbans
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 27 February 2010

Jambo!
Went for the first two weeks of February. Very nice hotel and the staff really do make you feel welcome. Can't fault the food it was really excellent. The beach was excellent and we did not have to fight for sunbeds on the private beach area of the hotel.
We booked a safari before we went with ray kingi i.e Kingi Safaris and were well looked after. Ray met us in reception later on our first day so we avoided all the hastle from the beach sellers. We went to Tsavo East for two days and had a truly wonderful experience (£150 or slightly more if paying in Kenyan Schillings).
Ramond Kingi is a very reliable guy and even took us for a few walks around the rock pools and local village in his own time without charge.

One thing which was a real shock was the poverty especially in the bush villages where people live on less than a dollar a day. When we pulled up outside a school we were approached by a little boy (of no more than 5 or 6 years old) who looked up at the open window of our jeep and asked for water. Please take clothes and writing books and pencils for the children when you go on Safari. Two Italians on our trip took a suitcase full of clothing. We would not advise giving the children sweets as they do not have access to dentists like we do.

If you are offered a trip to Hells Kitchen to see the sunset be warned it is a long tedious journey over very poor roads. It will cost about KS3500 + 250 entry +500 for the guide who will then ask you to purchase school books for KS1000 and a further KS500 for biscuits to feed the resident baboons. We did not consider this trip worth the money. It was a bit scary travelling back through the bush (with just the two of us in Raymonds car with him driving) in the dead of night over really terrible roads. So if offered this trip be warned.

Snorkelling is not good. We went on a trip to the nature reserve where several boats were anchored up and it was a reall bun fight. The coral is sparse and poor with very few fish and for anyone who has seen it in the Maldives it is just not in the same class. This was a major disappointment for us as we were taken in by all the blurb and wanted a snorkelling holiday.
I don't want this review to appear to be too negative as we had a very nice holiday apart from the poor snorkelling etc. Raymond - if you read this we have tried to be as fair and truthful as possible and hope you get some use out of the snorkelling gear.

One other thing the boys on the beach will approach any pale skinned person with all sorts of offers. One (called Samson) even followed me every morning when I went on my daily walk. I gave a few of them some money for food (not much) and call me a sucker but they really need help. Do call into the shacks on the beach. You will see "Argos", "M&S", "Tesco" and "Asda".
The boys are very funny and have a terrific sense of humour. Towards the end of our holiday I went to chat to them at their "office" which was a large rock just off the beach accessible at low tide. There they would sit in the shade at mid-day and chat.
Would we return? No we don't think so. We had a real life enhancing experience in Kenya but I think it's the Maldives for us next. For snorkellers you wont beat it.

Raymond again - you wont recognise the name used here "Binky Bond" is only used by us on Trip Advisor . This review is from Roger and Maggy
Regards
Binky

Date of stay: February 2010
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
5  Thank rroger-rrocket
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 24 February 2010

Following a long flight and hot bus journey it was a relief to reach the hotel and a cool drink. After taking the first day to rest and settle down I soon became familiar with the surrounding gardens, pools and beach. I would consider the hotel to be just the right size - small enough to be able to see the same people at lunch/dinner etc and exchange greetings and big enough to have full facilities and food choices. The staff were very friendly and always helpful. The food was fresh and plenty of choice. The one downfall was the service of drinks to the table. As it became more busy at mealtimes the drinks were sometimes a bit delayed. The service at the pool and beach were good and also the chaps carrying and placing sun bed mattresses - nothing too much trouble. Hakuna Matata !!

Although I was a single traveller I did not feel nervous during the 2 week stay. Even at night i found the security to be very good which helped the stay to be relaxed at all times
.
Regarding the beach lads, I didn't find them any problem. They just want to show you star fish/ turtle nesting site etc and get tipped a few shillings for their time. If you don't want company then just be polite but firm and there is no problem. I can recommend Allan as being trustworthy and good for purchase of carved key rings or small trinkets. He has been walking the beach for 6 years trying to earn enough to keep his 2 children, hence you can ask for him by name at the beach and know he is reliable.

I shed a tear on my last day - I have travelled extensively, but don't remember having felt so 'at home' anywhere else in the world. I wish I could afford to return in the near future!

Date of stay: January 2010
  • Trip type: Travelled solo
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5  Thank JayneSouthWales
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 21 February 2010

For the second year we spent new year and the early part of January in Turtle Bay - and this time went with friends. It is always a slight worry to recommend somewhere to people but I am pleased to say our friends loved Turtle Bay - we got the rooms we requested, the food was good, the facilities good and the staff great. They agreed it is the best hotel yet we have experienced in Kenya.

The only blot was the loutish behaviour of a large group of young people "fencesand hedges" describes in their review. It was a bit like being unwilling participants in a students' union or a rugby club do on a Saturday night - only on several nights. In fact our friends were very upset - especially by drunken and offensive behaviour on new year's morning - so we did speak with hotel management and were assured that the individuals concerned (and their families) are known and would be spoken with. We are planning to go back for next xmas and new year and hopeful we won't have the same experience.

We had a great safari this time - our second trip to Tsavo East with Kingi Safaris and we saw loads more animals than we did before. Raymond Kingi recommended Voi Wildlife Lodge and it was truly impressive - we had the privelege of watching a family of elephants enjoy the watering hole there for around 2 hours one night. It was like actually being in a David Attenbrough documentary. And then the heavens opened and we had an Africa storm - very exciting if also very wet! Raymond and Thomas from Kingi Safaris made sure we had a wonderful time and as we were a self contained group were very flexible with the programme. So we had a custom made safari - what more could we ask?!

Date of stay: January 2010
  • Trip type: Travelled with friends
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3  Thank TrishaBirminghamUK
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 20 February 2010

We stayed 2 weeks in the hotel January 2010. The beach is beautiful, but not great for swimnming in the sea as the reefs are very close to the beach. Snorkelling is superb. Hotel quality in Lamu rooms is good/avarage. Good size and peaceful, but a bit dated. Food is decidedly average. The menus come around once a week. Choice ok and quality of preparation is ok. I advise you to eat at one of the 2 specialtty restaurants which are much better. Especially the Italian.

Staff are very frienndly - but sometimes not very speedy or efficient.

We went on safari with John Kenya, Nemo and Charles. This was great. These guys know so much and the Lodge they use is a better hotel then the TB.

Locally there is almost nothing to do, so you are in the hotel all the time, which adds to the staleness of the place.

Date of stay: January 2010
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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3  Thank Letstraveltheworld
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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