Swahili Beach Resort — Hotel in Ukunda ward

We went to hand laundry in to reception before breakfast. The member of staff made us take out our private and dirty laundry in the middle of the lobby for everyone to see and make sure we weren’t lying about what we had said we wanted washed. They made us count each piece of dirty underwear in the middle of the lobby for everyone to see. Name me one 5 star hotel around the world that would do this, I’ll wait.

The one thing in terms of food that was a major let down was the beach bar restaurant. We arrived at 8pm and ordered chicken wings and spring rolls as starters, and two burgers for our main. It took 26 minutes for the starters to arrive and then a further 30 minutes for the burgers to arrive. The starters were good but the delay was a bit ridiculous. Then the burgers arrived and firstly the burger buns were completely stale and a bit burnt, and the main issue was that the chips were not cooked fully, most of them were undercooked. So we didn’t eat the chips. No one came to ask and check on us to say how is everything and is there anything we can get you. This is a basic thing that you get even from the most cheapest restaurants, let alone one in a supposed 5 star hotel. Then at the end when we left, I said the chips weren’t cooked so that’s why we haven’t touched them. Even in McDonald’s they would give you a replacement. But not in this restaurant. Not even were we offered replacement chips, the service was so poor that we had to leave.

Another issue that would never happen in 5 star hotels elsewhere around the world is not being allowed even some water when you have paid for the dinner to be included in the package. The hotel are that cheap that you are not allowed any water to go along with the dinner plan. There is also a 660ml (2 bottles) per person limit of water given to you each day. Which is absurd in a place where it’s 33 degrees Celsius. If you want anymore then you have to pay. Also the water you are given is left out so it’s very warm. You could try and put them in the fridge but the fridges are so terrible that they may as well save electricity and not have them in the room. It doesn’t keep anything cool. Additionally, to save themselves more money from guests who have paid to be in a 5 star hotel they only allow you 2 eggs maximum in an omelette at breakfast. I asked for 3 and they told me it’s not allowed. I felt like I was at school.

All in all, this is a beautiful hotel with enormous rooms and lovely pools. In terms of hotel gyms this one is good. It has direct access to the beach which is a bonus. Some of the staff are very polite and friendly. The majority of the restaurants are of a high standard.

Expect long waits to get towels for the pool. And when you eventually get one, they are all stained.

Expect the reception staff to look down on you and not smile and be friendly, to the point where you have to make dinner reservations on the phone.

We paid for half board, so breakfast and dinner included. You’re only allowed black coffee with breakfast, if you want a cappuccino/latte/flat white etc then you have to pay extra. You’re not allowed any drinks, not even water with dinner. So if you want water with the dinner that you’ve paid for in advance, then you will have to pay extra.

Expect that your room will take on average 3 hours to be cleaned each day, only for you to call reception and ask for towels and soap as they are always forgotten.

This hotel has great potential but sadly it has fallen short. We have paid for a 5 star hotel but it really offers nothing more than 3 stars. We have enjoyed the most part of our stay here, but certain things have let this place down. We will not be coming back nor would we recommend this place to anyone seeking a stay in a 5 star hotel, as you will not be given the 5 star treatment. What a shame.

The only saving grace is the Indian restaurant, it...

Swahili Arrival & First Impressions|On arrival, we were greeted with a refreshing welcome drink called Dawa Sawa (lime juice, honey, and soda – 550 KES). It was so good I ordered it several times during our stay. We also received a helpful briefing and tour of the property, which immediately set the tone for a special experience. Prior to reaching hotel the Expedia booking platform allowed interaction with the hotel for arrival time and questions.||Architecture & Atmosphere|Swahili Beach Resort is truly a destination in itself. Designed in the 1970s by Polish-born architect Zbigniew Trzebinski and Slovakian Tibor Gaal, the property is a stunning showcase of coastal design and remains one of the most impressive resorts on the Kenyan coast. Photos and videos simply don’t do it justice – this is a genuine “wow” hotel.||Rooms & Rates|I paid $2,390 through Expedia for three nights in two king rooms (#115 & #116) with Half board. Rooms are spacious, with mosquito netting, strong Wi-Fi, and excellent air conditioning. Views are limited due to lush mature vegetation, but that greenery adds to the tropical setting (and keeps mischievous monkeys nearby – keep balcony doors closed!).||Bathrooms feature powerful rain showers with strong water pressure (caution: hot water runs very hot). Tuk-tuks are available right outside the resort, and there’s a complimentary shuttle to Diani Airport.||Dining|Food here was the best we had during our 10 days in Kenya. The resort offers both half-board (what we chose) and full-board options across four restaurants:|1. Zanzibar (Teppanyaki dining): Can be quite windy upstairs; service was kind but slow. Staff accommodated us by moving dessert downstairs when it became uncomfortable.|2. Spice: Excellent Indian cuisine.|3. Barharia: Relaxed beachfront dining.|4. Majilis: Conveniently located near reception.||Complimentary afternoon tea at 4pm (with sweets, sandwiches, and a selection of teas) was a lovely touch.||Pool, Beach & Activities|The pool area is beautiful, and service is attentive. However, I didn’t love that cabana staff seemed to “reserve” poolside lounges, which made things confusing.||A highlight of our stay was witnessing a turtle release on the beach. The resort provides a safe nesting spot for turtle eggs, and watching hatchlings make their way to the ocean was unforgettable.|Three or Four very sweet, friendly cats roam the property in the evening. I hope the hotel gets these Swahili 4 legged greeters to the vet for shots as well as spay/neuter. ||Spa|The spa staff were excellent, and I enjoyed two well-priced massages. However, the spa facilities need improvement: only two showers (with no hooks or towels), and the blow dryer didn’t produce hot air.||Other Notes|Late check-out was not possible beyond 11am without incurring either a $50 charge or $100 charge. Very inconvenient. We had to move our belongings to the spa.||Grounds and pools are kept very clean, and staff are always tidying early in the morning.||Despite being told occupancy was 80%, the resort felt quiet, perhaps because of conferences or weddings taking place elsewhere on the property.||Overall|Swahili Beach Resort is a breathtaking property with architecture and design that make it a true destination. While service and spa facilities aren’t quite at the level of a grand luxury hotel, the combination of setting, food, spacious rooms, and memorable experiences (like turtle release) more than made up for the few inconveniences.||Highly recommend, and would...

