The Difference Between a Hotel and Serviced Apartments
The question of staying in serviced apartments vs. hotels is one many travelers now face. Although there are many similarities between the two accommodation options, there are some fundamental differences too. Hotels usually offer guests no more than a bed and a bathroom, with all chores and household jobs done for you by the hotel staff. Serviced apartments, on the other hand, give guests the option to be more self-sufficient when it comes to meal preparation and laundry for example.

(Penthouse suite at Longonot Place)
What is a serviced apartment?
A serviced apartment is an accommodation option that offers guests a fully furnished studio, two or three-bedroomed flat, or apartment. Some apartments require guests to bring their linen and towels, however, it’s more common for serviced apartment owners or managers to provide these for you. Serviced apartments offer guests a lot more autonomy than a hotel, with facilities in place to live self-sufficiently for however long you’re planning on staying.
The differences between a serviced apartment and a hotel
The key difference between a serviced apartment and a hotel is the level of service you can expect during your stay vs. how much of the cooking, cleaning, and washing you’re expected to do yourself. Serviced apartments have more facilities in the room than a hotel does. The following aspects are what differentiate hotels and serviced apartments from one another.
The kitchen
(Woman cooking vegetables in pan, freepik.com)
In a hotel, there are small kitchenettes that usually contain no more than a kettle and tea and coffee-making facilities. In some hotels, guests can also take advantage of a minibar, the contents of which will be charged to a final hotel bill if used or consumed. This is the full extent of the kitchen facilities in hotel rooms. A serviced apartment, however, offers guests a fully equipped kitchen with facilities in which they can prepare their own meals should they wish. For this reason, serviced apartments are often more appealing for anyone needing to stay in certain areas for periods longer than a week and up to a few months at a time. A fully equipped kitchen in a serviced apartment means travellers will save money as they will not have to spend money on eating out or ordering from a hotel restaurant or bar.
The living spaces
(Couple watching film on television and eating takeaway meal from delivery, Freepik.com)
Hotels usually do not provide guests with much more than sleeping facilities, and it’s rare that a hotel room will contain sofas and armchairs to create a suitable living space – unless it’s a particularly luxurious establishment. In comparison, a serviced apartment will have appropriate living space available to the guests. These accommodation options are as fully furnished as any apartment would be, therefore guests can expect to be able to enjoy a living area separate from their beds.
The furniture

(Standard two-bedroom apartment at Longonot Place)
When staying in a hotel, you will only have access to a bed and possibly another chair, a writing dress, or a dressing table. Furnishings in hotel rooms are often fairly limited, with the purpose of the room being somewhere you can keep your possessions and rest for the night. In a furnished apartment, however, the space will contain a lot more furniture, much like any apartment would. The living space will probably have sofas and armchairs, and the kitchen may also have an area in which guests can dine. As mentioned, some serviced apartments may expect guests to bring their own linen and towels, however, it’s more common for these to be provided, much like a hotel.
The amenities

(A fully equipped gym at Longonot Place)
When staying in a hotel, you can expect to enjoy amenities such as a bar, a pool, and often a restaurant. Depending on the type of hotel there may be other amenities including a gym, various activity options, and possibly resort-like facilities. Spas, airport transfer options, and package deals are often more associated with hotels than they are with serviced apartments.
For some serviced apartment blocks, the amenities can be the same but not as centred around the guests’ experiences. Some apartments will have pools, gyms, and laundry facilities in the block, all available for communal use. However, serviced apartments are much more geared toward providing guests with the option to be self-sustaining.
The stay itself

(A standard one-bedroom apartment at Longonot Place)
Hotel stays are much more geared toward those who do not plan on spending a lot of time at their accommodation and who do not want to worry about everyday living chores. Hotels can often be a more relaxed stay in comparison to serviced apartments. When you stay in a serviced apartment, the space is more inviting to spend more time in which is why they are becoming more and more popular for business trips and those wanting to explore new places on a budget. You’re able to experience living in a new place even if you opt for a short-term rental.
The cost

