Diani Beach has figured out that magic formula of maintaining its laid-back tropical vibe whilst providing visitors with some incredible all-inclusive hotel options. Hotels in Diani Beach come with 5-star service, all-inclusive food and drinks, multiple swimming pools, gyms, and kids’ clubs. Or you can pick from a number of smaller and more intimate boutique hotels with individually decorated rooms and intimate dining.
This is a blog on hotels in Diani, but it’s worth noting that many visitors to the Kenyan beach town opt to rent a cottage in Diani Beach. The cost will be cheaper and you will benefit from greater privacy. Cottages or villas in Diani beach often work out to be better value and are easier if you are travelling with large groups or small kids. If you like the idea of being alone but want the five star treatment, then there are some palatial villas that come with a full complement of staff. You need never lift a finger or see another soul
Where is Diani Beach Kenya?
Diani Beach is a popular beach destination on the Kenyan Coast. It’s easy to see why with miles of white sands and tropical palms fronting the turquoise Indian Ocean. The result is that Diani is one of the best holidays in Kenya.
Diani Beach sits just over an hour to the south of Mombasa. The town is set back from a 10-kilometer stretch of blinding white sand, dotted with palm-thatched cottages and sumptuous hotels. This small town has a handful of supermarkets and craft shops, and a smattering of bars and restaurants, but in Diani holidays are all about the sea and the sand.
There are some nearby attractions like Shimba Hills Safari, Mombasa Old Town and the Africa pool at Tiwi, but Diani is a laid back Kenyan resort with nature at the forefront. Swim in the translucent waters, learn to kite surf, or take a boat out for deep sea fishing, try scuba diving, hit a Diani Beach restaurant for the infamous Dawa cocktail and some freshly caught seafood.
The Best Resort Hotels in Diani Beach Kenya
1. Swahili Beach Diani Hotel
Located right next to the ocean in the northern park of Diani, the Swahili Beach resort is a mammoth five-star hotel, famed for its seven cascading pools which run from reception down to the ocean. The hotel is decorated in light airy Swahili style with white stone, carvings, palm trees, and the ever-present Indian Ocean.
The hotel rooms are enormous, with impressive Swahili detail. Sandstone carved bed heads, four-poster beds, mango wood furniture, white linen and antique rugs make each room a home. The calm and peaceful rooms have either double or two single beds with a flat screen TV, air conditioning, rooms service and drinks facilities. Premier rooms have a separate sleeping area and most rooms have balconies.
Swahili beach hotel in Diani is one of the grandest and most luxurious hotels in the area. This five star Diani resort has 7 huge pools, ocean views, spa facilities.
Swahili Beach Diani has 5 restaurants, from casual ocean-side dining to the excellent Zanzibar seafood restaurant. The seafood in Diani Beach is incredible. Try big fat prawns and fresh snapper pulled out of the ocean. Majilis is the premier restaurant with a buffet served three times a day. The Indian, Kenyan, and English cuisine means there are enough options to keep fussy kids happy at all times,
Best Part
The amazing cascading pool which kept the kids happy for hours and the fabulous cocktails at the beach bar, which kept the adults happy for hours.
Summary?
One of the best hotels for those looking for large, luxurious five star hotels in Diani beach. Relaxed vibe and right on the beach.
Book this Facility with TRIPSASA to get Exclusive Rates & BEST Deals Call 254-717-577-577 or EMAIL info@tripsasa.com
2. Sands at Nomads
Sands at Nomads was the first Diani Beach hotel I ever went to, and it has a special place in my heart. Read my blog on Sands at Nomads. This boutique hotel in Diani occupies a prime spot on the beach and houses one of my favorite restaurants bar on the Kenyan coast. Even if I’m not staying at Diani Beach, I always visit Nomads for a Dawa and some sushi.
Sands at Nomads is an award-winning boutique hotel with a village feel rather than that of a hotel. Guest stay in cottages dotted throughout the rambling flower-filled gardens. They have access to a private spot on the beach and the amazing swimming pool which, at 15 feet deep, is designed for scuba diving lessons.
Just ten rooms are decorated in a Kenyan style with Lamu day beds, Kanga textiles and oceanic finds. Rooms range from small suites to palatial beach cottages complete with jacuzzis and private terraces. This is one of the most laid back 5-star hotels in Diani Beach.
Sands at Nomads has two restaurants: a resident only restaurant and bar overlooking the pool and the expansive, beautiful and bang on the beach Nomads restaurant which is also open to the public. The resort has a basic onsite spa, swimming pool and air-conditioned rooms,
Nomads Restaurant is undoubtedly one of the best and most popular restaurants on Diani Beach. It is one of the few restaurants where you can bury your feet in the sand, sip a cocktail and watch your kids play in the ocean. The large menu includes sushi, seafood, pizzas, Kenyan foods, and various fine dining dishes.
Best Part
Nomad Beach bar and restaurant is the cherry on the Diani cake. The best place in town to gaze at the ocean and eat amazing food.
Summary?
Located right on the best bit of beach with one of the best restaurants in Diani. The small hotel isn’t sumptuous but is luxurious by Kenyan standards and gets top marks for location and vibe.
Book this Facility with TRIPSASA to get Exclusive Rates & BEST Deals Call 254-717-577-577 or EMAIL info@tripsasa.com
3. Baobab Beach Resort
Baobab Beach Resort comprises 3 different hotels, which all form one huge colossus. The whole Diani Beach, Kenya resort, sits on 80 acres of tropical gardens and sits atop a coral cliff fronted by 500km of some of the best beach in the world. The resort has nearly 350 rooms and 12 restaurants and yet thanks to the masses of coconut palms and indigenous gardens its doesn’t feel overwhelming and keeps an intimate feel. The Baobab Beach Resort is famed for its spa, which they claim is one of the best in Kenya. I’ve been to the resort but not to the spa, so let me know what you think?
