Mombasa

[QUOTE=Steve German]I never heard something negative about the Kendash Group[/QUOTE]Ok, this my Storie:

In January 2010 I stay 3 weeks in Kendas Arccade without any problems.

In August 2010 was my second Trip. My arrival was on Saturday morning,

So I check in at 11 pm in Kendas Arccade.

In the Afternoon 4:30 am I leave my Room to go downstairs to the Kendas Beergarden for a Meal. Here I meet same of my Friends for a Tusker. At 7:00am I go return to my room, to change my dress.

But when I arrive my Room the Door was open and the Light was on.

My 2 chase was break open and a lot of my personal property was steal.

All my cash, ATM Card, all electric equipment (shaver, camera, etc.), all travel documents, a couple of shirts, a couple of small bags, etc. So the snatcher live with a big packet.

Make a long Storie short, I stay the half Night by the Mtwapa Police make a Report but the investigation without any result.

The Police questioned the desk clerk, supervisor of the Hotel, Manager of the Hotel, Security Guard and other house person but all don't see anything!

My personal injury was over 1200.. Euro.

Super start for my Holidays!

So Kendas Arcade is a clean place with a good value for the money but is not a safe place.

Many Times the front desk is not occupied, you have to wait 5 – 10 minute that the Girl is return. Every person can catch the Keys, or can pass to the rooms.

The Security guards don't look at the Hotel, only for the people there makes trouble at the Beergarden or in the Gogo Bar.

Himbersaft

[QUOTE=Jbond]Yes, interesting but only one way.[/QUOTE]Fill out the form .. departure tomorrow for one week, 344.98 euro including taxes.

Willy showed me a flight earlier for less than 250 euro, return, including taxes.

Have you really left 1200 € cash in an african hotel room ?
Have you left your ATM card in such a local hotel ?
Do you know what a travel safe is ?

Cheers

[QUOTE=Jbond]
I tried to google Susmar but no luck.


Cheers[/QUOTE]

If it is only 500 a night I hardly think they have a web page ;)

[QUOTE=Himbersaft] In January 2010 I stay 3 weeks in Kendas Arccade without any problems.
[/QUOTE]

Wow, you stayed in that noisy dump for 3 weeks! I stayed there the one night and even that was too long.

Rooms are easily accessed from the street/bar. I got the impression that the place was pretty insecure and I'll bet theft from rooms is a common problem.

[QUOTE=Jbond]Thanks for the advice. I hear Malindi is well worth a visit. Alot of the girls seem to travel backwards and forwards from Malindi to Mombasa. So I definitely will do the same. A change of scenery so to speak and from this insanely jealous girl! I tried to google Susmar but no luck. I would hope it is centralish, girl friendly, not too far from the action and the beach. Not asking too much am I?

I am surprised there isn't more chat on the Kenya forum about Malindi, as it seems to have all the ingredients for hiding the sausage and any love safaris that fellow hunters could envisage.

Cheers[/QUOTE]Seems to me, the Malindi Cosa Nostra has been quite successful in keeping their little town off the radar screen of Non-Italians. Do they just want to keep a good thing to themselves, or is there really nothing to share to begin with?

Anyhow, with Mombasa so full of goodies: where is the need to venture beyond?

[QUOTE=Steve German]Have you really left 1200 € cash in an african hotel room ?
Have you left your ATM card in such a local hotel ?
Do you know what a travel safe is ?

Cheers[/QUOTE]400.. Cash in Euro and KES, the other was the carges for indemnity for what I loss (camera, shaver, etc).

You think when there break open a hard-top case, then there have a really problem to break a travel safe or steal them from the room?

To take all the time your money, Cards, documents, etc. With you is not a real alternative.

To many stories about robbery an pickpocket.

So for my next trip I look for a secure place, but I think Kenya and Safe don't go together.

I think its easy to find a place with more Security then Kendas Arccade.

I learn my lesson and travel next time only with essential items.

So my question: How safe the apartments in Mwapa?

Maybe a arrive between Christmas and New year.

Himbersaft

[QUOTE=Himbersaft]Ok, this my Storie:

In January 2010 I stay 3 weeks in Kendas Arccade without any problems.

