Monthly Archives: December 2020

Serviced apartments offer an added perk of hotel-like comforts during your long-term stay, and are becoming increasingly popular among travelers for this very reason.

1) Cost 

A huge added advantage is the ability for those staying in a serviced apartment to cook for themselves and not run up additional bills on meals, drinks, mini-bar usage, laundry and other services usually offered and charged by hotels.

Another benefit is the ability to find apartments with varying numbers of bedrooms, handy when more than one person is travelling allowing colleagues to live under the same roof at a far cheaper price than booking individual hotel rooms.

2) Privacy 

Serviced apartment buildings will typically be smaller than hotels so the number of people in the building will be far fewer and obviously there isn’t the same amount of public areas, so this also reflects a more home from home experience, so much so you could end up feeling like a local!

3) Space 

It’s certainly not uncommon to have more space in a serviced apartment, up to 30% more, which is considerable. Other key benefits is having a separate kitchen area as well as a living quarter to relax in as well as work with the same facilities you would find in a quality hotel, i.e. Satellite TV, DVD and Wi-Fi.

4) Flexibility

Staying in a serviced apartment gives you the option to eat in or eat out, which is great, particularly if a person is away for a long duration and wants to try and lead a life outside of work similar to when they’re back home.

5) Quality

Serviced apartments offer the same standard in accommodation as you will find in many good quality hotels, that’s what they’re competing against and so owners ensure the standard of furniture and furnishings are high. Bed linen and towels are provided, as well as a fully equipped kitchen, including dishwasher and washing machine in some instances (or one will be available centrally), TV, DVD

As business travel has evolved to include more global assignments and extended stays, the needs of business travelers have evolved too. Serviced apartments will continue to thrive and be an integral accommodation solution as travelers seek more space, amenities and a home-like environment.

When it comes to finding a serviced apartment to stay at, whether it be for a few months or a couple of days, there are always a few basic things to look out for prior to booking. This ensures you get the best value and achieve maximum comfort for the duration of your stay. Just with a simple online search, you’ll find an extensive list of various hotels, apartments, and other accommodation types available that offer different services for all kinds of budgets.

The beauty of staying at a serviced apartment is that it hits the sweet spot between a regular apartment and a hotel – bringing the best of both worlds. You’ll enjoy having the peace, comfort, and privacy of a regular apartment, whilst also being able to indulge in the convenience of using the wide range of available apartment services and facilities – much like hotels.

So, here are some things to consider before booking your next serviced apartment stay:

1. Location

Booking a serviced apartment in an ideal and convenient location will be worth your while, especially in terms of reaching any of your preferred destinations in the least amount of time at the lowest costs.

When observing the location of a serviced apartment you’re interested in, consider whether it’s nearby or easily accessible (maybe via public transport) to the various places you’ll need to go.

Some of which could include:

• Workplace
• Supermarket and Shopping Centre
• Public transport
• Cafes, restaurants, bars   

2. Kitchen

Another great aspect of serviced apartments is how it provides (at the very least) the basic kitchen equipment and necessities to easily cook and eat at home. You won’t have to spend unnecessary money on disposable utensils or cutleries, and it cuts the costs of having to buy take-out food – that can slowly thin out your wallet over time.  

It’s always best to inquire about the full range of kitchen facilities in advance prior to booking. Double-checking and confirming what is available upon your arrival ensures your stay in free of disappointments, and you receive the best value for your money.  

3. Facilities and Amenities

Always check what types of services are offered and whether it could be missing anything that could ruin your comfort or just be plainly inconvenient during your stay.

Here are some of the common facilities and amenities to confirm before booking your next serviced apartment stay:

• Gym and/or Swimming Pool
• Wi-Fi
• Parking
• Laundry service
• Cable TV 

4. Security

Something that many travelers overlook is the importance of checking how safe and secure the apartment is. The information may not be immediately available on the serviced apartment listing’s website so it’s always a good idea to call prior to making any commitments in where you’re staying.

Added security measures such as CCTV cameras, a 24-hour reception service, and in-room safes are some things you should consider when weighing up your serviced apartment options.

No matter how long or short the duration of your stay is, booking a serviced apartment that satisfies as many of your necessities can turn out to be the wisest choice in terms of saving lots of time and money.

When you get overwhelmed by work, bored with your daily routine, or simply want to spend some quality time with your family, what often comes to mind is an out-of-town trip.

However, these vacations usually entail extensive planning and preparation, which by themselves can also be quite stressful. A good alternative is to stay at a nearby apartment hotel to relax and unwind. Here are some of the advantages of choosing a staycation.

