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Papillon Lagoon Reef

Property class: 3.5

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Photo gallery for Papillon Lagoon Reef

A tropical resort with a clear blue pool surrounded by palm trees and a beach. - Papillon Lagoon Reef (Diani Beach)
An indoor reception area with a stone floor, reception desk, and seating area with benches. - Papillon Lagoon Reef (Diani Beach)
A restaurant with a high ceiling, stone pillars, and hanging lanterns. Tables are set with red tablecloths and various dishes. - Papillon Lagoon Reef (Diani Beach)
A view from a balcony with a glass door, overlooking a beach with palm trees and the ocean. - Papillon Lagoon Reef (Diani Beach)
A resort with a pool, palm trees, and a beach. - Papillon Lagoon Reef (Diani Beach)
Take advantage of a playground, a hair salon, and an arcade/game room at Papillon Lagoon Reef. At the two on-site restaurants, enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, light fare, and local and international cuisine. Enjoy the 24-hour gym, as well as activities like scuba diving. Free in-room WiFi is available to all guests, along with dry cleaning/laundry services and a bar.

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Spa
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
  • Air conditioning

Off-peak, on budget: 30% or more off select hotels in our fall sale

Skip the crowds, keep the savings. AARP members save more after Labor Day. Book by Oct 7, 2026.

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 8 of 8 rooms

View all photos for Double or Twin Room, Garden View

A hotel room with two beds, a desk with a lamp, a ceiling fan, and a view of the outdoors.

Double or Twin Room, Garden View

  • Sleeps 3
  • 2 Twin Beds OR 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Double Room, Beachfront

Room

Double Room, Beachfront

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Superior Double or Twin Room, Garden View

A building with multiple balconies, a thatched roof, and a central courtyard with a stone pathway.

Superior Double or Twin Room, Garden View

  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed OR 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Double or Twin Room, Garden View

A hotel room with two beds, a ceiling fan, a desk with a chair, a table lamp, and a window with curtains.

Double or Twin Room, Garden View

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)
  • Garden view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed OR 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Family Room, Garden View

A hotel room with a bed, a ceiling fan, a bathroom, and a view of the outside.

Family Room, Garden View

  • Garden view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Double Room, Beachfront

A hotel room with a bed, a desk, a chair, a table with a vase of flowers, and a ceiling fan.

Double Room, Beachfront

  • Sea view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed OR 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Beachfront Suite

A hotel room with a large bed, a TV, a balcony with a view of the sea, and a patterned rug.

Beachfront Suite

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

Superior Double or Twin Room, Garden View

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed OR 2 Twin Beds

About the neighborhood

Located in Diani Beach, Papillon Lagoon Reef is near the beach. Diani Beach and Shimba Hills National Reserve reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include BoraBora Wildlife Park and Colobus Conservation. Visit our Diani Beach travel guide
Map
Diani Beach Road, Diani Beach, Kwale County

What's nearby

  • Three camels on a beach with a person walking beside them.
    Diani Beach
    12 min drive - 5.3 miles
  • A beach with palm trees and a parked vehicle.
    Tiwi Beach
    32 min drive - 14.8 miles
  • Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest
    8 min walk - 0.5 miles
  • Galu Kinondo Beach
    5 min drive - 1.7 miles
  • Mombasa Island
    56 min drive - 30.6 miles

Getting around

  • Ukunda (UKA)
    28 min drive

Restaurants

  • Tandoori
    11 min drive
  • Havana Bar, Diani Beach
    14 min drive
  • Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant
    12 min drive
  • Pallet Cafe
    4 min drive
  • The Olive Kitchen
    7 min drive

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • 24-hour roundtrip airport shuttle on request for a surcharge
  • Free self parking on site

Food and drink

  • 2 restaurants
  • A bar/lounge

Restaurants on site

  • Baobab Restaurant Terrace
  • Lagoon Lounge
  • Pool Bar
  • Poolside Bistro

Things to do

  • 24-hour gym
  • Arcade/game room
  • Billiards/pool table
  • Children's pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Playground
  • Scuba diving
  • Table tennis
  • TV in common areas

Family friendly

  • Arcade/game room
  • Children's pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Playground

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Free newspapers in lobby
  • Gift shop/newsstand
  • Hair salon
  • Luggage storage

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Multilingual staff
  • Porter/bellhop
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Turndown service
  • Wedding services

