Outdoor pool, pool umbrellas, pool loungers
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Reviews of Cowrie Shell Beach Apartments

5 out of 5
Cowrie Shell Beach Apartments
Mombasa Malindi Highway, Mombasa

Reviews

8.0

Very good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 37 out of 88 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 32 out of 88 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 6 out of 88 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 88 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 11 out of 88 reviews" "

8.2/10

Cleanliness

8.2/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

8.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

6.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Judith

Travelled with partner
Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
The proper is right on the beach. We love that. The swimming pool was very nice. Comfortable. The staff were helpful. Very pleasant people all around.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jay, Hollywood

Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice apts fully equipped. The towels and pillows are a little tired, but clean and great location. Expedia has 2 options, do not use c3 Cowrie as that's not thru the front desk. Also, breakfast is not included, restaurant is now separately owned. All units have AC and works good.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

john

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Victor

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Best value beach hotel in Mombasa
Great value apartments right on the beach. Rooms are spacious and comfortable and staff friendly
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Philip

Liked: Room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

MR M

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Great place to stay. Comfortable well equipped apartment, friendly efficient staff, beautiful beach.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2022

8/10 Good

Chinyere

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022

6/10 Okay

Niels

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Room comfort
The bed was very hard - aircon. did not work - furnitures were very cheap and uncomfi.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2021

8/10 Good

chris

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness
Was a good stay service is good good lication
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The refreshing coconut at check in was a pleasant surprise! The beach acces is also a plus
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Anna

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2021

2/10 Terrible

Adam, United Kingdom

Bed was aweful - Felt like I was sleeping on the floor, but with the matress springs poking me in the ribs. Worst sleeps I've had in a long time. The studio apartment I was given was not in a great condition, A/C started to leak / Balcony door frames were coming of the wall and there was this weird smell in the studio flat. Staff were polite, but that's apart it, mainly focused there attention on those who they thought would tip them more, then those who they thought would not - Got better service from security staff at the gate then from front of house staff. Certain staff need to improve on there personal hygiene as well, in terms of smell. The beach apperently belong to the restaurant which isn't part of the hotel, so if you want a sunbed then you'll need to purchase a expensive meal or drink, irrelevant if your a guest of the hotel. So instead once you come into the beach take a right turn and walk for 5 minutes, you'll see a lot more nicer beachfront hotel cafes, which are worth the money, then this one. During the night you can hear security opening and closing the gate - Security is very weak compared to other Kenyan hotels I've stayed at. Would I come back and stay here agin? Never! Was it worth the money I spent at this hotel? No.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property was fantastic, the stuff were so helpful and kind. I rily love the place and hoping to go back again in March. Very good place to relax, amazin.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2019

8/10 Good

Grace, Nairobi

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
The apartments felt like home away from home. I recommend especially for families with young children
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very quite place and clean.The staff were so kind and helpful.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2019

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Some hiccups but the staff were responsive enough to sort them out quickly, one minor issue is that you do notice the age creeping in their in room amenities like a TV with lines across the picture and worn out key card that needed to be remagnetized twice to work, but all in all a decent accommodation on a modest budget, would give it 3.9 🌟 /5
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Peter

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great place to stay and I will be back.
Delightful apartments with full range of services. Slight hiccup with power failure and staff were totally accommodating until failure was fixed. Great swimming pool and right on the beach. Very pleasant and clean environment Very accommodating when we wanted extra days and an extra child to stay. Only downside was that the lifts sometimes didn't work but gave me extra exercise by using the stairs so that was a bonus. And the boys loved the gym. Highly recommended and I will definitely be back.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2019
Response from Daniel on 2 Sept 2019
Thank you so much for choosing Cowrie Shell and you are always welcome to stay with us whenever you are visiting Mombasa.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great customer service Cleanliness Security consciousness
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2019
Response from Daniel on 30 Aug 2019
Thank you so much for choosing to stay with us. Welcome again

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2019
Response from Daniel on 30 Aug 2019
Thank you so much for choosing to stay with us welcome again.

