Review: DoubleTree by Hilton Nairobi Hurlingham

After a 24-hour travel day and a sleepless night, I was happy that our arrival in Nairobi was in the evening, meaning I could get to bed before waking up to explore the city the following day. After a 30-minute Uber drive from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, we checked into the DoubleTree by Hilton Nairobi Hurlingham at 10 pm for a quick night before flying off to a safari the following afternoon.

While this was a short stay, the DoubleTree by Hilton Nairobi, Hurlingham, is an excellent option for those needing to overnight in Nairobi before flying into the bush for a safari in Masai Mara or other areas. This review covers all you need to know about a quick stay in this Kenyan city Hilton property.

This article is part of my Trip Report: Starting Summer in East Africa including:

• My Comically Bad Luck Flying to Africa
• No Compensation for an Involuntary Business Class Downgrade?!?
• Review: Lufthansa Senator Lounge IAD
• Review: Lufthansa Business Class Lounge IAD
• Review: Lufthansa B747-8 Economy IAD-FRA 
• My First Flight on the Queen: My Thoughts
• Review: Lufthansa Senator Lounge FRA
• Review: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge FRA 
• Review: Lufthansa A330 Business Class FRA-NBO
• Review: DoubleTree by Hilton Nairobi Hurlingham
• Review: Air Kenya into the Safari
• JW Marriott Masai Mara Review: Luxury in the Savannah, a Truly Unforgettable Safari
• Is the JW Marriott Masai Mara Worth $3k a Night?
• Review: Aspire Lounge Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (NBO)
• Review: Kenya Airways NBO-ZNZ E190
• Exploring Tanzania: My Thoughts on Zanzibar
• When Flights Don’t Go as Planned: Delayed in Zanzibar
• Review: Air Tanzania ZNZ-ARK
• Mt. Kilimanjaro Day Hike: My Thoughts
• Exploring Moshi, Tanzania: What Everyone Gets Wrong
• Review: Twiga Lounge by Aspire Lounge Kilimanjaro International Airport
• Weirdest Flight Delay I Have Ever Had… 
• Review: Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa Executive Regency Suite
• Exploring Addis Ababa: My Thoughts
• Review: Ethiopian Cloud Nine Business Class Lounge Addis Ababa
• Review: Ethiopian Cloud Nine B787-8 Business Class ADD-IAD
• My 18 Hour Odd Business Class Experience: A Stop in Lome, Togo?

The Room

We booked a two twin room, which is precisely what we received. Although we could have gotten an upgrade to a proper suite, as they were available, all the suites had only king-size beds, so this was a preferred option.

The room was clean and tidy, which is all I can ask for in a quick overnight like this. There was a rack to lay a suitcase upon entering the room, which is a preferred feature of mine. There is also a closet to the left of the entrance door that holds the safe. 

The bathroom was to the left of the entryway, with a sink immediately in front, the toilet to the left, and the shower to the right. I am always a fan of hotels with proper stand-up showers instead of bathtub combos, although families with small children might find it more challenging. 

The room has a small mini bar with some water, which was helpful as I tried to avoid tap water while in East Africa. 

In the main part of the room, there were two twin beds facing the TV. In addition to nightstands, there was a chair in the corner with a small table as well as a desk and office chair in the other corner. The room was nothing particularly over the top but a great place to sleep and recharge before continuing onwards. 

Our view wasn’t great, being at the same level as a rooftop, but given the briefness of our stay and that we did not spend any time in the room aside from sleeping, it was certainly okay with me. 

The Hotel

The hotel was quite nice and one of the nicest DoubleTrees I have stayed in. The lobby was a grand foyer with a large chandelier and a check-in desk to the right. 

To get to the lobby, after passing the front gate in our Uber, we needed to go through security and have our bags x-rayed, which was a first for me. I appreciate their respect for detail with security, which made me feel very safe at the property. 

In the area behind the lobby was the restaurant and bar, which hosted some people watching soccer when they arrived, as well as the breakfast buffet the following morning. Further, behind the check-in desk were several ballrooms and conferencing spaces that hosted an event the following afternoon. 

Just to the right of the restaurant area was the outdoor pool, which was located in the courtyard. It looked nice, but we got no chance to use it during our brief stay. 

Additionally, behind the pool was the gym, which I used to tire myself out shortly after arriving. All the necessities were held in the gym with some strong air conditioning, all I could need.

Overall, the property itself was nothing over the top but clean and had all the necessities. I would recommend it and go as far as to say that it is one of the nicer DoubleTrees I have ever visited. 

Food and Beverage

The only meal I ended up having at the hotel was breakfast. As a Hilton Diamond member, we received two complimentary breakfasts, which provided access to the buffet. 

The buffet had a lot of variety, from made-to-order eggs and other warm options to fruits, cheeses, and pastries. There was also an extensive selection of juices, and immediately after sitting down, we had the option to order an assortment of teas or coffees. 

Definitely, a solid breakfast buffet that filled me up for a day of exploring Nairobi, and it had enough variety to please anyone. 

Booking the DoubleTree by Hilton Nairobi Hurlingham

We booked the DoubleTree by Hilton Nairobi Hurlingham for just about ~$96 a night plus taxes. The total came to just about $120, factoring in everything. This seemed very acceptable for the service received and compared to other similar hotels. 

Alternatively, we could have used Hilton Honors points, but unfortunately, at the cost of 40,000 points per night, we were better off paying cash for this stay.

We also earned about 3,000 Hilton Points from this stay thanks to a quarterly bonus points promotion and check-in benefits, equivalent to about $15 back on the visit.

The Last Point

The DoubleTree by Hilton Nairobi Hurlingham was a comfortable place to stay the night before flying to our safari the following morning. The rooms were neat and clean, and the beds were comfortable.

Add in complimentary breakfast, and we were set for a quick but good stay in Nairobi, just a short distance from the attractions we wanted to see or the airport we needed to fly out of.