Homestays – Innovative and affordable accommodation in Kenya

The modern traveler is faced with diverse alternatives while choosing the most suitable accommodation. The options are limitless including hotels, lodges, motels, resorts among others. A unique concept emerging in the Kenyan accommodation scene and in fact worldwide is the homestay experience. A homestay is basically a setup whereby the homeowner lets out some rooms to visitors or tourists at a reasonable fee.

In Kenya homestay accommodation is gaining popularity both in urban areas such as Nairobi, Eldoret, Nakuru, Kisumu; and in rural homesteads. This favourable growth can be attributed to the benefits accrued to both the hosts and guests including:

• Guests enjoy homely accommodation at discounted rates, while homeowners get additional income.
• New acquaintances are turned into lifelong friends.
• Visitors get to experience the country from the locals’ point of view and in the process gain deep insight.
• The locals know the country from top to bottom. As a guest you will have the advantage of being informed of and even taken to the hidden locations or ‘hotspots’ that no travel book can uncover.
• Homestays provide an avenue for the exchange of cultures, beliefs, tales and ideas. These daily interactions, by virtue of living together as one family, also enable both parties to learn the other’s languages and ways of life.

With individuals from all walks of life embracing this fulfilling accommodation adventure, homestays in Kenya are here to stay.