Mombasa

[Neddy69]

It seems someone is going to try again to open the New Cheers.

There's always some idiot who thinks who can make money. North coast is dead. No tourists. Not even Russians. The last one was Danish.

Neddy.

[Zimzam]

It seems someone is going to try again to open the New Cheers.

[Mombie75]

I am now regretting booking my airplane ticket for only 2 weeks. I already applied for Visa with the exact arrival and leave date.

Considering they gave me a 3 months visa, I assume it doesn't matter if I buy a different return ticket and return on a later date?

No, it does not matter.

When you are at the immigration desk they will ask how long you are staying, tell them 4 weeks or whatever. They will write in pen oftentimes on your visa stamp a time frame for that visa.

You can stay 3 months then extend 3 months by law.

[HappyFarang]

I am now regretting booking my airplane ticket for only 2 weeks. I already applied for Visa with the exact arrival and leave date.

Considering they gave me a 3 months visa, I assume it doesn't matter if I buy a different return ticket and return on a later date?

[HappyFarang]

This is a great post, because I've been wondering the same. I always bring cash, but ID prefer to use mpesa to pay the girls. I guess I'll find out when I get there after the first few.

As far as transferring to mpesa, I downloaded the app to try it out but I have to wait until I have a safaricom sim. But I did ask around about the app and I was told that you can use a bank account and maybe even a credit card. If that's true, I believe the exchange rate would be determined by my bank. Please correct me if I'm wrong. When traveling and using my credit card, my bank has always given me a better exchange rate than any of the money exchangers. In fact, it's usually right at market rate. I guess I'll try it out with a small sum at first from my bank account to mpesa, then check my statement online to calculate the rate.

In their website they say that they have the lowest exchange rates, and they list a few major banks along with their rates and show how much lower their rates are.

I wouldn't even mind a slightly higher rate if that means I can send money directly to my M-pesa wallet from my phone anytime I want!

[SimpleGuy111]

Traveling soon to Mombasa and would need a prescription for PrEP. Any recommendations around Nyali area where to find a place to get one? Nyali Center or City Mall areas would be perfect.

Haven't logged in here for a long time and I have lost my old username and password, so I had to register and get a new one.

Thanks!

[Kako123]

Well I have taken matatus along nyali road many times at night and nothing did happen maybe I was lucky haha).

Are you nuts? Taking a Matatu late night? Never. Matatus have been robbed by passengers. Late night I only take a Bolt. If I move at all. During the day I take matatus frequently. Its fun. Bongo music blaring. Hilarious. I even go to Mombasa old town. The trick is only weekends. Saturday is a particular easy day. On weekdays I go to Caffesserie and Big Trees.

[Mombie75]

Very helpful. The contact will be useful. Thanks.

Can you PM here or not?

[London Del Boy]

Easily for 40 a night. A good one in Bamburi (the area not the beach) or Nyali. The only problem you will have is that over Christmas and NY it can be busy.

I could put you in touch with someone connected to one of the hotels on Bamburi beach, secure and GF?

Could get for around 33 bed and breakfast per night I reckon over Christmas and NY for a month.

Very helpful. The contact will be useful. Thanks.

[Neddy69]

Try here: https://www.sevencorners.com/.

Other alternatives: Call an insurance broker in Italy to find a plan for you or buy a medical plan for visitors from a insurer in Kenya (better before your landing there).

An annual plan won't work as you have to be back to Italy (35 days with Allianz, for example, and yes they won't offer beyond 120 days).

Up to 90 days most credit cards offer additional insurance. Beyond that what for you need insurance? It's very simple. If you live in Africa like I do. You should have 20.000 or 30.000 $ cash on hand for hospital emergencies. This is not the US. A good private hospital a day is maybe 150 $ or 200 $. The best private hospital is Aga Khan. A mate of mine went down with dengue fever. He was hospitalized for 5 days. It cost him The Grand total of 900 $. The ordinary stuff I like doctor or medication is next to nothing. I pay cash. Finish. No rocket science. No need for insurance at all. A doctor charges 2000 KES for a consultancy. Most standard medication like antibiotics cost next to nothing. Like Azithromycin. 2 dollars. Locally made. Imported stuff is of course expensive. If you have major planned surgery fly back to your home country. As they french colons and expats say. The best doctor is Air France. And if you have an emergency in Kenya in the Bush and you live there. Become member of the flying doctor service. It doesn't break the bank and covers medevac by small plane to the nearest hospital.

Mwalimu.

[Rat Traveler]

Excellent, I researched M-Pesa and it's the best way. Maybe cash for the girls.

Thank you, great advice.

