Mombasa, Flamingo Beach Hotel

What a fantastic holiday,the Flamingo Beach Hotel was oustanding. Safaris where breathtaking,rooms cleaned to high standards x

i recomend to many. thankyou .

Unbelievably awful ! Do go if you like dirty smelly towels and sheets that are never washed, disgustingly dirty bathrooms, pools that are never cleaned or treated, poor management and harassment from locals to extent that you can't go onto the beach ! If you want a holiday ---try somewhere else--Flamingo Beach Hotel really is dreadful !!

Very good holiday at Flamingo Beach Hotel, Mombassa. Unfortunately African Safari are no longer using their own planes or ship which I am sure will affect the camaraderie of the holiday which is a shame however the gourmet pass works well and its an adventure going to other hotels to taste the meals. The traders on the beach are a bit of a nuisance but try and ignore them. They are not allowed in the hotel grounds. Very good value holiday. Hope its as good in March 2009. Will let you know. I've been back to the flamingo twice now and guess what we are going again. We have always had good service and the staff at the hotel were brilliant. There were some problems initially but if you tell the staff they are willing to help and will do all they can to correct things. Cant be that bad if we are going again.

My mother in-law and I had a wonderful time at the Flamingo Beach Hotel. We even tried to extend our holiday for another week, but they wont have it. We loved it.

Wildlife on safari was amazing and local people were wonderful! Can't fault the majority of the staff in the hotel, they just didn't have the tools to work with! Flight, paperwork (lack of) ASC not buying out flight upgrades from monarch despite us paying for them! Thought the hotel was shabby, mouldy, smelly, had poor hygiene in my view, holes in bedding, smelly towels, broken furniture.

Found the food limited, would see same food appearing for 3 or 4 meal times. Constantly running out of drinks. Reps at hotel were shocking in my opinion, could come across as rude and not at all helpful in my view.

We booked and paid for 2 safaris 7 months in advance only to find they were cancelled when we got to Kenya. We were told there were no places for us on one safari. Our other safari was totally cancelled and we were told we would get a refund in the UK only to get an early morning wake up call one day giving us 30mins to get up, get ready, pack bags, charge camera equipment etc...simply not acceptable in my opinion... the reps even denied saying the safari was cancelled initially! Paid for upgrades eg 'Deluxe package' only to find you get exactly the same treatment as everyone else. Booked premium seats on flights but there was no lounge in Mombasa as stated in our documents (and paid for). 24hr delay on outbound flight, 5 hour delay on inbound! Our African Safari Club holiday was a complete disaster, in the two weeks we were away we met 3 groups of passengers with ASC, we literally did not meet a single person who did not have a list of complaints. Will NEVER go near ASC again .

My partner and I booked this hotel last minute with African Safari club. We had the holiday of a lifetime!

The hotel was very beautiful and people who worked within the hotel were friendly and helpful. It is also very quiet at the moment. I believe that many people are afraid given the politics in December but we saw no sign of any trouble now. Please, please , please go to Kenya because the people within the tourist industry really need you!

The hotel is very nice all rooms have a balcony and air conditioning. The showers are salt water but I never failed to have a high pressure warm shower. Breakfast and Lunch provided a lot of choice with an on site chef prepared to make fresh pancakes and omelettes in the morning with your choice of filling and on call to mix up a pasta dish for you at lunch . These options were in addition to a buffet of salads and other hot main course options. At dinner there was usually a couple of meat dishes, a fish dish and a vegetarian option along with a salad bar. Lunch and dinner both provided an extensive range of puddings!

The pool is really lovely and perfect place to relax during the day. We also took a couple of trips provided by African Safari club and would definitely recommend the Moonshine boat.

As part of our holiday we went on the Mara Simba Safari which was spectacular. The lodge is not big on home comforts but in my opinion a safari is for the animals not a luxury bathroom. We were taken out in land rovers each day and got amazingly close to lions, white rhinos, elephants, buffalo.....in fact the only animal we didn't find was the notoriously elusive leopard. I have heard reports on a few of the other safaris and I don't think they compare to this one. It is definitely worth spending a bit extra to do the mara simba or one of the other longer safari's that visits this area.

