Flamingo Beach Hotel

3 readers found this review helpful

This is the worst hotel I have ever stayed at and I have stayed in many 2* hotels in 3rd world countries. We knew we were in a nightmare hotel when the bus that picked us up from the airport was falling apart and covered in insects! There was no water and/or electricity in our room and the hotel staff were useless, complained 5 times and each time were told someone will come to fix it in 10mins 2 hrs later no one came. The next day we had water finally but it was cold water! Our phone did not work, so had to keep on going back and forth to reception to complain, in the end we gave up and put up with cold salted water! Went on a brilliant safari with wildlife sun safaris our driver Jonas was excellent and would definitely recommend them. When we arrived back from our safari our driver was not allowed to driver us up the hill to the entrance of the hotel, when I complained the security manager came out and was very rude and lectured me on using safari companies outside of the hotel!! We heard horror stories regarding their safaris and our glad we never booked with them!! When we got back our room was infested with red ants and their were nests in our beds, the towels were never cleaned and they just put the dirty towels on the hanging rail. Also, we were told that the staff have not been paid for 10 months and we saw them walk out twice and the police were called to bring them back and because they are not being paid they expect tips all of the time. Also, had a run in with the accounts manager and they refused to print off our bill halfway through the holiday, as soon as he spoke to us he said 'what is your problem?' In the end we just avoided the hotel and we had a lovely couple of days. The rep is useless and all of the hotel managers were rude, I would never ever recommend anyone to stay at this hotel!!!!

13 readers found this review helpful

I stayed at the Flamingo Beach Hotel in Shanzu with my family including 3 children.We, as a number of guests during the first week of our stay payed a hefty price to stay at this "5 shields " hotel run by African Safari Club .
We quickly discovered that it was barely deserving of a 1*. Electricity was absent for most of our first week which meant that there was no water(pumped electrically) for washing,toilet flushing, room cleaning, public area cleaning, cleaning of linen and most importantly HAND WASHING.This was the whole hotel including staff hand washing who serve food and drinks!
ASC were noticably unapologetic.Although many areas had power cuts all of the local shops and bars and restaurants appeared well lit and able to serve food which was hot as well as not raw.
We have previously visited Kenya and more recently The Gambia and have never experienced such disregard to paying guests health.Yes we were in Africa and expected the 5 shields rating to be rather generous on their part but never expected it to be like this. Dont think this is acceptable for Africa, it just isnt. African Safari Club need to pay their bills and their staff instead of being dillusional and putting money in their own pockets.Kenya and its people are great. THIS HOTEL IS A HEALTH HAZZARD dont waste your money.

8 readers found this review helpful

What a fantastic holiday. We spent 6 nights on Safari and 8 nights at the Flamingo Beach hotel. I could not recommend it enough both as value for money and for the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff. The hotel is 5 shields but this is Kenya, a third world country so should not to be confused with 5 stars (but neither is the price). The ensuite rooms are large and clean with a balcony. Linen is changed daily. The food is OK and plentiful but not Cordon Bleu. The gourmet pass we paid for was well worth it as it gave a choice of 4 restaurants for evening dining.
Our safari in 3 different game reserves was absolutely fantastic. The guides/drivers are very knowledgeable and know where to find the animals. We saw all the big 5 and many more. Flying from one camp to another in a small plane gave an excellent view from the air.
Kenya is poor and I wish I had known beforehand how much they would appreciate any clothing you no longer have need of. The generous luggage allowance of 30kgs would have allowed for this. The schools are also in desperate need of books, paper and pens. Use your luggage allowance they will be incredible grateful.
We found an excellent taxi driver and guide just beyond the boundary of the hotel called John. Very resonably priced and with good english. And for the best massage you have ever had ask for Jennifer in the shops just outside the hotel. Cost about £7 for and hour including tip. The surroundings are basic but the massage was wonderful!

5 readers found this review helpful

The worst holiday (almost) I have ever had, mainly due to food poisoning. The hotel was more or less what we expected for Kenya basic for a 5 shield. The kenyan people were extremely friendly. The people who work for AFC (reps) not so good. Hygeine concerning food was appalling, hence the "Mombassa Express" problems.....everyone had the same problems whilst we were there . The pool was filthy even first thing in the morning, cleaning consisted of a man in the pool with a broom sweeping the bottom, in other words just dispersing anything in there. There were copious amounts of dead flies and large ants in the pool even after being "cleaned". Several guests had ear infections. AFC are just out to con you out of money however they can, even to the point of making "mistakes" on the final bill for purchases, which we experienced and were consequently reimbursed for the overcharges.
It was a welcome relief to go on Safari (which was booked independantly NOT with AFC) if only to get us out of the Hotel "prison". The Safari as it happened was very good, thankfully.
Neither of us would ever go to Kenya again, AFC have put us off for life!! Wish now we had read reviews for AFC before we booked our holiday. We had that many complaints it would have been a full time job to voice them (and we are not particularly fussy people).
Incidentally the Flamingo was the 3rd hotel we had been offered before we had even left the UK. The first hotel we had booked had been closed down and so had the one we were subsequently offered. Flamingo was the only hotel owned by AFC that was still open, but for how much longer?

4 readers found this review helpful

Myself and my husband had the most amazing time with are 3 children, we got married at Flamingo beach hotel and we got treated like royalty, staff were fantastic and we made some great friends at the hotel. The accomadation was very clean, staff always smiling, fantastic with children especially our 3 year old daughter! Food was lovely but after the first week we did crave for something different! The beach was lovely but do beware of the beach salers when you first arrive when they get to know you they will leave you alone and become friends, can be a bit in your face when you first arrive! Would be a good idea to take pens , pencils, old clothes to give and trade to the people on the beach as we would of if we had known what we have at home in binbags!!! It was great experience for my children who are aged 13, 8, and 3 who became friends with the locals and want to re visit. It the sort of place where you can keep youself to yourself or get to know the local pepole which is what we wanted to do.

4 readers found this review helpful

I booked on the internet with lastminute.com and had a few problems with them, so I was dreading the holiday by the time it came to going. But it was wonderful and we will definitely be going again.
The hotel was beautiful and the staff so helpful. My birthday was made very special by the hotel, as they had noted the date from my passport and decorated our doorway with flowers also my chair in the dining room, they sung happy birthday and made me a cake.
We didn't go on safari partly the cost but partly because we were enjoying relaxing at the hotel and beach so much we didn't want to do anything else.
On the down side the food became a bit boring, as I am not a great meat eater I found it dull.

Also beware when leaving the country the luggage allowance includes hand luggage which means 23kg for case plus hand luggage also the scales at the airport are NOT ACCURATE!
so very few people came home without paying. In our case £25 excess baggage in some cases £40 or more.
But all in all it was great and I would recommend it highly.