By Prudence Minayo
Nairobi is often referred to as the hub of East and Central Africa and rightly so. It receives millions of visitors annually-mostly on business- making the hotel and real estate industry competitive and a great investment as well.
Whether you are from outside the country or outside Nairobi, you will need a place to stay once you are in the city. The prices of most Airbnbs and hotels are quite expensive but this article looks at some of the cheapest guesthouses to stay in while in Nairobi for either business or pleasure.
Joy Comfort Homestay
Located in Syokimau, Machakos, this guesthouse is decent and cheap.It takes less than an hour to get to the Nairobi Central Business District from this guesthouse and it is also in close proximity to shopping centers.
The hotel has four rooms which offer premium bedding, slippers, bathtub or shower, free toiletries, 32 inch flat screen TV with cable channels and free Wi-Fi among others. They also provide free English breakfast for the guests.
There is no front desk and guests have to contact those in charge before their arrival. Pets are not allowed and one must carry an identification card. It costs about USD $20 a night.
Kenya Inn Guest House
Located 11km from Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC), Kenya Inn offers accommodation with a free lounge, free private parking, a garden and barbecue facilities. It also has free Wi-Fi and the family rooms. The prices are Ksh2,001 for two guests, Ksh2,890 for three guests and 3, 223 for four guests.
Manyatta Backpackers
Manyatta Backpackers is located in the leafy suburbs of Kilimani and is only thirty minutes away from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKOA). The rooms comprise of single, double, dual, 4 persons, 6 persons and 8 persons dorm. They are a bed and breakfast facility with a restaurant offering cheap meals as well.
Accommodation can go for as little as Ksh1,667 but most of the reviews say the place is quite run down but the staff are nice.
Zarita Boutique Hotel
The hotel is strategically located close to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and The SGR station. It has free Wi-Fi and offers room service. The rooms go for a little bit over 20 dollars a night.
Chester View Homestay
Located in Mlolongo the guesthouse offers a range of services at an affordable rate. It is a smoke free zone with a full service spa and free continental breakfast. It offers five air conditioned accommodations with 5 complimentary safe bottled water. There is free Wi-Fi, flat screen TVs with cable channels and daily housekeeping. Guests can also enjoy spa services, a fitness center and the outdoor pool. It goes for a bit over USD $20 or less depending on the day.
Lulu’s Guesthouse
This is a bed and breakfast facility located in the busy suburb of Woodley estate off Ngong road
It offers free Wi-Fi, outdoor pool, babysitting service, swimming pool, dry cleaning, shared kitchen, concierge and a 24- hour front desk service. Prices vary depending on the date of booking.
Kibra Hostels
Located 6 km from Kenyatta International Conference Center, it offers accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, a bar and a shared lounge. The accommodation includes a 24-hour front desk, room service, free Wi-Fi and airport transfers. All guest rooms offer a sitting area, private bathroom with shower and toiletries.
The price is USD $15 or less depending on the day.
Royal Homes-JKIA
It has guests rooms that provide breakfast, outdoor pool access and daily housekeeping. The rooms come with access to free Wi-Fi, a private bathroom with rainfall shower heads and a hair dryer on request, slippers and comfortable beddings. The price at the moment is 2,075/= a night.
Damuku Guesthouse
It comes with bright, airy and modern rooms and a friendly staff willing to assist with all the guests’ needs. The property has 30 guestrooms, 24-hour front desk, laundry services and daily housekeeping. Goes for a little over $20 US dollars.
Global village Ladies Hostel
Located right in Nairobi about 1.4 km from Kenyatta International Conference Center, it offers accommodation with a shared lounge, free Wi-Fi and free parking. It offers continental breakfast and is located close to many amenities and leisure area in Nairobi, such as, Kenya National Theatre, Nairobi Botanical Garden and Wilson Airport. It can go for as low as Ksh1,669 depending on the number of people booking.
Conclusion
Finding cheap and safe accommodations in Nairobi is not easy because most of them are expensive. There could be much cheaper accommodations but the safety may not be assured. Some prices mentioned in this article are not stable, they may increase or decrease depending on a number of factors.
