New Hillcrest Hotel Nairobi

If you were out all day and just need somewhere to lie down in a Westlands location,

New Hillcrest Hotel Nairobi Kenya provides the very basics in a somewhat run down form. It is central, quiet and apparently reasonably safe.

But if you are looking for a restaurant (other than a very limited breakfast),

internet, hot water, fan, communal areas etc then I am afraid you have to look elsewhere and probably pay rather more.

Other Holiday Hotels and Lodges 

I highly recommend the Hillcrest to family and friends. But it all depends on what sort of experience you are looking for.

Hillcrest hotel is excellently situated if you want to be in Westlands. You can easily walk to Sarit centre in just five minutes.

You can easily access the clubs and restaurants and your business contacts or friends.

The hotel is right on a very major road but in the rooms the roadway sounds are distant and faint.

Hillcrest hotel is not the right choice if your idea of a good hotel is to sit by the pool and be served margaritas and french fries. Hillcrest has no french fries and no pool - but that's just not the specialty.

The specialty of Hillcrest hotel is affordable accommodation of an African-style for people who want to see the city and consider their hotel to be the place they sleep and read and shower.

By "African-style" I mean a big parking lot and a secure front gate. A courtyard style arrangement which is cool, serene, and safe feeling.

Rooms which are painted concrete and bathrooms where the shower faucet is not confined to a stall.

Hot water is available for 3 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the evening.

The beds are comfortable and clean with a nice thick wool blanket and another cotton blanket to protect against chilly Nairobi nights.

There are small tv's with local channels in the room. Soap is provided. The rooms are large with a desk and a reading lamp and a large closet.

The Hillcrest is SECURE as far as me and all my friends can tell from personal experience. I feel very safe there.

Breakfast is included and is hearty with eggs, sausage, toast, corn flakes, fresh fruit, juice, tea/coffee.

Lunch and dinner are available but you have to pre-order (not uncommon in Africa

People who have travelled local-style african hotels before will find this very comfortable. But it's nothing like the Holiday Inn so don't be surprised.

I will stay there again every time I'm in Nairobi or at least until I can afford the Fairmont or the Serena.

As for location, for those of you not aware Westlands is just a bit northwest of city centre/downtown.

So if you are in Nairobi on downtown business this is not the best location.

But if you are in Nairobi to see the baby elephants, visit the museum, eat great food, and tour a few masai markets, then this is as good a location as any and even better than most.

Just don't try to take a taxi between 6 and 9am because of rush hour.