Bamburi Beach Hotel

Went on a family holiday to Kenya recently and Bamburi Beach Hotel spoilt the whole trip. Worst hotel I have ever been to. We were there for three days. Would never go there again even if they paid me for it and gave free accommodation. Nothing was right. Staff were not polite, they listen but nothing happens. Need to call several times for room service before anything is done. Food was awful. Being a vegetarian, they could not cater, although we had sent an email 4 weeks in advance with our requirements. Manager confirmed he has seen the email, but that is as far as it went. The chef denied any knowledge. Only had dinner on first day, but never again. Ate out in nearby hotels and the food was wonderful. Dirty rooms. Towels smelt of urine, linen never changed. Salty water in taps. Licking pipes so the whole floor was full of water. They provided a small jug of fresh water for brushing. If you asked for more water, it never arrived. Been there many years ago and we really liked it so went again. BUT NEVER AGAIN. I would not recomend it to anyone.

bad food ill for a week pool area very packed in small space trees and grass should be used beach very bad dirty vater jelly fish and sea weednot a ch worst i have ever seen in my life

2 readers found this review helpful

Me and the missus went there in march-april 2010.
There is always plenty of choice with food.There is a restuarant on site called fishermans cave, but they welcome passing trade and you have too pay for the food. pointless in our opinion as the food served free is just as good.
Entertainment everynight although it repeats itself in the second week. Met some fantatic people, many of which have been to this resort 4-8 times, not including mama bamburi who is a friendly german lady who appears to live there. I would have given this resort a 10 if it wasnt the pressure from staff for you to purchase wine.... example, JP Chenet at 2,800 ksh. (£28.00)approx. if you use anything from your minibar in the room make sure you go to the local supermarket (about700 ksh return in taxi)to stock it back up,
(bottled water, chocolate crisps etc) because the prices are really high otherwise. make sure you keep all receipts from any drinks icecreams etc that you do have, most people got non-existent bill when checked out. (cover you hotel wristband, locals will come too you and say they work there and could they borrow money and pay you later!)
If you venture onto the beach, dont panic when the sellers come too you, they are friendly and respect you if you respect them. A LITTLE TIP, if you take old clothes on holiday, you can use them to trade with ANYONE,I traded old pairs of boxer shorts, (not ripped clothes) or even leave them as your tip for a member of staff.
Did notice a few tourist (english, german etc) taking a lady of the night to their room, not too good for kids to see.
The second week of our holiday was during easter, this weekend was really busy with rich africans,being a religious country they also celebrate it. The unfortunate thing was that most of them were rude and ignorant. But this only lasted a few days.
Airport is corrupt, security will try most things to get a dollar from you. (US Dollars)
If you can, take some $1 notes, its cheaper than giving other currencies as tips.
LAST PIECE OF VITAL INFO: DO NOT USE LESS THAN SF50 SUNCREAM AND USE IT EVEN IF OVERCAST I GOT SEVERLY BURNT TAKE SOME ALOE VERA AS A PRECAUTION.

