Flamingo Beach Reviews

This is second time we stayed here - will be the last! most of us were sick, and one of us was still ill on return - she actually fainted on way to the airport coming home! We managed to get her on the flight home, but was treated for severe gastro problems on return... food left a lot to be desired, and we also have some concerns about the bottled water which you have to buy in the hotel itself - it's not always tightly secured at the top and they get it bottled themselves for African Safari Club... The hotel itself is basic. the location couldn't be more perfect. It's a picture perfect location beside the Indian Ocean and the pool is beautiful too. We love the location, but for food we spent most of our time eating in the bars down the road from the hotel! (where the food was great, and very cheap too!) The beach boys are a real pain, and it gets so frustrating when they try and drag you into the shops too. They'd get more customers if they'd just let you browse on your own - however the way in Kenya is to bargain for your shopping... We will be back again, but not to this hotel...

The hotel and grounds are supurb. The manager and staff were helpful and couldn't do enough to help.We eat using the gourmet pass every night and found the food wonderful but the menu remained the same all during our holiday.
The biggest downside to this location is the beach boys. They pester you constantly if you step anywhere near the beautiful beach and you do feel intimidated.

We paid £569 for two weeks (plus fuel surcharges), which was brilliant value for money. If you waited until the week before departure the holiday was offered at £369!

The flight out was delayed for 24 hours, so we were put up in the Gatwick Hilton. African Safari Club offered us either two excursions, or 70 euros per person compensation, as long as we signed a form to say we wouldn't claim against them.
The flight out was uneventful and smooth. Free soft drinks almost on demand, reasonable airline food. Transfer to the hotel was in an old bus well past its sell-by date, but we got there after approximately 45 minutes. Our cases arrived at the room about an hour later, so it pays to put shorts, flip-flops etc. in hand luggage.

The hotel is very good, spacious rooms, beautiful public areas. The swimming pool is spectacular and the beach idyllic. You get hassled incessantly if you venture beyond the rope by tens of locals trying to sell you things. Very annoying. If you want to swim in the sea, keep your head down and don't answer any questions!
When the tide is out, some of the beach boys will take you out onto the reef and show you murray eals, various crabs, squid etc., all for approx. 200 shillings per person (approx £1.50).
The staff in the hotel are all friendly and pleasant, The food is a bit ordinary, and is repeated each week. If you want better food you have to pay to eat in the 'gourmet' restaurant.
The holiday was spoilt by five out of six of us getting the 'squits', not just for 24 hours, but most of the holiday. Our friend was particularly affected, and it not only affected the entire holiday, but also an expensive safari on which she (and her husband) hardly participated. They both felt cheated. The doctor blamed the heat, but there seemed so many people feeling the same that we decided it was either the food preparation, or the swimming pool.

All in all a great experience (especially the safari, which is a must), but we personally wouldn't go back.

Just returned from a really good holiday. Hotel was clean with good friendly staff - the swimming pool is really good with lots of room so that swimmers able to have their own space.

The Safari was really well organised, the airplane taking to the Safari was not the most comfortable but as it was a short flight only it added to the fun of the holiday.

Night entertainment was lacking in the hotel but there is a shuttle bus which takes you to the other hotels which are nearby with entertainment usually laid on by one of them, if you can be bothered after a day sightseeing or lazing by the pool.

Overall felt the holiday was good value for money and will certainly book to go with African Safari again - in the not too distant future I hope

This was the 2nd time we had stayed at this hotel, at exactly the same time as last year - early March for two weeks. The weather was fabulous, very hot and sunny, although rather humid at times. The hotel, again, was fantastic and the service superb. The staff are so very friendly and looked after us wonderfully. The food is very good with plenty of choice, and the hotel spotlessly clean and tidy, lovely grounds and the most amazing pool (plus one smaller pool) Yes. you do have to pay for sunloungers, also drinks (incl. coffee and water) but the brochure tells you this - and the prices are very reasonable compared to other resorts.

Taking into consideration the total cost of flights, accommodation and all meals (yes, full board) the holiday is amazing value for money. We sincerely hope to go again next year. This year we were joined by two friends and they too were really impressed with the whole set-up and the friendly, attentative staff.

A tip for would-be travellers -take a bank of plugs, as only 1 plug is in the average room and you usually need more to re-charge camera batteries, phones and also for hairdriers, etc. Also take a torch, very useful if going on safari particularly.
There are a-lacarte restaurants both at the Flamingo Beach Hotel and the next door sister Hotel, the Dolphin - there they cook a fabulous chateaubriand!

As I said, the Hotel is fantastic. The only thing basic about this Hotel are the rooms, but the brochure tells you this also and you are in Kenya after all - ENJOY111