Travellers Club Reviews

My mother and I visited Kenya in February/March 2006. We were both tired from work, and fed up of the grotty English weather, and so booked this holiday last minute, just managing to cram in our injections in time!
Overall it was a wonderful holiday.

We arrived at Mombasa airport and stepped off the plane into blazing sunshine, which was a wonderful feeling given that it had been snowing in Sussex the previous day!

The airport staff were efficient and friendly. Contrary to other reports, the queue for the VISA was not horrific. Take English £ with you though. It's about £30-£35 per person.

The Travellers Beach hotel is actually split into two areas - the half board side had a couple of restaurants and a bar. We hardly visited this side of the hotel, as we were based in the all inclusive area. This seemed far nicer though. Imagine the hotel grounds as a long, thin rectangle. The rooms are in attractive blocks up one side, with a series of interlinking pools and little slides making their way down to the other end. The beach end of the hotel grounds was very lively, with lots of sunbeds, a poolside bar with seats actually in the water, and very raucous games of waterpolo! There was a large population of German guests who seemed to prefer this end of the hotel - however, we were after a relaxing time so always laid our towels at the restaurant end of the hotel, which was far quieter. There are a couple of bars - one under the shade of the restaurant (this area was very pleasant if you wanted to keep out of the sun - lots of comfy wicker chairs), and the poolside bar I mentioned earlier.

The hotel grounds are very clean, with lots of trees, and beautiful plants marking the edges of the paths. The water in the pools was just not cold enough though - it was like jumping into a bath, although I heard the sea was even warmer! We were very happy with our room - it was very spacious. There was a shower, a safe (which you have to pay for), lots of wardrobe space, a balcony and a television. Pillows weren't the comfiest though!

Breakfast and dinner are served in the large, open air restaurant on the first floor, and lunch is served both in the restaurant and at the casual bar at the beach end of the hotel. We preferred eating in the restaurant. You keep the same table throughout the holiday. All meals are buffet style and during our stay there was a different dish every day. Some of the food was gorgeous (particularly the BBQ evening) - and some wasn't, but there was always something we could fill up on. The food is not what you'd get in a european hotel, but we expected this. I looked forward to breakfast every morning as we dined on fresh mango and pineapple and freshly cooked pancakes! Wine and beer and all soft drinks are unlimited for the all inclusive guests, and is available from about 10am onwards. It was a little disconcerting to see some of the German guests line up their beers and cigarettes just after breakfast - each to their own, I suppose!

There is a gym in the hotel, however, if you want to keep fit whilst away, I would recommend swimming instead - I tried a run on the treadmill and almost collapsed after five minutes - it was just too hot. There were lots of joggers out on the beach in the early morning, but despite the breeze, I still found this too hot!

Don't make the mistake we made, and feed the monkeys. They look very cute the first time you see them, but really they are vicious greedy little terrors! One mother monkey approached me on the sunbed and stole my biscuit right out of my hands! Sounds hilarious but I'd have been worried if I'd been scratched.

The staff are lovely. Very friendly. However, the Kenyans are all so very poor, and their numerous efforts to make extra money shouldn't be taken in offence - they're just trying to live. On walks along the beach, we were surrounded by helpful locals asking if we wanted to take a walk with them. For walk, read 'guided tour' - they would have expected money at the end. A firm but friendly no is all that's needed. We just told them we enjoyed walking by ourselves.

I would recommend taking a couple of walks on the beach WITHOUT money at first, just to get used to the pressure from the beach boys. But when you're ready to buy, they will do anything to help. The absolute highlight of our holiday was a two day safari tour to Tsavo East and West. The hotel advised against booking with the beach boys. We ignored their advice, and booked with Elias from North Mombassa Tours. Much cheaper, and just as good a service as any other tour.

We visited the local Haller Park which was very interesting - particularly the baby hippo and his adopted turtle mother (owen and mzee)! Feeding the giraffes was one of my favourite parts of the holiday. The taxi ride there was very expensive - it would be about a half hour walk if you could stand the heat.

