Lily Palm Resort — Hotel in Watamu ward

I was there again in from 22 - 26 December, 4 nights. My fourth visit to the resort only this time it was under new management, still Italians. Beautiful pool with scenic view, kids love it as usual. Fairly affordable. Food was good too but deteriorated quickly on the last day as visitor numbers increased. Rooms are old and rustic on the outside but clean and comfortable in the inside. However, the lukewarm reception of locals that Lily Palm is known for across web reviews still lingers on. The new management team have zero hospitality, it’s all about the money from the time you meet Franca, an english-speaking Italian lady at the reception desk. Maurizio, the manager, politically defends their short-comings with the lower value you have paid for. During check-in, they give you diluted juice and carry your bags to your room. During check-out you carry the bags yourself. Local staff are very courteous and polite. They cover up for the outright blatant abuse of hospitality by their superiors. On previous visits drinking water was available freely at multiple points at the facility. Now you have to buy bottled water once you are done with one bottle they give you on the day you check-in. Christmas dinner was well thought of but the entertainment right after sent guests straight to their rooms. My family won a 7 day complimentary stay at the hotel for the following year. The management refused to honour it, taking me in circles when I followed up. And on the day we were to check out, I didn't bother to ask about it because they were hostile towards a late check-out arrangement they had provided for us. It became evident while I was waiting at the reception lounge, I over-hear Franca complain to the manager that she erred by not charging me extra for the late check-out. Sour ending to good holiday, sad. Overall, my kids always enjoyed their stay but this time I’m done...

1/5 stars - Avoid this hotel at all costs!

The Nightmare In the heart of Kenya, a nightmare unfolded at the Lily Palm Resort in Watamu, Kenya. A routine hotel stay turned into a desperate fight for freedom when the hotel's general manager turned violent, and corrupt police officers showed up, threatening arrest and cybercrime charges if demands weren't met. Forced to flee, my mother and I, both disabled, made a harrowing midnight escape, scrambling to book a flight home. The journey was brutal – health issues mounted, and an elderly mother, once eager for a dream safari, was left traumatized, screaming in the dead of night. A $598 goodwill gesture from Booking.com barely scratched the surface of the $10,000 loss. Broken promises and shattered dreams lingered as a chilling reminder of a vacation gone horribly wrong More Details Below

I'm writing this review as a warning to others: stay far, far away from this hotel. The room conditions are absolutely disgusting and hazardous to your health. As an immunocompromised person, my mother's health is at serious risk due to the hotel's negligence.

But that's not even the worst part. When we tried to address our concerns with the General Manager, Maurizio Ciorra, he became aggressive, vulgar, and completely uncooperative. His behavior was not only unprofessional but also threatening, making us fear for our safety.

The staff seem to be intimidated by him, and it's clear that there's a toxic management culture at play. The hotel's description on Booking.com is completely misleading, and we were deceived into staying here.

Don't make the same mistake we did. This hotel is not worth the risk to your health and well-being. Look elsewhere for a safe and clean place to stay. We're still trying to get Booking.com to take action, but in the meantime, spread the word: avoid this hotel...

The Nightmare||In the heart of Kenya, a nightmare unfolded at the Lily Palm Resort in Watamu, Kenya. A routine hotel stay turned into a desperate fight for freedom when the hotel's general manager turned violent, and corrupt police officers showed up, threatening arrest and cybercrime charges if demands weren't met. Forced to flee, my mother and I, both disabled, made a harrowing midnight escape, scrambling to book a flight home. The journey was brutal – health issues mounted, and an elderly mother, once eager for a dream safari, was left traumatized, screaming in the dead of night. A $598 goodwill gesture from Booking.com barely scratched the surface of the $10,000 loss. Broken promises and shattered dreams lingered as a chilling reminder of a vacation gone horribly wrong||More Details Below||||I'm writing this review as a warning to others: stay far, far away from this hotel. The room conditions are absolutely disgusting and hazardous to your health. As an immunocompromised person, my mother's health is at serious risk due to the hotel's negligence.||||But that's not even the worst part. When we tried to address our concerns with the General Manager, Maurizio Ciorra, he became aggressive, vulgar, and completely uncooperative. His behavior was not only unprofessional but also threatening, making us fear for our safety.||||The staff seem to be intimidated by him, and it's clear that there's a toxic management culture at play. The hotel's description on Booking.com is completely misleading, and we were deceived into staying here.||||Don't make the same mistake we did. This hotel is not worth the risk to your health and well-being. Look elsewhere for a safe and clean place to stay. We're still trying to get Booking.com to take action, but in the meantime, spread the word: avoid this hotel...