Papillon Lagoon Reef Hotel

Hotels
7.8 (554 reviews)
Diani Beach, Diani , Diani Beach , KE

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Fitness facilities
WiFi available
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Fitness center
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Excellent beachfront/oceanfront location and beautiful gardens
Friendly and helpful staff (housekeeping praised)
Clean pools and sun loungers; daily towel/linen service
Strong entertainment programme and family-friendly activities
Good value for money reported by several guests
Cons:
Rooms aging/outdated; some lack fridge and TV
Food sometimes lacks variety or is inconsistent
Front desk/reception reported as abrupt or rude by some guests
Occasional wildlife issues (monkeys taking food; hawks on the beach)
Some facilities small or dated (gym); occasional awkward housekeeping timing

Categories

Cleanliness
8.5
Rooms reported as clean with daily towel changes and clean pools; occasional timing issues with housekeeping (arriving too early) and some wear in bathrooms.
Service
8.2
Staff frequently described as friendly, helpful and attentive (housekeeping praised, support for early check-outs), though a few reports note abrupt or rude reception staff.
Location
9.2
Consistently praised: beachfront/oceanfront setting, white sand beaches, beautiful gardens and easy beach access — a standout strength of the property.
Room Quality
6.5
Mixed reports: some rooms described as cute and comfortable, but multiple mentions of outdated/battered rooms, ageing bathrooms and missing in-room amenities (no fridge/TV in some rooms).
Amenities
8
Strong entertainment programme, pools, gardens and beach facilities; sun loungers and pool areas well regarded. Some facility negatives (small/old gym, limited room amenities).
Value for Money
8.5
Several guests called it excellent or amazing value given location and included offerings; generally perceived as good value for what is provided.
Food and Beverage
7
Food received mixed feedback: many found buffet-style offerings good or tasty, while others noted limited variety or criticized specific meals.
Overall Experience
6.5
Overall stays were enjoyable with friendly staff and great location, but issues like outdated rooms, occasional rude reception, wildlife/hawk problems and some food monotony tempered the overall impression.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-08-14 10:50

Property Description

Luxurious Beachfront Setting
Set on Diani Beach, Papillon Lagoon Reef offers a picturesque escape with stunning views of the Indian Ocean from the outdoor pool, beach bar, and restaurant terrace.

Diverse Dining Options
Indulge in a culinary journey at the Baobab buffet restaurant serving Kenyan and international dishes or enjoy breakfast and lunch at the Poolside Bistro Restaurant. Don't forget to grab a drink at the swim-up pool bar!

Abundance of Activities
From diving and tennis to massages and evening entertainment, this hotel provides a wide range of activities for guests of all ages. Plus, the convenient location allows easy access to shopping and exploring in Diani and Mombasa.

Ready to experience paradise at Papillon Lagoon Reef? Book your stay now for an unforgettable beachfront getaway!

Important information:

You must show a valid photo ID and credit card upon check-in. The name on the credit card must match the name of one of the guests.

If the credit card is declined or invalid, or if a booking is made for arrival the following day or weekend arrivals, you may be asked to pay upon check-in.

Please note that all special requests cannot be guaranteed and are subject to availability upon check-in. Additional charges may apply.

Guests are requested to dress smart casual for dinner,long trousers and shoes.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 10:00 AM

Location

Guest Reviews

7.8
Based on 554 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.5
Service: 8.2
Location: 9.2
Room Quality: 6.5
Amenities: 8
Value for Money: 8.5
Food and Beverage: 7
Overall Experience: 6.5
M
Michelle • solo_traveller • au
9
Fantastic holiday .
Pros:

Friendly helpful staff
Great variety of food and activities
Location

Cons:

Maybe bigger bedding in the rooms

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
M
Matthew • extended_group • gb
8
Cons:

Repetitive food

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
K
kevin • couple • de
10
The perfect birthday location 🤌
Pros:

Beachfront views, Friendly Staff, Ambience

Cons:

Nothing to complain about.

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
A
Anton • family_with_children • ua
10
Pros:

Very comfortable family rooms .
Amazing location.
Super nice hotel crew !!!!)

Cons:

Old furniture, mosquito nets with holes, no mosquito repellents .

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
R
Reuben • couple • us
8
It was a great experience
Pros:

Cleanliness and fine meals

Cons:

NA

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
C
Claire Diphoorn • family_with_children • nl
7
Pros:

Good size and clean

Cons:

We asked for our room to be next to the kids and this was not granted despite making the request months in advance. I also had to pay for a fridge to keep my medication!

2026-09-15 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • solo_traveller • de
7
2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
C
Chiara • couple • it
8
Esperienza rilassante
Pros:

Struttura molto bella e ben curata, veramente rilassante!
Cibo molto buono e vario

Cons:

Wi-Fi debole, dovrebbe essere potenziato, soprattutto nelle stanze.
Cibo buono, dovrebbero proporre più alternative per chi mangia colazione dolce

2026-09-11 • via Nuitee
Z
Zhang • solo_traveller • ke
10
2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
J
JULIE • family_with_children • fr
5
2026-09-07 • via Nuitee
S
Stephen • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-09-07 • via Nuitee
E
Emily • solo_traveller • gb
10
Excellent
Pros:

The staff, food and entertainment was at another level, the monkeys.... Excellent

Cons:

It was good

2026-09-04 • via Nuitee
K
Kaburu • family_with_children • ke
7
2026-08-31 • via Nuitee
B
Bruno • solo_traveller • ae
5
The "full-board only" attracts very cheap customers. This contrasts with most resorts in Diani beach
Pros:

The location, the "Swahili" style of the property, gorgeous gardens, nice swimming pool, the terrasse where dinner is served, the old trees and their monkeys and bush-babies!

Cons:

The quality and presentation of the food and drinks at dinner. Really AWFUL! Breakfast was decent, especially fruits and local specialties.

2026-08-30 • via Nuitee
Y
Yuta • couple • jp
6
3食提供されるので、宿泊には便利。ただし、過度の期待は禁物。
Pros:

ビーチに面しているので、景色が良い。
金曜日の夕食はBBQで、とてもおいしい。

Cons:

インクルーシブとしているが、水のボトルなどは費用がかかる。

2026-08-30 • via Nuitee
S
Subramanian • extended_group • ke
7
2026-08-29 • via Nuitee
H
Harris • solo_traveller • ke
5
2026-08-28 • via Nuitee
N
nduku • solo_traveller • ke
10
2026-08-28 • via Nuitee
G
Gladys • family_with_children • fr
10
Paradisiqaue
Pros:

Les repas variés tous les jours et les animations organisées au sein de l'hôtel.
Le personnel est très gentil et acceuillant.

Cons:

La décoration peut être un peu modernisée mais tout était très confortable.

2026-08-25 • via Nuitee
A
ARNAUD • solo_traveller • fr
1
Pros:

La gentillesse du personnel à la piscine.

Cons:

Je ne me suis rarement senti aussi mal dans un hôtel. J'ai sûrement réservé plus de 300 nuits sur Booking.com mais cet hôtel est sûrement un de mes plus mauvais souvenirs.
Avant la réservation, tout semble possible. Une fois le paiement réalisé, tout devient impossible. Vous souhaitez un spray contre les moustiques, ils ne veulent pas vous le prêter. Vous souhaitez un check out retardé de 2 heurs. Refusé sous prétexte que l'hôtel est complet alors que des chambres sont encore disponibles sur Booking..
Le personnel de l'accueil (notamment le manager) est désagréable.
Quant à la nourriture, vous avez l'embarras du choix. Mais tout est mauvais, sans goût et mal cuisiné.

2026-08-25 • via Nuitee