recommended hotel in Nairobi

we are arriving at night in Nairobi and are looking for a hotel. We
would like one with airport pick up as well. Any info will help


in addition to the hotels already mentioned, does the SixEighty
still exist? That would be an alternative if the others fail or
if you like the price.

I think it is more expensive than the Fairview, but less
expensive than the Serena or Hilton.


Hans-Georg

I stayed at the 680 two years ago and the rooms were fine but it's not a
luxury hotel. Prices on their web site http://www.680-hotel.co.ke/ are $45
for single and $65 for double. I think I paid about $30 so prices have gone
up substantially. Not to mention the dollar sinking. I don't know about
airport pick up, but taxis are plentiful and fares negotiable.

Gail

Gail wrote:

I stayed at the 680 two years ago and the rooms were fine but it's not a
luxury hotel.

The 680.. I stayed there in July, 1990 with a cameraman who
was with me; we were shooting a documentary. (This was during
my TV journalism life.) Political disorder with heavy handed
police action against protesters. Watched from the terrace
above the street at the 680 as the the police swept
the streets, brutally. Threatened to shoot me for watching.
Stupidly decided to hustle down to the Hilton to see
what it was like there. Not smart. Had to walk through
a squad of great big army guys with the red berets and
heavy duty weapons. Obviously, they let me pass.
This was the time of the Saba Saba demonstrations.
The hotel? Not bad. Nobody stole our equipment.

On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 13:21:02 +0100, lid (Johan
W. Elzenga) wrote:

You of all people should know that 'Asante' is not his/her name, but
means 'Thank you" in Kiswahili.

Johan,

oh, of course I know that. I just thought that he or she had
also chosen it as a nickname.

But next to "Thank you", I should have noticed. This comes from
reading and answering at lightning speed. (:-)

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.

On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 17:49:02 -0800, Incognito
wrote:

We emailed the Safari Club Hotel in Nairobi before arriving last
summer for a two-night reservation. We normally stay in cheaper places
but asked for budget accomodations there and if they could recommend a
good travel agent for two tourists on a budget. Our reasoning was that
a hotel with a reputation to protect would be unlikely to hook us up
with a travel agent who would disappoint us. It worked very well for
us.

The hotel room was about $90/night and they arranged for "their"
travel agency (Matembo Tours and Safaris) to pick us up from the airport
and ask us what we wanted in a safari itinerary. Maimuna, the lady who
runs this tour outfit, is a terrific lady and arranged all we wanted,
laying out all different options. Our 11-days there was reasonably
priced, far below prices of the big-name tours, and our driver-guide
was delightful, safe, competent in every way.

Point is: If you're arranging a tour AFTER you get to Kenya and don't
want to shuffle through the hundreds of tour operators there, picking a
good hotel may help you find a good tour operator. ---Ken

Ken,

thanks for the nice story and the good hint.

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 00:11:02 -0600, "Gail"
wrote:

I stayed at the 680 two years ago and the rooms were fine but it's not a
luxury hotel. Prices on their web site http://www.680-hotel.co.ke/ are $45
for single and $65 for double. I think I paid about $30 so prices have gone
up substantially. Not to mention the dollar sinking. I don't know about
airport pick up, but taxis are plentiful and fares negotiable.

Gail,

oh, that's cheaper than I thought! The 680 has apparently come
down. Some more years ago it was still comparable to the Hilton.

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.

I recommend the Fairview. It's away from all the noise and dirt of downtown,
rates are good, our room was huge and clean, the food was good. Email them in
advance to say you want to be picked up at t he hote and they will arrange for
a driver to pick you up.

Have a wonderful trip.