Boma Inn Eldoret

Boma Inn is tucked into the green, exclusive Elgon View neighborhood, yet it's right in a great location. The service is attentive, the food is delicious, and the stays are memorable. I'd recommend it for business breakfasts and lunches.

The staff at Boma Inn made my stay comfortable, and Mary the waitress deserves a special mention for her attention to detail. They were friendly, helpful, and ready to do extra to make guests comfortable. The meals were excellent, especially the steak and soups. Dinner is sometimes served a-la-carte, with generous portions, and on cold days they keep the hot drinks coming. Their "dawa" is excellent too. Breakfast was great overall, though there's no bacon if you're a pork fan, and the masala tea really "slaps" (it's very good). My room had a useful work area overlooking the garden, which suited me well for working on my laptop during the day. The rooms are generally comfortable for a good night's sleep, with plenty-warm shower water and excellent soundproofing between rooms. I would have liked another towel, though I got the sense staff would bring one if asked. They also leave a dental kit in the room, a small thoughtful touch I've missed at pricier hotels. It's a small hotel and perhaps not the newest or greatest, but I found it welcoming and trouble-free. It's in a quiet, upmarket Eldoret neighborhood, a little away from shopping malls but only about two kilometres from town, so the distance wasn't a big issue. Guests can use the gym, steam room, and sauna at no extra charge. The gym could use upgrades, and some facilities could be separated by gender. There's also a pool, though I couldn't use it because of the weather and my schedule. Standard rooms don't have air-conditioning, but Eldoret is cold enough that I didn't notice its absence. A fan is provided, though I didn't need it. For a comfortable, friendly midsized hotel in Eldoret, Boma Inn worked very well for me.

I moved over from Eka Hotel because of noise, and the service at Boma has been amazing. The location is quiet and peaceful, and the private pool is lovely. The TV is great for international news and movies. The rooms could use a small upgrade, with better pillows and a softer mattress. The gym itself is excellent, and there are both dry and wet saunas, but they feel sketchy because they're coed and have no separate times for women and men. You have to cross the gym to get from the changing room to the saunas. Even in gym clothes, I had little interest in sharing a sauna with a mostly naked, hairy guy.

The property is good, but overall it doesn't feel worth the money. It's a bit far from town, with public transport not easy to find. The standard room has no AC, even though it costs $100 a night. Food is overpriced, and there aren't Indian options.