zes 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

There is a sophisticated infrastructure of resort hotels ranging from the Kenya luxurious beach hotels to the more basic. Many hotels offer similar services, facilities and activities. The hotels range from the Kenya exotic beach hotels (high-thatch roofs, white washed arches, Lamu style furniture) to the more prosaic Mombasa kenya budget beach hotels (cement accommodation wings, balconies angled towards a possible sea view, plastic loungers)

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

tels (cement accommodation wings, balconies angled towards a possible sea view, plastic loungers)

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

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

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

zes 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 un