I took wife and kids for a Holiday and I must say, I was impressed and will purpose to come back in a couple of years. I'll use my usual quickfire star ⭐️ rating for each section.

BOOKING & RESERVATION - 2⭐️ Online platform is outdated and not user friendly AT ALL don't bother. So I called directly. The process is slow. 24+ hours for email reply or comfirmations. The Reservations Manager confessed they were undersaffed and overwhelmed but eventually we got a booking. Online payment was easy. BOOKING DIRECTLY WITH THE HOTEL GETS YOU A FREE UPGRADE FROM STD TO SUPERIOR ROOM.

AIRPORT TRANSFERS - 5⭐️ - Its free from Ukunda. Timely, cosy and friendly drivers. The air-conditioning is so refreshing from the hot and humid airstrip.

CHECK - IN - 5⭐️ Very efficient. Friendly staff and cooling refreshment. Didn't take too long for a party of 6.

ROOMS - 5⭐️ - One word - HEAVENLY. See pictures and be the judge. The bedsheets are so soft and cosy. Very clean.

SWIMMING POOLS 5⭐️ - they have one gigantic pool with a bar. 6 romatic mini POOLS and 2 medium sized pools near the beach. I stopped counting. Clean and well maintained. I'm told there is another look at the SPA.

BEACH 4⭐️ - we stayed during low tide but my kids loved it. Very private. A bit rocky so not ideal for walks and runs. The sunbathing area is well shaded with palm trees good breeze. BEWARE of THE MONKEYS. My kids loved them though

FOOD 5⭐️ It met my standards even though I'm very particular. The prawns and lobster were my best. I never had a chance to try Japanese or a Indian coz of the little boys. The Saturday Buffet dinner is served on the beach with a live band. Great buffet, Grill section awesome but the desert needs some HELP. One good thing about breakfast is they grill the sausages and bacon eggs as you wait so they are hot and sizzling and crunchy.

DRINKS 3.5 ⭐️- BEWARE NO DRINKS ARE INCLUDED IN HB PACKAGE NOT EVEN WATER DURING DINNER. And they are REALLY OVERPRICED considering the price of food. WATER 1L - 3.50 USD WINE - 50USD ( 9 USD on vivino) MANGO JUICE GLASS - 4.5 USD

HOSPITALALITY - 5⭐️ Excluding reception staff who never smiled and looked like they were all having a bad day 😤😤everyone also was so kind welcome😍😍. The drivers, security personnel, cleaners, pool boys, waiters especially Clemecia, Daisy, Katana, Twahir & Benard just to mention a few. The made us feel appreciated 110%

WI-FI - 3 ⭐️ 👎🏾👎🏾it's available everywhere but can be slow. Anyway......who needs WIFI when you have BEACHES & COCKTAILS

The hotel is overall great😁😁. I'd come here again and again. One question to the GM that I couldn't understand🤔🤔🤔. Forgive me..........I am a doctor, Why bother to check temperatures of your paying guests while they are already staying with you. It's so bloody HOT already. The thermometer itself HOT. What if it's HIGH? will you quarantine them or deport them LOL. At who's cost. The hand is not then most accurate for a the4mo-gun anyway. You security personnel is clueless 🤣🤣🤣

Anyway, For sure even though not everything was perfect. My kids loved it ♥️♥️♥️ are still saying Lets go back to DIANI. I'll be...