Barracuda diving team were also present at the hotel and absolutely lovely ! The team are there most days and can take you out on reef dives in the Indian Ocean as well as train you in the pool. You can also do a PADI course with them.

All in all this holiday is great value for money! A few people we met were expecting a more English style 5 star holiday but I think you have to remember you are going to Africa. Given the resources available to the country as a whole I think the Flamingo Beach Hotel does an excellent job at providing top notch service!

We really enjoyed our stay,everybody in the hotel made us welcome accommodation was what you would expect , You have to remember this is a 3rd world country water is precious, the electric goes off for a few minutes( take a torch) good clean rooms fresh towels and bedding every day. waiter service in the restaurant. stunning grounds and beach.

The beach boys can be a pest but just ignore them and they give up.Moses has a boat on the beach, He will take you on a reef tour or barbie on a deserted beach .At the right price this is a bargain holiday

We recently got married at Flamingo beach resort. We had wonderful day and stay at there lovely hotel.

The manager of the hotel was brilliant. Checking that everybody was having a nice stay, sorting any problem (if any). The staff made our wedding day one to remember. We had the gourmet pass which was wonderful. All the restaurants were really nice.

Getting to Airport:-

Onboard National Express destined for Gatwick. Stopped at Banbury for pick up. Unfortunately the coach broke down with aircon/heating fault.

The new shift driver at Banbury reported the problem to his office. After one hour, another coach stopped at Banbury while on its way to Wolverhampton.

The Wolverhampton service was terminated at Banbury, and that coach was re-scheduled to resume our journey to Heathrow and Gatwick.

By this time some Heathrow passengers were late and decided to head for the coach office to get back home on the next coach.

While waiting for another coach, I decided to call ASC Gatwick Check-in and inform them of coach breakdown, the operator was not sure why I was calling that number, and I repeatedly explained that I am scheduled on ASC flight at 7:30pm, only after my consistent effort did she acknowledge that I was calling the correct number, and asked how far I was from the airport and suggested I call back at 7pm if I was still on the road.

Airport Security:-

Very quick pass through at Gatwick and Mombasa Airport, except at Gatwick, and slow visa queue at Mombasa.

The ASA Flight:-

The flight was scheduled for 7:30pm departure, instead it departed at 8pm.

The in-flight meal was served at 9:30pm.

I was offered Halal Bombay Chicken to my surprise, at the time of booking they would not confirm about Halal food and booked vegetarian meals for us.

We were provided with front seatings because of accompanied infant and child passengers. During take off and landing the children have to take back seats.

Children passengers are not allowed near exit doors at take off and landing.

Hotel transport:-

Outside the airport we were shown were to leave the luggage and board the hotel bus. After about 1hr 15 mins of arrival, the bus left for the hotel, the bus was very old and the roof and windows leak if it happens to rain. Carry umbrella or towel to cover yourself.

We were welcomed with a free drink and the Jambo song.

The room:-

I handed over the hotel voucher to reception and was handed my room key, I simply asked on what floor was my room, I did not imagine this would call for a high level meeting between 3 reception staff which also included the tourist officer, I never got the correct answer from either of these 3 people in the reception, the guess was 1st floor after he had referenced his reception computer. I was shown my room by the porter and found it was on the second floor.

I immediately noticed the balcony was not safe for any child under 8, in fact the balcony was a hazard about to happen, my 1 year old and 4 year old could easily put their heads and also their whole body through the balcony fence.

Also in the bathroom, the wooden toilet seat was broken completely at one end, and also the seat fitting was not aligned correctly with the toilet. Every time we used it, it slipped to one side. I was concerned the children might trap their finger tips while trying to seat in the loo.

I reported the problem and also requested a lower floor room (not necessarily a ground floor). The reception staff just pointed me to a staff member who didn't look receptive to my request, but he quickly referenced the reception computer, and he suggested I allow him 2 days for the change of room.

When you enter the hotel, all the rooms on your right side are newly renovated, and all the rooms on your left side are under renovation and may have noisy aircon, door problems, jammed window stoppers, etc. Just minor problems.

