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Diani Beach Road, Diani Beach, Ukunda 80401 Kenya
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Traveller (1353)
Room & Suite (164)
Dining (50)
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Payments made by partners impact the order of prices displayed. Room types may vary.

About

#19 of 144 hotels in Diani Beach
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Travellers' Choice

Finding an ideal romantic hotel in Diani Beach does not have to be difficult. Welcome to Papillon Lagoon Reef, a nice option for travellers like you.

Papillon Lagoon Reef is a romantic hotel offering air conditioning in the rooms, and it is easy to stay connected during your stay as internet access is offered to guests.

The hotel features a concierge, a sun terrace, and currency exchange. Plus, guests can enjoy a pool and a swimup bar, which have made this a popular choice among travellers visiting Diani Beach.

While you’re here, be sure to check out some of the Asian restaurants, including Shashin-Ka Japanese Restaurant and The Spice Route, all of which are a short distance from Papillon Lagoon Reef.

Diani Beach is also home to Diani Beach Art Gallery, a popular art gallery that is not too far from Papillon Lagoon Reef Hotel.

Papillon Lagoon Reef looks forward to welcoming you on your visit to Diani Beach.

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Property amenities
Internet
Pool
Restaurant
Diving
Game room
Airport transportation
Massage
Baggage storage
Pool / beach towels
Outdoor pool
Swimup bar
Breakfast buffet
Poolside bar
Snorkelling
Darts
Entertainment staff
Evening entertainment
Table tennis
Salon
Concierge
Currency exchange
Shops
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun terrace
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
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Room features
Air conditioning
Interconnected rooms available
Private balcony
Safe
Hair dryer
Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Bay View
Quiet
898Reviews103Q+A100Room tips

