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Mombasa (Kenya) Reviews |
JULLIETTE
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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Just returned from a fabulous two weeks at the Sun and Sand. The hotel was clean, had plenty to do (never managed to do all the things on offer), the food was well prepared and there was a great choice (although a little more Kenyan/ African food would have been nice). Have loads I want to note down so will do it in sections:
Visa - Either get it before you go or like another reviewer said take US dollars. They do not take Scottish Sterling or Kenyan Shilling (KS) at all and we were the very last people through passport control because we didn't realise this.
Hotel facilities - All very good. Would especially recomend a massage at the beauty parlour, it costs 1200KS (about £ for a full body and was so good I fell asleep! If you want extra bottled water go to the little shop and not to the pay bar as its cheaper there.
Food - There is plenty of choice for breakfast lunch and dinner in the main buffet area. We didn't try the Chinese but the snack bar is good for Pizza and Spag Bol. We splashed out on the seafood dinner which at £20 for 4 courses and a bottle of fizzy each was reasonable and tasty.
Safari - We did Tsavo East and West and the early starts were well worth it. The lodges we stayed in were lovely and the animals take your breath away. Do not go to Kenya and miss Safari - just the trip up there is an eye opener.
Day Trips - Haller Park is excellent. You can feed giraffes, hold a snake, see Owen & Mzee (the hippo and turtle twosome) and its only 600KS to get in. Take a taxi from the hotel, its about 3000KS but the driver will wait on you as long as you neeed (we had him for 5 hours). We also did the Mombassa City tour, which was worth going for a look and for lunch on the Tamarrind Dhow, also to visit the carving cop-operative where the workers get a decent return for there work.
Shopping - One of the cheapest places we found for souviniers was Haller Park. The gift shop is very good. T-shirts are very cheap at the Nakumat Supermarket and you can also get cigarrettes and alcohol at way below duty free prices. Ask the taxi driver to take you after Haller Park. He really wont mind and wont charge you extra.
Diving - We did scuba along at the Whitesands Hotel (free bus will take you). The dive team are all great (say hi to Dixon, Chai and Zero from me). The water is like a bath and the viz is great, outside the reef is whaleshark and turtles, whilst inside scores of tropical fish. Book online before you go for the best deals- buccaneerdiving.com.
The Village - The people are what make this place. Most of the staff live in the village and are very friendly. Khamisi from the snack bar could not do enough for us, Mateous at the pool bar is a great Swahili teacher, look our for Ngala (he calls himself Bernard) racing around in the swimming pool and keep a look out for Mohammad as he will always be trying to get you to join in games. Do not be afraid to go to the village. Even as two single girls we got no hassle at all. They all just want to chat to you, have a drink in the bar. They know the hotel is there life line and wouldn't be daft enought to jepordise that. Spend the 100KS to get a decent beer in the local pub and you will really enjoy it. If you are brave ask one of the locals to get you some Palm Wine, but go easy, its lethal and smells awful.
If you have any clothes, toiletries, shoes, mobile phones, anything really that you want to leave behind you can trade stuff for them. To be honest those people had so little though that we just gave ours away to the guys we had made friends with. There is an orphange down from the hotel, go right along the beach if you are facing the sea, go visit the children. They lost there parents in the bombings some years back but are such happy wee souls. Take them pens, books, clothes (ages 2 to 11), sweets, grain, anything and they will sing you songs, recite poems and generally be really greatful for anyone who gives them anything. It really makes you think. Don't worry no-one will ask you for anything, but gifts are very welcome.
Ovreall we had a fabulous time and would definetly go back, the hotel was good, but the people there really made the place.
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LAURA
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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I am normaly very easily pleased but after spending a lot of money on what was meant to be a very special holiday I was very disapointed. The hotel is in need of a major refubishment, Rustic being an understatement. The air conditioning units were hanging out of the walls and looked like they should be condemed. In the bar and daytime eating place were very old cheap plastic tables and chairs. There was a basic old rectangular pool which was clean, with plenty of beds and shade, but nothing else.
You couldnt go on the beach as you where hasseled constantly in droves by the beach boys, they first appear to be friendly but they only want to sell you things, although intimadating, and tenacious they are harmless enough, if you do buy from them (look in gift shop first for an idea on price) do some very serious haggeling as like all Dell boys they start very, very high so dont be afraid of being cheeky back.
The evening restaurant was very pleasant, the food was nothing fab but it was nice.
Going on safari saved this holiday from being a disaster, we stayed in a couple of fab hotels which just made coming back to shelly all the more upsetting.
To leave this report on a good note, the staff were very friendly and helpful, and we met some wonderful people and made the most of it.
The place is clean, small and relaxed, so if you havn't payed a lot and are not expecting too much, just the basics, make the most of it, and have a good holiday.