We also booked a day trip to Wasini Island. This I wouldn't really recommend - only because it was such a long drive.
On the way into Mombasa there is a very large clean supermarket mostly stocking european goods for the hotels - anything you might need, you'll find there - from Nutella to kitchen roll to wine.
For souvenirs, visit the working cooperative in Mombasa. The selection of carved wooden animals is astounding - and not bleached by the sun as on the beach. It might be slightly more expensive to buy there, but the money goes straight to the workers.

At the end of the holiday, we tipped our room cleaner, and the waiting staff - about 1000 shillings each (£8 or so). We also gave them all the worldly goods we didn't need anymore, such as our inflatable lilos, paracetamol, shampoo etc, and they were extremely grateful. We don't quite realise how lucky we are.

The only downside to this holiday was that we didn't feel quite at liberty to explore the area. Bamburi Beach is literally a beach with lots of hotels - there's no cafes, no bars apart from hotel bars. We're used to lots of freedom and enjoy wandering along the seafront after dinner (which we have managed in every single holiday bar this one). The hotel staff are quite adamant that it's not safe to do this, or to walk along the road.

Apart from that, we had a wonderful time. If I returned to Kenya I would come back to Bamburi Beach - but would probably book a week's safari first, followed by a relaxing week in the hotel. But we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and returned to England with wonderful tans and a new lease of life.

We can't recommend the hotel highly enough- lovely accommodation, extremely high standards of cleanliness and wonderful, friendly staff. We hadn't realised that you could use the facilities of the sister complex, Travellers Club- both have wonderful large pools that were virtually empty and no problems getting a good sunbed during the day. Indian Ocean was like a hot bath and the beach sellers were no problem, friendly and happy to leave you alone if you asked with a smile.

Food was very good with a lot of variety. Evening entertainment not exactly Vegas but the nightly disco totally hit the mark for the two teenagers.Hadn't planned on a safari as we were only there for a week but did one and a half days at Tsavo which was absolutely amazing- 3 game drives and we saw 4 of the big 5 on the first one! Highlight was a bull elephant coming to the lodge water hole and watching it through a hide from a couple of feet away- amazing! Can't describe just how wonderful it is to see the animals in their natural environment- worth every penny and we have the bug for a more extensive safari when we return. Have travelled to a fair number of long haul destinations and this is definitely one of the best holidays we've ever had. Haller Park, a few minutes by taxi, is also well worth a visit. Hand feeding the giraffes and getting very close up to the hippos, giraffes and giant tortoises is quite an experience, not to mention watching out for the snakes on the pathways and the mega-giant millipedes as you walk through the park!

The airport was much better than we'd anticipated- very friendly staff, very fast, clean and efficient and the only place we've ever been to where the customs people smile at you all the way along! It's the best holiday we've had in years and we can't wait to return. Jambo!

Travellers Club Hotel is situated on the North coast of Mombasa and shares grounds with its sister hotel Travellers Beach.

Travellers Club is All Inclusive, the grounds are well tended and there are two large free form swimming pools in the grounds. The pools are depth marked and are regularily cleaned and de leafed. The two pools tend to divide into the lower pool used for games, aerobics and activities and the top pool which is quieter, both have swim up bars.The rooms are spacious, clean and well kept, linen change is every other day, towels changed daily - pool towels are supplied. The rooms have a safe are air conditioned but do NOT have hairdriers, all have a balcony most with pool or sea view.

The staff are very friendly and pleasant and do try to ensure you have a good time,we must mention Sirrus, middle bar, a happy helpful guy and a couple of the waiters, Eddie Murphy (Francis) and James Bond (James Sewe) plus Peter all of whom made a great effort to help, serve and generally be nice. The included outing to the Elephant Sanctuary, with overnight in a tented camp was very worthwhile and enjoyable. When we went they weresuffering from a generator breakdown but they still managed water supplies and borrowed a small generator to give us some light.

