Nomad Beach Resort Diani Beach – Hotel Review

Nomad Beach Resort Diani Beach is a boutique hotel on the idyllic Kenyan Coast. I was with a dear friend and it was my first solo holiday since having kids nearly 9 years ago. I wanted it to be special… was it? Yes, it really was.

BOOK NOMAD BEACH RESORT HERE

---

---

Nomad Beach Resort Diani Beach

We decided to book Nomad Beach Resort Diani for our girl’s getaway, owing to the many excellent reviews received both online and in person. No one had a bad thing to say about Nomads Beach Resort and once there, we saw why.

Nomad Beach Resort Diani is one of the most well-known resorts on the idyllic Diani Beach. Originally a collection of Bandas that were bought up and converted to a hotel, it retains that old-world beach feel, with thatched huts dotted about under shady palms, most of them facing what is one of the most stunning beaches in Kenya.

---

---

The main building at this luxury hotel in Diani is built banda style and has a bar, coffee shop, and restaurant which overlook the crystalline pool. The pool itself deserves a special mention. Gently sloping at first and great for kids, it plunges into a vertiginous 5 metre drop, built especially for scuba diving training. It’s quite thrilling just to swim in.

---

Nomad Restaurant Diani Beach

A five-minute walk from the main pool/bar complex is another collection of buildings built on the beach. The divine Nomad restaurant Diani is one of those high-ceilinged, breezy, barefoot places that you dream of for a holiday. Shipwrecked high on the powder-soft, white sand beach, its vantage point overlooking the azure ocean, it was our Hotel California; once we were there, we could never leave.

---

---

Many happy hours were spent with glasses of wine or plates of fresh seafood looking at fishing boats, dhows and even camels traversing the coastline. The service at the Nomad Beach Resort Diani was impeccable, the food more so, from the expansive breakfast with its huge buffet to its magnificent day menu. Heavily featuring locally caught fish, the restaurant caters to all tastes with enormous Italian pizzas, fresh salads, Japanese sushi, and authentic Kenyan dishes.

---

Things To Do at Nomad Beach Resort Diani

If the 3 restaurants and bars at this boutique hotel in Diani aren’t enough, you can treat yourself to homemade ice cream from the ice cream parlour, buy gifts or the ubiquitous kikoy pants from the reasonably priced shop. The Diani Beach hotel has a fitness centre with daily yoga & Zumba classes, an onsite spa.

Vying with Mombasa and Watamu for things to do Diani Beach offers a variety of activities. My blog 27 Inspiring Things to Do in Diani Beach gives you a complete list. I recommend snorkeling or diving (both can be arranged at Nomad Beach Resort). The sea life beyond the reef is exceptional, including sharks, whales, manta rays, and a dazzling array of tropical marine life.

---

Nomad Beach Resort Diani Beach

Accommodation ranges from smaller forest view rooms which are just 100 yards from the beach to banda’s that can take a family. We were lucky enough to be upgraded to a suite. The tranquil, air-conditioned and ensuite space was complete with a large sea view balcony. A Lamu day bed for lounging on, flowers in the bathroom, fully stocked bar fridge and large soft beds it was the restful space and sanctuary that you need after a day on the beach and my friend and I both slept better than we have in years.

---

---

If I’m raving about Nomad Beach Resort it’s because it deserves it. Two tired frazzled mums walked into the resort and two serene, tanned and considerably calmer women walked out. This is a Diani Beach resort that would be great for a couples weekend or time with friends. Although they do cater for kids, it felt very quiet and I certainly wouldn’t want to inflict my screaming trio on the other residents, so personally I wouldn’t take my children there.

If you are looking for an upper-end Diani experience, a 45-minute flight from Nairobi, with fantastic food and service, on one of the best beaches in the world, you couldn’t ask for more.

BOOK NOMAD BEACH RESORT HERE

---

Booking Hotels in Diani Beach

Hotels in Diani range from luxury boutique hotels like Nomad Beach Resort Diani to stand-alone villas and smaller backpacker hotels. The best one-size-fits-all booking engine is booking.com for hotels, villas, and resorts and Airbnb for the smaller and cheaper accommodations in Diani. You often get better deals through the booking engines, although you can always call the hotel directly and try to negotiate.

Head over to my blog 6 Unbelievable Hotels in Diani for a detailed review of some of the other big name hotels in Diani.

My top picks for hotels in Diani Beach (aside from Nomad Beach Resort) are:

My tops picks are:

$$$ Diani Sea Resort – For that big resort experience

$$$ Southern Palms Resort Diani – All Inclusive Resort

$$ Kenyaways – kitesurfing hotel

$ Galu Backpackers – does what it says, good cheap option for backpackers and those on a budget

How To Get To Diani Beach

There are 5+ flights daily from Nairobi to Ukunda Airstrip, which is in central Diani. 

Flights from Nairobi depart from Jomo Kenyatta International airport or Wilson, which is a smaller, easier airport to traverse. Return flights start from 5000 KSH or 50 USD.

From Mombasa, take a taxi to Diani Beach. It takes about 90 minutes and costs approximately 5000 KSH / 50 USD. There are now two routes, you can use the bypass which is approx 50 minutes from the SGR/Airport. From Mombasa city, it may still be quicker to use the Likoni ferry.

The SGR train – goes from Nairobi to Mombasa in 6 hours. It’s fast, clean and comfortable and a fraction of the price, but you will still need to pay for the taxi from Diani to Mombasa.

You can drive to Diani from Nairobi. It takes about 9 hours. My advice is to head through Shimba Hills, rather than through Mombasa. It doesn’t add any time on and it is much quieter and more scenic. 

Further Reading

How to find the Best Hotel in Mombasa

Kids Nairobi : 34 Ways To Smash Those Fun Days Out

21 Incredible Family Friendly Resorts in Kenya 

Watamu Beach Kenya: The Insiders Guide to Paradise

45 Unmissable Kenya Tourist Attractions & Secret Gems

Sharing is caring!