Watamu Ascot Hotel

The staff made this four-night stay for me. Everyone was smiling, courteous and super friendly, and they went out of their way to help at every turn. I couldn't be happier with the experience and will definitely come back.

It's in a great spot, close to the beaches and between several points of interest. The rooms are what you'd expect from a three-star hotel, with the basics but nothing luxurious. There's a good-sized pool, and each room gets a complimentary one-hour massage for one person, which is a nice touch. The restaurant menu is a little limited, though there are plenty of other places to eat. My partner didn't enjoy the massage.

The noise made it hard to find any peace here. Italian neighbors were loud on their phones, a nearby nightclub played music until 5 a.m., and the local Imam's early morning prayers came through loudspeakers every day. For what we paid, all that hassle wasn't worth it. On the first night, three huge generators beside our room kept us awake, so we asked to move. Reception initially refused despite plenty of empty rooms. After a lot of back and forth, they moved us, but didn't update the system. We then had no housekeeping, water or basic room service unless we specifically requested it. The atmosphere around the hotel felt chaotic throughout. Breakfast was okay, but service was very slow. The daily spread was basic and Italian-style. Since the hotel is in Kenya, I wish they'd included a few Kenyan dishes, like chapatis, for local flavor and variety. And in such a hot country, the least they could do is provide small complimentary bottles of water in the room. Customer service was bad.

The location is convenient for the beaches and town center. We really enjoyed the professional staff and owner, along with the lovely garden and pools. The restaurant, pizzeria and breakfast were excellent.