Chale Island Resort

9.4

Exceptional

114 Guest reviews

9.4

Exceptional

114 Verified Reviews

Read all reviews

Cleanliness9.2/10

Service9.6/10

Comfort9.2/10

Condition9.2/10

Neighborhood9.4/10

Amenities9.2/10

Wonderful

Beautiful location that felt very private.

Tranquility...

What an amazing and absolutely gorgeous place! You will enjoy the solitude and peace offered here!

Beautiful setting with excellent staff. Minor issues were ran out of tonic, shouldn’t really happen in a quality place. Also most of the civilised world doesn’t allow smoking in standard bar/food settings so don’t think they should

Very comfortable and quiet place to get away from it all and enjoy the coast. Good food and great hospitality.

Beautiful island and wildlife. The bandas are pretty and comfortable. Nice pools. Food was mediocre at best. There was a lack of variety and the quality wasn’t that good.. Staff was okay but some services were lacking e.g no kettle in the rooms, no phone to call room service, and no slippers. I had higher expectations considering the beauty of the island and how much potential it had.

Heaven On Earth

This trip might have ruined the Kenyan coast for me because I don't know how I'll find anything even remotely close to being as wonderful! The rooms are luxuriously comfortable and the three pools are each lush and pure bliss. The management was personal and friendly and even though I was traveling alone I did not feel lonely as they went out of their way to greet me and remember me by name. Worth every penny: I will be back.

Beautiful hotel

This is one beautiful place. One of a kind.

If you are looking for a beautiful place to visit at the coast and also feel relaxed this is your place. The staff are very friendly, efficient and ready to help and make sure you have a great visit. This is a small Island so there is not much to do, but if you are looking for a place to disconnect for a few days it's perfect. They do over a few activities within the Island and you can also arrange for trips outside the island. The is Amazing food . Fresh fish everyday . They use a generator to power the place so you don't have power during the day. Its turned off about 10am-5pm. Wifi available if needed. Beautiful place. We had a great time. Thank you

Great place. We were pleasantly surprised by the food— great taste and variety. The beach is great during high tide, and there are plenty of swimming pools to keep you busy during low tide.

The property is magical.Great experience.Unfortunately a 2hr return to Mombasa city turned into 6hr traffic jam.I would advise you to leave way before your outgoing flight as you would possibly miss it.The BIG problem is the ferry to cross over.Normally there are 5 ferries crossing but today there were only 2..... Besides this ,everything else was perfect.

great hotel!

Amazing location, fantastic hotel, awesome staff!! Andrea the General Manager genuinely cares about the guests. Highly recommended!

Weak WiFi

If you’re looking for relaxation. Look no further.

Beautiful island and beach !! This was our second visit and we’ll certainly be back again.

FABULOUS!

I can’t recommend this place enough! The views were once in a lifetime! Security was excellent and so was the food! Beware of the baboons but absolutely go to the spa every day! This was truly the hotel of a lifetime and we couldn’t have enjoyed ourselves more! ❤️❤️❤️

Amazing once in a lifetime...Until you return again! I cannot begin to say enough about this resort, island, staff and stay. It's all amazing. The ambiance and atmosphere are just the beginning. The staff are as friends and family. The food is outstanding. Every dish made to spec... in taste and appearance not to mention the vast selection. FYI- I now have 10 lbs to take back off! :o) We stayed a week before going to Zanzibar and immediately realized Zanzibar was a waste and headed back to Chale for another week stay. I can't begin to tell you how much I miss this place since returning to Montana, USA. I hope to be back very soon!

A one of a kind -amazing place! We liked it so well we extended our stay in Kenya to return for another week. The location, property, food, staff and atmosphere make this place a once in a lifetime experience- well at least until you return again. The beaches and reefs are perfect for exploring, snorkeling etc. The rooms- bungalows are very clean, private and well kept with amazing views. The staff is extremely friendly and I can’t begin to tell you about the quality and assortment of food offered throughout the day. I am so glad to have found Sands of Chale! It clearly is now on my top list of places to stay again future. Thank you!

