Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort — Hotel in Gombato Bongwe ward

Summertides Diani Weekender 🏝️

Summertides Diani is a place for chancing it, for wandering around, stumbling upon impromptu ravers, and making new best friends – at least until the sun comes up. I have been to many festivals and I attended my first Summertides last year, celebrating their five years here in Diani.

The lesson here is to plan ahead. What do you wear to beat the unpredictable weather? Where are the least occupied bathrooms?

So, being The Diani ambassador, here are #TheNomadicRasta survival tips.

^ #thread

Get to the festival before 10pm and use a trustworthy Tuk-uk or Nduthi guy (I have plenty of contacts for you). Thank me later.

DO NOT DRIVE TO THE FESTIVAL. It is a one way to Jacaranda Resort, the venue and you will hate time trying to find parking. Do not drink and drive. The Diani traffic police report indicates the highest number of accidents occur around this time and Christmas to New Years in Diani.

Take time out if you feel overwhelmed. HYDRATE. Hydrate. Again Nani. The games zone had seats and places to chill and charge your phone. The main thing is to come and have a really good time and enjoy yourself, and just look after each other. That’s what it’s all about.

Wear comfortable shoes, period— You’ll be walking, dancing, and standing a lot. Those cute booties leave them at home Peng ting! Shorts, flowy cotton, breathable fabrics, and a hat & sunglasses

Understand the lie of the land. On arrival, the food and market court is your path to the festival grounds. As with all festivals, the food and drinks is getting a bit more pricey. Use that info wisely. There is a bathroom near the beach bar and one close to the hotel reception. Scope out the site, so you can get your bearings.

Eat a big meal before you go in each day.

Carry a waist bag for your keys, cards, small change and your phone. A little cash can be faster at some vendors or in case Wi-Fi goes down. It may not be the hottest accessory, but neither is filing a police report at Diani Police Station.

Let’s talk weather. You’re heading into Diani in July which is a mix of sun, the last month of the rainy season and a bit of cold. Last year we got lucky, both days it never rained.

There was only one stage last year. This year there are two. The Airbeat and Jungle Groove stages. FOMO is mchezo! Multiple stages, overlapping set times, and friends dragging or distracting you at every turn, Summertides can induce some serious FOMO. Accept that you can’t see everything.

Most importantly, listen to your body and pace yourself. Two days of parting at a festival is a marathon, not a sprint.

EMBRACE THE FESTIVAL. You’ll have moments of pure bliss (your favorite song live! Chanting with fellow Dangerous and treasonous criminal baddies 'Zakayo Must GO!')

So go forth, you festival warrior!

I❤️Diani.

.

#Summertidesfest #Summertidesfestival #Summertides2k25 #TheNomadicRasta #beachpleasefest #BeachpleaseFestival #summertides #diani #dianibeach #kenya #festival #musicfestivals #thenomadicrasta #Summertidesfestival #Summertides2k24 #5YearsofSummertides...

We spent 1 week at Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort. The Impression on the arrival wasn't very good. The staff at the reception wasn't polite, as we were suprised we kindly reported it to the Reception Manager - Carolyne, she maked me feel upset and crying (!!!) on the end of my fantastic holiday.

Room was okay. Food fantastic, waiters, gardeners, housekeeping, animation, pool man, bodyguards - amazing people. But the Reception was really bad. My experience on first day was bad, but situation from last day by check out was unbelieveble and unacceptable. Carolyne - the Reception Manager was there. I had 2 $ to pay, so I took my card but it did not work (it was error of payment terminal, not of my card, before I paid for my stay with the same card). I did not have more cash. She was very rude and started to ask me "then how you will pay taxi to the airport when you do not have more cash?" or "And what if your card does not work during all your holiday?". That are not questions Front Office Manager can or even has right to ask you.

We were trying to pay with other payment terminal, but it did not work again (I reapeat - it was 2 $). I asked Carolyne about bank account number of the hotel to send this 2$ immediately and she in very rude way told me that I can't leave the hotel (Oh my dear, paying approx. 800$ for 1 week of stay at the hotel).

I started to cry, because she was so rude and unfriendly, staying me I can't leave the hotel (the problem was not my card!) Thanks God that our Taxi driver appeared just in that moment at the reception to pick us up and payed for me this 2$.

Other woman, seeing me crying in that moment was trying to calm the situation telling me sorry, because she observed everything and even she was suprised.

I'm working in Management for one of hotel's chain in Spain. It never ever happened to me before. We are traveling around the world and have been to many countries, visited many hotels, but I never ever met staff like this.

Would I come back to Kenya ? Maybe. But definetely not to this hotel. Why? Holiday is to short to have bad experience! Especially at the reception being "face" of the hotel. It was very...

A weekend away not to be forgotten. The hotel.. Nothing to provoke excitement however.

My first ever trip to Diani Beach. Traveling solo and looking for a bang for buck weekend getaway, I got exactly what I expected.

The hotel doesn't try to be what it is not. Beach front rooms. Beautiful quiet section right up north of Diani. A clean pool. Friendly staff....

The rooms were slightly average. I think in general they just didn't have nice finishings and were too dark. The were clean though and air-conditioned. note: the WiFi is only available in public areas not within the room. My television reception was fuzzy (not that much time should be spent indoors with the scenery that awaits outside).

I was on a bed and breakfast option and found the food to be mediocre. I perused the buffet many times but decides to take a cab or a beach walk or cycle to one of the restaurants in the area for every meal as there was very little seafood available.

All in all a lovely stay. Very friendly staff at poolside. Loungers overlooking a blue ocean with temperatures that allow for swimming throughout the day. As a base location (if like me you wanted to explore the town and ocean and needed a place to sleep really) you can't go wrong at the price. If looking for a more upmarket resort experience all in... fork out a few more dollars as there are many more options on the beach that I would opt for if I returned with the intention of bathing in the sun with a few good books and intermittent cool down sessions in the ocean,...