How to Find Cheap Hotels in Kenya

Kenya, located in East Africa along the coast of the Indian Ocean, is renowned for its wildlife preserves, not to mention its archaelogical significance as the origin of Early Man. Surprisingly, Kenya has had a lot of success with its agriculture, primarily using the fertile Kenyan Highlands as an stable economic base.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• A passport
• A computer with internet access

Find the Right Accommodations

1. To book accommodations, contact Kenya Tourist Board at 011 ([phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources, below). (If calling internationally but not from the United States or Canada, call 00 ([phone].)
2. Rent a beach bungalow along the coast. These can be found as cheap as much less than $100 per night.
3. Choose a modest motel of guesthouse as a cheap alternative for as little as $20 per day, including a meal.
4. Be adventurous and stay at one of Kenya's many campgrounds for less than $20 per day.
5. Consider one of Kenya's safari camps, which offer an extraordinary level of amenities for a relatively cheap price, with accommodations less than a couple hundred dollars per day.

Arrive in Kenya

6. Fly to Nairobi International Airport.
7. Consider renting a car for traveling outside of Nairobi. It's cheap, and the most convenient way to get around the country.
8. Use the Blue Metro Shuttle Buses for traveling in the larger cities.

Explore Kenya!

9. Visit Mount Kenya, which is over 17,000 feet high and is the site of glaciers.
10. Take a trip to the Tsavo National Park, the largest wildlife reserve in Kenya, between June and September for the massive wildlife migration.
11. Go to the Ambelosi National Park, which is famous for its large elephant population.

Tips & Warnings

• Always bargain in Kenya! The first offer you receive for goods and services is always too high.
• All phone numbers include the United States international prefix "011." When calling internationally outside the United States, substitute that "011" with "00." All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.
• Malaria is widespread in Kenya. Have all appropriate vaccination at least one month prior to leaving, and bring plenty of malaria tablets.
• Most hotels in Kenya are populated with monkeys. While they can certainly be entertaining, they can also sneak into your room and steal or destroy your belongings.
• Ask trusted locals to call you a cab only from a reputable service. You don't want to jump into a vehicle with someone who will rob you.
• Travel inconspicuously while in Kenya by not wearing jewelry or designer clothing, or by flashing money or using a cell phone in public. Carjacking is quite common in Nairobi.
• Avoid the matutus, or minibuses, in Kenya, which are crowded and unsafe.
• Rain is heavy from April to June. Plan your trip accordingly.