Reviews of Pinewood Beach Resort
Wildlife sightings and reviews
16 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Pinewood Beach Resort and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
The C family
S London
"Bit disappointed in Pinewood"
5 nights Arrived 10 Aug 2015
"Pinewood didn't live up to expectation I'm afraid.
We hadn't realised it was so far removed from Diani Beach itself and felt very isolated. Given that there weren't many other guests here the place felt very souless.
Lots of irritating little niggles and I know we should make allowances because this is Africa but compared with the 'luxury' places we've stayed in Mozambique and Malawi and most recently Zanzibar this didn't compare favourably.
Our suite was lovely and the grounds are beautiful with visiting colobus monkeys and the food was fine. But we were ready to come home." See all these reviews: 14n in Kenya
We hadn't realised it was so far removed from Diani Beach itself and felt very isolated. Given that there weren't many other guests here the place felt very souless.
Lots of irritating little niggles and I know we should make allowances because this is Africa but compared with the 'luxury' places we've stayed in Mozambique and Malawi and most recently Zanzibar this didn't compare favourably.
Our suite was lovely and the grounds are beautiful with visiting colobus monkeys and the food was fine. But we were ready to come home." See all these reviews: 14n in Kenya
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location:
Average
Service:
Average
Activities:
Average
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Average
Facilities:
Average
Feedback Response
We're pleased that the family liked their suite and the grounds at the Pinewood and found the food to be up to standard, but we're very sorry that the hotel didn't live up to their overall expectations. It's a relatively modest but in the past very reliable beach hotel in an area that is usually recommended for the very reason that it is some way to the south of the busy parts of Diani Beach itself. We understand that these travellers did raise some of their niggles with the hotel management and the hotel have offered their apologies for any shortcomings they experienced during their stay.
Mr K & Mrs A
Kent
"Disappointed with Pinewood"
2 nights Arrived 30 Mar 2015
"It may seem illogical to describe Pinewood Resort as disappointing but give it a 'good' rating. The reason is that it wasn't our choice - we were moved here by Expert Africa after Foreign Office security warnings about our previous location in Kilifi.
It's a perfectly decent place which might well suit honeymoon couples or those seeking complete relaxation - gorgeous beach, nice pool, attentive service etc. - but, for us, not nearly as enjoyable as Mnarani Club and in a location that wasn't as interesting or attractive as Kilifi. What we did enjoy was the wildlife - beautiful weaver birds nesting beside the restaurant and daily visits from Sykes monkeys (even though one of them made a lightning raid on our lunch).
Like everywhere we went, guest numbers were vanishingly small and this would certainly have affected the ambiance." See all these reviews: 17n in Kenya
It's a perfectly decent place which might well suit honeymoon couples or those seeking complete relaxation - gorgeous beach, nice pool, attentive service etc. - but, for us, not nearly as enjoyable as Mnarani Club and in a location that wasn't as interesting or attractive as Kilifi. What we did enjoy was the wildlife - beautiful weaver birds nesting beside the restaurant and daily visits from Sykes monkeys (even though one of them made a lightning raid on our lunch).
Like everywhere we went, guest numbers were vanishingly small and this would certainly have affected the ambiance." See all these reviews: 17n in Kenya
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Average
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Average
Ms C & Mr S
Dublin
"Pinewood Beach Resort review"
2 nights Arrived 22 Oct 2013
"As before."
See all these reviews: 9n in Kenya
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Ms C & Mr S
Dublin
"Pinewood Beach Resort review"
2 nights Arrived 18 Oct 2013
"We had some problems in this resort and following discussions with management they were very keen to ensure that they would be resolved.
Rooms are spacious. Breakfast area very nice indeed. Dinner and breakfast very good. Lunch is poor. Very clean. Well maintained. And as everywhere in Kenya lovely staff with great sense of humour." See all these reviews: 9n in Kenya
Rooms are spacious. Breakfast area very nice indeed. Dinner and breakfast very good. Lunch is poor. Very clean. Well maintained. And as everywhere in Kenya lovely staff with great sense of humour." See all these reviews: 9n in Kenya
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location:
Good
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Average
Feedback Response
We understand the Pinewood gave these travellers a free upgrade to a suite on checking in and we have raised a number of concerns with the hotel about the condition of the room when they first moved in, to ensure they are not repeated. The hotel has said the suite did require airing, which had not been done that day to avoid monkeys getting in. The Pinewood has not responded to the comment about lunch, but has assured us they made great efforts to make the guests comfortable and happy.
