Life & Work

Why short-stay homes are becoming very popular with travellers

short stay

Serviced apartments off Argwings Kodhek Road near Yaya Centre in Nairobi. PHOTO | FILE

The popularity of short-stay accommodation cannot be underestimated. Over time, this type of stay has become popular with business travellers, individuals who come for medical treatment and holiday makers because they are tailored to give guests a home away from home experience.

These residences, furnished apartments or holiday homes, bear the same appeal as luxury hotels but with the appeal of flexible terms and a more homely feel. The flexible booking systems, resident supervision and room services offered are attributes that make them similar to hotels.

However, these residences assume a home setting, a factor that makes them attractive to individuals who prefer privacy and space. In terms of appeal, temporal residences keep up with four or five star hotels but their services come at a cheaper rate and the growing demand has caught the eyes of developers as well.

“After an extensive study of the market, as developers, we have shifted to furnished apartments because of the increased demand,” says George Muhandi of Imperial Concepts Architects, the developers of Kiluwa Place in Yaya. “Our new property at Yaya targets expatriates working around Upper Hill and those who stay in the country for weeks but prefer serviced apartments to hotels,” he adds.

But just why are they becoming popular?

Standard short-term residences have home-like amenities such as furnished living rooms, bedrooms and kitchens. Individuals can choose to cook, do laundry and cleaning services or ask for the help if the need arises. There is also heightened security and visitors’ personal information, entry and exit time is captured at the gate.

Savings

Depending on the amenities provided, an overnight stay at a luxury hotel in the central business district can cost about Sh35,000 per person sharing. The bill goes up to close to Sh1 million assuming that the person stays for a month.

A fully furnished and serviced high-end one bedroom or studio apartment on the other hand, will cost between Sh7,000 to Sh15,000 per day. The cost covers the rent, which has no limitation on the number of people that can access the house.

A one-bedroom residence can fit two beds, accommodating two. This means that a group of six people can comfortably stay in a three-bedroom house. Unlike hotels, occupants at these short- stay homes are not bound by any permanent contracts and can check in and out at their own pleasure.

In Nairobi, these homes are found in Karen, Gigiri, Lavington, Westlands, Yaya, Kilimani and Kileleshwa. Woodmere apartments and Lofts apartments in Kilimani are among the numerous accommodation facilities that a person can put up in when on holiday or business travel.

Some of the residences, like the Kiluwa Place which is under construction at the Yaya Centre, have restaurants in the compound, sauna, jacuzzis, shared gymnasiums and meeting and conference rooms.

They are complemented by good road networks for easy commutes to town and other locations. “The serviced apartments are popular because of their competitive pricing, the variety when it comes to personal choice and flexibility which make them unrestrictive,” said an official from Woodmere apartments.

“If it’s family, they are able to book in into one house and stay together instead of spreading out into different hotel rooms,” he added.

At the Coast, these homes are found in Malindi, Nyali and Watamu and around the beaches. For instance, a six-bedroom Chamkara Residence in Vipingo can host 12 people, Lahai residence 14, while Xanadu Beach Villa can host 26.

The cost of these luxury homes ranges from Sh10,000 to Sh60,000 a day during peak season and vary according to the number of bedrooms. Located on beach plots, the houses offer the same breathtaking view of the ocean as some of the luxury hotels at the coast.

Like any other facility out for rent, guests are expected to take care of every item in the house to ensure that they leave them in the same state they found them. In case of any damages, guests are required to cater for cost of repair or replacement.

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