"Pros: Had an amazing stay at this beautiful house, it’s in a great spot for exploring and experiencing life in Lamu. The rooftop was definitely the highlight for me, especially the sunrise views. We had the whole place to ourselves which made it even better. The housekeeper was super friendly, always around when we needed something but gave us space too. Would totally recommend and stay again if in Lamu Cons: the mozzies were starting to come out in the evenings (seems like the season's kicking in), but we still slept fine thanks to the mosquito nets in the bedrooms." ~Abdullah

"Pros: Katana my host at Samaki House was exceptionally kind and knowledgeable of the area. We had lovely conversations and he made a delicious breakfast. I enjoyed the room and the my overall experience at the house, I will definitely stay again! Cons: My only minor criticism was that my room felt a bit far from the main house especially the dining area and the rooftop lounge. Though I enjoyed the added privacy it was a task to access the rest of the house. The WiFi signal in the room was a little weak as well" ~Alex

"Pros: I had a wonderful stay at these beautiful apartments. The design is excellent, the space is thoughtfully arranged, and the pool is absolutely stunning — one of the most beautiful I’ve seen. I would definitely stay here again. Cons: But unfortunately, the arrival experience left a very negative impression. I explicitly informed the property twice that I did not want the airport pickup. Despite this, someone was waiting for me with my name at the airport, and the pickup had been arranged anyway. I was then charged 1500 KES for what I assumed was a private transfer — but I was placed on a public boat (which normally costs 200 KES), and an extra 500 KES was charged just to “guide” me to the apartment. The so-called “captain” was not even present on the boat. On my return journey, I paid only 500 KES for a private boat, without any negotiation — which clearly shows how much I was overcharged on arrival. When I contacted the host, they said the service was provided by a third party and they don’t make any money from it. But I find that unacceptable. If you arrange or recommend a service — especially one your guest has already declined — you bear responsibility. At the very least, an apology was expected. Instead, there was none. Moreover, all the prices quoted to me later by Zeinab (for tours and transfers) were at least twice as high as prices I found locally — and that’s without any bargaining. It made me feel like guests were being taken advantage of. I would still consider coming back because the place itself is beautiful, but I strongly advise future guests to double-check every price and arrange transfers independently. The hospitality experience should feel trustworthy — and unfortunately, this one didn’t." ~Ksenia