The hotel balcony are never safe for the under eight, and always insist for ground or 1st floor at any cost. It rains heavily over there, and some people were slipping in the rain at the hotel. It gets very slippery in the rain and old people do not come out for dinner at night when rain is pounding. Take your own kettle and tea/coffee and biscuits for emergency.

Hotel food:-

I would appreciate regular menus for African/Indian/English catering. We shouldn't have to complain to be fed decently.

Breakfast was good or bearable. Buffet only on Wednesday and Friday and was good. Dinner on other days is by menu and i never preferred it. All three meals are very repetitive and gets a bit boring. Fish is available on daily basis, Chicken portion is available once a week (yes, correct once a week), beef is available every other day and it was good, lamb portion available twice a week (too hard to cut or bite).

If you require good barbeque food everyday, then you can pay 10 to 30 euros every night and visit the marina or other places the hotel has organised where you will eat, listen to music and dance and will have the privilege of the company of all hotel staff, who never miss a good thing every night, they are the first ones to get on the hotel bus with you.

Hotel food request:-

After few days at the hotel and complaining about lunch and dinner choice, the restaurant staff accepted request to prepare different food or prepare it to your requirements, but most of the time they simply replied the food was out of stock. On occasion when I requested grilled chicken, it was served like a brick, and I had sore gums and teeth for 3 nights. The lamb portion was also hard to cut never mind bite.

Alternative food:-

If you wish to eat out, Mumtaz or Vipingo at Mtwapa (2 miles down the road after the bridge), barbeque or Pilau or Biryani cost 100ksh to 150ksh and soda is only 20ksh.

Various bars at Mtwapa: (2 miles down the road) too many to list, I heard beer is very cheap here and people sit all night,

Shere Punjab restaurant at Travellers Beach Hotel: (3 miles down the road) for the luxury of air con and high class Indian food it cost 400ksh per dish and soda is 100ksh.

Maharajah restaurant: (3miles down the road) it is another luxury restaurant, but I don't have any prices.

Serena hotel: (next door) I heard they do barbeque a couple of days a week (I think Tuesday & Friday) for 1000ksh each, with live music.

Doctor:-

The hotel doctor is pleasant chap but very expensive, you can expect a bill of 7000ksh or even more strictly in cash only, the bill includes medicine which he carries readily for you. There are many complaints about the doctors charges, but unfortunately mostly the old people do not pressure the hotel management regarding this issue and pay up for their own peace of mind. The doctor will always ask first if you carry travel insurance and then slam the bill of anything from 7000ksh to 8000ksh or even more. Be sensible and save time, money and all the hassles by carrying your own medicine, such as Imodium and Diahrylite for tummy bugs. Anti-malaria medicine is a must and Lariam / Mefloquine cost £2.50 per tablet in UK (plus £12.50 prescription charge), but only cost 650ksh for 6 tablets (less than £1 per tablet) in Mtwapa chemist, and without prescription.

There was outbreak of red eyes (in Swahili called Macho), the doctor confirmed this virus is in the air and only some caught it, there is no need to buy medicine for this, it will cure itself in 3-4 days. But you can carry your own eye drops and save money, otherwise you will pay 450ksh to 1000ksh depending if you visit Mombasa town chemist or local Mtwapa chemist. Also ear drops are useful to carry.

If you need alternative doctor, you can always ask a taxi driver (for 600ksh) to go and see other local African/Indian Doctor, who will charge about 600ksh to see you and medicine may cost 500ksh to 1000ksh. It will approximately cost a third of what you pay a the hotel.

The weather:-

Too humid in May, not a cool place in the hotel, the fans in the lounge do not provide adequate air, shame the lounge is not ac equipped. The cool sea breeze was mostly felt if you were by the sea side, but a bit higher up at the lounge or restaurant the breeze did not reach and I was sweating all the time and having to take my three meals at the same time while wiping the sweat off my head and face.

The humidity may cause discomfort and aches and pains in the legs or general discomfort. All bedrooms have ac and may be a bit noisy, but if you request servicing then it will become a bit quiet.

