Cocoa Boutique Hotel

We were stuck with this booking because there were no decent resorts available that night, and we couldn't wait to check out. We had booked through Stayforlong and complained about the hotel, but got no reply. What we saw online was completely different from the run-down property we found. We'd travelled a long way and paid a lot for the holiday, so we couldn't afford to book somewhere else. Most of the guests we noticed were local, with very few foreigners. At check-in, the bathroom taps had rust at least 3cm thick. I wouldn't put dirty clothes there, let alone myself or my children. Staff did their best and moved us to their sister property, Cocoa Boutique, but its cleanliness was still far below an acceptable standard. There were no beach towels and no lifeguards on duty, which is a serious safety concern for families. Dinner was just a burger and chips, but it took over an hour to arrive. The burger was stale and had no flavour. We hadn't eaten since morning, which made the wait and the food especially frustrating. The staff tried, and I appreciate that, but the hotel itself was disgusting and nowhere near its advertised standard. This stay completely ruined our vacation. Avoid it if you care about hygiene, decent food, safety, and peace of mind.

The shower water looked white, the windows were broken, and the water was extremely overpriced. The bed sheets felt itchy and had blood stains on them. This hotel is old and run-down, and they don't properly look after either the rooms or the building. I do NOT recommend it.

The kitchen staff were friendly and professional, but the hotel's in a pathetic state. Management staff were just liars. Our room had no working TV, the bathroom was dark at night, and we still had no sandals by the third day, even after asking more than five times. I definitely wouldn't recommend this place.

A beautiful, breezy beach is right there, with kite surfing lessons, camels, and other activities within walking distance. The rooms are spacious, and many look toward the oven and have large balconies. The style is old-fashioned but cool, and it's an amazing hidden gem. Highly recommend it. Next time I'm in Mombasa, I plan to stay here.