Traveling to Mombasa can be an exciting venture. Even if you’re coming to this part of Kenya for business, there is usually going to be time to spend on your own. As a result, where you stay in proximity to the things that interest you most will have a direct impact on your enjoyment while in Mombasa.

One of the main attractions for Mombasa are the pure white sandy beaches that stretch for miles along the Indian Ocean. These beaches have attracted people from all walks of life from all over the world and they are something to behold.

If you are an avid beachgoer, then you’re certainly going to want to find a hotel that is relatively close to the beaches, if not right along them.

Cost Saving Options

However, if you are looking for ways to save some money while you’re on vacation in Mombasa, then you’ll be able to do that by staying at a hotel that is not right next to the beaches. The farther away from the prime destinations and attractions, the more you will save.

You need to consider the transportation costs into this, though. Most people who visit Mombasa do not opt to rent a car because getting around the area can be somewhat confusing for those who have never been here before. That means getting around throughout the city and to the beaches will cost you for each ride.

If you are going to spend the day at the beach here, you should know that it can become quite hot in this part of the world. Sometimes it’s nice to just be able to head back to the hotel to cool off, to take a swim in one of the pools, and to relax poolside with a tropical drink in hand.

Staying close to the beach will usually cost more for your hotel, but if you don’t spend some time at the beaches in Mombasa, you’re going to be missing out on one of the main attractions for this entire region.

Afrochic diani kenya

Just about every major hotel throughout Mombasa has at least one swimming pool on the grounds. Even if you’re not an avid swimmer and you don’t believe that it’s important to have a swimming pool on site, you may be surprised once you arrive in Mombasa.

For those who have never visited a tropical climate, it can be difficult to truly understand the heat that you will experience here. Being right along the equator, the sun shines bright for the majority of the year and pounds down on the city and the beaches for nearly twelve hours, at least, every single day of the year.

Heading to the ocean, white sand beaches will be a thrill for you and your family, and you will likely want to get your feet wet in the crystal blue and turquoise waters. When you head back to the hotel to cool down, you might be comfortable in your room, but odds are you’ll want to still relax and take in some of the incredible weather that you find there.

That’s when you’ll be relaxing poolside. Of course, you may notice that a number of the Mombasa hotels here have bars in the pools, complete with bar stools that are submerged in the water. This allows you to go and enjoy a drink in the shade of the bar, while also being in the pool.

Because the temperatures are quite high here, especially during the peak summer months, there are going to be plenty of times when you want to cool off. The easiest and most enjoyable way to do that is to take a quick dip into one of those abundant pools.

So even if you’ve been dismissing the entire notion of swimming pools at the hotels, unless you’ve already visited Mombasa before and know what to expect, you may be surprised at how convenient and fun they can be for a few hours in the afternoon or evening, before you head out for a night on the town.

So when you’re shopping around for the best Mombasa hotel for your stay, consider just how important that swimming pool could be when you’re here. You can thank us later.

The Famous Mombasa Tusks

While you are likely to spend a fair amount of time in the beautiful blue oceans and white sands when you’re in Mombasa, you will likely want to visit other places throughout the city and the region.

Below are three attractions that you should certainly put on your ‘must see’ list.

The ‘Tusks’

When you head toward the center of Mombasa, you will notice large tusks. These are symbols of the city and were originally built in 1952 to commemorate a visit by Queen Elizabeth. They are located along the path from the port and into town.

The tusks, which are made of ivory, are built in the shape of a ‘M’ for Mombasa and it’s important to keep in mind that during the time when they were designed, ivory was expensive and Mombasa wasn’t a town with a lot of resources. It was an important symbolic gesture toward the queen and the British Empire.

Mamba Village

Next, whether you have children or not, you should take a trip to Mamba Village, which is home to one of the most popular attractions in the area … the crocodile farm. You can also enjoy horseback riding and even camel riding, if that’s something you’re interested in trying out.

You should certainly visit the rich botanical garden that is found here as well. If you’re interested in dining on something a bit different on your trip to Mombasa, you can try crocodile, ostrich, and even zebra at some of the restaurants in Mamba Village.

Bombolulu

One of the less advertised treasures of Mombasa is Bombolulu. This is a place where men and women with disabilities come to create art and you can view some of their amazing creations. These people earn their money and their social status by selling their artwork.

This nonprofit organization has all sorts of art forms, including paintings, jewelry, and leather products. Be sure to make this a stop on your trip to Mombasa.

Fort Jesus, Mombasa Kenya

Many people go on vacation to relax, unwind, and have a good time, but there’s also an appeal to shopping at local stores. You can usually find some incredible, unique items when you go shopping at your vacation destination. When you’re in Mombasa, Kenya, there are a few key shopping destinations that should not be missed, if that’s something you’re interested in.

Diani Beach Shopping Center

If you have a rental car or are willing to acquire transportation during your stay in Mombasa, then head on down to Diani Beach. It’s about an hour south of Mombasa, and the shopping center offers a wide range of domestic and international goods.