It rains very heavily in may and pounds for hours and hours, and it rains all night long, it may cause you to loose sleep unless you use ear plugs. There are mosquitoes in the room but very few, it will be sensible to buy a big spray can, the rooms have mosquito nets but we never used them or required them. The ac works but I never felt the room was cool until I was deep in my sleep.

I did check if the ac was on full power. There are power cuts at day and night, only once did the ac stop, from 2pm at night until 8am in the morning, and you can hear the rain pounding down, so take ear plugs if you want to sleep at night.

If you are hard of hearing you can do without. If it rains prior to dinner, you either walk in the pounding rain with umbrella or just use hotel towels to cover yourself.

No one will come to ask you in your room or call you from reception, to ask if you wish to have your dinner in the room.

Our room phone never worked for 13 nights although it was reported to reception many times. When I inquired about room service in case of heavy rains, I was informed maybe only available for very old people.

People walk into dinner hall completely drenched in water, but you don't feel cold at any time because of humidity.

Mobile phone:-

Use your old cell phone, and get a local sim card for 50-100ksh. Popular mobile network is Celltell (previously Kencell then yes now Celltell). Other mobile network is Safaricom, if you use Safaricom make sure you set the tariff to Saasa, which charges 18.5ksh per minute day and night. I was on the tariff by mistake and paid like water. I am not sure if you have to select the tariff on Celltell, but most people had Celltell and they said it was a bit cheaper. Please note if you talk Celltell to Celltell it is cheaper, cross network charges are as high as 50ksh per minute.

Taxis:-

Do not ask taxi driver many questions you will not get much reply, very few have good knowledge of the tourism & local area. Taxi drivers are only reliable if you are in the car with them, but if you ask them to pick you up at certain time from your hotel so you can go out to lunch or dinner, they will always let you down. We had to look for new taxi each day. they will all agree and promise they can pick you up on agreed time but most will let you down and if you call them on mobile phone. They will just say take any taxi. I had made good friend with one taxi driver from last year and even this year we paid his full fair plus handsome tip, but all this meant nothing to him when he let us down at last minute without any reason. When I spoke to him on the phone he just replied go with another taxi. Spoke to me like a complete stranger. What a waste of money I had invested on this chap.

200ksh (1mile) for short hop usually to other asc next door hotels or shops outside the hotel gate. 600ksh (2mile) for round trip to Mtwapa for lunch/dinner/chemist/shopping. 12000ksh round trip to Whitesands/Bamburi Beach and for lunch in Mtwapa. 1000ksh (4mile) for round trip to Nyali for Nakumat supermarket shopping.

At Nakumat you can expect to buy anything you normally buy at Asda/Tesco. You can buy Kiringet water, UHT milk boxes for tea coffee or drinking, biscuits, snacks.

There are warnings at ASC hotels, which warn you about corkage charges if you purchase food from outside the hotel, I never liked the hotel food and I always carried the shopping bags right through the reception without any hassle at all, and I was prepared to fight for it and definitely would not pay any surcharge for bringing in food.

There are more taxi drivers around Shanzu than last year, if you can't make a deal with one inside the hotel, someone is always waiting in the queue outside the gate and will agree to reasonable charges.

The petrol was 75ksh last year and this year it was 76ksh and went upto 80ksh in Mtwapa.

You will probably use different taxi everyday. If you just need a short hop, or Mombasa outing, visiting Malindi by taxi usually 2.5 hrs will cost 8000ksh round trip.

Places to visit:

If you wish to go on safari never pay in advance with your air ticket. The ASC last minute prices are always reduced when you book from the hotel.

The discount rates are anything from 50€ less to 200€ less for the same safari, or even better book with third party and travel in their brand new vehicles. Don't expect quality food on safari, but the lodges are good. ASC are never honest when the safari are cancelled, their generators usually break down or the lodges are flooded, but they will always blame the rain and reschedule the safari.

Haller park (3 miles) to see giraffe, reptiles, fish farming, guides available etc.

Wild Waters amusement park great fun for all the family, very nice staff, giant water slides, very quiet on weekdays, just opened in Dec 2006. Modern glass arcade amusements building, restaurants etc.