I have Transferwise (now called Wise) and they have what they claim to be the best rate. You can transfer money into your Wise account, and then transfer it to M-Pesa directly from their app with the lowest fee.

It seems very straightforward and doesn't involve going to places and wasting time as it can be done from your phone in a few seconds.

On a different note: is it easy to find a GF apartment in Mtwapa once I am on the ground? I don't want to book everything in advance as I may not like the apartment once I see it.

This is a great post, because I've been wondering the same. I always bring cash, but ID prefer to use mpesa to pay the girls. I guess I'll find out when I get there after the first few.

As far as transferring to mpesa, I downloaded the app to try it out but I have to wait until I have a safaricom sim. But I did ask around about the app and I was told that you can use a bank account and maybe even a credit card. If that's true, I believe the exchange rate would be determined by my bank. Please correct me if I'm wrong. When traveling and using my credit card, my bank has always given me a better exchange rate than any of the money exchangers. In fact, it's usually right at market rate. I guess I'll try it out with a small sum at first from my bank account to mpesa, then check my statement online to calculate the rate.

[HappyFarang]

2 ways I work it.

I have 2 banks cards that give me free usage outside of the UK so I use ATMs and spend as I go.
...

Excellent, I researched M-Pesa and it's the best way. Maybe cash for the girls.

Some comments.
...

Thank you, great advice.

I have Transferwise (now called Wise) and they have what they claim to be the best rate. You can transfer money into your Wise account, and then transfer it to M-Pesa directly from their app with the lowest fee.

It seems very straightforward and doesn't involve going to places and wasting time as it can be done from your phone in a few seconds.

On a different note: is it easy to find a GF apartment in Mtwapa once I am on the ground? I don't want to book everything in advance as I may not like the apartment once I see it.

[Zimzam]

In Mtwapa there are at least two ATM places that do not charge more costs.

These are Diamond Trust Bank in Mtwapa Mall and National Bank, next to the big mosque along the main road in the Malindi direction.

There might be more banks in Mtwapa that do not charge.

A good place to change cash money in Mtwapa is the Shaban phone shop next to Casuarina on the same side of the road.

Shaban moved from the Cheers location to Mtwapa.

[Questner]

Thank you for your advice, little rain will not be a problem. The problem is that I cannot find a health insurance that covers a period of 120 days at a reasonable price. Until now I have only found policies from 300-350 euros and are really too many. Perhaps someone here can advise me on a cheaper international insurance (I do not think the insurer should necessarily be from my home country. Italy). Thank you.

Try here: https://www.sevencorners.com/.

Other alternatives: Call an insurance broker in Italy to find a plan for you or buy a medical plan for visitors from a insurer in Kenya (better before your landing there).

An annual plan won't work as you have to be back to Italy (35 days with Allianz, for example, and yes they won't offer beyond 120 days).

[Leblon]

Some comments.

-I withdraw money from ATM in Citymall, near Cafe Series. There is concentration of many different banks, and a guard.

Or I did that in Mwtapa, in big road there are several of them. There was lot of discussion in this forum one point which bank gives best rates, I don't remember was there any conclusion.

-To change money, next to Cheers there are several small shops or business. Guys for changing money are there, you can get best rates from them. They change also neighbourhood African countries money. I never changed money there, but I know many musungus who changed money there regularly. You just walk there, several guys come to ask if you want to change money.

-I use mpesa also a lot. You can send money to mpesa directly from World Remit at least, from your credit card, no need to use ATM or cash. Even bank transfer is possible but I have never tried. Girls know this too, they will ask you to send money to their mpesa. So better to say that you don't know how to use mpesa and don't want to learn. I pay also boda boda trips meaning motobike taxis, those guys don't have cash so don't expect change.

-Indiana hotel in Bamburi beach had good terms for people staying long time, once. Big Tree also give better deals if you stay long. Cheapest is still go to Mwtapa and rent a room, you could get 1500 shilling per night or even cheaper, that is what I paid for furnished room when I had long time contract, half year ago. Better to rent something from cheap hotel for short time and then look for long time apartment. Many local people rent apartment and then rent it to musungu, directly or by using Airbnb. Also some Casourina girls.

-I tried to look insurance also for long time, then I gave up. Maximum extend of the trip was always 60 days. There are insurances for nomadic people but I don't know about them, Asian companies may provide something. If somebody knows, please inform.

-matatus, I think they are safe, generally. Why I stopped using them was because it is so slow, they wait in Sanshu to get car full of passengers, and they stop everywhere if they see somebody waiting. In one way they are safe because they are big cars, if accident then it is usually other car that is hurt. Motobike taxi is so much faster but scary.