I apologise that this review is somewhat long but...... My husband and I travelled to Southern Palms after being recommended Kenya by our travel agent. She said that Kenya may have some rain, being the start of the rainy season, but it wouldnt last long.....wrong.It rained nearly our entire stay,starting on our first day! The rain was heavy and prolonged which meant we had to either stay in our damp smelling room with no TV or sit on perpetually damp seats in the lobby, which were very dirty too.The hotel staff were very good and came round with ancient board games for the guests to play but really the weather and the stomach upsets became the daily conversation.
When we arrived a lot of the guests were very tanned so the first days rain (which was not continual) didn't put me off and when the sun did come out it was glorious, plus it was never cold. It just seemed odd to me to be wearing shorts but walking through flooding with umbrellas and looking hopefully at the sky.I have been to tropical places where they at least have canopies that they drop to stop everything getting wet, not here. Every seat,even inside the main restaurant, was damp.We tried the two other restaurants, the Italian (by the beach) and the Grill (under a papier mache apricot thing) but didn't find them up to much, infact the lack of guests meant you could book them as often as you liked.The evenings tended to be the driest so if you liked them they were fine. My husband was ill for the first four days (missing our only one uninterrupted day of sunshine) and I had to go to the pharmacy for antibiotics and salt replacement sachets etc so this put us off eating much anyway for the rest of our stay.
We ended up booking a safari for one night to Voi Safari Lodge just to get away from the hotel, plus we had had plenty of time to listen to other guests chatting about their trips over coffee in the lobby. It was the making of our holiday, it was fantastic. I would highly recommend any of the safari's. Abu our guide was a mind of information and spotted things continually for us. Even the flooding on the already awful road from Mobasa, which added another 2/3 hours to our travelling time, did not ruin this for me and I never heard a bad word said by anyone to do with their safaris. I just want to add a word of warning about the trips to Wasini Island which included snorkelling at a marine park, we asked where the life jackets were as the rain poured down and were almost dismissed. It should have been a matter of course to have had some safety talk but there was none, the only person with a life jacket was the driver of the small boat which took us from the dhow to the island. In our opinion the diving was very risky too as some of clients had no experience and one couldnt even swim!!! When they dropped their sail there was no warning and it actually partly fell on my head but I was probably being dazzled from some much needed sunshine so I didnt complain.This is not a well organised trip and although the lunch was lovely the dhow left a lot to be desired.
I found the hotel staff to be fine, some were much better than others but you get this at every hotel and they appeared to work really long hours. We tipped as we went which seemed to help. They must of got sick of apologising for the weather but said it was great for them and some actually said they were cold!! None we're surprised by the weather which surprised me as I considered Kenya to be suffering from a drought. Anyway,from reading other reviews (good before I booked, bad after I booked!) it seems to be a bit hit and miss.We had a room near the beach but also near the entertainment which would have been a nightmare if it had been busy. Sewer smells AND loud music together, not good.
The rooms when viewed over the internet have mosquito nets over the bed, this is not so but just as well as we didn't have a problem with mosquitos. I had more of a problem with the awful Boots deet lotion which melted my nail varnish and the inside of my shoes and never seemed to 'dry'. We had a bathroom with bath and shower which was lucky as we had no hot water for our sink and were told this was because of an oversight when the hotel was refurbished and that the sink was plastic and couldn't take the heat....err what? We didn't argue just filled up from the shower hose from the bath. Everything was covered in limescale which didn't make it look very nice and that musty smell was in there too. Perhaps because the hotel wasn't busy but our towels were changed twice day. Our bed was turned down and a sweet place on the pillow every night and we never had any trouble with our safe which looked the newest and best thing in our entire room. I could go on and on but really inspite of everything I didnt have a bad time. I felt sorry for the people we left but if the sun came out it really wasnt that bad. The pools were lovely no scum as reported and I did get in it twice! The beach boys didn't bother us because we just stayed in our patch but watched others get the attention as soon as they left for a walk. We played safe and booked our trips with our rep but met people who had booked with beach boys, saved money and had extra perks by doing so. There is an agent just up by the supermarket too which was cheaper.
Southern Palms definitely needs some attention ie; replacing the worn out towels, sunloungers and mattresses, the overpriced water and tired bathrooms don't help and so I was very glad our holiday was cheap (don't forget to add on the price of your malaria tabs and yellow fever jab £133 each for us, plus £30 for visas, no need for dollars) or I would have been very disappointed. I personally wouldn't stay there again due to high incidents of illness and dont believe this to be down to the malarone or change in eviroment etc but I would go back to kenya in a sunnier month!
If you do decided to go the All Inclusive option would be best as it doesn't take much to spend that extra charge. We went half board and to upgrade there was 35 euros a day so we didnt. We had no trouble with our bill at the end of our stay but would suggest saving all your blue receipts as a couple we met were overcharged. Their rooms previous guests last drinks bill was added and the hotels cashier knows this goes on so be careful.
We were prepared for the long wait for visas (if not pre bought) when we arrived at Mobasa Airport but not for the endless checks and more form filling when we left, but decided at least they were through which is more than I can say for Gatwick. I've tried to cover everything and hope it helps.

