This was a great vacation! we went there last december and the staff was friendly and great. if you are traveling with children - there are lots of activities that the hotel staff holds. with each activity participated, you get 'points' and you can purchase something from their little store at the hotel. Adults too get to participate in activities, from beach walks, water aerobics in their pool and beach volleyball (we did a lot of that) the snorkeling was a great experience too as it's close to the protected marine! The rooms were very clean and spacious. The restaurants and food and drinks were excellent too
have fun!!!

Like many people we were very disappointed to have our holiday cancelled last minute by First Choice especially as we had planned to visit the Children Of Watamu a school helped run by Sue and David Hayward who are doing marvellous things for the local children.

We decided to book ourselves the flight was with Kenya Airways was easy to do online and was excellent, we were well looked after flew to Nairobi and then Mombasa but a good tip is to see if you can get a flight to Milindi from Nairobi which is only 20 mins from Turtle Bay. We also contacted Turtle Bay by e-mail who were excellent, helped us so much and arranged for us to be picked up the good news the roads have been resurfaced which makes travelling a lot quicker and less bumpy!. We had a very warm welcome (cool flannels and drinks) from the hotel and were so pleased we made the effort as there were no signs of trouble. We were made so welcome by the staff and also the people of Watamu nothing was too much bother.

The hotel trip organiser Tumu helped with trips and we had a marvellous 2nd day trip to Hells Kitchen an amazing but very hot place our guide Tom was very knowledgeable and our driver Ben was great fun and pointed out so much on our travels.

The hotel introduced us to Johathan who is an amazing guide he knows the birds and community so well even if you are not a bird lover its worth organising an early morning walk with him he will share so much local knowledge with you. The walk takes you across the hotel to the village opposite and you walk to part of the mangrove creek very inspirational. Other trips we took include Sabaki River and Mida Creek with a walk along the boardwalk.

Also its worth meeting up with Felix the Hotel community officer and he can show you some of the marvellous projects the hotel support we visited all 7.. Felix will also arrange for any sponsorpship you would like to give.

Our Main reason was to visit the SDA school which is well worth a visit the headmaster Silas will make you most welcome. I ended up making a video to support the work of Sue and David who are now working on the next phase a ‘happy home’ very inspirational people well worth supporting.
The positive – The people who make you so welcome, the beach is amazing walk to the wishing rock one way or to blue bay the other. Mornings are great to see the sun rise over the Indian Ocean great!. Beach boys are good just be firm and say no and mean it. Hamish and Big John were good and helped shows us the marine life and sort out a safari for us. Fishing and snorkelling are excellent and if lucky you may see a release of a turtle by Watamu Turtle Watch. We bought sponsorship of a nest and a turtle release for friends who loved getting an email and photo. Visit the shops on the beach be prepared to haggle but enjoy a laugh with them its argos as you never seen before!.
The community work is great take a walk to the village opposite get a guide if unsure but you will be greeted by jambo and loads of smiles. Visit the schools especially SDA you may be welcomed by a song or two in fact everything was positive and make sure you take a camera to capture some of it. I took loads let me know if you wish to see more pics.
No real negatives entertainment a bit subdued but due to lack of numbers and of course the fact we had only 11 days there before our safari and visit to Voyager was a negative. We are so pleased we made the effort to go and amazed how easy it was to arrange. One thing for sure we will go back to Turtle Bay we made so many friends in our short time there. It has it all an ideal place to relax or if you are like us there is so much to see and do it’s a holiday and an adventure all in one!