(A fully equipped kitchen at Longonot Place)
When you take the overall cost of feeding yourself and making sure the essentials get done. A serviced apartment is definitely the cheaper option, especially if you plan on staying in a place for a few weeks or even a few months. Serviced apartments allow you to cook for yourself and do your own laundry, saving money in the long run. Renting a serviced apartment tends to become cheaper the longer you plan on staying.
For short stays, some hotels offer all-inclusive deals that can work out cheaper and are ideal for short breaks away from work. However, as a general rule, hotel stays are more expensive as guests have to pay extra for dining out and to take advantage of other facilities like laundry and spa use.
How do you choose between a serviced apartment and a hotel?
(Black woman relaxing at home, Freepik.com)
If you’re after a complete break from everything and don’t want to worry too much about household chores, you may want to consider staying in a hotel vs. a serviced apartment. In a hotel, everything is done for you including your laundry. The hotel staff will make your bed and your linen and towels will be changed often. Seeing as though there are no facilities to cook, a hotel stay means you can enjoy eating out.
However, if you want to explore somewhere new with someone, or require a place to stay for a slightly extended period, a serviced apartment is a better option as it gives you the option to prepare your own meals and ensures you save money on additional services. Serviced apartments are also better for work trips, as they have more appropriate facilities to set up a home office than a hotel would.
10 Must-See Exhibitions at The Nairobi National Museum
The Museum was initiated in 1910 by a group of enthusiastic naturalists under the then East Africa and Uganda Natural History Society [currently the East African Natural History Society (EANHS)], who needed a place to keep and preserve their collections of various specimens. The first site for the Museum was at the present Nyayo House, which later became too small, and a larger building was put up in 1922 where the Nairobi Serena Hotel stands today.
In 1929, the colonial government set aside land for a museum construction at Museum Hill which was officially opened on 22nd September 1930 and named Coryndon Museum in honour of Sir Robert Coryndon, one-time Governor of Kenya. In 1963 after independence, it was renamed the National Museum of Kenya (NMK).
On October 15th, 2005, the Nairobi Museum closed its doors to the public for an extensive modernization and expansion project the outcome of which was an impressive and magnificent piece of architecture that puts it in competition with other world-class Museums. The Museum later re-opened in June 2008 as the Nairobi National Museum and continues to draw visitors from all walks of life in appreciation of Kenya’s rich heritage.
Attraction Points
The Museum hosts both temporary and permanent galleries that attract learners and tourists alike. We have the following permanent galleries: The Cradle of Human Kind Gallery; The Story of Mammals; The History of Kenya; Cycles of Life gallery; Numismatic Exhibition and the Asian African Heritage Exhibition gallery respectively.
- Cradle of Human Kind Gallery
In the Cradle of human kind gallery, visitors Interact first hand with early man and Stone Age tools. Bird’s gallery depicts the diversity of birds of East Africa arranged in family groups such as birds of prey, water birds and sunbirds. This helps visitors to envision on the different ways birds are adapted to their environment and feeding.
- Ahmed, The King of Marsabit
Nearly a century after his death, the mummified statue of Ahmed stands tall in the Nairobi National Museum. Ahmed was born and died at Marsabit National Park. He belonged to a historic breed of tuskers known for their exceptional ability to grow huge. But it was his massive tusks that earned him the first living national treasure to be designated by a presidential order. Up until his death in 1974, Ahmed was surrounded by armed guards who protected him from poachers. According to legend, he died while leaning against a tree, resting on his massive tusks.
- Hall of Kenya
The Hall of Kenya, located at the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi, is a beautiful centerpiece shaped like a gourd. It houses tens of thousands of gourds collected from Kenya’s various ethnic groups.
The gourds are linked together with adhesive wax regardless of their sizes, forms, designs, color, or provenance, and there is a profound cultural and historical significance. It indicates a sense of self.
- Story of Mammals Gallery
The Nairobi National Museum is organized on the three pillars of Kenya’s national heritage: nature, culture, and history. The nature pillar has five exhibitions (geology, human origins, natural variety, Kenyan ecology, and mammalian radiation). Culture encompasses innovation, life cycles, and cultural dynamism. There are exhibitions on the cycles of life, Kenyan history and cycles of life, and Kenya Before 1850.
The story of mammals from the large elephant, bats to shrews is captured in three themes namely, evolution, locomotion, feeding adaptation and defense mechanism.
- Nairobi Snake Park
National Museums of Kenya) Nairobi Snake Park (NSP) is one of the National Museums of Kenya attractions located adjacent to Nairobi National Museum and is extremely popular with visitors. On display are, cobras, puff adders, mambas and the large African-Rock python (non-poisonous) found only in Kenya Several species of crocodiles found in Africa, the American alligator, freshwater terrapins, and tortoises are also on display Aquariums holding coral fish from the East African lakes and rivers are a main feature of the park.
6. Joy Adamson Gallery
Joy Adamson was a colorful woman whose work continues to influence how people think about conservation. Much of her work has been memorialized, not only in her illustrations but also in books and films that have played an important role in maintaining Kenya’s diversity and richness of people and wildlife.
This gallery, which features reproductions of Joy Adamson’s watercolour paintings, honors not only the illustrator and conservationist but also the diversity and robustness of Kenya’s culture and natural surroundings.
7. The History of Kenya Gallery
The History of Kenya gallery details the origin of Kenya’s different communities and language groups, the pre-colonial period, the colonial period, the interaction among the communities, struggle for independence and independence.
8. Cycles of Life gallery
Cycles of life gallery paints a picture of the different social interactions, and cultural activities during the life stages of man from childhood, youth, adulthood and ancestral stage. Learners get to interact with traditional items from different communities.
9. Turkana Boy
Turkana Boy, also known as Nariokotome Boy, is the name given to the fossil KNM-WT 15000, which is a nearly complete skeleton of a 1.5- to 1.6-million-year-old Homo ergaster youngster. This is the most complete early hominid skeleton ever discovered.[1] Kamoya Kimeu discovered it in 1984 on the bank of the Nariokotome River near Lake Turkana in Kenya.
10. The Last Male White Rhino
Sudan is the last known male Northern White Rhino (Born 1972- Died 2018) In 2019 his skin and skeleton were transported to the Czech Republic for taxidermy, which was completed and displayed in the Czech Republic together with its skeleton in 2021.
Sudan’s taxidermy arrived in Kenya on March 24, 2023 and is displayed at THE Nairobi National Museum.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Nairobi National Museum is found at Museum Hill, a 10-minute drive from Nairobi’s city center, and only a Km away from Longonot Place
Tourists can also enjoy souvenirs at the small onsite shop and an on-site restaurant featuring a wide range of traditional Kenyan cuisines.
THE DETAILS
Admission Hours
Monday to Sunday: 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. All year round including public holidays and weekends.
Contact information:
The Curator,
Nairobi National Museum,
P. O. Box 40658-00100, Nairobi.
Telephone 0208164134/6 or 0721308485
Email: publicrelations@museums.or.ke