Great location ideal for couples!

It’s a great island resort and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The staff are understanding and ready to help. They even went so far as to do something special for my birthday! Very nice personal touch, which is much appreciated! Just one thing to remember is that they shut off the electricity (which could be good for a holiday without devices!) between 10-5 everyday, except in the penthouse and the suite on the rocks (please correct me if I missed any others). So, bear this in mind when you book.

The staff made us feel like we were at home. And went out of there way to accommodate us in every way. Will definitely be returning.

Good, but not $225 a night good.

Overall, this was an okay place. For an average of $225 per night, I would have expected much more. Service was above average. Food was about what I would expect on a cruise ship. Pretty good, but nothing that will blow your socks off. It is a buffet, and how many buffets have you been to that you've said "this is one of the best meals I have had!"... likely none. On the island, it is beautiful. That said, there isn't that much to do beyond beaching, handing by the pool. Which is if it your thing that works, yet it is rather limited. The rooms are again, just okay. For $225 I would have expected much more. They had a musty smell to them and with no air conditioning for 10 am - 5 pm, it leaves little place to escape the heat during the day. The bathroom isn't fully sealed to the outside, which leaves room for bugs, and you will get them. Hot water didn't work for us, we followed the instructions and left the red switch on for 15 minutes, and got nothing. For $225 a night: I would expect a flawless memorable experience. I would expect a super spectacular greeting with coconut drinks, red carpet rolled out, all the amenities, and best in class meals. Unfortunately you aren't going to get that here. I would recommend finding a property on Diani beach for half the price, and opening yourself up to other beach options and restaurants of your choosing.

Amazing location, beautiful bungalows. Unfortunately the cocktails were not very good

Great trip overall!

Amazing stay! Super unique environment and friendly staff. The food and spa were to die for!

Beautiful Romantic resort on wild island.

Overall we had a great stay. It's a beautiful place with some incredible views. They actually have done a phenomenal job in ensuring the buildings fit in well on the island. It's peaceful and a great way to disconnect from the outside world as there is wifi but the connection is very poor. This being said, the rooms and some of the buildings are a bit tired and could do with renovation including updated lights in the rooms which can feel quite dark at night. paint jobs in places, etc... (this being said the idea is that you would normally never be in your room as electricity is off 10am - 5pm as the island runs on a generator) The staff however are very friendly and will definitely go out of their way to help you or make your stay more enjoyable. The food was overall pretty good with some good variety at the buffets including local Kenyan food which was great. All activities (Kayak, snorkeling, etc) come at extra cost so be mindful of that. Take some entertainment with you in case of rain as there are no TVs in the rooms and they have no board games at the hotel. Avoid the spa, as the treatment rooms though technically in the rainforest are actually quite close to the generator which makes a LOT of noise. Apart from the minor elements above, we had a great stay and would probably stay again at the right price. Please note that I would rate this . hotel more like a 3.5/4 (at a push) by European standards.

Beautiful.

Beautiful islands and ocean, great staff, great food, peace and quiet! We will be back!

This is a cool property. Staff was friendly. The bandas/ bungalows (20,21,22 are the best) are worth the money spent. The spa had very good treatments - got 2 when I was there - and has a very nice location over the mangroves.The only real minus point was the food. Besides the live cooking stations, everything was repetitive. I visited in Nov 2017 and now in May 2019. The food was identical during both my stays across the years. The food remained the same every day I was there in May as well. Please add variety. Definitely worth a visit just for the seclusion.

It’s a little slice of paradise, staff are so friendly and the food is excellent.

The resort is peaceful and quiet. The views from the beach bandas are serene and this alone could justify your stay. We stayed 4 days, 3 nights. If you stayed for longer than 1 week I think the lack of terrain, activities and food might leave you feeling like you are missing out. However, for 5 days I think you leave feeling utterly refreshed, like you've just spoiled yourself in a luxurious location. Would come back

Cozy little paradise

Very cozy place and perfect for some romantic days. Good food, most staff is very attentive and especially the se view bandas are amazing.

