Hemingways Watamu
Hotel in Kenya
4-Star Hotel
Reasons to book
Top-tier experienceOne of the higher cost properties in the area
Includes essentialsGarden, Pool, Air conditioner and more
Book with confidenceWe partner with the top travel sites so you know you're getting a great deal on the perfect rental
About this hotel
Luxury hotel on the beach, with 2 outdoor pools
Spend the day catching some rays at the beach, relaxing by one of Hemingways Watamu's 2 outdoor swimming pools, or pampering yourself at the full-service spa.
Hemingways Watamu offers 60 air-conditioned accommodations with minibars and safes. Rooms open to balconies. Beds feature premium bedding. Televisions come with satellite channels. Bathrooms include showers, bathrobes, slippers, and complimentary toiletries.
2 outdoor swimming pools are on site along with a children's pool. Other recreational amenities include a fitness center.
Spend the day catching some rays at the beach, relaxing by one of Hemingways Watamu's 2 outdoor swimming pools, or pampering yourself at the full-service spa.
Hemingways Watamu offers 60 air-conditioned accommodations with minibars and safes. Rooms open to balconies. Beds feature premium bedding. Televisions come with satellite channels. Bathrooms include showers, bathrobes, slippers, and complimentary toiletries.
Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones. Additionally, rooms include coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Housekeeping is offered daily and irons/ironing boards can be requested.
2 outdoor swimming pools are on site along with a children's pool. Other recreational amenities include a fitness center.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
Amenities
Pool
Air conditioner
Internet / Wifi
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Hot tub or spa
TV
Gym or Fitness Center
Garden
Map of Kenya
Available Rooms
Deluxe Double Room, Ocean View
1 Double • 431 ft²
Sleeps 2
You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing
Deluxe Single Room, Ocean View
1 King • 431 ft²
Sleeps 1
You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing
Standard Single Room, Ocean View
1 Single • 431 ft²
Sleeps 1
You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing
Standard Apartment, 1 Bedroom, Ocean View
1 Double • 1615 ft²
Sleeps 2
You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing
Deluxe Apartment, 2 Bedrooms, Ocean View
1 Double • 2 Single • 2583 ft²
Sleeps 4
You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing
$$$$
Reviews
5.0
Hemingways Watamu was just what we were looking for in terms of somewhere to relax and rest after an injury and work. Watamu itself is a bit less interesting in the off season (I.e. most restaurants are closed, as are many of the gear shops), but it’s still lovely if not a tad bit windy. Staff were amazing! Highly recommend.
5.0
Excellent property on the beach. All rooms are ocean facing. Perfect for a romantic getaway or adult friends
5.0
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!
5.0
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!
1.5
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.
1.0
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.
2.0
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.
1.0
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.
5.0
The staff were helpful and pleasant all the time. The hotel was right at the beach and the food was excellent
5.0
Great hotel property with lots of amenities and access to the beach! Enjoyed our stay and highly recommended!
4.0
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.
5.0
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.
5.0
Excellent I would definitely go back
5.0
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
2.5
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
5.0
Very friendly, welcoming and helpful staff.Every room has an ocean view.
1.3
Brilliant yet relaxed
2.5
Brilliant yet relaxed
5.0
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
2.5
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.
1.3
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.
1.3
Excellent in every way ! All staff amazing ! Would highly recommend a visit to this wonderful hotel !
2.5
Excellent in every way ! All staff amazing ! Would highly recommend a visit to this wonderful hotel !
2.5
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!!
2.0
Beautiful, clean, safe with very attentive and responsive staff. Had an extremely restful stay.
2.5
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.
2.5
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.
0.5
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.
2.5
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.
2.5
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.
2.5
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
FAQs
How much does this hotel cost compared to others in Kenya?
The average price for a rental in Kenya is $95 per night. This rental is $588 above the average.
Is parking included with this hotel?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Hemingways Watamu. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this hotel?
Yes, a swimming pool is available for use at Hemingways Watamu. Enjoy the water!
Is Hemingways Watamu pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this hotel is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Hemingways Watamu?
We found 10 amenities for this rental. This includes pool, air conditioner, internet / wifi, parking, and laundry.
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