Diani Beach, Southern Palms Beach Resort

I love Diani beach and whenever I go to Mombasa it is always my choice. The staffs are very supportive and their services are best. I have vivisted Southern Palms Beach Resort for more than 5 times in 3 years time and I always go for my holiday here.

You will definitely love Kenya and the people are so warm.

This was overall the most superb holiday we have ever had. The whole fortnight was one of sheer indulgence and would not hesitate to recommend either one of your hotels. I do hope that you won't mind my additional comments which I hope you will appreciate.

We arrived at The Bamburi Beach Hotel on 7th August and were welcomed at reception with a coconut drink before being shown to our room.

After changing, we ventured to your restaurant for lunch and following an excellent meal, sat by the pool with a cold drink then wandered around the hotel before going down to see the ocean. We washed and changed for dinner again in your main restaurant, where the food was excellent, then had a couple of drinks out by your pool area where we were entertained by a local African Cabaret. We dined in your grill restaurant, which was excellent also and even took afternoon tea!

Having stayed in a few hotels, I have experienced none so well run as this one by your Manager, Mr ??? (apologies as I have forgotten his name). He is a credit to you. The atmosphere is warm and friendly and this is portrayed in all of his staff who all portrayed a happy yet professional mannerism.

All in all, the food quality and choice was excellent throughout, the service exceptional, the staff very helpful and polite and I cannot praise them highly enough, they are a credit to him and he to your hotel. I can only describe it as a fabulous holiday and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. After a couple of days we were approached by the pool and asked if we should like to move to your sister hotel Southern Palms. We were a little wary and said no as we were very happy at Bamburi. The Hotel Representative appeared very knowledgeable and convinced us it would be good to see the Diani Beach as well as Bamburi. We were not sure this was a good idea as we were very happy where we were so spoke to our holiday rep, who agreed that it would be good to see both, the north and south coasts, however spent so long dithering were not sure that the offer was still available. Your Manager, Mr ??? (apologies as I have forgotten his name) arrived and I spoke to him and he confirmed no problem that we could go and it would be a good idea to see both hotels. We went out for a couple of trips and had a couple of days on safari then took ourselves to Southern Palms arriving on Tuesday 14th August.

A most impressive reception area and once again the welcome was warm and were offered a cold drink before being shown to our room.

We washed and changed and dined in your main restaurant, whereby there were many choices and the food was very good but not of the same high quality as at Bamburi.

The Hotel itself was superb, the Italian Restaurant so good, we booked twice during our stay, both food and staff were excellent. We also dined at the Grill Restaurant, but didn't enjoy this so much as we felt the service very very slow as we were left with our dinner plates whilst eating desert. The staff her seemed to appreciate larger parties of people and being just the two of us we felt a little uncomfortable. The staff were very few and far between around the pool areas and it took a long while to get a drink, once when ordering a drink, it never arrived at all! We realised this as we had been so spoilt with the excellent attentive service received by the Bamburi Beach Hotel. We found it easier to order lunch at the grill by ordering an hour so in advance as it usually took this long to arrive but wasn't a problem as we sat at the bar with a cold drink soaking up the sunshine. We usually found it easiest to go to the bar ourselves, the service was not the quickest at the bars but the bat staff in the pool/lounge areas were few and far between. The cleanliness of the hotel and grounds was faultless and the chaps who gave the sun mattresses and towels extremely efficient.

This is obviously a far grander hotel and the plush surroundings do it justice. The food is good and the staff all appear good at their jobs but perhaps a little overstretched in the bars and restaurant areas. The bar areas were superb and the service albeit a little slow was very professional. After being so spoilt by the attention and excellent service at the Bamburi Beach we were very pleased with the Southern Palms which was a far superior building but found the service much slower. Bamburi Beach has the warmth and charm that I feel sure with a private beach area, some bottled mineral water and a few cocktails could easily make it a four star hotel.

The location of the hotels was superb with the Indian Ocean being so close. The beach boys were a little intimidating as there were so many but we realise they are only making a living. The private beach at Southern Palms, helped eliminate this problem, giving you the opportunity to visit them instead of the other way around. The traditional African entertainment was fabulous at both hotels. And the Jambo Jambo song sang often by your waiting staff was so catchy at the Southern Palms, we brought it at the airport to take home!

I shall be returning in October for the third time with my friends who shall be returning for the I don' know 12th time. Take a walk up to the local shop, turn left out of the front on the hotel, or go for a beer and a burger with the locals in the bar opposite the hotel up the road a little, great fun.

Nice pool, friendly staff and wonderful beach during high tide. Smelly rooms, poor buffet and night entertainment (note, we were there is January 2008, when the political situation caused massive cut-backs). Overall I would rate the hotel between 6-7 out of ten, adding that easily it could improve, only if they cared for little things, such as bed sheets, towels. The pools are beautiful, but the water discolours swimdresses.

Lucky to have had holidays in many countries,but for me,Kenya has it all and more.When you arrive home friends ask"would you go back again?".Well I have been to Southern Palms six times in nine years,and have been on safaris to Masai Mara twice +Savo twice,experiences I will remember all my life.The staff are the nicest people on the planet,but please remember they live on a pittance,so a few shillings here and there will not go amiss.Don't be scared of the Beach Boys,go and talk to them and they are soon your friends.This is more than a holiday it is an experience-try it+you'll be back for more.

The beach sellers can get a bit ott but if you want to buy carvings ect decide the price you want to pay and stick with it they will give in in the end

Don't be afraid to book safari's from the beach we did from JT travel ask 1st class safari £120 less than Thomson for same lodge and itinerary

A visit to Ali Barbours cave resteraunt is a must

During our stay the troubles with the elections began outside. The staff and management were excellent they were calm, keeping the tourists minds at rest. Excursions were canceled and we were told it would be best to remain inside the complex, which we were happy to do as it was so lovely.

Mombasa airport is very small and ran out of food in the only cafe, so take something with you especially if you have kids!

We would go back to Southern Palms it was excellent!!

Best holiday ever

Diani Beach, Southern Palms Beach Resort is a nice complex, but we didn't dare venture outside of it for the week that we were there.

See above regarding bad point and I hope the hotel takes some action.

We had a fantastic time at the Southern Palms Beach Resort and would definitely go back to this resort.

We had the added bonus of getting married on the beach and the staff made our day very special.