27 readers found this review helpful

My boyfriend and I stayed at the Bamburi Beach Hotel in April 2009 and we had the most amazing time!
Our room was lovely, we had a double bed plus a single bed and a balcony that looked out over the pool area and the beach. A great view to wake up to every morning! The bedding and towels were changed daily and we had no complaints regarding smells or threadbare sheets.
The food was buffet style but there were always lots of things to choose from. There was a bbq section that had different meats every day, a fish grill that again was different every day as well as a large vegetable and salad section. There is also a snack bar round by the 2nd smaller swimming pool that served pizza's etc if you fancied something different. We went to the Fishermans Cave restaurant 3 times and had a wonderful meal each time, the steaks are delicious (and huge!) and the fish is so tasty too! You have to pay at the Fishermans Cave but you get a 20% discount, we paid no more than £38 for a 3 course meal with drinks.
The main pool was busy and there are always things going on in and around there. My boyfriend played the water valleyball and water polo every day! There is a bar by the pool and this is also where the evening entertainment happened. We were all inclusive so all drinks were included apart from anything that was imported (eg. they had a house vodka which was all inc. but you had to pay for Smirnoff, the coke-a-cola was all inc. but you had to pay for diet-coke ).
The staff were all great, the waiters and waitresses work all hours in the restaurants and then again clearing tables in the evenings. The animation team were fab, they are around during the day doing the water aerobics, volleyball, football etc and then again in the evening they are hosting the entertainment. The staff really made our holiday, they were all so happy every day, not a grumpy face to be seen!
Every day the hotel arranges a day trip and I think in our 2 week stay we did all that was on offer! We did a trip to the local Haller Park, a wood carving centre, Ngomongo African villages, the crocodile farm, the list goes on! You pay approx £2.50 for the transport then the entrance fee. I don't think any of the trips cost more than £10 each including the transport.
I had arranged with First Choice that I could take an extra suitcase with gifts for a local orphanage/school. Lucas from the animation team arranged for a taxi to pick us up and take us to a local orphanage (Karen Little Hope Childrens Centre), where we given a tour of the school and met the children. It was a very humbling experience but to see the kids wearing the t-shirts we took them and singing and dancing made it even more emotional.
Before we left the UK I had arranged a 1 day and a 3 day safari with a Kenyan company rather than book through the tour operator. This not only saved us around 50% of the money but meant that the money was going straight to the Kenyan company and also meant that we did not have to check out of our room while we were away.

6 readers found this review helpful

Single White Female visited for two weeks and what a wonderful time. I met lots of English people there who had visited the same hotel for several years running. This is a smaller hotel compared to the others, and having listened to many people's opinions it is the best. And I can see why. You get lots of personal attention, especially if you are a lady on your own. Personally I liked all the attention, but one thing to point out to other single ladies - be a little cautious, and don't always believe what you get told. I would recommend this hotel to everybody. Everything was just amazing, and the staff work so hard, and really look after you. Special mention to Marcy and Silas in the restaurant. John and Masha the waiters. And to Florence who taught me some Swahili. The food, the staff, the facilities, the sun, and the entertainment was amazing, all you have to do is soak it all up.
My only one dis-appointment was that there were no sun loungers on the beach! Probably because of the beach traders. But don't let this put you off. Just be firm with them, and don't give them your name. Make one up!
Tip - ask for the hotel programme for your stay. I didn't realise there was one until near the end of my holiday. There is a whole programme of daytime entertainment, trips organised by the animation team, and evening entertainment. You won't be bored.
Tip - see Victor the First Choice rep for any trips that you want to do. He is lovely.

3 readers found this review helpful

What a great Hotel , we got what we paid for and more .We arrived after 4 days on safari to a very warm welcome , the rooms are clean and comfortable and the staff are friendly. The pool is again clean and warm ,the sun beds are a little uncomfortable though so ask for 2 cushions. Pay no attention to any reviews that slate the beach and the beach boys ! the water is fab and the beach boys are polite to start with, if you are nice but firm you will have a lot of fun with them,and just say no if you dont want anything. Night life is interesting, the hotel entertainment is a bit cheesy , the bar can be fun however. Outside the hotel take a taxi and get them to wait for you it costs peanuts to get to most places and they dont mind waiting, we had fun in some of the local bars and a very good curry .All in all the holiday was good value for money.
One peice of advice fly with the Kenyan airline from Heathrow to Nirobi because Monarch airways are really bad and are always delayed.go direct on a safari from Nirobi
and end up in Mombasa and ofcourse book the hotel direct and you will get it a bit cheaper.

Infact this is an hotel we found very near to the town centre.It's minmum twenty minutes drive to town from this hotel.The rooms have good space and the hotel spacing is so good.The food is fantastic and the hotel staff we foud them very kind.The beach is good but you can only swim during the low tide.When the high tide comes there is that beach wall that prevents you from swiming unless you are a good swimmer.The beach traders are there to hassle you the first day but when you get used to them then they are so friendly.For the safari we booked to tsavo east and west for three days with S.AA Julius email julius_thuvi@yahoo.com We found it nice to do the safaris with the local company because they get profit to look after thier extented families as they call them.During the exmas eve there is alot of fantasy.

