Waterlovers Beach Resort

This is a fantastic small resort hotel on Diana Beach and it's the most beautiful place. We had 5 nights here after running a crazy 230km race and we couldn't have been in a better place to relax. It's a lovely small hotel with a handful of villas that all feel really personal. The beach is lovely with white sands and the warm Indian Ocean just meters from the hotel. We were in the Rhino room and it was perfect. A gorgeous 4 poster bed with a fantastic big bathroom. The staff are all so lovely and helpful, the food is fantastic - so much so that we never left and had all our meals at the hotel (which is not like us at all!!). The pool is lovely and great for a cool off or swim if you don't want to go in the sea. We treated ourselves to a massage each whilst there and it was brilliant. Thoroughly recommend this great little hotel.

Waterlovers is stunning, set slightly elevated on Diani beach. There are 8 cottages each named after animals, each containing a wooden sculpture and artwork. We had Hippo. There is a family cottage and penthouse. The hotel is at the end of a bump track. The staff here are all super friendly and given the small nature quickly learn names, and drinks. The bedroom is comfortable with a large four posted bed which is so high they provide a step to climb up. The air conditioning is effective. If we were to improve the room we would provide bedside lamps as the room is either lit by the main light, or the side lights which can’t be controlled from the bed! We had a problem with the hot water and didn’t have any for two days. We initially thought it had run out, but after 2 days we reported it and Grace didn’t finish her shift until the problem was fixed. Grace also organised for my wife to go to a local fabric shop. We also organised the glass bottom boat trip and the sunset boat/bush baby through the hotel. We were half board (stayed 6 nights) and were pretty bored of the menu by the end of the week. The portions were large, but not very consistent. You could order the same meal on different days and it would be wildly different. Overall the quality was good and the portions huge. They did a lobster special one lunchtime which we loved! Breakfast is self service buffet with eggs to order. To improve the hotel need to label items better. Non dairy milk is labelled, but the pastries are not. One day it was spinach, and I assumed it would be the following day – it was chicken. The cheese/ham and yogurts need to be (somehow) kept cooler. Afternoon tea and biting’s were nice if you ever needed to fill a gap. We normally took the opportunity to get out the sun. We did eat in the hotel next door and the Havana bar for pizza. It was so hot, and there is quite a lot of hassle on the main strip we couldn’t be bothered to go out more. The staff all asked us if we would return and they are of course aware of the beach boys. You cannot step off the hotel steps onto the beach without being approached by the hawkers. The beach is stunning however it is a no go zone. They are persistent, they will shout up from the beach they will follow you up and down, if you sit on the sand the will sit with you. At one stage we counted 30 around one family! It is relentless! We ended up getting to watch the sunrise and going for a swim then when it was quiet. This isn’t the fault of the hotel, they have little/no control over the beach but guests need to be prepared if visiting any hotel on this beach. Check out is (as usual 11) but there is a day room behind the bar to store bags and change with a shower. (the shower was cold – refreshing but not that useful before a journey) A hair dryer can be provided for this room if required. Overall we loved the hotel and staff, we loved the view and looking at the beach and it was a great end to our trip.

Waterlovers Beach Resort is beyond words, and a real paradise. It is more of a smaller "boutique hotel" with only about 10 accommodations (suites, villa & penthouse), which gives a more authentic, calm and peaceful stay; as it almost feels like you have the place for yourself :). The staff is so lovely, kind and service minded and the food is very good. I especially enjoyed the dinners where the staff set the tables on the sand, making it feel like you were eating on the beach (which you kind of were as well). It has its own pool but being situated right by the beach you can reach the ocean with a few steps. The furnishing and decoration of the rooms, as well as the hotel in general, was so beautiful and provides an exotic, luxurious vibe, whilst still keeping the beautiful African details with a lot of local designs and constructions.