Heaven on Earth

Picture this: Waking up in a stylishly modern hotel room, and from your balcony, you can spot the white,sandy beach and its beautiful turquoise water. Before going in for a dip, You are served by one of the most friendly and hospitable staff you have ever met, and with their irresistible Swahili accent welcome you to a themed buffet-style breakfast. This description fits our experience perfectly on a two-night stay at the Turtle Bay Beach Club.

On arrival at the hotel, the winding concrete pathway with lush and well-manicured green grass on either side leads to the big Coastal reveal. A thatched-roof entrance promises a unique and traditional experience awaiting to be explored. Besides, we figured it would be a memorable experience keeping company with Kenya’s Tourism Cabinet Secretary Hon. Najib Balala and media personalities, the likes of Maina Kageni and Daniel Ndambuki, popularly know as ‘Churchill’, although none were in residence at the time.

The interior is a distinct contrast as its Arabic-styled design is impeccably illustrated with the wooden furniture and classic doors. The reception was a magnificent piece, with a traditional dhow sail cast overhead with subdued and sophisticated lighting surrounding it.

As we awaited the finalization of our check-in registration, we were served with an equally cold and refreshing fresh fruit juice that seemed to ease our traveling souls.

What’s the first thing to do when you arrive at an exquisite beach resort you ask? Well, go, no, run to the beach, of course! The warm sand beneath our feet  and the gentle breeze running through our hair felt right.

We also had the pleasure of meeting Jackson, the hotel’s beach guard. His Maasai regalia though appealing to the hotel guests, is a warning sign for the local residents. The Maasai tribe is considered to have one of the bravest men who have even participated in a lion-fighting initiation event at some point in their lives. You wouldn’t want to mess with that fact, now would you?..However, he is very friendly and courteous.

What to do while at Turtle Bay Beach Club

1. Enjoy a water aerobics class at the hotel’s activity pool. The Maasai Jump particularly, is not for the faint-hearted.
2. Take a diving class at the Watersports Center located within the hotel. A calm and patient Erwin will teach you the basics and in no time will be enjoying the beautiful coral and marine life at the Watamu Marine Beach.
3. Unleash your inner tennis star by engaging in a thrilling and entertaining match at the hotel’s tennis grounds.
4. Stand-up paddle boarding and wind surfing- With instructors from the Watersports Center, feel one with nature in early mornings as you cruise through the fairly still waters. You might also be lucky to swim with the dolphins which may come out at this time.
5. You can also while away the afternoon and curl up at your beach bed with your favorite read while listening to the sounds of the cascading waves at a distance as they approach the shore.
6. Take an early morning jog at the beach or enjoy a long, romantic stroll in the evening to the Wishing Stone, located a few meters from the hotel. Make your wishes come true.

Scenario: You are having the best time of your life as a couple and you wish that moment would last forever. Coincidentally, Bruno Mars’ song ‘Marry You’, plays on your phone or iPod. The place and the mood is just right and you embrace and live in the moment.

The hotel has hosted hundreds of weddings where couples say their I do’s next to the beautiful white and sandy beach or at the enchanting gazebo with a backdrop of a beautiful botanical garden. 

Nature at its best

If you would like to spend some quality time with your dearly beloved, the kids from the ages of 4-12 years could be having a blast at the Tarzan’s Tree House watching kid-friendly videos and cartoons, participating in story-telling sessions,or playing at the play area under the watchful eye of the Kids Club Team led by Phillip and Patricia.

After the fun activities, enjoy scrumptuous meals made from locally-produced ingredients, buffet-style.

And yes, we did add a few extra inches to our waists, but my inner voice tells me You Only Live Once (YOLO)…I like my inner voice.

A snack perhaps?

You should definitely try the coconut water sourced directly from the trees in the hotel’s compound.

David the pastry chef served up the best freshly-baked plain croissants I have ever eaten in my life! and yes, that is chocolate sauce and red plum you see on my waffle. You have to live a little, right?

Turtle Bay Beach Club won the 2012 Travelers’ Choice Award by TripAdvisor for the best All-Inclusive hotel in Africa. This means, upon payment of the stay at the hotel, guests are entitled to all buffet meals, breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner. The allowance also covers the majority of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic and also access to a variety of the hotel’s activities as showcased above.

The hotel was perfectly located to get the best of our two-night stay as we ventured out in the cool breeze during our morning beach walks and retreated to our tranquil rooms at the end of the day. This is the perfect place if you would like to vacation with your family or a romantic getaway with excellent service.

Turtle Bay Kenya  Mida Creek Road, Watamu, 80202

Turtle Bay Beach Club kindly hosted us during our stay but you can enjoy great discounted rates by making your reservations through the Turtle Bay website

The place is perfect every time of the year, trust us!