The downside well the All Inclusive food was adequate rather than good but you wont starve and the buildings are beginning to show their age. All inclusive drinks included local beer, soft drinks, local spirits and wine plus Martini, Sherry and fruit juice.

A reasonably priced resort offering good value for money. You are free to use two speciality restaurants next door at your own (additional) expense and there are local shops and small supermarkets nearrby. Also a branch of Barclays Bank is about 400 metres away and they gave us a much better rate of exchange than the Hotel. Safaris, outings are readily available both from your Rep and more chancily from the beachboys.

We did very little, sunbathed a lot and relaxed but there are activities to be had both from the Animators and Hotels beach boats.Luxury it is not but it was a change, hot and sunny and relaxing.

What a fantastic hotel. There is not much to say apart from 'fantastic'.

The elephant sanctuary is an experience but a definate must and as its free who would refuse.

You must try the Italian Restuarant, Walter is the best waiter you could wish for!

The Indian restaurant is also a must, they are very attentive and do not let you pour your own drinks and they just bombard you with food. Both are reasonably priced.

All Inclusive, plently to eat and drink, however for the more fussy eaters (like me) maybe a little limited on choice, however the mini burger's at the beach bar are rather yummy.

We could not fault the holiday in any way, the staff were extremely friendly, helpful and would always stop and talk.

We had a conecting flight from Niarobi to Mombassa (would prefer not to do that again). If you go, try and get a direct flight into Mombassa, but if you want an eye opening experience have the conecting flight!

We would go back tomorrow if we could and will definately go back in the future.

Flew with Kenya Airways - great team of staff in the sky.

All in All this is the best holiday and hotel that we have ever stayed in.

The hotel was not as nice as I had been expecting.

The bathroom was old looking but was kept clean except for pesky little mites that ran around the sink and bath taps each time you turned the water on. The bedroom area was large and had a settee and chair. Air conditioning and t.v. No mosquito net was provided and we got mosquitoes visiting during the night. The air conditioning should of kept them away but we got power cuts everyday that stopped the air conditioning working. I got bitten on the eye area and had to get the doctor out. I had to ask them to provide a net which they did but it was like shutting the gate once the horse had bolted.

The food was not brilliant. The meat was fatty. I lived on chicken and rice as beef and pork was poor standard. Some of the lunches were better than the evening meals. The menu was monotonous. Our room was right next to the noisy beach bar. They played loud music all day to 11 at night. I never spent much time in the room but it was rather loud when I did. We sat in the quiet bar area a lot of the time, it was nice and peaceful with less of a crowd. We had monkeys on our balcony, so I kept taking bananas out of the restaurant for them.

You could not get a quiet beach walk, the locals persistently followed you trying to sell you things. They are real hard sell. The beach sellers are licensed but they shouldn't be because they try and drag you over and hassle you to buy. One con is What do you want for your socks? You look and point to something then he asks what do you want to pay for it, so it is not a free swap at all, it is a trick to get you over to buy something.

Other than that Kenya is a nice country. We paid for 2 day safari and got a free elephant safari with the hotel both safaris were brilliant. That is the main reason I picked this hotel was for the free safari. Across the road from the hotel is a nice nature park also. We walked round twice. A short taxi ride is another small animal park. We got a taxi to Mombassa town and that is a very busy conjested town, I didn't think much of it so only went once. Also we got followed and this shopkeeper had to threaten him with the police.
We did enjoy Kenya for a holiday and would go back again but to a different hotel of a better class. The weather was lovely, even at night it stayed warm, the people were friendly and the animals, birds, insects were great. I would recommmend this country.

Our flight had a problem that it went into liquidation before we went. Somak moved us to Kenya Airways going there which was a good flight but coming back put us on a cattle truck i.e Excel Airways which was a charter plane. This was cramped with no free drinks or individual entertainment as was with Kenya Airways. Pay for a decent flight, it is 10.5 hours and you need a decent scheduled flight.