In August 2010 was my second Trip. My arrival was on Saturday morning,

So I check in at 11 pm in Kendas Arccade.

In the Afternoon 4:30 am I leave my Room to go downstairs to the Kendas Beergarden for a Meal. Here I meet same of my Friends for a Tusker. At 7:00am I go return to my room, to change my dress.

But when I arrive my Room the Door was open and the Light was on.

My 2 chase was break open and a lot of my personal property was steal.

All my cash, ATM Card, all electric equipment (shaver, camera, etc.), all travel documents, a couple of shirts, a couple of small bags, etc. So the snatcher live with a big packet.

Make a long Storie short, I stay the half Night by the Mtwapa Police make a Report but the investigation without any result.

The Police questioned the desk clerk, supervisor of the Hotel, Manager of the Hotel, Security Guard and other house person but all don't see anything!

My personal injury was over 1200.. Euro.

Super start for my Holidays!

So Kendas Arcade is a clean place with a good value for the money but is not a safe place.

Many Times the front desk is not occupied, you have to wait 5 – 10 minute that the Girl is return. Every person can catch the Keys, or can pass to the rooms.

The Security guards don't look at the Hotel, only for the people there makes trouble at the Beergarden or in the Gogo Bar.

Himbersaft[/QUOTE]I am sorry to hear you had such an awful experience.

I agree the security is extremely worrying.

The girls on reception are sometimes called in to help downstairs, leaving the place wde open. I refused to leave my key unattended and took it with me.

On one of my last night's just before going out and discussing the above topic the two girls there asked me to choose one or both to hide the sausage with! I thought they were joking at first or maybe compensation for the lack of security but they were deadly serious. The girls there good to chat and maybe have a joke with but nothing else, so I politely declined saying that the experience would be too much me!

[QUOTE=Himbersaft] So my question: How safe the apartments in Mwapa?
[/QUOTE]

Luck Apartments, where I moved to after a unsatisfactory and uncomfortble night in Kendas Arcade, is in a compound with a gate that is secured at night. There is also a security guard although the night guard was a bit dozy!

In the apartment there is no safe but there are numerous places where you can hide your important documents. There was a lockable cupboard in the master bedroom.

Felt much safer and much more comfortable than Kendas, but more expensive at 2000 KES a night. There are much cheaper apartment option available but you get what you pay for and some of the others I looked at were a bit squallid.

[QUOTE=Himbersaft]
You think when there break open a hard-top case, then there have a really problem to break a travel safe or steal them from the room?

To take all the time your money, Cards, documents, etc. With you is not a real alternative.

To many stories about robbery an pickpocket.

So for my next trip I look for a secure place, but I think Kenya and Safe don't go together.

I think its easy to find a place with more Security then Kendas Arccade.

I learn my lesson and travel next time only with essential items.

Himbersaft[/QUOTE]

Yes I think that is totally essential when travelling in the third world. Only carry with you what you absolutely need and the things you can afford to lose.

Personally I am a big on splitting up my stuff:

Passport, emergency credit card, ideally in the hotel safe in the manager's office or well stuffed away in a locked suit case when this is not an option. This is the stuff that I only need to access at the end of my trip or if I get robbed, and hopefully not putting cash next to my passport will make it less interesting.

I then store about two days cash in one or two hard to find hiding places. (I have two days cash on me since sometimes when one withdraws cash repeatedly in a foreign country the bank cancels the card and it takes a while and a few cards to get it back to function and I need that cash to keep playing even if my cash card doesn't work for 48 hours.)

I have one days spending cash on me when I go out. For my ATM card, if there is no safe in the room then I will write down the number to call to cancel the card somewhere and then lock it in my biggest suit case.

I only travel with one ATM card and two credit cards, the other contents of my wallet I leave at home.

In countries where I have rented an apartment (which I haven't in Kenya) then I don't take one unless it has at least a decent lock box that I can camouflage a little.

Have stayed in two hotels in Bamburi: Kahama and Papillon. Kahama actually has very decent security and security patrols and a high wall. The wall around Papillon is a four foot fence so anyone can stroll onto the property from outside without going through reception. So for the hotel stayers I think Kahama is safer.

