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Mombasa Journals

Christmas in Kenya

A December 2005 trip to Mombasa by agiebabe

Royal Reserve Photo - Royal Reserve Safari & Beach Club, Mombasa, Kenya More Photos
Quote: Gold Crown Resort? I don't think so....
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Christmas in Kenya Best of IgoUgo

Overview

Quote:
Mombasa is a city and beach destination steeped in Arabic and Portuguese history

Quick Tips:

Don't go to this hotel.... sorry

Best Way To Get Around:

Don't go to this hotel.... sorry

Royal Reserve Safari & Beach Club Best of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Royal Reserve Safari & Beach Club"

Royal Reserve Photo - Royal Reserve Safari & Beach Club, Mombasa, Kenya
Quote:
We were there over the Christmas week in 2005 and although we accepted a one bedroom unit, we didn't expect it to be on the top floor at the back of the hotel. However, in the hotel's defense, I believe local Kenyans take their holidays at this time of the year and probably being the owners of the timeshare they were entitled to stay in what they had bought! The room we had was a one-bedroom unit sleeping four in total. Initially it was just my husband and I who were going but at the last minute, our daughter who lives in the UK decided to join us, so there was space enough for her on a double bed in the lounge. At first glance, the unit was not what we were used to (being owners of timesha...Read More

Member Rating 1 out of 5 on March 19, 2006

Royal Reserve Safari & Beach Club
Kikambala
Mombasa, Kenya

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Best Things Nearby:There's absolutely nothing nearby unfortunately. In order to get to the resort from the main road, there is a 3km drive down a very dusty and uneven road (I know - it's Africa) and this road bordered two villages where very the poverty had to be seen to be believed.Best Things About the Resort:The 'general' staff (not management though who were not friendly at all) were the best we have ever encountered - friendly, willing to assist - "Happy" - one of the waiters was always 'happy and smiling'! The hotel had two swimming pools, both of which were very nice with palm trees around both. This was were we spent all of our time unless we were on a prebooked tour. ...Read More

Member Rating 1 out of 5 on March 19, 2006

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I can only comment on dining in the hotel because that's where we spent all of our time eating (except for the one night on the Tamarind Dhow). The food didn't live up to expectations although the hotel did try hard on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve when they laid on a very substantial buffet dinner. When you are stuck in a hotel miles from anywhere else, you would expect to have more than one choice of restaurant. So basically we ate breakfast, lunch and dinner there and the food was basic to say the least.

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on March 19, 2006

Royal Reserve Photo - Royal Reserve Safari & Beach Club, Mombasa, Kenya
Quote:
I don't know why the hotel is called a 'beach' hotel because you can't go on the beach. We are used to leaving a hotel and going on to the beach to either swim in the sea, to go for a walk or to just lie on the beach and sunbathe. None of this is possible in this hotel. As most people who have been to Mombasa will know, the 'beach boys' are very irritating and will constantly bug you until they get you to accept one of their 'tours' or to buy something from them, so it wasn't possible for us to just have a leisurely walk along the beach. I think the hotel could be doing a lot more in this area. To just put guards on the perimeter of the hotel overlooking the beach and to take notes of who is...Read More

Member Rating 1 out of 5 on March 19, 2006

Safari Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

Travel Photo by IgoUgo member
Quote:
One day Tsavo East National Park Tour stopping for lunch. (3.5 stars). We heard only afterwords that guests normally do the Tsavo Tour as an overnighter and our poor driver had the misfortune of taking us back and forward there in one day (the main road from Mombasa to Nairobi which is how you get to Tsavo East was an experience we will never forget!).

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on March 19, 2006

Travel Photo by IgoUgo member
Quote:
We boarded the Dhow at sunset and after being seated, we sailed off down the river and had a lovely evening of eating seafood and being wined and dined. We sat next to a lovely family from London (Pinky, Sammy and their daughter).

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 19, 2006

Travel Photo by IgoUgo member
Quote:
The tour operator Distance Tours with driver George was ok. The van itself could have been cleaner, but as the same vans go into the national parks, it must be difficult to keep them dust free. Just don't sit on the seats with white slacks! The tour itself took in the city of Mombasa, the Arabic building, the tusks in the centre of Mombasa, as well as a tour of Fort Jesus and the carving factory. Good to see how this part of Africa lives and works.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on March 19, 2006

About the Writer

agiebabe

agiebabe
Johannesburg, South Africa

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