Ms P & Mr C
London
"Relaxing and luxurious in a stunning location"
2 nights Arrived 11 Aug 2013
"If being honest on the whole we wouldn't usually be inclined to take a 'resort' option, but Pinewood was perfect for us, so I am really glad we took up the recommendation. It was small enough it didn't feel over-populated and touristy, but with all the benefits of a resort including the fantastic pool (which amazed us by being largely empty to swim in, not over-crowded with children playing as we feared), huge choice of food for the main meals and various services, bars etc.
We particularly wanted to feedback on the excellent staff who were friendly and helpful without being overbearing. We had relatively complicated arrangements at Pinewood because we were coming and going, and they were hugely helpful with things like packed breakfast for the early start, looking after luggage while we were on safari, and letting us keep our room after we had checked out until our late afternoon departure.
The food was also great, particularly the evening down on the beach for the BBQ and the swahili food evening.
The beach at Pinewood is obviously fantastic and we were able to take walks without being too deterred by the beach boys along the way! Obviously the Diani 'strip' offers a huge number of hotels, and we felt we were in an excellent choice. It is quite far down the beach road, and is on the rockier part where there isn't a tarmacked road, but we didn't have any trouble getting transport up and down, and it felt a bit more out of the way as a result of being further from some of the bigger resort complexes.
We did a fantastic bicycle tour booked through Franklin at the Pinewood and organised by Diani Bicycles down to Kaya Kinondo then around the village/banana and mango trees, which was one of the highlights of the holiday and an absolute bargain for 35 euros for a half day. Pinewood is in a great location to visit Kaya Kinondo which would probably be walkable from the resort and we recommend to any visitor." See all these reviews: 6n in Kenya
We particularly wanted to feedback on the excellent staff who were friendly and helpful without being overbearing. We had relatively complicated arrangements at Pinewood because we were coming and going, and they were hugely helpful with things like packed breakfast for the early start, looking after luggage while we were on safari, and letting us keep our room after we had checked out until our late afternoon departure.
The food was also great, particularly the evening down on the beach for the BBQ and the swahili food evening.
The beach at Pinewood is obviously fantastic and we were able to take walks without being too deterred by the beach boys along the way! Obviously the Diani 'strip' offers a huge number of hotels, and we felt we were in an excellent choice. It is quite far down the beach road, and is on the rockier part where there isn't a tarmacked road, but we didn't have any trouble getting transport up and down, and it felt a bit more out of the way as a result of being further from some of the bigger resort complexes.
We did a fantastic bicycle tour booked through Franklin at the Pinewood and organised by Diani Bicycles down to Kaya Kinondo then around the village/banana and mango trees, which was one of the highlights of the holiday and an absolute bargain for 35 euros for a half day. Pinewood is in a great location to visit Kaya Kinondo which would probably be walkable from the resort and we recommend to any visitor." See all these reviews: 6n in Kenya
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Excellent
The H family
Berks
"Pinewood a perfect chill out after safari"
6 nights Arrived 15 Jul 2013
"I can hardly fault Pinewood. The staff were outstanding to a man/woman. They were all easily identifiable and went out of their way to greet you and appeared to take a genuine pride in their work.
The white sand beach was very clean and the hotel pool, beach area and gardens were extremely well kept and staff were always available.
The gardens are a particularly attractive feature of Pinewood and the wildlife they attract especially birds are lovely.
The whole hotel has a very good combination of the perfect relaxed beach holiday atmosphere and a very efficient well managed operation." See all these reviews: 10n in Kenya
The white sand beach was very clean and the hotel pool, beach area and gardens were extremely well kept and staff were always available.
The gardens are a particularly attractive feature of Pinewood and the wildlife they attract especially birds are lovely.
The whole hotel has a very good combination of the perfect relaxed beach holiday atmosphere and a very efficient well managed operation." See all these reviews: 10n in Kenya
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Excellent
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