1. Less Expensive

Resort lodgings usually cost more per day compared to staying at a serviced apartment or hotel of the same quality in or around the city, especially during peak season. If you have to travel by airplane to your destination, your expenses will increase even further.

• More Convenient

From making reservations and packing to buying tickets and traveling, an out-of-town vacation can easily become aggravating. A serviced apartment staycation is much more convenient since you can pack less and just book a room on the spot.

• No Itineraries

If you’re going on a tour, your itinerary would often depend on the tour schedule, which can limit your freedom to relax and enjoy the place on your own. When you go on a staycation, you have complete control over your schedule and can do whatever you want with your time.

• Amenities

Serviced apartments offer romantic suites for couples who want to get away, replete with hot tubs and windows facing lovely views. Combine these perks with room, cleaning, and laundry service, and you have yourself a recipe for a well-deserved break.

Kenyatta Avenue, Muindi Mbingu or Kimathi Streets… all these have seen their names change with time, reflecting the changing socio-political reality of Kenya.

Below is what and who influenced the renaming of the CBD roads when Kenya gained independence in 1963.

KENYATTA AVENUE:

Named after the first president of Kenya, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, this is the principal street in the Nairobi CBD and remains the widest road.

Kenyatta Avenue was originally called Sixty Avenue and renamed as Lord Delamere Avenue in 1932 following the death of Lord Delamere in honour of the pioneer white settler and colonial administrator. Delamere had erected a statue at an “island” between Kenyatta Avenue and Kimathi Street outside the New Stanley Hotel.

However, in the early 1930s, the Delamere family asked the government to remove it. It was relocated to Soysambu ranch in Elementaita, Naivasha. In memory of those who died in the two World Wars, a memorial monument of three soldiers was erected on Kenyatta Avenue. Four streets branch out of Kenyatta Avenue, namely Kimathi Street, Muindi Mbingu Street, Wabera Street and Koinange Street, which had originally been named after the first, second, third and fourth colonial commissioners who were later given legislative powers to become governors.

KIMATHI STREET:

This road was formerly known as Hardinge Street, but was later renamed Kimathi Street after Field Marshall freedom fighter, Dedan Kimathi, to honour his role in the Mau Mau War. A statue of Dedan Kimathi, made by Francis Kaguru, was erected at the northern side of the Hilton Hotel a few years ago.

Joseph Gachanja, a senior citizen who witnessed the changing of street names, recalls that there was a central bus station near the Hilton Hotel and Empire Cinema occupied the current space where IPS Building stands today.

The Stanley House, built in 1902, was also based on this street and the Horse Shoe Coffee Bar was opposite the present-day Nation Centre. Kenwood Building housed the Kenya Power and Lighting headquarters while Woolworth Building, which according to A brief Tour of the Buildings of Nairobi, a book by Iwatani & Wanjiku, was opened in 1914 but razed down by a fire in 2009 when Nakumatt supermarket burnt down.

MUINDI MBINGU:

Formerly Stewart Street, the road was named in honour of Coastal elder Samuel Muindi Mbingu who led a protest from Machakos to Nairobi with natives who were unhappy with a colonial policy requiring that Africans de-stock cattle by seizing the cattle by force, taking away their wealth. Muindi Mbingu led the protest match from Machakos and was arrested when they arrived in Nairobi and depoted to Kismaiyu.  He eventually died in 1953.

KOINANGE STREET:

This street was named after paramount chief Koinange wa Mbiyu who worked for the British colonial government but was not shielded from the humiliation when the colonial government gave a directive that natives were not allowed to grow cash crops such as coffee.

Koinange defied that directive and went ahead to try his hand in coffee farming, which had been brought by the British. The street was named after him for his courage in fighting for the grievances of Africans.  

 WABERA STREET:

The street was named after the first African Isiolo District Commissioner, Daudi Dabasso Wabera, who was gunned down protecting Kenyan territory against Somalis who wanted to take over northern Kenya from Isiolo upwards.  According to African News Online, Kenya would probably have a much smaller geographical acreage were it not for Wabera. Today, Wabera’s name stands out in a city where street names are dominated by political players.

BIASHARA STREET:

It was formerly known as Bazaar Street, the Indian word for (biashara or business). The street had Indian wholesalers and shops were owned by Indian dukawallas who traded on the street. According to Iwatani & Wanjiku in A brief Tour of the Buildings of Nairobi, Biashara Street experienced its first major change in 1916 as a result of the bubonic plaque when Indian shopkeepers moved away temporarily. The street was rebuilt with proper planning with shopkeepers boldly displaying their own taste of architecture.

