Hemingways Watamu ★★★★★

"Favourite spot in the world, spent 10 days here over the festive period. Its another world, amazing food, kind friendly staff. This luxury is truly an India Ocean Gem. Top fishing and diving available within the marine reserve."

The One ★★★★

"We had a great stay. The staff were very attentive and efficient when we had a bathroom issue. Good service, decent buffet. Spacious and clean room, sheets and towels changed daily, as was housekeeping. Breathtaking ocean view from our room. A big thank you to Alain for his warm welcome, advice, and availability. We also thank Bill, Bosco, and Elephant for their kindness, helpfulness, and the pleasant interactions we had with everyone. We have fond memories of this place. Highly recommended for those seeking peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of the entertainment scene. It had just what we needed."

Temple Point Resort ★★★★

"Amazing food, service and views! Highly recommend this place."

Kobe Suite Resort ★★★★★

"Very disappointing stay After a 3-hour drive from Diani — where we’d been staying at Ocean Village Club (fantastic) — the welcome here felt distinctly lukewarm. We checked into one of the “Standard Suites” (No. 22), the only room available for our six-night stay. “Standard” is generous: it was located on the top floor of the rear block opposite the staff room and felt more like a budget apartment than a hotel suite — except I’ve stayed in far nicer budget rooms. The bedroom was essentially a concrete box with no window, no balcony access, and no view. The décor was dated, the bedding was poor (including visible stains), the bed was extremely firm, and there were no mosquito nets despite there being mosquitoes. The so-called living area had no air conditioning, making it unusable. For £290 per night, this was extremely poor. The bathroom was equally underwhelming: very little natural light, hot, smelly, and dingy, with a shower that didn’t really work and made a whirring noise. These are basic standards. When we raised concerns at reception within the hour of arriving and the mismatch between reality and the photos on *********** — staff seemed confused rather than apologetic or solution-oriented. We were told the hotel was fully booked, yet when I checked availability myself, I found space in a “Deluxe Garden View Suite” for 4 out of our 6 nights. There was still no acknowledgment of our feedback or follow up to check if we were happier. Another major issue is that the hotel openly welcomes non-guests to use the facilities. That may be commercially beneficial for the owner but it comes at the expense of the private atmosphere you’d expect from a hotel marketed as it is. There’s no priority for paying guests when it comes to sunbeds or tables. Beds are snapped up quickly in what feels like a Benidorm-style towel-reservation scramble — not what you expect from a hotel presenting itself as five-star (“best hotel 5* Watamu Kenya” on its website) and one of, if not the most expensive, in Watamu. On one day we couldn’t get a single sunbed anywhere, and again there was no apology or effort to resolve the situation. After two nights in the dungeon, we moved to a “Deluxe Garden View Suite.” Aside from slightly more natural light (and, thankfully, a bedroom window), it was hard to see what justified the higher price. Again, no one checked in afterwards to ask whether we were happier. The dolphin excursion arranged through the hotel was also disappointing. The boat arrived late, we nearly missed the dolphins, and then spent two hours chugging along before borrowing fuel from another boat because we almost ran out. At £150, it felt poor value — booking directly with local beach operators would likely have been cheaper and more reliable. Sad when you’d expect the hotel-arranged option to be the best experience (that is if they cared about their reputation). Service throughout was inconsistent: staff were often slow, occasionally rude, and bills contai"

Visiwa Beach Resort ★★★★

"Hmmm to say I’m disappointed is an understatement m, no gym the breakfast is very limited and it’s supposed to be a buffet you can count in your fingers what they put out there towels look more brownish than white no fresh water to bath with I can literally go on and on the flip side I like their salad"

The Charming Lonno Lodge Watamu ★★★★

"Lonno lodge is heaven! Tranquility and elegance combined with the beauty of the ocean. Silvia is so warm and hospitable and made us feel at home. We had amazing stay there with lots of cocktails and delicious food!"

Medina Palms ★★★★★

"The reception and staff were very friendly, we checked into neatly done rooms with the assistance of the warm staff. I loved the my hotel stay and the experience in Watamu. The orientation was professional and comprehensive. Top choice of hotel when thinking about Watamu. "

Twiga Beach Resort & Spa ★★★

"Spent 2 nights at Twiga beach resort and it felt not enough. The hotel is very clean and friendly. The rooms are specious and clean . Everything perfectly cleaned, excellent service. The food is always very tasty, really excellent. Loved the swimming pool and the beach. I recommend the hotel to those looking for a place to relax in watamu."

Casa Di Philo 1 ★★★