Don't beat yourself too much bout it. Maybe Kenya wasn't visa/ETA free at that time and you probably didn't know there were affordable apartments to stay in.
Your travel goal matters too, you wanted turquoise beach escape and didn't think about adding something else to that.
I lowkey regret traveling to Zanzibar alone back then. 😩
I spent close to 2m on one destination, only to realize later that I could have combined Kenya & Zanzibar in the same trip.
One thing I’ve learned about travelling that I wish I knew earlier & you should also know is how to maximize every trip.
If you're already spending the money & taking the time off, check for nearby countries you can add to your itinerary.
Same route, twice the experience, twice the memories🥺