TOM MBOYA STREET:

This was previously called Victoria Street, after the queen and renamed to Tom Mboya after the prominent political personality in Kenya’s history, Tom Mboya. The road was renamed Tom Mboya to honour and commemorate  the  assasinated politician who was the founder of Nairobi People’s Congress Party, a key figure in the formation of the Kenya African National Union (KANU) and the Minister of Economic Planning and Development at the time of his death in 1969.

A monument in his honour is erected on Moi Avenue. In the 1950s, several key places on this road was Victoria Bar, which was a popular joint with the British Army and the Chez Joseph restaurant, which is the modern day Express Bar, recalls Gachanja.

MOI AVENUE:

It was initially known as First Station Road between 1899 and 1902. Thereafter, it was renamed Government Road in 1901 as most government offices were situated along that road such as Ministry of Lands, which was in present-day Moi Avenue Primary, while Imenti House was the Town Hall, says Tiony. The road was renamed Moi Avenue after former President Daniel Arab Moi came to power.

MURANGA ROAD:

This road was previously called Forthall Street or Swamp Road because Nairobi was swampy and that area near the Nairobi River was extra swampy.

Gachanja recalls that in the 1950s, there was a popular Indian curry house called Friends Corner Bar and Restaurant and a prominent lawn mower repair shop near the modern-day Red Crescent. Where the Fig Tree Bar and Restaurant now stands, there was the Lady Grid Hospital. The street also housed the Sikh Union Temple and behind it was the Goan Institute.

RONALD NGALA:

 It was previously known as Duke Street after the British noblemen of the highest hereditary rank. After independence, this road was renamed after Ronald Ngala, who was the leader of opposition party, Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU), during Kenyatta’s government. Gachanja adds that there was a gunsmith shop situated where modern-day Tuskys Supermarket is.

UNIVERSITY WAY:

Was previously named Kingsway or Tenth Avenue. All state delegates used Moi Avenue and University Way as they headed to The Government House (the current State House). University Way housed Kingsway Police Station, which is modern-day Central Police station.

It had the Persian carpet shop situated at the corner of Kingsway House, which also housed the Special Branch headquarters after Kenya gained independence. Also situated on that road was the Royal College, Nairobi, which is today the University of Nairobi. The Jewish synagogue is situated there even today.

HAILE SELASSIE:

This was previously called White House Road named after the Chief Railways Engineer George Whitehouse.   According to Gachanja, this road held the East African Railways and Harbours Headquarters and White House Bakery in the 1950s. Near the Kenya Polytechnic (currently the Technical University of Kenya) was the Road Avenue Clinic and the government press. 

MAMA NGINA STREET:

During the colonial era, this road was called Queens Way and renamed Mama Ngina Street after President Kenyatta’s wife. A coffee bar called Act 1 Scene 1 stood opposite the entrance of City Hall at Travel House, formerly UTC building.

There was (and still is) also the Twentieth Century cinema and Barclays Queensway branch retaining the name of the previous road title. As Silopark House, people would park at the basement and cars would be lifted to an elevated parking bay, recalls Gachanja.

HARAMBEE AVENUE:

This was the Coronation Avenue. Parliament Road and Loita Street were non-existent and instead were the railway alignment heading towards Chiromo Road.  The railway line was moved to its current location to expand the CBD.

Coronation Avenue had the famous City Hall Garden Restaurant. In the 1950s, Jogoo House was the secretariat while oil companies, Shell & BP, were tenants where the Deputy President’s office is currently situated.

There was also the county hall, which used to accommodate the councillors, which is part of modern-day Parliament premises.  Also located on this road was the Bharat Building, which was the high commission of India and the Air India office.

MFANGANO STREET: This street used to be called Jivanjee Avenue named after Asian born Alibhai Mula Jivanjee. As an entrepreneur in Kenya, he became a wealthy building contractor and owned most of the buildings East of Moi Avenue. He provided a park for Nairobians to rest, which is the modern-day Jivanjee Gardens, which is named after him and he placed a statue of Queen Victoria, a monument of himself, which was unveiled in 1904 by the Duke of Collaught.

For most people, the ideal vacation is where we take time off work for a while, completely detach from the rest of the world and focus on relaxing. Sometimes it doesn’t work out like that. Sometimes being away from work, especially if you are the boss, may have a negative impact on business. But the thing is, you need to take some time for yourself, so how do you do that? A workcation is how.