And one last point on apartments. One of the malayas I was with rented a gorgeous one bed room apartment in a new and safe building for 10,000 KES per month, sort of annoyed me since I was paying I think 3,750 KES per day to stay in my hotel room. Probably could have rented a freaking mansion instead!

Alrighty then.

Have been through the forum with a fine-toothed comb regarding the relative merits of Mtwapa vs. Bamburi area, hard-boiled ex-pats vs. Pasty-faced tourists, rough dirty town vs. Built-up tourist venue, etc.

My druthers have always inclined toward the rough, dodgy and undeveloped. Even in Nairobi my loveliest times with lovelies were spent an average of 20 km outside the city.

Now I enjoy lazing around a pool, even a third-rate pool, and taking in some good books while on a mongering jaunt.

So my question is: without taking a matatu to the beach, is there any facility in Mtwapa proper (forgive the oxymoron) for a tourist to laze by a pool and drink a beer in between foraging for girls?

[QUOTE=Satyr9; 1101727]Alrighty then.

Have been through the forum with a fine-toothed comb regarding the relative merits of Mtwapa vs. Bamburi area, hard-boiled ex-pats vs. Pasty-faced tourists, rough dirty town vs. Built-up tourist venue, etc.

My druthers have always inclined toward the rough, dodgy and undeveloped. Even in Nairobi my loveliest times with lovelies were spent an average of 20 km outside the city.

Now I enjoy lazing around a pool, even a third-rate pool, and taking in some good books while on a mongering jaunt.

So my question is: without taking a matatu to the beach, is there any facility in Mtwapa proper (forgive the oxymoron) for a tourist to laze by a pool and drink a beer in between foraging for girls? [/QUOTE]Welcome to Mtwapa! That's your town if you like it rough and raw, dusty and dodgy!

Lots of places to have a beer in between but a pool to relax by? I doubt it. Except if you go a bit upscale and book for at least a month and are prepared to spend something like 80 k or so. In that case I'd suggest you check out Claudio's Appartments right at the mouth of Mtwapa Creek (he has a very pretty daughter! 19 or so and EXTREMELY hot and curious) or Villa Annchen.

Cunning Stunt,

Fun And Sun,

Thanks for the good information.

I have for the first two nights the hotel Kumbe reserved, then I look for an appartment.

[QUOTE=Satyr9; 1101727]Alrighty then.

Have been through the forum with a fine-toothed comb regarding the relative merits of Mtwapa vs. Bamburi area, hard-boiled ex-pats vs. Pasty-faced tourists, rough dirty town vs. Built-up tourist venue, etc.

My druthers have always inclined toward the rough, dodgy and undeveloped. Even in Nairobi my loveliest times with lovelies were spent an average of 20 km outside the city.

Now I enjoy lazing around a pool, even a third-rate pool, and taking in some good books while on a mongering jaunt.

So my question is: without taking a matatu to the beach, is there any facility in Mtwapa proper (forgive the oxymoron) for a tourist to laze by a pool and drink a beer in between foraging for girls? [/QUOTE]Hibiskus Lodge have a pool, but is often fully booked.

[QUOTE=Satyr9; 1101727]Alrighty then.

Have been through the forum with a fine-toothed comb regarding the relative merits of Mtwapa vs. Bamburi area, hard-boiled ex-pats vs. Pasty-faced tourists, rough dirty town vs. Built-up tourist venue, etc.

My druthers have always inclined toward the rough, dodgy and undeveloped. Even in Nairobi my loveliest times with lovelies were spent an average of 20 km outside the city.

Now I enjoy lazing around a pool, even a third-rate pool, and taking in some good books while on a mongering jaunt.

So my question is: without taking a matatu to the beach, is there any facility in Mtwapa proper (forgive the oxymoron) for a tourist to laze by a pool and drink a beer in between foraging for girls? [/QUOTE]Kerstins Apartment has pool and decent rooms according to my research. 1000KES a night. Chose not to stay there though, decided for the Kendas Ocean view instead. Bit more expensive but I heard it's quiter and closer to the beach.