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Smileone21
- Reviews: 3
User Rating
Alice house: Lamu luxury houses
Alice House is a newly restored traditional Swahili stone house situated in front of harbour in Lamu stone town.
Features:
Offers 2 double bedrooms with en-suite 4 bathrooms, library, dining room and coffee lounge
Jacuzzi spa added for refreshing and soothing
Shaded rooftop with panoramic views
Boat trips to Manda island for bird watching and snorkeling
- Opinion of Price: N/A
- Related to: Family Travel, Luxury Travel, Budget Travel
- Written March 18, 2010
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Smileone21
- Reviews: 3
User Rating
Lamu House Rental: Perfect, quality rental house
Lamu House Rental, perfect rent house provider in lamu. Luxury houses, beach houses, luxury villas and swahili properties are amazing. Quality for serve is good. look them here "http://www.lamu-house-rental.com"
- Opinion of Price: about average
- Website: http://www.lamu-house-rental.com
- Related to: Romantic Travel and Honeymoons, Luxury Travel, Cruise
- Written March 10, 2010
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islandgirlmanhattan
- Reviews: 1
User Rating
Bahari and Stopover: Great Mid-range guesthouses in Shela Village
It's really hard to find mid-range accommodations on Lamu via Internet. I finally stumbled onto a site for a tiny company called nature + culture, run by a (very cute!) guy named Gabriel. His partner does all the emails, and she gave us a number of choices in Shela, which is usually super-expensive. These included private houses ranging from $60 for a room and up -- pretty good, I thought. We decided that we wanted to stay at a guesthouse and we paid $70 for a room on the second floor at the Stopover. This was low season so not sunny every day -- a slight mist but the sun broke through most days. But I think we got a deal because of the season. Stopover is a really beautiful place. Our room was ENORMOUS and there is a wonderful protected verandah with a very romantic daybed. The hotel down the beach that's similar is Shela Bahari, and it's got it's own charm -- similar but with a slightly different vibe. Either of the places are great. I think that if I went back I'd try one of the private houses, but I might go back to Stopover, just to be right on the ocean. Gabriel's website is www.lamutravel.com. As far as I know, it's the only way to book these places other than showing up....
Unique Quality: The verandahs are extraordinary. You are right on the sea. The nights are like velvet. Wonderful breeze. Friendly and very efficient staff, restaurant downstairs. A real hangout so you can meet some of the local movers and shakers but quiet at night.
- Opinion of Price: about average
- Address: on the seafront in Shela as you are coming into town from the Lamu side
- Website: www.lamutravel.com
- Related to: Romantic Travel and Honeymoons, Sailing and Boating, Water Sports
- Written July 26, 2009
This one is Shela Bahari. Stopover is even nicer!
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rosysophie
- Reviews: 1
User Rating
Bahari Guesthouse: Paradise on earth....Shella village (Lamu, Kenya)
Bahari hotel is right on the sea... when the tide is in you can jump of the top balcony in to the sea (great fun, big height!). the stunning roof top balcony is incredibly relaxing, a breathtaking seaview where you can see all the dhows off on sailing trips or docked just outside bahare. Taufiq the manager is so friendly and treats you like family, on friday he burns incencse from hot coals under your bed so your room smells wonderful. hassan is also incredibly friendly and will bring you freshly squeezed juices, coffee or head off on a dhown to fetch you a beer from lamu town (shella is muslim so guesthouses cannot directly sell alcohol) and bring it up the the balcony, or hammock side!) the rooms are spacious and airy with really big beds. i was travelling alone but made really good friends with other guests as the atmosphere is very relaxed and people chat over the delicious breakfast of fresh exotic juices, tropical fruit, banana/mango pancakes, eggs, delicious kenyan coffee/tea, and in fact joined up with them to go on dhow trips- fishing/sunset cruises/too see baby turtles hatching. there are lots of captains from the dhows who will want to take you out on trips- i couldn't recommend Yusuf more (do ask for him- everyone knows him- his boat is called hippo). when he takes you fishing, he will cook you the best fish lunch of your life- freshly bbq's on the boat, rubbed in a paste he knocks up in a pestle and mortar from lime, chilli, garlic, spices and served up with fresh salad and ciapatti bread- all on board as you sail gently across the sea with stunning views and the sun shining on your back- you can't help but feel exhillarated with calm and happiness! it is so relaxing! Yusuf will also sing you swahili songs (or bob marley upon request!) with his crew mates- perhaps some drumming as well- especially if you stop by the floating bar at sunset for a relaxing beer or kenyan gin and tonic (the kenyan limes make for the most incredible g and t!)
the beach is 2 minutes walk away and stretches on and on- perfect for walking, massive stretch of white sand, camel rides available, the sea is perfect temerature. you can have windsurfing lessons or undertake kite flying. little red crabs scuttle in to the water, and the peach is peppered with exotic shells.
Unique Quality: jump of roof balcony in to the sea!
fresh juices brought up to hammock on the roof!
fabulous fresh breakfast.
dhows docked outside the guesthouse so trips incredibly easy.
staff are the friendliest i have ever met (taufiq and hassan)
very good value-i would have been happy to have paid double than what i did!
incredible/massive beach with smooth, white sands, in walking distance.
- Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
- Address: Bahare guesthouse, Shella, LAMU
- Related to: Budget Travel, Sailing and Boating, Romantic Travel and Honeymoons
- Written September 21, 2008
roof jump!
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islandgirl3
- Reviews: 2
User Rating
Private Houses, Hotels: Getting the Best Deal Means Hiring a Local to Book
Gabriel Suleiman, who runs a small ecotourism company, can find you a place that I'm sure will be cheaper than Stone House or Jannat House, particularly if you book on your own, and also cheaper than anything a company that is not based on Lamu will find for you. He's totally local, knows everybody, and can negotiate good deal for you. I speak from humbling experience, having tried to do everything myself the first time I was there. I know he sometimes books a private house in Lamu near the Fort that is actually owned by an artist, and is the highest place in Lamu -- great views. But there is another place in Shela (the smaller village and much cleaner and closer to the beach) that actually was used by an artist friend of mine -- a bedroom and a very large studio adjacent to a garden. Quite cheap and very nice, with a big, shared kitchen.
Lamu is the kind of place where it really makes sense to have a guide. Prices are VERY mercurial. It's all about bargaining and knowing people. A guide can get you a 15-20 percent discount on any of the island's hotels, except perhaps the swank Peponi.
Let me stress here: You cannot get as a good a deal on your own, period. This can be irritating but on the other hand, there's no economy on the island other than tourism, so the system is set up to benefit the locals. The cuthroat bargaining is part of the island's much-vaunted culture. So you might as well find someone you can trust, who also has good taste and good values! Saves time and angst. I spent literally days of my trip trying to do everything myself the first time and I still didn't get as good a deal.
Anyway, his phone is 011 254 734 945 778. website is www.lamutravel.com. These guys are trying to specialize in ecotourism so check out their trips to a forestry outfit doing sustainable harvesting of mangroves (run by a cousin!) and birding tours, neither of which are on the website. Definitely try to take a dhow trip to Kiwayu, in the biosphere reserve, while you are there....
Happy trails.
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bibi_kali_sana
- Reviews: 1
User Rating
Lamu Achipelago: A room with a view
Pronounced Archi-pi-la-go by the locals, thist guest house is found on the seafront,a few minutes walk to your left as you get of the boat from the mainland.Ask any of the tauts on the dockside to show you the way and they will happily carry your luggage there,dont forget to tip them once you are there(100ksh). It is instantly recognisable as a local establishment with whitewashed facade built in authentic lamu style,with a big wooden door and scarlet bouganvillia by the entrace.Head up the stairs to the 1st floor and you will be met in real swahili fashion by a mzee(old man) in a kofia(muslim cap);The rooms are clean,cool and airy, with their own shower and toilet.Be sure to ask for a room at the front of the building as these have the best view...relax on your swahili bed watching the dhows sail past at sunset.Accomodation includeds a huge breakfast of fruitjuice, fruit, hot kenyan chai(tea),and even fried eggs!With its helpful and friendly local staff, chilled out atmosphere and good location it is fairly cheap with a room for the night costing around 5euro!I would recomend it to people zho want the true costal experience
Unique Quality: The best view, very cool even at the hotest time of year with a great breakfast and friendly staff
- Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
- Address: Lamu Island, Kenya
- Phone: 00245442633247
- Related to: Backpacking, Study Abroad, Romantic Travel and Honeymoons
- Written July 23, 2006
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Waxbag
- Reviews: 596
User Rating
Helpfulness
“Bahari Guest House”: Best Hotel Accommodation
Offers airy rooms with views of the Indian Ocean. Rooms are large with queen size bed, ceiling fan, mosquito nets, and self contained shower and bathroom. Price includes large breakfast. Staff is friendly and eager to serve. Price $12 US for double, but prices can be negociated. You usually can get a rate without breakfast too, but the breakfast is good.
Unique Quality: We absolutely enjoyed ourselves here. We sat in our rooms with the windows wide open and read our books to the comfort of cool ocean breeze and sights of dowls crisscrossing each other on the sea. Great experience!
- Opinion of Price: about average
- Address: Location: Lamu, Kenya,
- Phone: 33172
- Related to: Backpacking, Romantic Travel and Honeymoons, Beaches
- Written November 20, 2005
Dowl on the sea
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stellar369
- Reviews: 11
User Rating
Email me for more info on Lamu: Hotels Inns Houses in Lamu
There are a wide range of hotels, inns, bed and breakfasts and guest houses as well as private homes for rent with or without cook/housekeeper available in Lamu. I have personally seen and or stayed at each I recommend so email me for more info!
- Opinion of Price: N/A
- Related to: Spa and Resort, Budget Travel, Romantic Travel and Honeymoons
- Written October 25, 2004
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Q: lodging "Anyone know of inexpensive lodging in Lamu, ie. private hom, expats, etc. I've stayed at the Casuarina before but I am looking for..."
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