1 reader found this review helpful

We booked this hotel for december 2007 from other recomentations we read from forums.I and my wife enjoyed alot from day one upto the last day.We stayed for two weeks which was wonderful during the xmas.The food was fresh and we could order extras whatever we needed.From the reception staff to animation personel there was good care taken for us.At the beach it was not posible to swim during the high tide.This is because of the high wall build to prevent the sea water.The beach traders are there with some hassle but when you get used to them, then they are become your best friends.We booked our safari three days to tsavo east and west with {Julius}his email julius_thuvi@yahoo.com We hope it's a good idea to do safaris or other small excursions with the locals for they have to earn money to look after thier extended families as they told us.
We knew Julius from trip advisor forum where other guests had recomented him.
We wish to come back to this beuatiful coastal hotel as soon as we have enough funds to travel.
Paul and Susan.

wasnt very clean but better than travellers beach. Food not brilliant same thing most nights. staff very friendly but again beach is a no go zone you are constantly harrassed by the beach boys. Witnessed plenty of prostition going on within the hotel which was quiet amusing old men with the young girls how very sad.
Wouldnt go back, it cost us £860 to fly home a week early hygene is not the strong piont of the hotel.

7 readers found this review helpful

Where do I start? This holiday is now in our top ten of all time and we have about four a year.
The flight over was very relaxing (we were Premier Class, which was well worth the money) and arrived on time. The journey to the hotel was about 35mins.
We were met by Masai warriors dancing and hot towels and a welcome drink. We were taken straight to our room overlooking the beach and pool.
The room was clean and cool with adequate space for our entire luggage. There are two bars, one by the pool which closed at 23.30 and the Dhow bar which finishes the All Inclusive at 23.30 but you can buy drinks 24hrs.
The food was exceptional with so much choice and very well presented. Lunchtime or evening there was always a carvery of some meat or another on top of the normal chicken, pasta, fish or a fine selection of salads. The desserts were to die for. Look out for Mercy and Phillip who were excellent hosts.
The hotel grounds are quite small but I think this adds to the personality of the hotel. You met the same people most days and if you didn't want to there was always the quiet pool at the side of the hotel.
The entertainment during the day was enjoyable with the animation team joining in. Most days there was water polo or water volleyball or football on the beach. Didn't see much of the afternoon activities because we were asleep having being worn out in the morning.
We were there over Christmas and Father Christmas arrived by boat onto the beach where all the children were waiting. They all followed him and the band to the pool area where he handed out presents to all.
The food on Christmas Eve was advertised as a seafood extravaganza and we were not let down. The hotel moved the whole restaurant onto the sunbathing area overlooking the beach. Tables, starters, main course, carvery and desserts were all available. The following night they did the same thing but this time in the car park. All decorated with lights and bands and dancers.
The evening entertainment was a bit monotonous being mostly tribal dancing, although they did have a comedy sketch one night performed by the workers from the hotel maintenance teams.
The beach boys are a bit of a nuisance but once they realise you've booked your safari's they tend to leave you alone. We booked all our trips with them and were not let down. They are certainly cheaper than with the hotel reps. we paid £190 each for a full 3 day safari Tsavo East and West and we managed to see the big 5!
You must barter for anything you buy from the beach. We bought two large busts for £6 each but he wanted £25 each at the start.
Some trips which are a must is obviously the safari but do try the night Tamarind dhow, the five course meal is excellent. Wassini Island is a trip very much for the scuba divers but again the lunch served in the restaurant is very good, try the crab it's delicious.
A visit to the various orphanages is a must but please take goodies for them. We took three suitcases of books, pens, pencils and as it was Christmas we took lots of presents for them.
We chose the Tumaini-Hope in Bamburi which caters for children with AID's. Its run by an Englishwoman called Joan Smith who can be contacted through the Hotel but there are others. It's best to look on the internet before you go.
Finally I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone, young and old, married or single.