We have stayed many times on Diani Beach area and this ranks up with the best of them. Secluded, not as many beach boys, great meals, large standard rooms, wonderful smaller intimate pools and the island says it all.. will come back. Oh and the two tank dive trip was excellent

Beautiful setting. Lovely staff. Responsive management. Food a bit bland and repetitive after a few days.

This was the best experience I ever had for vacation. All the staff were super friendly and professional. Manager, Andrea, would come to our table to make sure everything is okay. Every spot in Chale island was beautiful, well maintained, and natural. Food was very fresh and delicious. I just can't find anything bad about this place. I told Andrea we would come back very soon. My girlfriend and I loved it. Thank you guys!

Amazing holidays, love that place. We were looking for similar place like Maldives with my husband and this is exactly the place - you can have your own villa with private garden, food is amazing and fresh every day. Staff from hotel was very helpful and in great mood every time, offering help anytime we needed. Beautiful island, I definitely come back one day. Thank you.

Paradise

You can’t beat the location. Beautiful beach beautiful nature and wildlife. Really authentic experience. Staff were fantastic The manager talked and mingled with all the clients. Very professional. Expected the drinks to be expensive as your on an island but they were reasonable. Food was very good and fresh but it’s a buffet so a little bit limited. Overall loved it .

Idyllic location

Chale is in an idyllic setting and offers peace and relaxation. Small selection of activities, ok buffet food but fresh grill was the best. Afternoon tea was included in the half board with cakes and tea/coffee available. Beach was amazing, but sea was a bit difficult to swim in as it had shallow water above seaweed and reef mainly, with a few urchins. Great for exploring rock pools for starfish and the occasional sea snake ! We loved our room, no 58, as we were high above the tree canopy - less bugs, and had some protection from the strong southerly wind. We saw some great sunrises and Moon rises as well. All in all a great unique location.

A slice of paradise. My husband and I had a great time doing a mix of activities they offered and simply relaxing by the beach or one of the 3 pools!

Nice

Most stunning hotel, best staff and incredible spa!

Spectacular One of a Kind Island in Kenya

Had an amazing weekend at the Sands. The Island is spectacular!

Beautiful island and hotel

I spent 7 nights there with my wife and we are very satisfied. The hotel had organized excursions so we could see nice and interesting places. We could see the true African life. Management and staff are also very nice. Thank You

Absolutely astonishing in every aspect.

Beautiful eco conscious resort

The resort is gorgeous and right on the beach. Very quiet and relaxing. The rooms are nicely appointed. Our room had a rear patio facing the beach with direct access to it if you so pleased. The room was clean and spacious, although we did spend most of our time at the beach or pool. There is a basic gym there with an elliptical and bike, a few free weights and benches, if you are so inclined. The food in the restaurant is good, it had a small selection of Kenyan, Indian, and European dishes. And the staff was very accommodating and friendly. The only thing you should know before you go, I guess as with any resort, there are excursion vendors on the beach and while they don’t acost you while you are lounging, they will approach you as you make your way to the water. I normally don’t have a problem with them, but one was unnecessarily aggressive on our last day. But overall, we did have a wonderful stay. We will be back again.

Fantastic location and staff

From the moment you arrive, you feel welcome and well cared for. Nothing is too much trouble and the friendly staff go out of their way to ensure your stay is the best. The scenery, food and facilities are excellent and it is the first destination I definitely would return to.

