Inchi Raha Cottages

We chose this cottage because it’s very close to Diani Beach, and the compound itself is lovely, with summer huts, a security post and someone around to answer questions. The pool looked clean, too. Five of us had our own little house, with clean sheets, mosquito nets and ceiling fans in the bedrooms. The rooms were OK, but the bathroom was horrible. It flooded whenever anyone showered or flushed, leaving the mats soaked, and once water reached the living room. We told the young guy on duty, whose name I’ve forgotten, and he said it would be fixed, but it never was. There was no WiFi, though we all had mobile data, so that didn’t bother us much. We also arrived to find no gas cylinder, but got one within minutes after asking, so we could make something before bed. The living room AC didn’t work, and there were no keys for the front door or our bedroom doors on the first night. We insisted on padlocks with keys and got them the next morning. It’s about a two-hour drive from the airport, and you need to take the ferry. Maybe we arrived at the wrong time and it could have been better, but we wouldn’t stay again. The only real advantage for us was being close to the beach. If money’s very tight and you can put up with the nasty bathroom, you could stay here.

The pool was clean, and both the house and bedrooms were clean as well. But the kitchen was poor in every way: the fridge didn’t work properly and there wasn’t much cooking equipment. Water leaked from the bathroom when we showered or flushed, sometimes reaching the living room. Management accused us of breaking the toilet, even though another review mentioned the same problem. They also changed the agreed price and terms of our stay, then threatened to throw us out unless we paid extra. Still, God is for us all.

For around 12 people, the three Inchi Raha cottages can work well, with four people in each, two per room. At about Kshs. 4,000 per cottage per night, or kshs.1,000 per person, they’re quite affordable. Each cottage has two roomy bedrooms with built-in wardrobes and air fans, plus a bathroom with a shower cubicle, toilet and wash basin. There’s also a kitchen with a fridge, cooker and food-prep utensils, and a lounge with sofas and a t.v. There’s no restaurant or food and drink service, so bring your own. They don’t provide bottled water either, although running water is available from the taps throughout. The outdoor pool is fairly clean, and there are poolside beds, hammocks and a swaying bed, which are pretty cool. Getting there can be tricky. The cottages are a bit far from the main road, the road isn’t tarmacked, and you’ll need a cab or taxi. Locals can help you find the place faster on foot. The beach and shopping centre are about 4km away.

The swimming pool was the one good part. The cottage was in poor condition, with old, poorly kept furnishings, no TV or WiFi, no utensils, and a broken AC. Management was poor too, and they demanded the money when we arrived instead of at checkout. What you see online doesn’t match what’s there.