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Aquarius Watamu Beach Resort: Traveller Reviews

Watamu Coast Road | Watamu National Marine Park, Watamu, Kenya
Hotel amenities
Aquarius Watamu Beach Resort
Ranked #15 of 21 hotels in Watamu
4.0 of 5 stars 334 Reviews
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334 reviews from our community

    Trip type
Traveller rating
    82
    164
    46
    25
    17
Date Rating
Targoviste, Romania
Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
“If not italian don't go there”
2 of 5 stars Reviewed 6 May 2011
2
people found this review helpful

I can say that the maasais on the beach speak more english than the staff of the hotel. So if you don't speak italian don;t go there. The food is ok, also if you're an italian. very few african dishes or even iternational.
The major problem was with the sleep. You can't get any because it's always noisy. People come and go all the time and the maids wake up at 3-4 am to clean after those who just left.
The bar closes at 11 pm and they don't even let the water supply for the night, that's pretty cheap of them considering we paid 800 euros/person.
The animators always have better things to do, like lazing around and if they see you don't speak italian they don't really bother.
The only personas who kept us company were the masais who act as watch guards on the beach, they have low education, but they speak better english :))
Overall we got home more tired than we arrived, the hotel is a fiasco, impressive when you come along but the sopa bubble burst as soon as you get installed.
The rooms are ok, clean, the AC works only when in the room (they have a thing attached on the entrance key and that makes the AC work) so if you leave for the day you come back to a very hot room.
The beach is ok, clean, too little space for how big the hotel is.
I don;t recommend it to anyone!!!

Room Tip: Room 3, the AC works without the little key trick
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  • Stayed January 2011, travelled with family
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
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Ask Aerandria about Aquarius Watamu Beach Resort
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Cape Town Central, South Africa
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
“A Rip Off”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 4 May 2011
2
people found this review helpful

We had to pay R2000.00 more per person as it was "High season" what a lie. 2/3 of the hotel was closed. No bars open, one pool & a very basic restaurant. No TV, No internet. We paid for all inclusive which was to cover local drinks & cool drinks. We could get a local beer during means, no wine & no spirits. Nothing bottled was allowed so we were left with water from a cooler & flat coke from a 2l bottle. When I asked for coke light - not available. South African wines that cost R30.00 in SA were offered for R170.00. Local beers were 5x the price from a supermarket nearby. They have signs saying that you may not bring your own drinks into the room. The ice machines were switched off. They had a list of cocktails available but could not make any as they did not have the stock. They advertise that it is a private beach - well it was covered by locals all trying to sell you drugs & their local junk. I asked about them and was told that they were 7th Day Adventists from the Hotel next door - absolute rubbish as it was closed. A sugar supplement was not available nor was tea or coffee available all day. They advertise entertainment - there was not even a bar open - no music ever. All the guests complained but all we got was "We are closing soon". All the guests complained about the sewerage smell but nothing was done. All signs are in Italian. The food was the same stuff everyday & the same grilled steaks and fish were out for 4 days. No cereal for breakfast, never any sweets at supper - no fridges no ice-cream. A lot of the guests ended up with stomach problems because the same food was kept for days - even fish, pork & chicken. No pizza was available as the oven was used to warm & cook the food. This made all the food smell the same & of wood. We lived on pasta for the week. They had no idea how to make a omelet and if you asked for fried eggs they were rock hard and brown. So breakfast was breads & fruit. Coffee from a urn that was topped up at lunch time & supper - boiled old coffee beans. There was NO manager available for the week

Room Tip: Do not go there
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  • Stayed April 2011, travelled as a couple
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 2 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
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Ask Neville53 about Aquarius Watamu Beach Resort
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Prague, Czech Republic
1 review
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
“the worst holiday in my life”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 15 February 2011
3
people found this review helpful

I will start with the simple words: we have been ROBBED in the room WHILE WE ARE SLEEPING.
The management dont give any support and the prefer to hide this problem because they couldnt manage.
We have been stolen following: laptop, photo camera , money aprox 300 eur and our bag with beach little things.
hotel management did not try to make the slightest effort, police or both, the resort is guarded in their opinion, but in reality could come anybody.In same evening it was robbed at the same floor, another room near ours, were stolen mobilephones.
Our vacation was a total fiasco, all employees of the reception and event management tried to hide it and did not pay any compensation, and they did not receive our complaint.
If you want a quiet and leasant holiday DONT CHOOSE AQUARIUS BEACH RESORT WATAMU!!

  • Stayed February 2011, travelled as a couple
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
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Ask limor2011 about Aquarius Watamu Beach Resort
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Roquebrune Cap Martin
1 review
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“one of our best holiday!”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 13 February 2010
1
person found this review helpful

The hotel and rooms were properly cleaned every day as well as outside, gardens, beach and swimming pools. Concerning the food, the buffet was different every day and very good taste. Staff friendly and helpful.
January and Frebruary are the best months to visit kenya. Be informed that during these month, dry seasons, you do not really need to take Malarone treatment. Repellent is enough as there are not so much mosquitoes.
If you are interested in doing a Safari you can contact Thomas Mboya on facebook, we had a wonderful time with him!

  • Stayed January 2010, travelled on business
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Ask kichuna2010 about Aquarius Watamu Beach Resort
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Senior Contributor
27 reviews 27 reviews
Reviews in 15 cities Reviews in 15 cities
23 helpful votes 23 helpful votes
“Paradise location, hellish hotel”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 2 March 2008
1
person found this review helpful

Italian mass tourism at its worse, you feel like you are in the outskirts of Rome. We were moved around by the owner and ended up in the staff quarters over the electric generator. the owners were so rude. What a shame! The location is stunning, the beach is wonderful. The staff are all locals who have been trained to speak in Italian to the tourists, so they always speak Italian, quite surreal. If youwant to see Kenya avoid this place.

  • Stayed February 2006, travelled as a couple
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Check-in / front desk
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
    • 1 of 5 stars Business service (e.g., internet access)
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Ask carlotortora about Aquarius Watamu Beach Resort
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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Aquarius Watamu Beach Resort Also Known As

  • Aquarius Watamu Beach Hotel
Address: Watamu Coast Road | Watamu National Marine Park, Watamu, Kenya

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