Because this was my 60th birthday treat from my husband, he had upgraded our flight and also booked the only villa on the hotel complex, which was really beautiful, quite a distance from the main hotel, we had our own private terrace, overlooking the sea and a quiet pretty cove.
The meals we did find repetative and bland, but we visited various restaurants in the area and throughly enjoyed the change from the hotel cuisine. Also the ala carte terrace restaurant near the swimming pool, which was more imaginative than the main dining room menu with a more pleasant ambiance. The Hotel we found to be very clean, although slightly tired compared to others in the area, Hemmingways for example!
Sharing our table on the first evening we were delighted to meet Jane and Rose who became our companions and enriched our evenings and several outings with their company. Thank you Rose and Jane if you should be reading this!
The beach and sea were beautiful, but inland the scenery was disappointingly boring and extremely deprived. We privately visited a couple of orphanages and schools taking pencils, sweets and toys. Also visited the bush villages on foot taking food parcels of basic needs to very needy deprived families, accompanied by a couple of boys who had tagged on to us during the organised tour the previous day. Wanted to assist us in any way for very little reward, just pleased to be helping their people. (All a very humbling experience)
Visited Masa Mari Kilimanjari safari for a couple of days, via tiny plane, from private airport in Mombassa. The Safari was disappointing, herding around in a convoy of several buses, watching the few animals backsides as they ran off into the distance, having been made aware of our arrival by clouds of dust. The accommodation at Masa Mari was basic to put it mildly, only cold water and cabin like tiny rooms, but adequate for one night.
The drive back from Mombassa airport was a journey from hell and back, the driver, was we think trying to get back before dark, and after passing about 4 accidents on the road, we begged him to slow down, before we too became a statistic.
The locals were annoying outside the hotel, but if your firm, they will leave you alone. The taxi drivers we found to be very honest and extremely keen to be working.
Both my husband and I visited the masseur lady, next to the beautiful swimming pool (who is paid by the hotel,) (so is very grateful for a tip) a couple of times and she was very good.
The hotel staff were fairly helpful and friendly, ( we had our own daily cleaner of our apartment, who was extremely good) but when we asked the managers for a basic kettle or saucepan to boil water in our apartment (we had a kitchen with fridge and stove etc,) we were told that this was not allowed and that all drinks etc could be bought at the hotel. (We only wanted an early morning cuppa)

Overall this was a holiday to remember, good value for money, but I would add that the extra money upgrade for the villa was well worth the expense for greater space, privacy, peace and quiet.

Went to Kenya for the first time this year. Expected bugs everywhere etc etc. Found Watamu Beach to be clean, fine "flour" sand and really gorgeous setting. The accommodation was basic but adequate and clean with no bugs. The friendly staff could not do enough to help. Loved it. Dinner menu was a little repetitive but pasta, salad and fruit options always to hand. Would suggest to management however that they vary the vegetables a little more as corgettes would not be one of my favourites and I didn't see peas at all until I ate out one evening.

I would recommend this hotel to anyone and wished I had gone here for my honeymoon many years ago. Yes, the beach people are a bit of a nuisance but by the end of the holiday they were laughing and joking with us like friends. These people have little and live from hand to mouth but they are warm hearted and are just trying to stay alive. They certainly did not spoil my holiday and I hope to be able to return one day.

going to kenya is like going to another planet,dont expect it to be like europe,thats whats great about it,the natural things in kenya are great,man made roads and accomondation are disaster,itt is a poor country,lots of begging peoplle,very friendly,watamu is safe,comeback club is not far from the hotel,cheap larger than hotel,good reggea and swahali music,been to watamu twice,had a great time,just say no to the beach boys,nothing eles,or they will niver leave you alone

Went to Watamu Beach Hotel for our honeymoon &, sadly, had the worst holiday experience of our lives & have never been so glad to return home.

An admin error mean that, despite email confirmations that we would have certain honeymoon offers, as discussed in the ASC brochure, this was all refused to us on arrival. Furthermore, we were not permitted to sit alone in the dining room, having to sit instead at the same table every meal-time with fellow British holiday-makers; clearly this is not how we had intended spending every meal during our honeymoon, no matter how pleasant the company!

Do not buy the bottled water from the hotel; it has a distinctly stagnant odour and, it was thought by the doctor we had to call out, caused the hugely unpleasant illness within our party. The water sold in the supermarket in the village is fine & also far cheaper. The hotel manager acknowledged the water quality was not acceptable, having smelled the bottle we took to him; he offered us a "complimentary meal", which we were then billed for on leaving!! The charge was later removed following further complaints.

We do not recommend doing boat trips with the hotel's Ali Baba: he changed the time of departure & failed to inform us. We demanded a refund, having missed the excursion, which we only obtained after he used highly offensive language to the pair of us - clearly not suitable customer service.

Highly intrusive beach boys on the "private beach", shouted at holiday-makers whilst sunbathing & blocked the way down to the sea. Furthermore, they shouted over the wall at us whilst we were sitting on our private terrace, thereby meaning we could not even have a private conversation without continual interruptions.

Kenya is a lovely country, however be careful in your choice of holiday provider - avoid the African Safari Club!