Front of property - evening/night

Reviews of Hemingways Watamu

4.5 out of 5
Hemingways Watamu
Watamu, Watamu, Kilifi County

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 25 out of 36 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 36 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 36 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 36 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 36 reviews" "

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Staff & service

9.2/10

Amenities

9.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Katie

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We stayed in a 2 bed apartment which was well appointed and extremely spacious with a huge balcony (sadly not much sun as facing east) but overlooking the Indian Ocean. The bathrooms were good though beginning to look a little tired otherwise the apartment was fabulous. Plenty of bottled water provided each day and milk, tea and coffee (instant only). Substantial breakfast with plenty of options provided each morning. Lovely little coffee shop selling variety of cakes and muffins, coffee etc and range of smoothies. Hemingways bar fabulous spot for sundowner. Main restaurant was offering a buffet every night we were there but also à la carte, which in our opinion was the better option - and less expensive if you don’t have a huge appetite (buffet was ksh4,500 pp vs eg 3800 for huge freshly grilled king prawns and accompaniments or 1800 for delicious freshly cooked catch of the day). The pools were very clean (one main, one child’s and one quiet pool) and the pool staff attentive. There isn’t a beach to sit on though you can access beach to walk along. Gardens were delightful and well kept. All the staff we dealt with were charming and friendly and made us very welcome. We stayed in July and it was extremely windy (though I liked this as humidity reduced) and a lot of seaweed on the beach. We also used the gym which was well appointed, good a/c and I was allowed to borrow a yoga mat for my stay so I could do yoga on the peace of my balcony overlooking the ocean: nameste!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from Christine on Jul 28, 2023
Dear Katie,Thank you so much for your very kind words, we are all delighted that you enjoyed your visit so much. We do try hard to make our guests feel at home and well taken care of, it is very rewarding to know how much they enjoy themselves. Your feedback makes us proud ... and motivates us at the same time. We are looking forward to hosting you again in the future.Thank YouHemingways Team

10/10 Excellent

Daniel

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2022
Response from Christine on Oct 24, 2022
Thank You for your feedback.We really appreciate it.Christine.Reservations

10/10 Excellent

John

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bo Ra

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022
Response from christine on Oct 24, 2022
Thank You for your feedback.We really appreciate it.Christine.Reservations

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Could be better
Upon arrival the staff at the reception just watched as we struggled with our luggage. Their welcome was quite cold. Had requested for rooms close to each other but was given given separate rooms and only informed there weren’t close rooms together ones we got to the rooms. Service at the restaurant was quite slow and the staff seemed confused with no coordination. Only one guy think the manager/supervisor seemed to try but you could clearly see he was overwhelmed. Overall, we expected much more from a hotel like Hemmingways. Standards were quite low and definitely not value for the amount charged.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2022

2/10 Terrible

Kosi, Marrakech

Disliked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Terrible food, terrible service, annoying inefficient staff that has no sense of customer service. The only thing going for it, the rooms are clean and shower is good. 5 star hotel, very far from it.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2022

8/10 Good

Hua

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
We wish you could do better
I think I would rate it 6 out of 10; 1, The Spa session was really BAD, no music, no green tea, no underware, the Lady who was massaging my husband was not very professional to say the least; 2, the house keeping service was not up to the normal standard, cups not washed, tissues not filled up; 3, Very minimum Seafood served and yet we are next to the sea.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

JEANETTE MARIE

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
The staff were helpful and pleasant all the time. The hotel was right at the beach and the food was excellent
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Yasin Samatar

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great hotel property with lots of amenities and access to the beach! Enjoyed our stay and highly recommended!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2022

8/10 Good

michael

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The rooms were clean and had comfortable beds obviously newly renovated. The hotel had very little atmosphere. The lighting was terrible and the layout of the restaurant and bars was poorly conceived. Most people that we spoke to went the the hotel next door to eat. The menu design is badly done as we couldn't see half the dishes on it and didn't realise how comprehensive it was. When we did eat there it was good but you didn't want to eat there in the evening. The bar was also the same . you would expect Hemmingway to be a feature in the hotel but it wasn't.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Nancy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stunning property and location! Even more impressive was the attentiveness of the staff and their outstanding hospitality. Every need was anticipated and met with a smile.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Eleanor

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent I would definitely go back
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Traveled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I like how beautiful planned the aesthetics are, it’s a very modern hotel with good finish and the shower gel smells divine. The food is so good and the staff are fantastic. We had an early morning Tsavo east tour so we requested for breakfast at 6am; they had it packed and waiting for us by then. Lovely hote
Stayed 1 night in May 2021

