Lamu Hotels & Hostels (18)

Lonely Planet review

Of all the refurbished Swahili hotels, this beautifully restored 16th-century house has had perhaps the greatest attention to detail paid to it. The original woodwork and plaster have been loving…

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Lonely Planet review

What can we say - we just love this place, less for the accommodation than for the atmosphere, which is exactly the kind of friendly personal vibe that gets people backpacking in the first place.…

Full Lonely Planet review

Lonely Planet review

The architects clearly had a field day designing the Jannat House; it's essentially two houses spliced together around a courtyard, with several levels and multiple terraces. The lower rooms are …

Full Lonely Planet review

Lonely Planet review

A borderline budget option set around a neat rectangular courtyard. All rooms have fans, nets and fridges, though the toilets lack seats. Prices include breakfast and are usually negotiable.

Full Lonely Planet review

Lonely Planet review

Just along the waterfront, this friendly hotel has trouble entirely justifying even this modest price tag, and there's certainly nothing villa-like about it. Useful as a fall-back or cheaper alte…

Full Lonely Planet review

Lonely Planet review

A lick of fresh pink paint has left the Castle looking rather spruce, but inside it's just the basics, and even some of the walls seem to be left a little short.

Full Lonely Planet review

Lonely Planet review

The basic rooms here are very plain, but the upper-floor ones are better and catch the sea breeze. The 'official' rates posted in reception are definitely not worth paying.

Full Lonely Planet review

Lonely Planet review

Oh my gosh. It almost rankles to recommend something so new in such a traditional town, but the pale stone design of this luxury establishment is such a perfect modern interpretation of Swahili s…

Full Lonely Planet review

Lonely Planet review

This modern hotel is not as sensitively designed as its peers, but rooms are smart and comfortable and there's a good restaurant and a bar serving alcohol. The problem, as with all the top-end op…

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Lonely Planet review

Originally set up in the late 19th century by Percy Petley, a somewhat eccentric English colonist, Petley's has plenty of traditional touches but is looking a bit worn these days, despite extensi…

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Lonely Planet review

Pole Pole is north of the centre of town and back from the waterfront. One of the tallest buildings in Lamu, it has bright doubles with fans and nets. There's a spacious makuti-roofed terrace are…

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Lonely Planet review

Another wonderful old Swahili place, with Escher-like stairways and a fine leafy courtyard. The hotel has its own superb rooftop restaurant (no alcohol) with excellent views over the town and wat…

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Lonely Planet review

The effort put into the SunSail sadly doesn't do justice to the waterfront location - there are some great views from upstairs rooms, but the downstairs rooms are pretty cramped. Still, the rooft…

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Lonely Planet review

Sunshine is a bit old-looking, but it is cheap and there's a kitchen with a fridge for guests. Entry is via the steps up over the alleyway, which doubles as a neat vantage point to peer at the st…

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Lonely Planet review

Yumbe is a tall, traditional house set around a leafy courtyard. The pleasant rooms have fridges and are spotlessly clean, decked out with kangas, woven rugs and Lamu furniture. If you can, go fo…

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