10/10 Excellent

Margaret

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Fantastic, marvellous, fabulous
It was amazing i realy enjoyed
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2019

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2019

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Disliked: Staff & service
Overall a very mediocre property and experience. W-fi was extremely poor throughout our stay, which was compounded by the fact that I also could not get mobile phone/internet at the location either. Service/management was very slow to respond to even basic requests, for instance to fix the non-function in-room safe (which was never corrected). The property itself was very loud from early morning until sunset, with many families and children in the crowded, somewhat dingy pool area. Rates appear to be substantially inflated during the holiday season, despite no improvements (or possibly even depreciations) in the quality of facilities and services offered. I would not stay again.
Stayed 10 nights in Dec 2018
Response from Daniel on 15 Jan 2019
Thank you for your feedback will work on improving

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I could not check in till 6 o'clock, with out eny good reason. Only that there cleaning
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2018
Response from Daniel on 15 Jan 2019
My apology, it was a busy period and we apologize for all inconveniences.

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2018
Response from Daniel on 15 Jan 2019
Thank you for your reveiw

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Staff & service
Ok property for the value. Great location. Close to everything. Great staff.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2018
Response from Daniel on 24 Oct 2018
Thank you for choosing to stay with us and welcome again.

6/10 Okay

Ron, Nairobi

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service
Place is nice though it is showIng it’s age. Right on a private beach. Biggest issue was staff were always very quick to say they would help and were on the way but then would take follow up call after another to get any assistance.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2018

6/10 Okay

Kareem, Houston, TX

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Staff was okay, but room services doesn't like to change sheets and towels daily. Microwave didn't work, but they replaced it.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018
Response from Daniel on 8 Aug 2018
Thank you for your review. Will work on the raised issues.

10/10 Excellent

Jacob, Texas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Cowrie shell gave us the best experience. The locals were tge best you can get. The white sands and all.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2018
Response from Daniel on 8 Aug 2018
Thank you for giving us a chance to serve you. Welcome again.

2/10 Terrible

Adem

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The horrible apartment and a lying staff
This place deserves 1 star and not 5 star. It is a disgrace you advertise it as 5 star!! Horrible place
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2018
Response from Daniel on 8 Feb 2018
Thank you Sir for your review. We could appreciate a little more details so as to know how to improve our services.

2/10 Terrible

Rayana

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Not five star quality.
Checked into a two bedroom at midnight. Master bedroom had no sheets, pillow cases or covers. Has to stay up until 2:30 waiting for the bedding to arrive. Hotel was noisy. Guests slamming doors and shouting and running in the corridors late at night. We checked out first thing in the morning. Sheets were discoloured.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2017
Response from Daniel on 9 Jan 2018
Greetings Rayana, I really apologies regarding your experience your booking came in late so we missed on a few details. Being over Christmas period we had a lot of families with children around thus the noise. We however tried to manage them. I promise if you place a future booking we will make it most enjoyable for you. Greetings from Cowrie Shell.

10/10 Excellent

Mukhtar

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great family spot
Great service and well maintained property overall. New and modern fixtures and finishes provided in the rooms.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2017
Response from Daniel. on 9 Jan 2018
Thank you so much Mukhtar for rating us. We welcome you to stay with us on your next visit. Greetings from Cowrie Shell.

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2017
Response from Teizeen on 25 Dec 2017
Thank you so much for choosing to stay with us. Looking forward to hosting you again

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Nice hotel apartment close to beach
Very friendly staff, close proximity to beach, great bar, comfortable accommodation
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2017
Response from Daniel on 20 Dec 2017
Thank you so much for choosing to stay with us. We hope you will choose us again for your next visit.

10/10 Excellent

Hendricus

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2017
Response from Teizeen on 19 Dec 2017
Thank you so much. Looking forward to hosting you again on your next visit.