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Stayed 2 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very friendly, welcoming and helpful staff.Every room has an ocean view.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2021

10/10 Excellent

Njeri

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Keith

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Brilliant yet relaxed
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
This is probably the nicest place I have stayed in my 70 years. Everthing perfect, the cleanliness superb, the staff so thoughtful and helpful. Changing the sheets and towels everyday without the option to reuse was not eco and necessary. Otherwise highly recommended. The quiet, the sea, the pools, the food all top notch
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Tamara

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
My first resort experience was fantastic!
Wow! Hemingway’s Watamu is wonderful! The staff were amazing, it was super clean, services fantastic, and location amazing! The oceanfront and sunset views are just breathtaking! The photo I included is unaltered/without filter.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Ronald

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Excellent in every way ! All staff amazing ! Would highly recommend a visit to this wonderful hotel !
Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2019

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Siobhan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Way More Than 5 Stars!
From the fully furnished room, to the huge tub in the well proportioned bathroom, to the view from the balcony, I do not have words to describe how beautiful this resort is. The breakfast is great, with fresh juice and fresh fruits. The seafood is fres and they drop off a dinner menu to your room, in the afternoon. The staff is not only friendly but professional and everyone makes you feel comfortable and at home. Please put this destination on your bucket list, you have to see its beauty for yourself! I had such a wonderful vacation, thanks to the awesome staff!!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2019

8/10 Good

Ayotola

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful, clean, safe with very attentive and responsive staff. Had an extremely restful stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Spent two days alone here, the rooms are spacious and very clean. The staff are super friendly and always at your service. I have been to Watamu many times and this was definitely one of my best places. I wish I had more time but I was on a short vacation. I will definitely be back next year. Highly recommen Hemingays.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2018

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service
Sadly this hotel does not live up to its reputation. It is unfortunately poorly managed. Rooms that are advertised are not available or ready to recieve guests. Service routines that should be second nature at 5 star resort are not in place. There are several welcoming and professional staff at this resort. I would particularly mention the room attendants/cleaners, and Eric who served at the pool. Unfortunately some of the serving staff at the restaurant seemed slightly annoyed to find themselves in a service profession. Also, the reception is the guests first and last impression of the hotel. Hemingways reception is quite a ways from what you would expect at this level. At the very least stand up and great your guest - as any host in any culture would do. The structures and layout are beautifully arranged. The lodging that we ended up staying in is well appointed and beautifully decorated. Unfortunately the hotel is saving electricity on keeping off water boilers and refrigerators - so there were no hot water or cold drinks for the first 12 hours of our at stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2018

10/10 Excellent

Blazer44, Boulder, CO

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Lovely stay of 4 days. Could not have been better. I had a deluxe room, on the 3rd floor. The ocean view was spectacular, the room had a nice balcony. But the highlight was the staff. Any request was accommodated instantly with a smile. From the man who cleaned my room to the waitstaff at the restaurant everyone had a smile and made me feel at home.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2018

10/10 Excellent

LN, KE

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Magical
This hotel is everything Magical! Views to die for and luxurious. The hotel baked me a cake and surprised me after dinner on my birthday(15th Sept). A big shout-out to Victor(Manager~Food and Beverage) for planning all this and your team. You're the best! You all won my heart and I'm definitely coming back. Victor you're a Hemingways true gem/Chef Stephanie thanks for the fresh and delicious meals.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

Andre, Perth, Australia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Excellent hotel with friendly staff
Excellent hotel with friendly staff that go beyond call of duty to make sure everything about your stay is perfect. Victor, the food and beverages manager, was amazing and I would recommend the hotel above any in Watamu
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2018

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Vincent

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely resort. Staff were very kind and friendly. The bar and restaurant are very well appointed; I think they refurbished it not that long ago. The menu was extensive and the food good quality. Good pools, including a ‘quiet pool’, which is such a great addition. We had a lovely spacious room with sea view. Everything was clean and in good working order, nice bed and linens. The AC was working just like you’d want it to and made relatively little sound. Perhaps the bathroom could do with a little touch up. I would love to stay here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

2/10 Terrible

Sarina

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Superbe localisation, infrastructure spatieuse, excellent restaurant, excellent service
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Stephan

Es war einfach toll, nur haben wir am Feiertag das doppelte fürs Buffet zahlen sollen, das fanden wir unmöglich. Toller Service, sehr nette Mitarbeiterinnen-tolle Atmosphäre
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2018

10/10 Excellent

Jacek

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 10 nights in Aug 2018