Mtwapa Creek/marina which you can see from over the Mtwapa bridge on both sides of the bridge you can see the yachts and boats and they do barbecue all the time, I don't know the prices but food is good.

Mtwapa is a small developing town and plenty of land is available here, and the settlers are increasing all the time and local prices are rising because of white settlers. Eating out in Mtwapa was welcoming, fun and very cheap and it was all halal.

A piece of land in Mtwapa can cost about 300,000ksh (<£3,000) and building a two storey house about 2,000,000ksh (<£20,000).

Camel rides:-

At Shanzu beach the ride cost 300ksh, the same ride cost 100ksh at White sands/Bamburi beach.

The beach boys are hopeless are taking photos, they leave out camels head all the time in the photos.

Beach snacks:-

Sellers have soda (60ksh), mangoes (40ksh), coconuts (50ksh) to sell at the beach, but if you go to Bamburi Beach through Whitesands Hotel and walk up to Pirates Bay (the beach entry for all public) you will find cassava chips for 10ksh, mangoes for 30ksh, soda for 20ksh and many other snacks and many curio stalls, many water rides, camel rides, and you will be welcomed at most hotels by the Bamburi Beach. One very new self contained apartment hotel is Pa Pweza

and their rate is 10,000ksh per night for one room upto 22,000ksh for 3 rooms, highly recommended for luxury of self catering with a lot of privacy. It is very modern with nice swimming pool and everything built in, TV, electric cooker, lounge, phone, and many other comforts.

Bringing your guests to hotel:-

Gate passes for your private guests can be arranged the night before at the reception and will be available at the gate next day for the car and guest to enter the ASC hotel. Only ASC hotels have this strict policy, you can only enter their 7 hotels if someone staying there has invited you. We were most welcome at other hotels such as Serena and Whitesands without any passes at all.

We found Whitesands to be most welcoming and very busy with international conferences. Also the Bamburi Beach is very clean compared to ASC beaches. But ASC beach is good, just a bit weedy.

Satellite television:-

We were able to watch BBC News and live football on a Sony big screen, but were interrupted by regular signal loss because of heavy rains which pounded for hours. There are daily arguments regarding when to watch football and news, usually between French, Germans, and Brits.

Internet:-

The coolest little room in the hotel, only one computer available, and the other computer is for office use only.

Internet is very slow most of the time and you will eventually give up using it. Other internet cafe is at paradise beach, they have 2 computers in the reception and about 4 computers next to the restaurant/Shanzu market. Again internet is slow at the hotel but i bet very fast outside the hotel but you have to find them.

Checkout:-

You can pay your hotel bill (usually for drinks/internet/beauty service) every week or at end of your stay. I paid the night before and there were no suspicious entries. You can pay in ksh or pounds or Euros, the cashiers are very experienced and very patient team. Any enquiries and it will be fully explained without any hassle. The only complaint was I was chased at the last minute for not paying the new aviation safety fee which was introduced on 25 April 2007. This is a fee of 5.50€ for each person including infants and it was not included when I cleared the hotel bill the night before. Save some money for this otherwise you may have to pay with your credit card. Yes, there were complaints about double charging for this aviation fee so keep all your signed receipts and cleared bills with you until you leave.

On the way back:-

On the way back at Gatwick, our childs push chair took 1 hr to arrive, because it was stuck somewhere in the conveyor belt which delivers fragile luggage separately from the normal luggage. We had to take next available coach and arrive back home at midnight.

An excellent value for money holiday. This is the second time we have been and we loved it just as much this year as last. This year we took two friends and they fell in love with the hotel and staff also. We shall all go again next year!

One piece of advice was to take a bank of plugs so that you can charge cameras, phones, etc. There is only 1 plug in the average room and we needed more. Also take a torch, especially if you are going on safari. There are a la carte restaurants at both the Flamingo Beach Hotel and it's sister hotel, The Dolphin, next door where they serve a wonderful Chateaubriand. Another restaurant to try is the Moorings, where you dine in the open on a floating platform on the Creek. Fabulous seafood, including lobster and excellent value.