Here’s how to take a vacation and still be on top of things in the workplace:

1. Plan your tasks/projects before travelling

If possible, you can try to get as much done as possible before you leave. Give yourself a couple of extra hours each day the week before you leave to do the following week’s work. This way, you give yourself buffer time while you’re away. You also need to note down everything you will be working on and the deadlines. Calculate how much time you’ll spend working during your trip, then subtract that from your normal schedule and try to squeeze in the difference before you leave.

• Let everyone know you’re travelling in advance

Work on an office reply that reminds me that you might not get a quick response, or let them know when they will get a response. Like any other out of office reply, you might include the hours when you’ll be available, how quickly someone can expect a response, and when you’ll be back in the office. Either way, it helps people know why you might be slow to reply even if you’re not technically on vacation.

• Set boundaries

When you’re in a new place, it’s tempting to forget your work and just go explore. On the other hand, you can also work so much that you never take time to enjoy your travel, either. When you stick to a schedule, you get the best of both worlds. However, in case of any inconveniences, schedule some of this time into your schedule so that, even when you miss out on a couple of hours, you still get stuff done. Also, it helps to set some boundaries before you leave. Decide what counts as “downtime” and decide what kind of work you’ll need to get done. If you’re traveling with someone else, let them know about these rules beforehand so they’re prepared, too.

• Pack the right tools

Don’t be too excited that you only bring clothes with you. Depending on where you’re going, it’s not always a guarantee that the technology will work all the time. And although you’re paying for high-quality service, outages happen. To ensure that you’re always connected to the internet, bring a portable WiFi router with you. You can’t always rely on your phone to read emails. What if the battery suddenly runs out in a remote place? Consider packing chargers and spare battery in case of inconveniences.

• Choose your hotel well

You want to see if the hotel or Airbnb has the amenities you need to stay productive. Most hotels have working lounges, conference rooms and fitness centers. If you need to work undisturbed, meet with investors or make time for some exercise, you have everything you need in one central location.

• Take advantage of downtime

No matter how busy your agenda, there’s always some downtime when on vacation. Make the most of it, even if it’s just 30 minutes here or there. You want to relax and work at the same time, for example;

• Catch up on your emails while you’re on the subway or train.
• If you’re traveling with someone else, finish up some tasks while they’re getting ready.
• Take calls while you’re walking from your hotel to a nearby attraction.

Also, work outside of from my hotel room. A change in scenery is key to remaining being energized and productive. It’s easy to hole up in there with room service and cable, or go downstairs and work from the business center. When you head to a local coffee shop or bar, though, you usually get a better sense of the city. You still get your stuff done, but you explore a new spot at the same time. It can be stressful to balance both activities at first, but with some planning, it’s pretty easy to fit work and travel into your trip.

• Take breaks and enjoy yourself

Don’t forget that the whole point of a vacation is to rest. The best vacations are the ones where you give yourself a break to recharge. Take a day off to just enjoy your vacation. Don’t think about work, don’t check your emails, even if you feel like you need to. Relax.

It can be stressful to balance both activities at first, but with some planning, it’s pretty easy to fit work and travel into your trip. Don’t overwork. You don’t want to burnout on vacation. A workcation is achievable. Make the most of your journey with the tips above.

Travelling for work may make you the envy of your friends and colleagues, but being away from home can be tough for you. At Longonot Place Serviced Apartments, we’ve played host to thousands of business people over the years and here are our top tips for working hard yet staying in shape:

1) Balance

Business travel can play havoc with your eating habits and you may be surrounded by tempting biscuits and pastries at meetings. When you are travelling on business pack your own alternative healthy snacks such as nuts or seeds, to avoid getting distracted.

2) Exercise

Take advantage of our gym facilities and try to schedule some exercises into your daily routine. Business trips can be hectic, but try to make exercise a priority.  Walk to your work or meeting place if you can. 

3) Maintain your habits

• Runner? We will guide you on where the best runs are close to our facility.

• Missing gym classes? There are some excellent free workouts online. All you need is good Wi-Fi and you’re off. 

• Swimmer? We have a pool where you can relax after a long day’s work. Research shows that a cool dip is brilliant for your health.

• Fitness phobic? There are free workouts available for beginners online. Work on your fitness while you are away from the surprised looks of your family and friends. You’ll show them!

4) Get out!

Get as much fresh air as you can. Rent a bike or get walking and search green spaces. After a hard day’s work, it will do your body good and clear your mind. 

5) Cooking is cool

Ordering room service or eating restaurant food can be tough on the waistline and arteries. If you work away regularly, staying in a serviced apartment is great for you; you’ll have a kitchen and the opportunity to prepare fresh and simple food.

If you are coming to Nairobi on business why not give our stylish serviced apartments at Kijabe Street, Harry Thuku Road a try? Your body will thank you.