Welcome to the green city in the sun. The name Nairobi means ‘a place of cool waters’ in the Masai language and is the Capital City of Kenya (A country in Eastern Africa). The city also prides itself in being the only in the world with a national park! That aside, Nairobi is the capital to home of the world’s best athletes, as well as one of the best places to have a safari adventure experience in Africa. Weekly curio sales (Masai market) and vintage (mitumba) shopping are also a common sight where one can purchase a great item at an unbeatable discount! Be sure to carry your persuasive tongue though as the better you bargain, the better the deal. No doubt, Nairobi will excite all your senses.
As far as accommodation in the city is concerned, visitors will be spoiled for choice. Literally, Nairobi offers everything from 5 star to budget lodges; as well as furnished apartments. Below, are some of the factors you need to consider when choosing accommodation in Nairobi:
Budget
By far, the biggest guide on where to stay. As mentioned above, Nairobi offers everything from boutique hotels to budget bed and breakfast lodges, as well as everything in between! The city boasts of twelve 5* star hotels with prices ranging from 385-225 USD for a single room per night. The boutique hotels are high end with prices varying from 350-750 USD per night for a singe bed. The 4* star hotels on the other hand vary from 160-270 USD for single beds. Budget hotels and apartments go for much less depending on the intended duration of stay.
It is important to choose wisely so as to make your experience a great one. Be on the look out for early bird discounts and special offers. Generally, Nairobi is a beehive of activity all year round and prices may vary depending on availability and the season.
You can choose to book and pay the hotels directly by contacting the hotel or alternatively, the best way would be to contact a travel agency since they have specialized reduced rates (usually cheaper than paying the hotels directly). They can also help you get the best accommodation deals with your budget saving you all the hustle of trying to identify a place to stay.
Proximity to city centre/ airport
Choose a hotel/apartment that is easy to access and allows for easier movement. One downer of Nairobi is the traffic, and as a guest, one may be completely turned off by this. It is therefore logical to be on the safe side and ensure that wherever you choose to stay is not prone to mad traffic and is easily accessible even by foot.
Traffic is worst between 7.30-9am, 12-2pm and 4.30-8pm – it is best to avoid traveling at that time. Alternatively, start your journey an hour prior to beat the traffic. Currently, the expansion of all major roads in the city will be a breath of fresh air to the motorists as it will reduce traffic.
Security
When choosing accommodation, ensure that the area is secure. The area should also be well lit and always have a phone in hand, to call for help should any emergency. It is crucial to also interact with the locals, hotel staff among others. Such people usually offer sound advice on how to make your Nairobi experience fantastic.
Other than that, Nairobi is pretty cosmopolitan and citizens are respectful to people of different religions, races and so on. Everybody is welcome to our green city in the sun.