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Papillon Lagoon Reef

3.5 star property
Family-friendly beachfront hotel with 2 restaurants

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Photo gallery for Papillon Lagoon Reef

Outdoor pool, pool umbrellas, sun loungers
Double Room, Beachfront | Beach/ocean view
2 restaurants, breakfast, lunch served; local and international cuisine
Lobby
View from property

Reviews

8.0 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • All inclusive
  • Spa
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant

Explore the area

View in a map
Diani Beach Road, Diani Beach, Kwale County
  • Place, Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Place, BoraBora Wildlife Park
    ‪17 min walk‬
  • Place, Galu Kinondo Beach
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Airport, Mombasa (MBA-Moi Intl.)
    ‪67 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Double or Twin Room, Garden View

Double or Twin Room, Garden View | Desk, laptop workspace, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

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

Family Room, Garden View | Desk, laptop workspace, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Family Room, Garden View

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

View all photos for Double Room, Beachfront

Double Room, Beachfront | Desk, laptop workspace, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Double Room, Beachfront

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

View all photos for Beachfront Suite

Beachfront Suite | Desk, laptop workspace, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

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

Diani Beach

On the beach.Stay at this Diani Beach hotel and you'll be within half a mile (1 km) of Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest and 2 miles (3 km) of BoraBora Wildlife Park. Also, Galu Kinondo Beach is within 2 miles (3 km) and Diani Beach is within 6 miles (10 km).

What's nearby

  • Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest - 8 min walk - 0.5 miles
  • BoraBora Wildlife Park - 17 min walk - 0.9 miles
  • Galu Kinondo Beach - 5 min drive - 1.6 miles
  • Diani Beach - 12 min drive - 5.3 miles
  • Tiwi Beach - 32 min drive - 14.6 miles

Getting around

  • Ukunda (UKA) - 28 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Karibu Restaurant - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Nomad's Beach Bar And Restaurant - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Tapa Beach Bar - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Havana Bar, Diani Beach - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Lala Galu - ‬6 min drive

About this property

Papillon Lagoon Reef

Family-friendly beachfront hotel with 2 restaurants
Some rates at Papillon Lagoon Reef are all-inclusive. These rates include onsite meals and beverages, and may include taxes and gratuities. Additional charges may apply for meals at some restaurants, special dinners and dishes, certain beverages, and other amenities.

Papillon Lagoon Reef offers its guests a children's pool, an outdoor pool, and a 24-hour fitness center. There are 2 restaurants on site. You can enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge. WiFi is free in public spaces.

Spa services, an arcade/game room, and multilingual staff are also featured at the family-friendly Papillon Lagoon Reef. An airport shuttle (available 24 hours) is available for a fee. Self parking is free.

Smoking is allowed in designated areas at this 3.5-star Diani Beach hotel.

  • 149 guestrooms or units
  • 2 dining venues
  • Poolside lounge chairs
  • Umbrellas for the pool
  • Dry cleaning
  • Front desk (24 hours)
  • Staff is multilingual
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Concierge
  • Wedding services available
  • Game room or arcade
  • Pool or billiards table
  • Gift shop
  • Beauty salon
  • Newspapers in lobby (free)
  • Television in lobby
  • Bellhop
  • Smoking in designated areas
  • Bar or lounge
Papillon Lagoon Reef offers 149 air-conditioned accommodations with complimentary bottled water and hair dryers. Accommodations offer separate sitting areas. Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access.

Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones. Additionally, rooms include complimentary toiletries and ceiling fans. A nightly turndown service is provided and housekeeping is offered daily. Amenities available on request include irons/ironing boards.

Guests can pamper themselves by indulging in the onsite spa services. There are massage/treatment rooms available.

Similar properties

2 outdoor pools, pool umbrellas, sun loungers
Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa - Your Beachfront Bliss Awaits
  • Pool
  • All inclusive
  • Kids pool
  • Parking included
4.0 out of 5, Very Good, 389 reviews
$133 nightly
The price is $156
Feb 17 - Feb 18
Total with taxes and fees
Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa - Your Beachfront Bliss Awaits

Property amenities

Family friendly

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

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

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

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

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

This property is closed from May 4 2026 to May 31 2026 (dates subject to change).
The property is closed between May 6 and June 15.

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • No pets allowed, but service animals are welcome

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • 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)

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

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
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. 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. This property accepts cash.

Property Registration Number 0

We should mention

  • Reservations are needed for spa treatments. For reservations, contact the hotel before arrival using the contact information on the booking confirmation.

Property is also known as

Papillon Lagoon Reef Hotel
Papillon Lagoon Reef Diani Beach
Papillon Lagoon Reef All Inclusive
Papillon Lagoon Reef Hotel Diani Beach

Frequently asked questions

How close is Papillon Lagoon Reef to the airport?

Papillon Lagoon Reef is 7.4 mi (28-min drive) away from the Ukunda (UKA) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does Papillon Lagoon Reef have an airport shuttle?

Papillon Lagoon Reef offers an airport shuttle 24 hours a day, on request, for a charge of KES 6426.16 per vehicle, one-way.

How close is Papillon Lagoon Reef to the beach?

This hotel is on the beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does Papillon Lagoon Reef offer free breakfast?

Papillon Lagoon Reef does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at Papillon Lagoon Reef?

No, there is no casino at this hotel.

What time is check-in at Papillon Lagoon Reef?

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 9:00 PM.

Is there free parking at Papillon Lagoon Reef?

This hotel offers free self parking.

Does Papillon Lagoon Reef have a pool?

Papillon Lagoon Reef features an outdoor pool and a children's pool.

Does Papillon Lagoon Reef have a restaurant?

There are 2 onsite restaurants, offering options like local and international cuisine and light fare.

Does Papillon Lagoon Reef have a spa?

This hotel doesn't have a spa, but it does offer spa services.

How close is Papillon Lagoon Reef to downtown Diani Beach?

Papillon Lagoon Reef is 7.2 mi away from Diani Beach.

Papillon Lagoon Reef Reviews

Reviews

8.0

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 20 out of 39 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 39 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 7 out of 39 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 39 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 39 reviews

8.4/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Staff & service

9.0/10

Amenities

7.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

8/10 Good

Nishit

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

10/10 Excellent

Leilah

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

10/10 Excellent

White

Traveled with family
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

10/10 Excellent

VANESSA

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

10/10 Excellent

james

Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Paul

Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Damien

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tomson

Traveled with family
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

6/10 Okay

Yannick

Traveled with group
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

2/10 Terrible

Aniza

Traveled with family
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

2/10 Terrible

Judith

Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

6/10 Okay

Judith

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Daniel

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

10/10 Excellent

jaden

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very nice place
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

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

6/10 Okay

Edward

Traveled with family
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

6/10 Okay

Sameer

Traveled with group
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

8/10 Good

Korazon Akwino

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service

6 out of 10

The stay was okay but I wouldn't return. I paid for a type of room and upon arrival they had assigned me something totally different. I would have been okay with it if they would have asked me first. The family rooms don't have tvs. The AC is on a schedule and does not run during the day. You can't feel the ceiling fan when sleeping because they have a piece of fabric over the beds. It would have been smarter to put mesh. The room's already decent size. The food was good. The property needs updating. I primarily chose this location because it was all inclusive.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Casie

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

10/10 Excellent

Mikael

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

2/10 Terrible

Elouzani

Traveled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Torsten

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

10/10 Excellent

Emenike

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Elmar

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