Rooms are decorated in coastal style with mango wood four-poster beds and tiled floors. They are less decadent than some of the other hotels mentioned here, but come fully fitted with air conditioning, a mini fridge, TV, balconies, and terraces.
Baobab Beach Resort Diani is filled with things to do: they have 3 swimming pools, including a gorgeous infinity pool overlooking the ocean and a separate children’s pool. Three floodlit tennis courts, table tennis, pool/billiards, darts, volleyball, archery, aqua fit, shuffle-board, boccie. They also have a water sports centre where you can learn to windsurf, dive, kite surf or charter a boat to go big game fishing.
Best Part
Tons to do for the whole family, including lots of different restaurants to eat it. It’s on a great part of the beach, right in the centre with the softest whitest sand. They often do some good deals. The staff and service are very good.
Summary?
Large hotel with plenty to do for the whole family. Good service and good value, particularly if you manage to pick up a deal
Book this Facility with TRIPSASA to get Exclusive Rates & BEST Deals Call 254-717-577-577 or EMAIL info@tripsasa.com
4. Afro Chic Diani Beach
Afro Chic Hotel describes itself as a haven for people that simply want to flop and drop, and I can’t think of a better description for the hotel. Or for the whole of Diani, in fact. The Afro Chic Hotel Diani is on the very tip of Diani Beach, just before you go round the rocky headland to Tiwi. This more isolated spot in Diani gives you some respite from the beach boys and kite surfers. The small 10 room hotel is intimate, calm, upscale and gives a unique and personal touch.
The rooms are large and warmly decorated in African style. Our room has zebra print covers and rugs and an enormous fourposter bed. It also has a private terrace with sun loungers – many an hour was spent here with a book. Each room comes with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, iPod docking station, mini bar and bathroom with free snuggly bathrobes. The larger suites have a free TV with DSTV.
Afro Chic Hotel Diani has lush gardens leading right down to the beach. It has an indoor and outdoor lounge and a bar. Food is fine dining and you can choose to eat by the pool, in the garden or even on your private terrace. Facilities are basic with a lovely outdoor pool and jacuzzi. Whilst there is no spa onsite, the Diani Beach hotel can arrange a masseuse to attend to you.
Best Part
Small and exclusive. The perfect romantic getaway.
Summary?
This is a romantic hotel made for lie ins and sunset beach walks, book reading and calm candle lit dinners. Not for raucous parties and fiesty kids.
Book this Facility with TRIPSASA to get Exclusive Rates & BEST Deals Call 254-717-577-577 or EMAIL info@tripsasa.com
5. Southern Palms Hotel Diani
When you ask any Expat group for their favourite Diani Beach hotel, the Southern Palms Luxury hotel in Diani was mentioned more times than any other. People were raving over it. It’s easy to see why. Pools stretch from here to the horizon. The facilities are vast and it sits on a great bit of beach. This Diani Beach resort is larger than most, perhaps the largest, with nearly 300 rooms and a pool that they say is the largest in East Africa. If you want to lose yourself, or your kids, in an endless resort which thrums with the sounds of the ocean waves and sporting activities, then this is it.
The rooms are Swahili in style, with a Pili-Pili carved four poster double beds in the rooms. Every room has its own balcony with and Lamu easy chairs. All the rooms have TV, DVD, Air conditioning fridge, and tea-making facilities. There is the option of interconnecting rooms for families.
The hotel has 4 restaurants, 4 bars, a beauty salon, fitness centre, scuba diving centre, a watersports centre, gift shop, children’s club and business centre. It also offers evening entertainment and 10 acres of gardens. The Southern Palms Beach Resort Diani offers space, choice and a kid friendly upper end Diani hotel option.
Best Parts?
Enormous with the space to roam and a kids’ club to occupy the kids. Plenty of restaurants and bars, so lots of choice and less chance of getting bored if you are keen to stay within a resort at Diani Beach
Summary?
A great option for people with kids or first time travellers to Kenya who would prefer an all singing – all dancing resort where you can spend your entire holiday in Kenya.
Book this Facility with TRIPSASA to get Exclusive Rates & BEST Deals Call 254-717-577-577 or EMAIL info@tripsasa.com
6. The Sands at Chale Island
Chale Island isn’t technically part of Diani Beach. Chale Island is located 30 minutes south of Diani, but it’s so special that I wanted to include it in this article. The island is 15 acres in size. The 15 acres work hard and are a dreamscape of pristine beach, sacred mangrove forest, and indigenous flora. The Sands hotel is the only hotel, and building on the island. The Sands at Chale Island has Kenya’s only over-water bungalows and the idyllic Suite on the Rocks – honeymoon suite, as well as cheaper apartment block style options, and gorgeous creek facing bandas that make the most of the sunset. This place feels like an adult only resort, even though it is open to families.
Chale Island has 3 pools, a spa, gym, watersports shop and dive school. The hotel has two restaurants which serve wonderful food. The package is all-inclusive (excluding alcohol).
Best Parts?
Kenya’s only over water bungalows on a teeny private island, far away from the madding crowd.
Summary?
One of a kind in Kenya, Sands at Chale Island, is a very special place. The sunsets are incredible, I’d recommend this for adults only.
Book this Facility with TRIPSASA to get Exclusive Rates & BEST Deals Call 254-717-577-577 or EMAIL info@tripsasa.com
