There are also some resorts with private Kenya villas or Mombasa condos (complete with cook, if desired), as well as opportunities for more personalized Mombasa Kenya beach homestays. You can even opt for the romance of staying in a grass shack on the beach. In addition there are Mombasa Kenya private beach homes and vacation rentals which can be rented through Mombasa or Nairobi Kenya travel Companies. However, these require self-catering and one is advised to have a separate budget for food and other living –in incidentals.
Mombasa Island Hotels
Mombasa, the second largest city in Kenya, is on Mombasa Island. It is a steamy, tropical, low rise city with asymmetrical streets, a languid pace, and a diverse and intriguing population. Mombasa is mostly a Swahili town. Women chatter by in dark bui bui or wrapped in brilliant multi-coloured kanga. There are dozens of intricate mosques and temples, pungent open markets, mazes of narrow lanes crowded with street stalls. Mombasa is a port and a commercial center, not a resort town.
It is rather seedy and romantic, not slick and efficient. There are no beaches in Mombasa town and the hotels tend to be modest and somewhat old-fashioned save for several new ones. Tourists in Mombasa have mostly been ‘bused’ in for shopping and sight seeing in the Mombasa old town mostly.
Mombasa has a long and complex history, best appreciated by a visit to Fort Jesus an the Old town. Fort Jesus, begun by the Portuguese at the end of the 16th century, dominates the entrance to Mombasa harbor, and commands good views over the Old town. The fort is now a national monument and houses and interesting museum. The old town is a maze of narrow streets, mosques and crowded buildings, some with impressive carved doors or intricate balconies.
The castle hotel This city hotel is ventrally placed in Mombasa town and harks back to an earlier era. There is a big open dining veranda with whitewashed pillars, tiled floor and potted plants. This is a good spot for a cool drink and watching street life. Tour buses bringing sight-seers into Mombasa town often use the castle Hotel as a drop-off and pick-up point. This adds to the bustle and activity of the open veranda and also signals an increase in drink prices.
The 60 rooms at the castle have few frills and are now refurbished to their former glory. There are high ceilings with fans and the furniture antique.
New Outrigger Hotel
This hotel is above Kilindini Harbor, with views over the water. There are palm trees, tropical shrubs and a swimming pool. Rooms have balconies facing the sea, air conditioning, and telephones. The hotel is under Belgian management, features French cuisine and a beach.
Manson Hotel
This is a newer business hotel in Mombasa. It has higher standards in Mombasa town.
The Oceanic Hotel
Advertised as the “largest hotel on Mombasa Island” this multistory cement hotel is near the Likoni ferry and overlooks the Likoni BAY. It is not a beach hotel although it enjoys a rather splendid view of mama Ngina Street –the Green Park and thorough fare of Mombasa Island along the Likoni coastline.
Polana Hotel-The Mombasa town business hotel accommodation
The high-rise hotel has 140 rooms including junior suites. Rooms are air conditioned with bath, shower, minibar, radio, TV and telephones. The hotel has a conference room for up to 200 people, a casino, and offers car rental, theater bookings laundry services, in-house parking and excursions. The hotel is described as being ”in the heart of Mombasa island, in walking distance too all places of interest and business locations in the town.” This hotel is of more interest to business travel than for tourism.
|
Robert is a Kenya travel expert of Landmark safaris- Your African Kenya-Mombasa island hotels and Kenya water family vacation agents: http://www.landmarksafaris.com
|