I guess most of us work for companies that are hell bent on cutting costs, year after year budgets getting smaller and smaller. I suppose tour companies lean on their suppliers to get the lowest prices.......

THE SOUTHERN PALMS. It looks great on the surface but when you start to look closer......... The hotel is just a bit tired and neglected. You get the feeling that there is no training or investment in the staff and there is definately no investment in updating worn-out facilities. You get the feeling that the management are penny pinching.

We experienced some of the things mentioned in the reviews below, however the underlying fact is; We would not have gone to Kenya if it was not for the Cheap deal we found on the First Choice website.

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR I SUPPOSE and it wasn't that bad. Our room was clean, the staff were all friendly and helpful and the food was OK especially the curry's.

I had an upset stomach for about a week and when I went to see the doctor he wanted to admit me for treatment overnight saying I had a bacterial infection and I was dehydrated. I refused but did have 2 drips of antibiotics on the first day then went back for another on the second day. The small hospital is superb. Much nicer than the hotel, with courtesy pick-ups, private rooms with TV, DVD, Mini bar, really nice and professional staff too.

We went on the Governors lodge safari for 2 nights and although it cost nearly as much as the complete holiday, it was well worth it. We saw masses of animals and got sick of the sight of lions. An experience we shall never forget.

Ali Barbour's restaurant was great, dining in a cave under the stars. It was that good we went twice. Ask at reception and they arrange transport for you.

We had a fantastic time in Kenya and wouldn't deter friends or relatives from visiting this hotel, we would just let them know that it may have 4 star facilities but it only has 3 star quality.

Our stay at Southern Palms was marred by us all getting very bad E-Coli infections. I was hospitalised for 1 day, the people we went with were ill, my Husband is still ill after being back for over a week and a lovely lady we met there who was on Honeymoon was in the Diani Beach Hospital for 3 days, all with the same bad stomachs. Lots of people we spoke to said the same. We agree with other people that the food was lacking too - there was little choice and the meat was tough as old boots. It was not kept Hot/Cold enough - hence the virilent spread of Infections.

Having said all that the Hotel itself was spotlessly clean, the staff extremely friendly and couldn't do enough for you. We had no smelly towels and our rooms were kept beautifully clean by Felicitus and Sadia. If you are going to this Hotel - say Hi to them for me.

On the whole our Kenya experience was fabulous, despite the problems at the Hotel and we are hoping to go again soon. The Safari was out of this world and the most memorable trip was on the Dhow in Mombasa for lunch.

I recommend the Wasini Island trip to Charlie Claw's. Voi Lodge, Nguila Lodge and best of all Shimba Hills.
The Smith's from Leicester

I would never recommend this hotel AT ALL. Our rooms stunk of sewerage, our bathroom towels also stunk of sewerage. The bed linen smelt like nothing I've smelt before. I had to spray the bed with deodorant for even a few minutes reprieve.

The nightly entertainment was awful and too loud. My nerves ended up being frayed by all the noise.

Food...on a whole, no good. My friend and I were so sick that my friend ended up staying a night in the Diani Beach hospital (which she thinks was better than staying at Southern Palms!).

The staff were friendly...but it seemed rather phoney. And I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for them as I am sure they don't get treated so brilliantly. One of the staff asked me for my water! and explained that they aren't allowed to drink water while working. So I wonder what kind of conditions these poor people have to work in.

Fortunately we didn't experience theft but we were nervous and regularly counted our cash that we left in our safe.

We booked a two week stay and after day 5 we had to get out of there.

If you are looking for a holiday which is loud, no class and you don't mind being with chavy society and the smell of sewerage is perfume to your nose then knock yourself out and stay....but I don't know anyone whom I met whilst there who would recommend the hotel.

Look elsewhere!