Africa's leading beach destination is also the home of Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa which is located a hundred meters after the golf course along the Diani strip on the South Coast.
Having arrived at the resort you meander through a lush garden dotted with pretty palms, flamboyant and frangipani trees which gives a real tropical coast vibe. The reason why you've come on holiday!
The reception was warm and welcoming from the staff who offered a refreshing drink and hand towel. Looking round the reception you can't help but notice the beautiful large baobab tree surrounded by a scenic pond that offers a cool respite from the hot coastal humidity. Ferns and palms surrounding the pond add to the cool atmosphere.
After inquiring with the receptionist, I was directed to my Deluxe room. Once I opened the door a welcoming cold lemon scented wave of cool air greeted me, and a view of the palm trees and beach. The double bed is comfortable and adorned with flowers and a flamingo made from a folded towel! A cosy bathroom with a shower comes with the room. I was also informed of the other rooms available at the resort, which ranged from the spacious and elaborately furnished Presidential and Penthouse suites with bathtubs and private balconies, to smaller but just as spacious Junior suites and Deluxe rooms.
I proceeded to Fins Seafood & grill, the a la carte restaurant situated by the beachfront. The diverse menu offers a variety of seafood including lobster thermidor, prawns and a seafood platter together with a mixture of sandwiches, burgers and wraps. If you're not a fan of seafood, there are several pasta dishes and pizza available too!
To start, I ordered a Fins special sea watchers' salad that consisted of delicious fish chunks, calamari and prawns on a bed of fresh lettuce, peppers, tomato and cucumber with a thousand island dressing. My main course was a mix of fish and chips and fillet steak! The steak was generously sized and tender, marinated in pepper, garlic and spices cooked to you're liking with mixed vegetables and chips. The fish was a beautifully cooked fillet of snapper, well- seasoned with a garlic butter sauce, crunchy sautéed vegetables and chips. Fins also has a wine list providing a broad variety of Argentinian, Chilean and South African wines. An exciting cocktail menu offers a range of strong alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Sake is stylish a la carte restaurant at Diani Reef which is a fusion of Japanese, Chinese and Indian cuisine and must be pre-booked by guests. The main restaurant is the Coral Rock café which provides breakfast and buffet in the evening, as part of the half board package when staying at the resort.
I spent the afternoon lounging by the pool bar situated in the centre of the resort, where you can enjoy a cold beer while cooling off in the pool! Diani Reef hosts 4 separate and unique bars including Waves beach bar, Blue bar and Zebra bar with a spacious lounge, a projector for sports matches and a Grand piano for hotel guests to enjoy!
Walking around the 34-acre paradise I came across a sports centre which provides daily excursions to the reef for snorkelling and fish viewing, a must when you find yourself in Diani. For fitness enthusiasts, there is a fully fitted gym with weights, treadmills and bench presses to keep that holiday body in check and get a proper work out! Tennis courts can be found at the resort too.
If you want to treat yourself or relax after a hard gym session the Maya Spa is you're go to place with a sauna and steam chamber for total relaxation. There are a variety of body massages such as the Swedish massage and hot stone massage that will leave you're muscles fully relaxed and you're mind at peace. The Spa also offers plenty of body therapies, skin care, beauty and hair treatments.
If you're here with the family and want some quiet time away from your kids, there is the Coco Jumbo Club for kids open from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm where you're children are able to play table soccer, table tennis and pool under a watchful eye. There is also a play area with slides for the younger kids too, perfect for dropping the kids and stealing a couple of hours to yourself!
The resort also has a business centre which facilitates conferences and business meeting. There are printing, photocopy and laminating services available. A small shopping arcade gives you the opportunity to find some gifts. Weddings can be held at the resort too; management will be more than happy to help.
Having spent some time at the resort, it's very clear why Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa won Kenya's leading Beach Resort and Africa's Leading Spa Resort in 2015. The resort continues to offer a high- class hospitality service in a beautifully set paradise along Kenya's premium coastline for both local and international tourists.