10/10 Excellent

Faith, NRB

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great view of the Beach
My experience at Cowrie shell beach apartments was awesome despite the few hiccups at first. The receptionists were responsive and their Wi-Fi was strong, never had any challenge with the signal the whole time I was there
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2017

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very well maintained rooms, Kitchen is well equipped. We really enjoyed our stay in this apart hotel. The staff are very courteous and helpful. I will highly recommend this hotel - it is also quite close to the Marine Reserve.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2017

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Good Value for Money
The hotel is a good budget option on the southern end of Bamburi beach. The rooms are clean, functional and comfortable. Main downside is that they are built around either the pool or the entrance driveway and thus overlook each other.
Response from Management on 7 June 2017
Thank you for the feedback. It was a pleasure hosting you.

10/10 Excellent

Derek

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Amazing place to stay! Very clean and comfortable! Great staff and good restaurants not too far!
Response from Teizeen on 10 Apr 2017
Thank you. We look forward to hosting you once again.

10/10 Excellent

Matt, Toronto, ON

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Excellent Apartment for temporary stay
Excellent and peaceful, Price factor is also great.

8/10 Good

Ron Wooten, i live in Nairobi.

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
On the beach.
Rooms are good. Biggest problems is because it is an apartment, They don't have a shop to buy small essential things you forget sometimes. Other than that a wonderful inexpensive place to stay.

8/10 Good

Chandra, uk

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Friendly excellent staff and service
Due to delay flight we reached 2 hrs late. we were tired but welcome with Coconut drinks.Check in was done in short time . We were moved to our room. My wife was not well and travel sickness but they look after us well .we received prompt taxi for evening meal.

8/10 Good

SHARRON, L.A. area CA

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Beautiful hotel with a BIG BUT!!!!!
It is a beautiful hotel in a beautiful setting and wonderful employees but that is where it stops. After 2 days of flying from CA my room had -0- water and -0- air conditioning. The water came the 2nd day in the afternoon but sporadic and rarely any hot water. We lost the water again 2 days later IF the wifi worked you had to go to public areas or on the balcony. The TV had very few channels and the picture was so snowy you could not see the picture. The toilet would not flush 1/2 the time. The bed is hard as a rock. No bathroom ameniities. The air conditioning started working on the 3rd day. I called or went down to reception probably 100 times and could not get another room as I was told they were fully booked but that did not appear to be the case. It is such a shame that this hotel has so much going for it and lacks the major things you need. It is a good thing that the employees were all so friendly telling me we will send someone. Too bad they were not able to be able to deliver these promises
Response from Teizeen on 28 May 2016
Dear Sharron, Thankyou for your review and the information you have provided. We will use this information and make sure that these problems will not reoccur. We apologize for the inconvenience you faced. Regards, Cowrie Shell Management

2/10 Terrible

Stavros, Nicosia

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Poor value for money!
You really do not want to know!

10/10 Excellent

Karl

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

8/10 Good

Amir

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Good place for long stays
Good place for long stays, not a so great restaurant , but they provide you with free transport to main shopping center.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Enjoy this stay.
The Cowrie Shell was so relaxing and enjoyable for us. We have done the whole Hotel with meals etc...but always get tired is the food in a few days. Doing this was nice as we had our own breakfast and snacks on the Beach and got to go to restaurants at night. The access to the Beach and the Beach is as nice as any in Nyali. No corral to cut your feet on and nice swimming. The beach is great to walk on as well. Only complaint was Mattress was a bit hard and durning shower the water pressure was good but fluxated between hot and cold sometimes.

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Shorts stay but worth it
my husband and I decided to take a short trip. Perfect beach location and quiet. Only downside not being close to the main road but that's what taxis are for. We plan on going back again.

10/10 Excellent

Bright, New Jersey

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Home away from home!
I would say people should see to believe.Cozy beach property. Such a wonderful atmosphere, very friendly staff. Thanks George(GM) and Evans, with the rest of the staff for making my stay a homely one. I will be back soon, and you are definitely recommended to my organization.