African House Resort Malindi

The room lock was the biggest concern for me, and a fire hazard: I got locked inside and had to call reception to let me out. At check-in, no one properly showed me around the room or hotel, so I had to work out the fan settings myself and only found the refrigerator on my second day. I also wasn't given the Wi-Fi password. The TVs don't work, though that wasn't a big issue for me. I chose African House Resort for my first solo vacation because I wanted somewhere quiet and tranquil, and it delivered on that and more. The décor is amazing, the garden is beautiful and well kept, and the clean cabanas were extremely comfortable.

The top-floor terrace was a favorite, a breezy place to relax and work. The hotel is beautifully decorated, with real attention to detail, and the grand rooms have both AC and a fan. Food and drink choices were very limited, so we ate out more. Only one staff member, Mombasa, was working, which meant slow service and sometimes cold food. They were very strict about outside food and drinks, despite missing items and little on offer. Even with most meals eaten out and breakfast prepaid, the bill was quite high. I can't imagine what it would have cost if we'd liked more of the menu. Guests seemed to keep to themselves, some for obvious reasons, which didn't feel very comfortable in such a small resort. I wouldn't recommend staying for a long time.

The only part I didn't enjoy was getting there. It's a bit off the road, and the road itself is rough. The breakfast was okay, and customer service was great. We found the property on Google maps and walked in during the December festive season. Luckily, they had a room. We had planned to stay one night but added another. It's peaceful and good value, with a lot of African touches throughout. The bed is quite big, but the bathroom was my favorite part, it's spacious and really beautiful. The pool is great too. A lovely place to relax, and I'd recommend a night there to anyone visiting malindi.

Leaving was hard. I didn't want to go and will definitely come back for more days next time. Signiora Jiovanna is the heart of the place, a force of nature who keeps every detail running smoothly and makes you feel like family. Stephen, Mombasa, Benson, Kenga, Rahem, I can't thank you enough. The staff were literally the best, going well beyond their duties to welcome me and make my stay enjoyable. I had a bad experience at my previous hotel, and they all did their best to help fix it, even though it wasn't their responsibility. Coming in from the city's heat and noise, I found a lush garden, birds singing, a cool breeze, a lovely swimming pool, and such peace and quiet. It's the most calming, relaxing space. The rooms are amazing and sparkling clean, with huge four-post beds and furniture that brings to mind more luxurious times. It felt like staying in a colonial villa, not a hotel. This is the best place I've stayed in Kenya so far, luxurious and attentive to every detail.