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LISA
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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We stayed in the Serena Chain of hotels and lodges- five in total- and were never disappointed. They were all rather unique and held a charm of their own. The positions of each of them provided spectaular views/gardens. You just have to remember the location to appreciate them to their fullest. One night we even had to walk through a small herd of zebra that had come up to the terrace to eat the grass to get back to our rooms. I'm not sure who was more afraid of scaring whom! The safari itself is an outstanding opportunity, especially at that time of year; but it is wise to read up on the 'tricks' and exactly what to expect. The abundance of animals is incredible and the people in the hotels simply cannot do enough to please you. Hayes and Jarvis use an 'agent' and I would not recommend either: Rhino Safaris themselves enoucourage you to overspend by giving very poor advice and our guide/driver attempted to bully us on to an additional tour where it was clear he made quite a bit of money. It was not the only issue either. The rep that met us at the airport treated us like a herd of animals and after an 8 hour flight we were expected to sit in a large room listening to her and wait for four hours before we could get in to our rooms. Added to which, Hayes and Jarvis 'guarantee' window seats and I did not get one at all- they are still refusing to compensate or withdraw their advertisement claiming 'guaranteed window seats', so that someone else is not mislead.
Above all, the Serena Beach Hotel food and service was outstanding. Whilst the place may not be the most modern available, it certainly very friendly and relaxing. You MUST look out for the rather clever gray parrot in the hall too. They rescued him and he is worth the trip itself! He has an eye for the ladies!
All in all, I would recommend the same trip, although I would advise that uou travel with Bales Holidays, as I have travelled with them previously and you get exactly what they say you will and I know they do a similar itinerary. My only regret is that I chose to try another operator this year: never again!
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BARRY
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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As an ex travel agent of 30 years having travelled all over the World staying in every type of hotel I was a bit concerned to read the many negative comments made about the African Safari Club.
Having just returnedon Saturday I detail below my lengthy observations. We boarded the aircraft at Gatwick and found the aircraft, staff and food quite acceptable for the long journey-we were booked in basic economy. The flight arrived on time and we were through passport control and customs in no time.
We had applied for our visa in advance but found most people were whisked through pretty quickly with or without their visa. Our journey from the airport to the Dolphin Hotel took about 30 minutes.
On arrival we were escorted to our standard room, ground floor with a good sea view. Very clean, adequate air conditioned room with mosquito nets. Our air conditioning was replaced midway through the holiday and was lovely and ice cool!
Only problem I felt was the lack of a radio or tv in the room but to be honest we were very rarely in our room. People had said previously that the food left a lot to be desired but I can honestly say we loved every meal served up to us.
At breakfast there was a chef there to cook your eggs any way you wanted in front of your eyes. At lunchtime you always had a varied choice buffet and again a chef who cooked fresh pasta again in front of your eyes. At dinner you had a superb choice of meals which you choose off the menu and served up by an excellent team of waiters/waitresses.
Other past moans seem to relate to the cost of bottled water but to be
honest I thoughty 70p for a bottle of cold water delivered to your table was excellent value. A good range of wine was on offer starting about £11-white wine was always served up in an ice bucket.
I had booked a safari by email before I left and spent 3 great days at the David Livingstone Camp. They even have sattelite tv which enabled me to watch the Manchester derby live! I booked with Biopracade Tours who have an office 25 yards just outside the hotel front gate.
I felt it was good to support the local town travel agent. I did not attend the welcome meeting on our first day and can honestly report never once was I put under pressure t book any tours or excursions within the hotel.
Evening entertainment was adequate and varied, albeit repeated the second week.
During our 2 week stay which included the Masai Mara trip both my wife and I only had 2 mossie bites each so, as long as you take precautions, the bites should be few and far between.
The beach was lovely although you will be pestered by the beach boys if you wander outside the private part of the beach. Sunbeds were good which cost you 1.5 euros per person per day. Often visited the Flaming Hotel next door which is beautiful and spoke to a few residents there who were more than happy.
In the Dolphin Hotel the Manager and his assistant were always around and we found them very approachable and would do their utmost to help if you had a problem.
We did do 2 separate days deep sea fishing and found that the prices and quality of boats are second to none. Prices were about half the price of the equivelent in Florida and you are only 15 mins away from the fishing grounds. The Captain picked us up by car from our hotel before and delivered us back afterwards. Also free soft drinks are supplied onboard. Please contact me if anyone going requires further info.
A room safe is available for the cost of approx. 33 euros for the 2 weeks. All in all my wife and I were thoroughly delighted with the Dolphin Hotel and African Safari Club. Value for money, I believe is second to none.
Anyone disagree then you will find similar holidays will cost a helluva lot more with other tour companies. We will go back to Kenya again and it will be with the African Safari Club.
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STERLING
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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| Thought the hotel was excellent value for money, better than a lot of 4 star hotels I,ve stayed in. The staff were excellent. Booked a safari with First choice that was brilliant. The beach boys were great fun although a pain at first. The one called Patric near whitesands hotel does great deals on safaris, we met a lot of people who booked with him and they said they had the same as us with nearly half the price. check it out, we would the next time.... all in all a brilliant holiday with fabulous people. Seaweed a problem in Jan-Feb from the reef that hinders swimming in the sea. That was our only disappointment as pool area rather small, but if you turn left at the entrance from the hotel to the beach and walk about 300 mtrs it was much clearer and the sea was fabulous.
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