Stretching your Holiday Budget

Some of the obvious and some not so conventional ways of stretching your Euro/Dollar while on holiday at Diani Beach. We hope you don’t have to result to some of these measures

But for the sake of those who would like to know, here are some points that could come in handy.

Haggle
In most places in Africa, it is perfectly okay to haggle for a lower price and Kenya is no exception. If you are good at haggling, I bet you could actually cut your holiday costs by a size-able fraction just by asking sellers if its fixed prices or not. It takes some tact but general rule is that in all those places where prices are not clearly stated, ask for a lower price.

Local Market place

Common things you can bargain for around Diani Beach include clothes, mementos, safaris, accommodation (small private establishments), taxis/car hire and . However, it is not acceptable to bargain at restaurants, supermarkets and most high-end shops. There are no rules and people accept haggling and you could actually save some money here and there.

Book your vacation to a lesser known place
There are lots of accommodation options and all come at a different price. The general rule is that well-known and established resorts and hotels charge more than the rest due to the good reputation. That is not to say that you could not find similar standards for less. If you dare to veer off the beaten path, you will find some great options to that 4* hotel that you can barely afford. Even better, try one of the many self catering accommodation available in Diani Beach.

A view of the fantastic Diani Beach

Half-board
You don’t always have to take that full-board even though it feels like your entire holidays’ meals are sorted. Ask for half-board and then find decent hotels around Diani Beach where meals go for as little as $2.5  (chicken and rice) and get your drinks from the supermarket/shops. You will find, sodas, beers, spirits and wines for a good price.

Travel Off Season
The Diani Beach high season is on between October to March and that is because those are the months when temperatures are highest with little or no rainfall. But you could avoid those months and visit during the off-peak window of April to September and probably save 1/3 of the holiday accommodation costs. Diani Beach is still hot (25+ Celsius) in the off-peak months and one will still get 5+ hours of sunshine in between the rains. So, if you don’t mind the rain..

Barter
I know someone who got a Safari for a laptop. However, it would be terrible for the economy and mankind if everybody attempted to barter their way through a holiday. However, if you run out of chips, go ahead and trade like our ancestors used to, this would probably be the endgame for you. Nevertheless, if someone is willing to take your camera, laptop or sunglasses for a service or product, well that is between the two of you.

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