The Nest Boutique Resort

I paid $240 for an hour of riding with my daughter, expecting to walk, trot, and canter. The guide soon made it clear that trotting and cantering weren’t really possible. Two hotel staff said most guests just want photos on the horses, while a few ask to gallop. I felt the experience had been misrepresented, and the guide and another staff member acknowledged that, but the manager refused a refund. They offered a quieter ride on different horses, which I accepted so the money wouldn’t be a total loss. It wasn’t any better. I was warned my horse didn’t like kite surfers, and with hundreds of them on Paje beach in the afternoon, I got off after a few minutes. It didn’t feel calm or enjoyable. My daughter is a capable rider, but a guide had to hold her while she rode. If the horses are as well trained as the manager claimed, I don’t understand why they needed to be held just to walk and trot. The first ride was frightening. Another guide galloped down the beach and fell off, and the horse I was riding nearly ran off with me. I ended up walking back to the hotel. I’d asked for helmets, but was given bicycle helmets because, I was told, a fire had destroyed the riding helmets. Later, I read reviews saying that fire had happened more than two years earlier, which seems like plenty of time to replace them. The guide also told me he couldn’t train the first horse I rode. There’s no training area, and the horses are kept in small stables without space to burn off energy. Big, strong, untrained horses and bicycle helmets make this feel like an accident waiting to happen. I asked for a refund again after explaining several times that I wouldn’t have spent the money had I known what the ride was really like. Instead, I was offered a different experience, and then denied my money back. The manager was deceitful. I didn’t stay at this hotel, but booked the ride there with my daughter. If you care about value, honesty, and safety, don’t book the horse riding. I rode at the royal stables in Zanzibar last year and had exactly the kind of ride I’d asked for, with proper helmets and a sense of safety, for the same price. I just hope nobody gets seriously hurt.

The food was fresh and delicious, and the coastal path made a great route for morning runs. I also booked straight through their website and got some nice perks. The personal training sessions were challenging in a good way.

The place itself is undeniably beautiful, though getting there meant a very difficult road. We’d booked the New Year’s Eve dinner because of the hotel’s reputation and its promise of a premium experience. Staff were polite and professional when we first arrived, and seated us in a treehouse. After that, the evening kept going downhill. We weren’t told in advance that the menu would be a Christmas menu. It had neither meat nor fish, which felt inappropriate for a New Year’s Eve dinner at this price. The drink presented as champagne was only sparkling wine, and there was no champagne on the menu. We waited almost two hours after being seated for the starter, and the main course never came. Dinner was meant to finish at 11 pm, but we still hadn’t been served the main dish then. We asked to move downstairs so we could at least finish dinner. The staff really did try to help, but seemed to have no authority to offer a proper alternative or make decisions. The owner was there and knew what was happening, but didn’t step in, explain, or suggest a solution. They only smiled at us. After we insisted repeatedly, we were eventually given beach loungers and offered a cocktail. The meal we’d paid for was never served. We paid about USD 500 for what was sold as a full premium experience, including food, service, organization, and atmosphere. The front line staff made visible efforts despite their limited authority, but management failed to deliver what was promised. There was no compensation, formal apology, or meaningful gesture. With such a beautiful setting and well-intentioned staff, it’s frustrating that there was no leadership, accountability, or attempt to make things right. For international guests expecting luxury standards, especially on New Year’s Eve, this was unacceptable. I strongly advise against staying or dining here.

Sunrise yoga became part of my routine, then I’d get a refreshing bowl of tropical fruit from the bar. It was all so fresh and nourishing, and fit the resort’s relaxed, wellness focused feel perfectly.