Outdoors

  • Pool loungers
  • Pool umbrellas

Spa

  • Spa treatment rooms

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Well-lit path to entrance

More

  • Designated smoking areas
  • Mosquito nets
  • Reception hall

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Free bottled water
  • Limited room service

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Desk
  • Iron/ironing board on request
  • Laptop workspace
  • Phone
  • Separate sitting area

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 9:00 PM
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Late check-out subject to availability
A late check-out fee will be charged

Special check-in instructions

Guests must transfer via boat and shuttle to the property; guests must contact the property at least 48 hours before travel, using the contact information on the confirmation received after booking
This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 48 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
If you are planning to arrive after 9:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
This property enforces a smart-casual dress code at the restaurant in the evenings. Collared shirts and closed shoes are required for men.

Renovations and closures

The property is closed between May 6 and June 15.

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

Optional extras

  • Airport shuttle fee: KES 6426.16 per vehicle (one-way, maximum occupancy 3)
  • Airport shuttle fee per child: KES 6426 (one-way)
  • Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability)

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts cash
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property
Property Registration Number 0

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Reservations are required for spa treatments; reservations can be made by contacting the property prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation

Frequently asked questions

Does Papillon Lagoon Reef have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool and a children's pool.

Is Papillon Lagoon Reef pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

How much is parking?

Self parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at Papillon Lagoon Reef?

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 9:00 PM. Late check-in is available during limited hours.

What time is check-out at Papillon Lagoon Reef?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM. Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability).

Does Papillon Lagoon Reef provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's an airport shuttle that runs on request. A fee of KES 6426.16 per vehicle applies.

Are there all-inclusive benefits at Papillon Lagoon Reef?

Some rate plans available at this property are all-inclusive.

Where is Papillon Lagoon Reef located?

This family-friendly Diani Beach hotel is located near the beach, within 1 mi (2 km) of Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest, BoraBora Wildlife Park, and Galu Kinondo Beach. Diani Beach and Colobus Conservation are also within 6 mi (10 km).

Can I cancel my reservation for free and receive a full refund?

Yes, this property offers free cancellation on select room rates, because flexibility matters! Please refer to the property cancellation policy on our site for more details about any exclusions or requirements.

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Reviews

Papillon Lagoon Reef Reviews

8.2

Very Good

8.4

Cleanliness

9.0

Amenities

8.2

Staff & service

8.0

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 23 out of 44 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 8 out of 44 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 8 out of 44 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 44 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 44 reviews

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very beautiful
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Everything was so exceptional so clean, welcomg staff, amazing food and great drinks
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness
Very friendly and felt relaxed.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness
Clean room, respective kitchen, entertainment team, and cleaning staff. We used the gym and it was good. Pool needed regular cleaning.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Great room and friendly staff Food average, same, repetitive Drinks poor…bad cups, never cold, no carbonation…really need to be “ on tap” not from warm bottles Pool water never clear…not balanced
Stayed 8 nights in Feb 2025
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Cleanliness
The property and rooms are great. The day to day staff was friendly and always willing to help. The front desk and reservations staff were difficult to deal with. They were very slow on responses to issues. We were often told accommodations are not possible, asked to wait long periods or come back when trying to address issues. We later found out it is their tactic to get you to pay more or tip them to get the help that should come with good service. The restaurant manager Elijah and staff member Kendi had outstanding customer service.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities

OK Experience

I booked a Beachfront Suite which was nice (but first they tried to put me in a regular room). My friends had rooms booked - no A/C, No TV, Damp smell. Service was overall good, some staff were friendly and nice, some were straight up rude & propositioning “friendly” times after entertainment to my female friends. It’s on the beach, but next time will rebook another hotel that i know has a private beach & multiple pools. They have so many signs & rules, but it’s like zoo as they don’t really enforce it so it’s a mess & ruins experience. Food was ok. Not dying to return here. My suite had views of ocean & beach which was the ONLY great part.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great hotel- by the beach, plenty of sun chairs and good food
Stayed 12 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very nice place
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The beach location is amazing. The only challenge is getting to and and from Moi International Airport as it is a bit far and sets you back around 60 US dollars one-way.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
"Yes, the room was spotless. Housekeepers Clinton and Mohamed were very polite and provided excellent customer service. They cleaned our room and offered outstanding service."
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very old and dated hotel. Food very bland and always the same. Pool extremely dirty.Very expensive for what you get. There are much better options in the area.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Dining options is low Some receptionist not friendly: it looks like you force them to respond when you ask a question or you only get partial response/information
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

All inclusive beach hotel

The food was better than expected, nice pool with no loud music. Right by the beach in the south end. Staff helpful and Even gave us a WiFi booster. Unfortunately it didn’t help so only WiFi in lobby. Monkeys steal your stuff. But good value for money.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Don’t stay anywhere else!

