According to Several reviews by tourists on Google maps, some hotels in kenya are over pricing their services. These does not mean that their prices are too high to the point where tourists cannot afford to pay. In a few words, it’s an indication that their services are substandard and do not meet their client’s expectations.
You could be one of the people who at a certain point was served with a simple meal like chips and chicken then charged ksh 1000 because you checked in accompanied by a foreigner or because the hotel you dined in is a resort located next to a tourist attraction. The feeling you get after such an experience is the same with where you pay ksh 10 000 to spend a night in hotel only to realise that you have to self cater because the hotel does not serve any meals to clients at this price.
When it comes to pricing, things can be very tricky and the answer to whether you can tell the quality of a hotel’s services by its pricing is NO.
Below are some factors that can result to a hotel being expensive.
a) The location of the hotel
Hotels located near tourist attraction sites will always tend to charge a fee for giving an eye catching view to their clients. They will not ask for the fee separately but will include it in the accommodation fee.
Unlike those hotels located in the suburbs, hotels in remote areas will also tend to be a little bit expensive sometimes to the point of overpricing their services. The reason is to cover expenses incurred to make accommodation services accessible to clients in such areas.
Due to harsh environment, some hotels are forced to spend a lot of money on security and transportation of goods needed to enable delivery of service to travelers
b) Customer care services
Most of hotels nowadays are offering quite a number of additional services to enhance business and please their clients e.g free WiFi, parking, car and bicycle rentals, pick and drop services among others. Such services will increase the accommodation fee if not charged separately.
c) Facilities
Swimming pools, spas, hot showers, spacious rooms, comfortable beds and well furnished guest rooms are some of the luxuries being offered in highly priced hotels. As a tourist who puts more focus on essentials like meals over luxuries, it possible to feel overpriced in such hotels
d) Management
Pricing is determined by the management of a hotel. One of the signs of bad management and insubordination is over pricing. There could be some staff members going against the hotel ‘s guideline to exploit clients.
e) Monopoly
If its the only hotel in that area, town or scenery, it will tend to take advantage of the demand and also look for ways to satisfy that demand. High demand means more profit but also more expenses and more labour.
Whenever you are about to book a room in a hotel with any of the above characteristics, you are likely to pay more even where necessities like meals, beds and rooms of that hotel are average. This might lead to frustration if a good bed and breakfast is the most important to you.
To avoid it, always opt to book hotels that focus on necessities. These are 3 star hotels mostly located in towns cbds and suburbs.
Would you like to book a hotel that is good for you?
Msafiristop 
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