and I have twice already and am planning another trip soon.

If you go to Kenya, dont go with a Western mind-set expecting the luxuries you might from a trip to benidorm or paris or barcelona. if you are not satisfied with the clean and comfortable accommodation or the good and plentiful food take a tuktuk into Mtwapa or Shanzu and wander into the back streets to see how the majority of the world's population live.

So the water in the showers and from the taps may be salty but you dont have to carry it a couple of miles to get it home and it comes out of a tap and doesnt have to be stored in a plastic bucket. Yes the power does go down but at least you dont have to use makeshift battery powered or oil lamps or candles, if you have them. Some plates are chipped, soup spoons sometimes in short supply but you dont have to eat by hand and the food is plentiful. Go see what the locals have to eat.

Go to Kenya for the lovely people, the gentle weather, the pole pole approach to life, the happiness in the face of great adversity. And go to see what you can do to help those less fortunate than yourselves. Schools that could do with books and pencils, children that need clothes, young chelsea, man u, arsenal supporters that would love an old club shirt, budding young runners that need proper footwear, women that need medicine for their babies, money for food for their children. In a 2 week stay, I've helped to build a mud hut for a single mother and 3 year old, bought a meal for £3 for a family of 10 sleeping in one room that hadnt eaten anything that day , paid £10 for a child's schooling for a term and then added another £2 for dinner for the whole term, helped a young woman set up a little shop. The opportunities are endless - fill your suitcase to the limit with the stuff you never use at home and come back light and free both in heart and luggage. Or refill the bags with souvenirs.

The hotel is more than adequate, clean and tidy, the staff are friendly, polite and helpful, the locals hustle hard but that is often their only way of making a living. Use the hotel as a base to go out and help. And you'll be back too, I guarantee it.

After eating the worst plane food I'd ever had and waiting for almost an hour on the transfer bus until everyone had boarded, we endured another hours drive to the hotel. The staff met us with cold drinks and were singing and dancing (a very nice touch) My room was divided into two equally large separate halves with two doors, two bathrooms and two large balconies. What let it down was the bed linen which was washed but stained. The bedspread looked well used and ready for retirement. There was no TV or fridge which was a real shame as all water in the bathroom was salty and there was no way off keeping your bottled water cool. The food was repetitive and my spouse had a dodgy stomach for most off the stay. The food however is better than the Flamingo or the dolphin Hotels. The staff were great. It made me very uncomfortable to learn that they haven't been paid for 8 months, as they were so attentive. The beach was roughly a 7 min walk, some of it uphill on a path behind the hotel. The elderly may have a problem with this especially in the heat. When newcomers go on the beach the hawkers descend like a pack of wolves. Stay behind the rope and take in the scenery as they cant cross this without getting arrested. When you want to swim and you have to cross it they will leave you alone if you say no. A couple I met recommended one of the beach boys called Katana. He had escorted them on a few trips , not being pushy or expensive. Katana took us all over Mombasa, always getting us back for dinner. Look for him on the beach. A two day safari was £140 through him. There is no entertainment at the hotel. The Flamingo has music on some nights. It was really bad, like a Butlins sort of thing which we had to sit through before the band or dancers came on. A couple of elderly people got up for a foxtrot. There were complaints as people wanted to see authentic African dancing and hear the music. The Vasco Da Gama is what it is due to the caring staff. African Safari Club should recognize this and PAY THEM! The hotels were closing for the low season and some had to leave early without pay.

When I saw the view from my room of The Indian Ocean I was blown away!I cannot fault the hotel at all.The staff were attentive,friendly and nothing was too much trouble.I felt I was leaving friends behind when I left.The food was great, varied and plentiful and better than the other hotels on the complex.The staff sat singles with other singles which was brill and great way to meet people.The swimming pool was always clean and no children.There was no entertainment,except football on TV which was fine as it was easy to walk to other hotelsand bars.The bus was working also.I loved the holiday and am sorry that the hotel is shut till July or I would return in May!

since change of airline to Monarch-always late arriving or leaving-22nd 24 hours late-23rd over 12 hours late-left at 11-30pm staff sewrved sundries,drinks,and duty free -then when everyone was asleep,served a dinner.-woke to worst breakfast ever-Enjoy said label -dont think anyone did. 70% returned-only pigs could Enjoy if given as swill