Reviews
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carolh wrote a review Nov 2023
Kenya27 contributions
The food was really great and quality. It catered for a wide range of tastes and preferences. There were very many entertainment options even at night, games, children play area. The beach was also clean and the staff were really awesome and quick with the all you can drink cocktails. The downside is that the garden rooms did not have tvs.
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Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Meeesha wrote a review Nov 2023
Beroun, Czech Republic18 contributions8 helpful votes
+1
We stayed 3 nights at the hotel. We loved the most amazing beach and beautiful garden with water streams and palms. Services were very good and staff friendly. We liked the food. The only minus was the gym. It was filthy. Machines really rusty and broken, floor black dirty, mosquitoes. And the very anoying thing were the locals at the beach right in front of the hotel pushing the sells every time we wanted to relax and walk.
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Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: No sunbeds available on the beach due to high tights. You can only use them in the hotel garden.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Safina Jabeen wrote a review Nov 2023
Nairobi, Kenya2 contributions1 helpful vote
The resort is at average , the ambience is good and so is the night entertainment. However the food is very continental, the food did not taste too good either so i suggest a change of the chef's hand , they should cater for different cuisines especially incorporate the Indian Cuisine some days. The family rooms are very far from the pool.The pool is amazing.
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Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: The check in is rather a bit slow.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
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Benard Ochieng wrote a review Nov 2023
Lavington, Kenya1 contribution
+1
We had a very amazing time at Papillon Lagoon. The rooms are so Cosy with Air conditioning, given the heat in Diani. The food was so delicious and it also caters to all demographics. The stewards and waiters at the restaurants are so friendly. We really enjoyed cocktails at the all inclusive bar. I would like to single out Fredrick, Shaban, Abdul and Josephine who were extremely friendly and funny. Make sure you tip them generously. The beach was also beautiful, save for the numerous beach boys and hawkers, given its a public beach.
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Be careful with the monkeys, they tend to steal from people walking around with food. Especially...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Paula R wrote a review Oct 2023
1 contribution
+1
Well what can i say, Myself and my husband booked a 9 night holiday (2 night safari 7 night beach) through a company called freedom destinations who dealt with everything, the booking process was excellent, When we 1st arrived at the hotel we were warmly greeted by very friendly staff with a nice fresh glass of juice, we were shown to our room immediately even though we were much earlier than the check in time. The room was really nice had everything we needed as we booked a sea view room which had an amazing view and we were on ground floor, the bed was the most comfortable bed i have ever slept in on vacation, We slept all night from the 1st night of being there. The rooms were cleaned every day and as we had a mini bar it was also replenished everyday if required along with fresh bottled water. There were 2 different dining areas, the lower area was for breakfast and lunch and upper dining room was for dinner both really nicely laid out and plenty of seating inside and out the food was very well presented, good variety and very tasty, There were 2 all inclusive bars, the pool bar was open 10am - 6pm and the other bar where the entertainment was held was open from 6pm - midnight so a good 14 hours of all inclusive drinks. There was another bar upstairs on the terrace which you had to pay for drinks but served a more variety of cocktails, shots and spirits which is where i got my cocktail from every night and the barmaids liked to make me a different colour every night. The grounds of the hotel were very well maintained & cleaned everyday along with the swimming pool which was really nice. There were monkeys running around in the gardens which was fun to watch but we found if you leave them alone they will leave you alone as long as they don't see you with a banana as they like bananas. The hotel opens up onto the beach which is really nice although there are alot of beach sellers but you just keep saying no and eventually they will leave you alone, if you only want to go for a quiet walk along the beach the best time for this is early morning or in the evening when the sellers has disappeared. All the staff at this hotel were friendly, helpful and chatty and we didn't come across 1 single person that wasn't any of this which proves people will be to you as you are to them Overall we had an amazing time at this hotel and would recommend it to anyone wishing to go to Diani Beach fo a holiday
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Kuria wrote a review Sept 2023
9 contributions1 helpful vote
Rooms were good and clean with comfortable beds. Bathroom well equipped. Food was good. Some Staff slightly demotivated though most were extra helpful. First day we asked for drinks from the bar and had to go for them ourselves while we noticed other tables had a more willing waiter. This eventually changed and they tried to catch up. .. Disappointed that anything left outside is stolen. We lost trousers and sandals that were left at the pool area. Totally unacceptable. Little help in locating them. May not be returning or recommending soon.. Rooms need TV for those who want to rest indoors.. WiFi unreliable . Someone entered our room as we slept and quickly left. (around 0730) if its the cleaners don't they knock or identify themselves. Why hurriedly leave instead of apologising or saying (wrong room). Very scary to think keys could be universal??
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Billy H wrote a review Sept 2023
Limuru, Kenya1 contribution
It’s was fair or average. Staff was great but the food was limited, internet was poor at our room location (beach front) tv picture kept going off had to reboot decoder 3 time out of 7 days. Landscape was poor, need more care watering, cutting and trimming
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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London_EnglandPaul wrote a review Sept 2023
Thames Ditton, United Kingdom25 contributions16 helpful votes
An awful experience in this hotel. The first night we were there the floor tiles lifted and broke. With kids this was not good, reception staff did not want to know and were not as helpful as they could have been. The next day we changed rooms (it seems it was ok for kids to wonder around a room with broken floor tiles for the first night.) The rooms are basic but clean and comfortable. This is an all inclusive hotel where all meals are served buffet style. The food is bland, repetitive and not that great! Thanks to the low food hygiene standards at this hotel, I got sick for 3 days. “Mombassa Express” The reception staff I will single out as unhelpful and completely uncaring to customers. The rest of the staff I interacted with were charming and nothing was too much for them. The pool is big with a swim up bar. (It’s the only bar that’s open during the day). Go onto the beach and you are hounded by people trying to sell you stuff, from jewellery to trips on a boat. They don’t leave you alone! I wouldn’t recommend this hotel to people.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Avoid Kenyan school holidays, you never see the kids leave the pool for the toilet.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Ian Taplin, Agency / Consultant at Papillon Lagoon Reef
Responded 7 Sept 2023
Dear Guest, Thank you for finding time to post a review of your holiday at Papillon. We always strive for high customer satisfaction which can only be achieved with the help of your input and the feedback from all our guests. Room: We are sorry that your room floor tiles bulged when the hotel was busy having no availability to make room change until next day when we have departure. Our friendly and obliging reception staff had no option but to advise you to wait till next day to change room. Food: The hotel observes a strict policy on Health and Safety, particularly on matters of hygiene in the stores, kitchen, and service areas. With an average of 90% occupancy, there could have been a major problem with low food hygiene standards. Whilst most of our guests are happy with the meals we provide, we always welcome customer feedback and will look into what improvements we can make on food preparation and presentation on the buffet. Beach: Beaches in Kenya are public. We have G4S guards patrolling the beach boundaries of the hotel 24hrs a day. However, many guests court beach vendors and obviously encourage them to further tout for business. Whenever hotel receives a report of beach harassment, we call Tourist Police. We have taken your comments positively in a manner to improve the experience we offer our guests and looking forward to welcome you again to sample the experience. Thanks and regards, Aloice Ang’ila Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Louis M wrote a review Sept 2023
3 contributions
I traveled with my kids aged 10, 6 and 2 years. We had traveled via the night train and arrive at the hotel at 6am, well ahead of the 11am check-in time. However the Manager on duty was very kind to fast track our check-in to 8am so that we could settle in and rest, which I really appreciated. We got a big room with 3 beds and a baby cot that got us really comfortable. The meals are fantastic, plus the all inclusive drinks. The swimming pool is big and well maintained. On our check-out date, the Manager allowed us to check out an hour later, gave us a discounted offer on meals after check-out and gave us a room and towels to refresh ourselves as we prepared to depart for the night train. The managers are very pleasant and understanding, I will single out Casper who was on duty during our checkout date.
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: If you dont like big crowds, dont travel during the Kenya school holidays period.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Iceman wrote a review Aug 2023
Utrecht, The Netherlands8 contributions2 helpful votes
3rd stay at Papillon. Lovely location and immaculate grounds. customer service exceptionally good and professional. Jackson, Felix, Eddie, Said, Rahim, Rama, Vincent,Danaga, trainee Matata are restaurant employees we remember. The Managers are also very good and one helped us address a complaint very well. food is tasty, good variety and fresh. Beach front room has superb views but costs more. Single pool over full so never used it.
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Pool gets crowded if hotel at full capacity so plan well
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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PRICE RANGE
US$133 - US$172 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
papillon lagoon reef diani, papillon lagoon reef hotel diani
LOCATION
KenyaCoast ProvinceUkundaDiani Beach
NUMBER OF ROOMS
119
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PAPILLON LAGOON REEF - Updated 2023 (Diani Beach, Kenya)

Frequently Asked Questions about Papillon Lagoon Reef
Which popular attractions are close to Papillon Lagoon Reef?
Nearby attractions include Diani Beach (3.8 miles), Colobus Conservation (4.0 miles), and Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest (4.5 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Papillon Lagoon Reef?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a swimup bar, a pool, and an on-site restaurant.
What food & drink options are available at Papillon Lagoon Reef?
Guests can enjoy a swimup bar, an on-site restaurant, and a poolside bar during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Papillon Lagoon Reef?
Conveniently located restaurants include Asha Bistro, Sails Beach Bar & Restaurant, and Anchor Bar & Restaurant.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Papillon Lagoon Reef?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Does Papillon Lagoon Reef have airport transportation?
Yes, Papillon Lagoon Reef offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are any cleaning services offered at Papillon Lagoon Reef?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Does Papillon Lagoon Reef have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the ocean view available here.
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