LTI Kaskazi Beach Hotel

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LTI Kaskazi Hotel Diani Beach Kenya
12 to 27 March 2006 Tour Operator Thomson Booked @ Thomas Cook
Flight
1st time with Britannia Airways since 1999, regret TUI still makes great profits from overpriced duty free drinks and very poor meals.
Even worse the plane was an old Boeing and from seats 14a & b we could not see a film screen, never mind we saved cost of earphones! Airport reception was slow but no problems.
Transfer to hotel was quite exciting seeing bustling streets, colourful ferry, many pushing water carts and various parts of Mombasa.
Reception, Check in and Reps Meeting
Very slow and almost seemed timed so we would be too late for lunch. Early afternoon we went by coach to the Reps Talk at a conference centre a few miles away. We were promised all sorts of vital local information.
We got a hard sell for a few overpriced Thomson trips. No information on shops, markets, restaurants or how to book “The Lunatic Train”
The 4* Hotel
If ever there is an enigma about any hotel it is the Kaskazi. German owned managed by a Dutch Giant who was visible every day. Reviews are scarce and tend to be old.
We talked with English & German Couples who choose to stay here every year many had more than 6 visits. If you keep coming back you must enjoy the Hotel. It was kept clean, the grounds were well looked after.
There were 2 illusion signs everywhere commanding us “Not to feed the Monkeys” most were chimps, and “do not tip bar staff” well if you choose not to tip don’t complain if you wait for hours for your drinks.
Food
Breakfasts were wonderful in the main Restaurant or alfresco on the surrounding verandas, plenty to choose from hot porridge, cereals, fresh fruit, fresh cooked “full English”, toast machines, cooked meats beloved by Germans, coffee in thermos flasks, fruit juice and some morning’s pancakes or healthy fruit drinks from members of the animation team.
Lunch
Alfresco above the pool, buffet that varied each day, Kenyan style toasty cheese sandwiches, various foods cooked in front of you, chips (French fries). Waiters fetched drinks from downstairs bar.
Afternoon Tea
Same location as lunch, wonderful Kenyan tea & coffee plus cakes & biscuits. The real adventure at tea time most days was the battle between “monkeys” and Security guards armed with catapults.
The monkeys won most days 9-1 as they came for their helpings of cake. I’m sure most European guests were supporters of the monkeys and many helped feed them while they posed for photographs. Monkey team work and strategy left the guards flatfooted.
Dinner
When held in the main Restaurant was good. However there were many “themed nights” when tables were around the verandas and if you did not attend early you waited for seats.
There was always plenty of choice we enjoyed dinner. Drinks were fetched to table by waiters from a bar where frequently there was only one barman hence service could be slow tipping helped.
Room
Basic but comfortable, loo flushed, shower powerful and hot. Tipped room boy 1st time seen he was a young friendly lad. Room kept spotless, clean towels & sheets every day.
No hairdryer, asked but strange silence from Reception staff when I asked for one, by end of holiday concluded hairdryers and TV are rare items in Kenya.
Entertainment
Sometimes I felt I was in a time warp at Hi-Di-Hi land with the 10 o’clock wake up song that lasted for 10 minutes and ended with the animation crew doing “the Hi-Di-Hi dance.”
Then loud speaker announcing time table for the morning ”Stretching with Rita at 1015, Pool Aerobics with Fred at 1030, Healthy Vitamin drink with Liz 1045, Beach Volleyball ….etc. But there were many pleasant relaxing areas and bars.
I do not care for TV on holiday maybe an occasional news bulletin but here there is one small TV in the downstairs bar where English Footie Fans cross Swords with German “News Viewers” ritually each evening.
The rest of us enjoy our free drinks and the evening show outside. The evening shows performed outside were very good, waiters bringing drinks if rewarded. Shows were basically Song & Dance.
Hairdresser Spa
Various massages by wonderful lasses who were excellent. Traditional and modern hair treatments, beads, locks and extensions. A 1ST Dariusdave enjoyed both manicure and pedicure after Safari price reasonable.
The Buddy System
We were “adopted” by a member of the Animation team ½ way through the holiday who joined us for tea and evening meals. It seems policy that they are there to help and see to it you enjoy yourselves.
The Beach
Well forget about swimming in the Indian Ocean from this hotel. They say the sand was washed away by the Tsunami leaving “exposed coral”.
But you can swim from hotel beaches further south. We took the Glass Bottom Boat trip which was worth every Shilling; we saw beautiful live coral and enjoyed snorkelling from the boat.

Beach traders, there were sheds of wood carvings alongside the hotel, the boss seemed fair we purchased a hand carved Nativity Set. However we did not like the “Rwandan refugees” let us say their business methods are unacceptable.
The other beach traders and “boy guides” operate under the protection of the hotel security guards and most guests would rather they were not there. We found they just kept pestering you and didn’t take a No for an answer. Hence we avoided the beach and rested in the hotel grounds.
Sundays
Members of The Animation crew escorted Catholics by Taxi and Protestants by walking to African English language Church Services.
This was a cultural experience Dariusdave enjoyed his African worship that starts late and is far longer than an Anglican Hour, very lively at times but The Pastor was most challenging.
Sunday tea time children from the local Aids Orphanage visit. There seem to be well established links between German guests and this Orphanage.
I always take pens, crayons etc on 3rd world holidays (often used as tips) but this time gave them all to the Orphanage Rep. If any readers are going to stay at Kaskazi Hotel do try and find room in your case for a few treats for these children.
Safari
A separate review is included under Resort Reviews. I will say 3 days Tsavo East & West were 3 of the happiest days in over 35 years of married life. Other trips locally arranged were 1st class.
Conclusion
It would be best to think of Kaskazi as a hotel by the Indian Ocean, but not a beach hotel. The Hotel is promoted as 4* even given our 3rd World experiences (Sri Lanka, Egypt Tunisia, Cuba & Dominican Republic) this should be regarded as a good clean 3*hotel.
Management is hands on and enthusiastic but why have a 1st class Hairdressers / Spa in a small shop open long hours and a large shop for souvenirs that rarely opened. Why cram guests onto verandas for dinner and leave the main Restaurant empty?
I accept that tropical conditions do dull paint and hotel was due to close for maintenance in May. But there were almost as many water leaks as Thames Water have, a good plumber was required but would he have good fittings?
We enjoyed Kenya so much we have booked to go again next March but this time will try a beach hotel.