At the end of October my wife and I flew to Mombasa from Heathrow via Nairobi. From there we transferred by private minibus to Turtle Bay just south of Malindi. Turtle Bay prides itself on being an eco-resort and takes considerable pains to protect the outstanding natural beauty and resources of the area. Our accommodation was spacious and very clean, with a large mosquito-screened sleeping area, air-conditioning and a very large and efficient ceiling fan.There was a balcony overlooking the Indian Ocean and a safe for our ( not very ! ) valuables. The staff could not have been more helpful and attentive and one could hardly sit down anywhere without being offered liquid refreshment by a waiter or waitress. For those who wanted it there were water sports and boat trips of various sorts and also trips to see the area inland. We booked a trip to see some local Swahili ruins at a place called Gede and had a minibus, a driver and a local guide all to ourselves for a couple of hours! Reasonable value for £50 plus tips. There are two swimming pools on site, one for families and one for adults, a system that worked well for us being an older couple, and also nightly entertainment, ranging from local dancers to a disco.All this ceased at 11.pm. A reasonable time, I think. The food was outstanding and copious. If one was so inclined one could have eaten more or less continuously for about thirteen hours a day! It was a buffet system, but with a number of chefs preparing and serving freshly-cooked food in front of one. There were two other restaurants which provided a more intimate and luxurious dining experience( at a price ) but we were perfectly happy with the excellent food in the main restaurant. As you may have gathered this was an all-inclusive resort.The price paid included all local drinks and all food in the main restaurant as well as all snacks. Accommodation varies in price as some rooms are more luxurious and nearer ( a bit ) to the sea than others.We had the most basic accommodation and were perfectly satisfied with our lot. We met folk who were paying £30 a night more than us who said that they preferred our billet. Downsides? Well its a long old journey. We flew overnight with Kenya Airways ( who treated us well ) but including our drive down from Wales we were in transit for 24 hours.Then there are the inoculations ( expensive ) and the anti-malaria precautions ( also expensive ). One also has to stump up for the Kenyan visas. In addition some people may well be put off by the recent terrorist activity. However, when all is said and done if you want a " fly and flop" with guaranteed sunshine that is suitable for all ages at a reasonable price I would definitely recommend Turtle Bay.
