I've read that the Serena is in a not so great area so I'm considering the Stanley Hotel instead. Any opinions about which is best? Not interested in the Norfolk. Thanks.

we enjoyed the Stanley last month. Old but nicely renovated. A good value, I believe.

hi LizYoung

"Stanley" is more central - if u wanna walk around town-center, shopping etc'

Stanley should be cheaper
*another option, equivalent location & price is Hilton

Stanley has the 'TREE' - since the day of the hunters, folks put their notes on the Yellow Fever Acacia (Thorntree).
The old big tree is gone by now. But a young substitute is there and so r the notes looking for a safari companion or sending regards to someone who should pass-by next month after returning from the bush...

aby

Hi Liz

We went to Kenya on honeymoon in March this year (from SA). We spent the last night of our trip in Nairobi at the Serena - it was wonderful. Very nice bar & selection of restaurants within the hotel. Extremely friendly & helpful staff (arranged a taxi at 4am when our driver didn't arrive).
We had lunch at the Stanley (my grandfather was posted there during WW11 so had heard about the tree etc). Great food & service plus right in town if you want to sight see etc. Karen Blixen museum is a MUST.

If you are interested in goofing around the city centre, then the Stanely hotel will be ideal. For quietness Serena.

Hi,

The Stanley is right in the heart of the city centre and it can get quite noisy during the day..the Serena is in a quieter location but more expensive. Have you considered the Fairview? Good value for money and has a nice location as well.
regards
Sonal

I really don't like the Stanley.
Impersonal, busy, overpriced.
The rooms are dark.
Breakfast is nowhere near as good as the Serena

My wife and I stayed at the Fairview for three nights back in July. Very nice hotel with great restaurants. The "economy double" room option was plenty of space for the 2 of us. There are definitely more business people staying there than tourists. It's not in the city center, but within an easy cab ride.

On a shopping trip downtown one morning, we stopped by the Stanley so I could show my wife the thorn tree. There were hardly any messages on the board -- it was quite a different sight from when I was there in April 1996. I guess the internet (and forums like this one) have made it obsolete.

Darren