Our recent stay here was beyond what we expected! Every single member of the staff as outstanding from the manager Anthony who assisted our needs. Frederick in reception that helped us book our train/flights. Fredrick and Mary at the cash bar who make the most incredible pina coladas. Sarah and her daily massages. Henry, Raphael, Albert and Victor. The rooms were very comfortable, clean and we enjoyed the monkey, baboon visitors each day. The atmosphere here is calm, clean and relaxing. We will be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2020
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Not what we booked for-H

Very disappointing stay. We booked a family room with one double and two single beds but were given a room with only one double and one single. When we raised this, the reception staff were rude and dismissive, insisting it was “sufficient.” The room itself had serious issues: loud scratching noises from the ceiling at night (likely insects in the wood), staff only sprayed insecticide in the room in the middle of the night while some of us were sleeping which was unsafe and temporary. On the last day, the ceiling began leaking in the bathroom, then directly onto the bedroom and on my bed, leaving the room wet and unusable. Despite reporting it in the morning, we were not moved until 2pm, wasting most of our final day. Wi-Fi was practically non-existent outside the lobby, and staff kept repeating “someone is working on it” without resolution. Overall, poor service, some unprofessional staff members, and unacceptable room conditions made this a very stressful holiday. I would not recommend this resort.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service

If you want a getaway, get away from this hotel!

This Hotel certainly has its positive points. It is beautiful, well located, and has some magical attractions, such as a huge and ancient Boabab tree on the property. That being said, although it has good bones, it suffers from poor service and lack of maintenance. Staff is not well trained. I came to my room being left wide open all day by housekeeping, even after having reported a faulty latch, which was never fixed. I found ripped paintings in rooms, sick cats on the property who are in desperate need of veterinary help. Food is bland and not diverse. Lots of flies around. Staff do not know what of the food is vegetarian and what is not. Beach is horrible. You cannot step our without 5 or 6 vendors following you. They are beyond persitant. They will in fact peer into the hotel itself and try to sell you a coconut, or a boat, or a ride, while you are at the pool. It is not restful and very invasive. If you want a beach getaway, get away from this place. The beachboys will stalk you and will follow you and will watch you. Very creepy. There is extremely loud music from the hotel itself at night. Badly mixed, and with loud base. If you want to have a good nights rest, you might want to stay elsewhere. Basic etiquette among staff is lacking. I asked for a kettle in my room, and I was told if I booked a more expensive room, I might have got one. A very unnecessary comment to make, where a simple no, would have done the job. Overall: Not even a last resort.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Uns hat das Hotel sehr gut gefallen.Wir haben den Suite mit Meersblick,einfach umwerfend. Sehr freundliche, hilfsbereite Personal,ich plane schon meine nächste Urlaub dort
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Jolie piscine mais les horaires d'ouverture sont un peu justes (10h/18h) et encore parfois ce n'est pas pret a 10h (nettoyage) donc plutot 10h30/11h00. Petit dej parfait. Par contre, pour les repas du midi et soir, on a l'impression de toujours manger la même chose. Mais c'est correct!!
Stayed 8 nights in Feb 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Zimmer waren gut.Zwar etwas in die Jahre gekommen aber völlig ausreichend. Personal war sehr freundlich und hilfsbereit.
Stayed 10 nights in Jan 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Fantastisk
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent hôtel. Belle deco, simple,propre,convivial. Plage magnifique et piscine.Singe sur place. Si vous les ignorés ils feront de même. Chat gris au bar de la plage. Prenez un peu de nourriture pour lui donner. Il meurt de fain. Restauration a améliorer. Bon mais répétitif. J' y retournerai si je reviens au Kenya
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Aufmerksames Personal und immer saubere Zimmer
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
top freundliches personal, fruehstuecksauswahl v buffet, lage direkt am strand, kein malle tammtamm, ausspannen, massage tolles zimmer, schoener garten.. gerne und immer wieder
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Un hôtel très bien situé. Personnel très sympathique. Cadre idyllique
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024