Nairobi, July 7 -- A growing number of middle-class Kenyans are opting to holiday without leaving town, checking into nearby hotels, villas and serviced apartments for short breaks that require little planning and even less travel.

Typically, they arrive on a Friday evening or Saturday, spend one or two nights away, and drive straight to work on Monday morning.

The reasons vary. Some check into hotels while their homes are being fumigated, choosing a short stay rather than inconveniencing relatives.

Others simply want to sleep in a cozier hotel bed, enjoy finer linen, or experience a change of scenery and cuisine.

Known as staycations, this relatively new travel segment is driving growth in domestic tourism and boosting bed occupancy,...