The dazzlingly azure, free-form swimming pools of Southern Palms hotel at Diani Beach will have you captivated at first sight. At night the waters are lit up by the illuminated reflections of the Arabic architecture surrounding the pool including two magnificent white domes which conceal the hotel's restaurant and bar.
This Swahili/Arabic inspired design also continues throughout the hotel. The culture of the Kenyan coast has been transferred into the bedroom suites, where you will find handmade woodwork and stunning furniture.
Review by Anonymous from London on September 29, 2009 for stay during February, 2008.
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Room Comfort
Cleanliness
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Value
Tour Operator/Travel Provider: Thomson
I wonder why people write nasty thing about his hotel. During our stay we enjoyed every bit of the holiday in this resort. Our safari, which we booked with our Thomson rep in the resort, was marvellous. He advised us on what to take on safari and even helped us to choose which safari we could do.
We went to beach operators, but after being informed we would be picked up from the main gate, we decided it was not a good idea. Some of the guest who decided to go with the beach operators had a horrible experience on safari, after they were taken to a different lodge than the one they were promised. When they went to ask for compensation they were told they would be reported to police. The difference of the safari was about $20. Being in a foreign country you need to be very cautious.
Very Clean Hotel
Review by Anonymous from Rochford Essex on October 14, 2007 for stay during January, 2006.
Overall
Service
Room Comfort
Cleanliness
Food
Value
Tour Operator/Travel Provider: Hayes & Jarvis
The hotel is very nice and the staff are extremely helpful. The hotel itself is beautiful and the rooms are comfortable. Each morning a pool attendant helped us to choose our sunbeds and he brought along the cushions. The food id very good and plentiful. There is hardly any evening entertainment and as the hotel is away from the main towns you cannot do much in the evening. It is absolutely fine if you want to just rest, swim and eat.
Unfortunately the Kenyan people do hassle all tourists on the beach and this really spoiled our stay as it was virtually impossible to walk along the beach. The local people are desperate to sell their ware and they will try every trick in the trade to get you to look at their shop. They also ask to buy the clothes, shoes you are wearing and they know when the guests leave and new ones arrive. On those days they are even more insistent. The hotel itself has a high level of security and no one ever bothered us in the hotel. All staff are friendly and helpful.
We combined our stay with a week's safari in Samburu, Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Naivasha incl Treetops. The first week was exhausting but absolutely fantastic with the height of our holiday being a balloon ride over the Masai Mara!! Our worst day was the day spend at Treetops - this trip in our opinion is a complete waste of money and we would have enjoyed another day of game drives much more.
The safaris were great, but the driving in Kenya was horrendous with extremely poor road conditions. We must all have inhaled bucket fulls of dust on the journey.
Our second week was spend at Southern Palms and we were all ready for a well deserved rest !!! The hotel did provide us with this. Having spoken to other guests it appears that this hotel is definitely the best in the surrounding area.
Hayes and Jarvis were brilliant and everything was organised perfectly.
Jen Gaskin said, "After reading some miserable reviews we wondered what to expect from this hotel. Yes maybe the bedrooms could do with a little improvement but this has got to be one of the best for friendliness, the hotel sits in the most beautiful grounds, a private beach- fresh coconuts...really..." (further information on Southern Palms)
Goatkeeper said, "Last minute booking as we had already been away at the beginning of the year and we wanted a sun break and this holiday was better value than going to a Greek Island as we had a budget . Couldn`t book a Safari in the UK as it was a hotel only booking but paid £200 each for a 3 da..." (further information on Southern Palms)
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