This is considered a mainstream shopping center, which makes it a comfortable place for tourists to shop at. Here, you will be able to find a wide range of comfortable beach ware, including sarongs and sandals as well as paper bead necklaces and beach bags that will help you feel more comfortable for your entire trip there.

Central Mombasa

When you’re ready to dive in and experience the true Kenyan shopping experience, head to the center of Mombasa. You can get your ‘feet wet’ at the main tourist shops at Mwembe Tayari then move out from there. If you’re on foot, then the experience will move you from one section to the next, farther and farther from the tourist traps that are common in many of these types of destinations.

You can hire a taxi to take you to certain shopping stores that you might not find on your own, though. Talk to one of the courteous and knowledgeable drivers and sit back and relax.

Fort Jesus

Of course, if you want to have a more relaxed shopping experience while you’re in Mombasa, head over to the Fort Jesus region. It’s not going to be nearly as crowded at central Mombasa, though you will certainly find a number of tourist shops here as well.

If you visit Fort Jesus, you will also notice some of the incredible artwork that is commonly on display throughout these shops. You never know what kind of treasure you will discover when you’re on vacation!

Depending on whom you ask, you’ll likely hear a wide range of opinions on hotel amenities that people believe are absolutely essential. The problem is that what one person views as being a necessity another person wouldn’t even think twice about.

There are many amenities that you’ll find advertised with various Mombasa hotels, and some of them might be things that won’t add any real value to your trip. Some of the common amenities that the majority of guests claim to be necessities are:

• Wi-Fi (yes, we all seem to need to be connected to the Internet, even when we’re on vacation)
• Non-smoking rooms and premises
• Multilingual staff
• Concierge desk
• TV
• Air conditioning
• Daily room service

However, there are actually a few hotel amenities that you probably won’t need, or that could cost you quite a bit more than you’d want to spend in the first place if you end up using them. It you notice some Mombasa hotels with these ‘extra’ amenities can actually cost you more per night, so you need to decide if they’re worth it or not.

Hotel Amenities You Might Not Need in Mombasa

• The minibar – You might think that having a minibar in your hotel room is a great idea, but in truth, there are plenty of establishments throughout Mombasa where you can hang out and relax with a nice cocktail. Most hotels here have poolside bars, and even bars in the pools. Don’t be stuck inside when you can be outside enjoying the beautiful scenery, weather, and people!
• Complimentary toiletries – most people tend to travel with their own toiletries, such as toothpaste, shampoo, and even soap. Some hotels will provide these and they never get used. Still, you end up paying for them.
• Bathrobes and slippers- if you don’t bring comfortable clothing with you, then these could come in handy when you just want to relax after a shower, but few people actually use them anymore.
• Room service – sure, it’s nice to wake up and order room service when you’re getting ready for your day, but when you’re in Mombasa, there is so much to do … it’s better to get out and going before too long, otherwise you might not be able to do everything you want to do on this trip!

Other amenities, such as having an ironing board, hair dryer, or direct dial phone have become commonplace now and they’re not often considered amenities, but if you are expected to pay a surcharge for any amenities, determine if they are even important for you.

If you don’t travel abroad too often, then you might not have the experience that will help you avoid some of the more common mistakes that people make. Traveling by plane today is much different than it was a few decades ago. Traveling overseas can become even more complicated.

Below are some common mistakes that travelers still make and when you avoid them, you’ll be making your way to your Mombasa vacation destination quicker and easier.

1. Have all of your paperwork handy.

This will include your passport and other personal identification. You should also have any boarding passes in one location so that if you are stopped and asked for that information, you won’t have to dig through your suitcase and other bags to find it.

2. Give yourself more than enough time to get through security.

Going to the airport to board a flight can take time, depending on how busy the airport is at any given time. Make sure that you give yourself more than one hour extra to go through airport security.

If you cut things too close to your departure time, then you could risk missing your flight and that could cut into your vacation time a great deal.

3. Make sure the credit card you use to book your hotel in Mombasa has enough limit.

Some people use one card for booking, then plan on using another for billing, but if you run late and the hotel tries to charge your card, and if it doesn’t go through, you could lose your hotel room, causing a big problem when you arrive in Mombasa.

4. Do NOT bring anything banned from flights.

Even if you ‘didn’t know,’ or you ‘forgot,’ this won’t do anything to help your situation at the airport. Make sure that you know what’s allowed on the flight and what’s not. If something is found in your possession, depending on what it is, you could be detained for questioning, or if you’re lucky you’ll simply need to throw it in the garbage.

5. Confirm your reservations at least one week before your trip.

It’s a good idea to confirm all of your reservations at least one week before your trip. This will include the flights, Mombasa hotel, and anything else that you made a reservation for.

When you avoid these common mistakes, you’ll be assured of a wonderful relaxing, and once in a lifetime trip to one of the most beautiful destinations in the world.