Q Boutique Resort Malindi

We really liked how quiet the hotel was in Malindi, with a little background music during the day. The staff were friendly and capable, and our king room with a balcony was clean, comfortable, and well equipped. The bedding was very good, but it was so hot that a sheet would have been better than a duvet, even with the air conditioning. All the windows had mosquito nets, and the high-speed internet worked very well. The pool was clean and not too busy, with comfortable sunbeds. Bath towels were provided. Breakfast and dinner both had plenty of choice. Breakfast was a buffet with hot local dishes, fruit, and homemade cakes, and you could order eggs and hot drinks. One thing that rubbed us the wrong way: the receptionist called our room an “upgrade,” but when we checked the booking, it was simply the room we’d originally reserved. Nice try with that marketing ploy.

The reservation manager really made things comfortable for us, especially since we were traveling as a family with kids and older people. The staff were so welcoming, and the atmosphere was lovely. Breakfast tasted great, but the selection didn’t change much, so we kept getting the same things each day.

We were there for eight days, and the constant noise meant it never felt like a relaxing stay. The hotel wasn’t fully booked, with only a few other guests around, so it’s hard to imagine how loud it would be when full. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone looking for a peaceful boutique hotel. Noise carried everywhere in the small hotel. We could hear staff talking loudly and handling or throwing dishes around during early breakfast preparation. Guests also stayed in the pool after 10 p.m. with their own Bluetooth speakers. Music played in the open restaurant and reception, as well as from speakers by the pool right next to our room. It often continued until 11 p.m. or midnight, then started again at 7 a.m. and woke us up. We complained clearly at reception more than once, but nothing was properly done. Simple steps like keeping morning music to reception, enforcing evening quiet hours, or banning speakers at the pool could have helped, but our concerns were ignored. There were some good points. The restaurant was good, and Bridget and Caroline were especially friendly. Housekeeping and laundry were good, and the rooms were well maintained. The pool area was nice in principle, though it turned green during the last two days. Wi-Fi in the rooms was unstable, so watching Netflix wasn’t possible. Breakfast had some variety, but didn’t seem well suited to European tourists. There was little good bread, and it was often dry, so breakfast could definitely be improved.

The massage with Nasra was a lovely way to be pampered, and the bar and restaurant served tasty food. The hotel also has a warm swimming pool and large, bright rooms with air conditioning and spacious bathrooms. It’s close to the public beach, local attractions like ocean trips, and fancy restaurants and clubs. A great place to stay in Malindi if you want to impress your friends, family, or yourself. Five stars well deserved.