a little gem in paradise, wonderful holiday

If you love nature and animals, peace and quite, white sandy beach with crystal waters this is the place for you. We stayed at Chale Island for one week, 1 adult and 1 teenage boy. It has been a wonderful holiday for both of us. Everything on Chale Island has been perfect for us. ROOM We stayed in a standard room, at ground level overlooking the pool and the ocean. The room has been kept clean and tidy during all our stay. It was spacious and comfortable, lovely kingsize bed with mosquito nest prepared for us every evening. Nice patio to relax and enjoy the sound of the ocean, with armchairs and a coffee table, plus a wooden tool to hang wet swimwear and accessories. bathroom was kept clean and the shower was spacious The power is available in the rooms from 6pm to 11am and for us it hasn't been an issue. There was also a safe in the room so it was quite practical. RESTAURANTS Main restaurant: good choice of Swahili, Indian Italian and international cuisine. Great choice of breads freshly baked. Breakfast with omelettes and pancakes was great. Bars well stocked. Lovely afternoon tea at the chapateria with homemade cakes and croissants. POOLS/BEACH We enjoyed the very quite pool near the SPA, peaceful and overlooking the sea and mangroves. The beach is very spacious and well equipped, towels are supplied and waiters come round to bring your drinks, excellent. LEISURE Nice evening soft entertainment, optional activities daytime really nice with walks, kayak tours, snorkelling

Beautiful views

Probably one of the most beautiful places we've ever stayed. (And we've been all over) Definitely a unique place. Overall I would recommend. Pros: -incredible beach -private and very quiet -awesome staff -daily activities -multiple pools and bars -many options for lodging, rooms, bandas, pent house suites, suite on the rock. -nobody bothering you on beach -walkable and safe to wander Cons: -drive in for half hour on a super bumpy unkept road (if you're prone to motion sickness plan ahead and take dramamine!!) - No included shuttle service. Plan to pay around 7000ks to take a taxi from Mombasa airport. We talked our taxi driver down to 6000ks. Their shuttle is 8500ks. -no electricity during the day (Generator can't support island for the whole day, Kenyan govt. doesn't have electricity out there yet. Alas from 11-5 no electricity) not a deal breaker but the rooms got a bit uncomfortable during the day and was really only an issue when my husband and I had stomach aches and were resting in the room, a fan and it AC would have been nice. Also bathroom was veryyyy dark during electricity outages even with small window. -bathroom window has no screen -rooms had a musty/wet smell -"Chale Time". I get it. They are last to see sunset so they bump the time ahead an hour. Only one clock in the entire resort displays "Chale Time". So don't use your phone to check the time, you'll just end up confused or missing things. It's unnecessary.

Amazing location and excellent hotel

We had a Banda for 6 nights and it was incredible. Although a long way to get to it's entirely worth it. The island is magical, the staff were great, friendly and attentive. The food was superb. We will definitely be back!

Lovely Hotel in a Superb Location

A really lovely hotel on an idyllic tropical island. Excellent beach and snorkelling; Three different pools; Very helpful and accommodating staff and a good standard of food with a wide range of choices. I would certainly recommend this place to all as an example of how resorts should be run and managed.

A unique hotel - definitely give it a try

We have just got back from a fab holiday at Chale (pronounced Charley). Chale is like nowhere else, beautiful and stunning but at the same time a little drab. Mostly this is because it is a lava rock island so whilst the sea is azure blue and the sand is pristine white the island itself is hard and granite grey. This makes growing and keeping flower gardens and tropical plants difficult and I felt it therefore lacked colour and an exotic feel. I know that having a garden in these conditions is hard work but worth the effort I feel. The island also sits at a river estuary which means it is left high and dry twice a day when the tide goes out. This I felt gave a poor view for those bunda rooms on the mainland side of the island. The views from the standard rooms particularly on the higher floors and the penthouse rooms were stunning though and well worth having to trek up the stairs. These rooms were also spacious with a fab large balcony which couldn't be overlooked. On a personal note I thought the attempt at whitewashed furniture and decor was poorly done which for me smacked of shabby rather than shabby chic. Overall this was a minor issue though. Most hotels I have stayed in Kenya in have offered buffet type meals, which I am happy with, I did think the quality of choice and food here at Sands was good. If you like the sea, snorkelling off the beach is interesting enough to make it worthwhile too. Don't expect hectic, go to chill and you'll have a whale of a time

Super relaxing and breathtaking

Beautiful just like the photos

Stayed at Chale Isl for my birthday for 4 nights in December. The resort photos absolutely match reality. The beach was beautiful. The staff were friendly and service was quick and efficient. The food was great and varied each night. This is not a place for young families, everyone on the island were there to relax quietly. I will definitely be back !