 | Zanzibar Island Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 80 |  |
 Beach at Blue Oyster Hotel by SanguiniA
My only complaint is that the beds and the pillows were rock hard - we were joking that if we had an intruder in the room we didn't have to worry ... we would just swing a pillow in his face and that would certainly break his nose and jaw!
Each room has a terrace overlooking the ocean (except the budget rooms without the bathroom, which overlook the courtyard). The hotel also has a number of deckchairs and umbrellas on the beach, the perfect relaxation spot!
The guesthouse also has a good restaurant, with views of the ocean and good home-style food. Other guests of other guesthouses nearby were coming to eat here - so that certainly makes this place worthwhile.
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 Me on a balcony in the
Dhow Palace by SanguiniA
Very very highly recommended. And book early in high season, there are only 16 rooms here.
The Arab architecture is stunning, but the atmosphere is rendered truly authentic by the furnishing - authentic Zanzibar antiques. I especially liked the 4 poster beds - so luxurious - as well as the beautiful baths in the bathrooms. Theme: HotelPrice: US$80-120 » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averageWebsite: dhowpalace@zanzibar.net
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 semadari bed by sachara
Our room had a large bathroom, seats, a bench and table all in style, a TV and AC and a nicily decorated semadari bed. The semadari beds in Zanzibar are very high, so there is enough place to sleep also under the bed. Luckily all our friends could book their own room in our hotel, so we had no guests.
Free airport pick up, rooftop bar with fantastic views. Theme: HotelPrice: US$20-40 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: Baghani Street, Stone TownPhone: 024/2232115Directions: In one of the alleyways of the Baghani district, just east of Kenyatta Road and south of the Catholic Cathedral.Website: chavda@zanzinet.com
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 Our room at Nungwi
Village Resort by jackfruit
The Nungwi VIllage Beach resort is a nice hotel, east of the crowded hotel strip in Nungwi and has beautiful white sand turquoise blue beaches.
Ask for a ocean view room. Rooms are large with mosquito netted beds, plantation wood shutters, high ceilings and zanzibari furniture. Bathrooms are clean and spacious.
Hotel kitchen is excellent. Chicken Ndogo Ndogo comes highly recommended. Kuku Tangawizi is another speciality, but I found it too gingery.
Great ocean views. You can meet local fishermen on the beach just outside the hotel - The resort also has a diving shop. Zanzibar spice tours and Stonetown tours can be arranged at the front desk for a nominal price. We paid $15 for a stonetown tour.
It's a short 5 minute walk to the town center, where all the dive shops and restaurants are located.
$150 for 2 nights ocean view room with breakfast included.
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The Tembo House Hotel is a real ‘WOW’. It has an understated front that opens into a dramatic courtyard that has a fantastic swimming pool surrounded by the inner balconies of the spectacular rooms. Go past this to sit on the terrace and have a cold drink or a great meal as you take in the sights of the ocean and nearby islands.
The hotel is an old building that housed the American Consulate in 1834. In 1884 it become the premises of Cowasjee Dinshaw & Partners who managed trading companies in the western Indian Ocean. Their name is still on the main entrance of the hotel.
Facilities
• Fantastic swimming pool in the courtyard
• Own beach in front of the terrace restaurant and bar
• Bahari Restaurant (local and international cuisine)
• Internet Café
• Laundry
Rooms
• Most with balconies overlooking the ocean or swimming pool
• Air-conditioning
• Refrigerator
• Telephone
• Satellite TV
• Mosquito netting/fans
• Large Zanzibarian beds
Even if you do not stay here, come for a meal on the terrace. The food is fantastic and you can enjoy authentic African dishes with a gentle breeze and a fantastic view. The swimming pool is the best of the few in Stone Town. Go for a dip! Changing rooms and toilets are pool side. Theme: HotelPrice: US$80-120 » Currency ConverterComparison: most expensiveAddress: Forodhani Street, P.O.Box 3974, Stone Town, ZanzibarPhone: 255 (24) 2233005/2232069Directions: Forodhani Street, along the water, just downhill from the Post Office.Other Contact: tembo@zitec.org
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 Regal Elegance by Geisha_Girl
We had 3 days to spend in Zanzibar, and the service at this hotel was fit for an African Queen!
The Africa House echoes a sort of Old World elegance, and boasts the "best view of the sunsets" in Zanzibar from their rooftop bar.
Sunset cocktails in Zanzibar? That was more than enough to lure me into this place.....
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This is by far, the best hotel/resort in Jambiani. It is excellent value for money. Your first impression when you arrive is that the complex is like a small botanical garden. Immaculate sandy paths connect every part of the complex and there is really no need for shoes. Hakuna Matata is the pace of life here. The hotel is run by a colourful collection of Rastafarians who make you feel very welcome. Please be patient and ask for things about 1-2 hours before you need them. If you want dinner at night, you need to tell them at lunchtime so they can prepare.
Rooms are large and comfortable. Large comfortable beds have huge mosquito nets and a ceiling fan. There is plenty of closet space. Bathrooms have hot showers, are clean and basic. Leave shoes outside to keep sand out.
The restaurant is very open and overlooks the beach. Breakfast is included and is excellent. Dinner offers very good food in a relaxed environment.
The beach bar is massive and offers games and a book library. They can make any drink you want and have ice-cold beers. Music plays continuously, mostly Reggae, but they take requests or will play your own CD if you ask. Next to the bar is a hammock and several sun beds. On some nights they build a fire on the beach.
The complex is walled in except for the beach. Security is provided by 8 dogs that are let out between midnight and 6am
The whole complex is a photo opportunity. At night you can walk the beach and see more stars than you will probably ever see anywhere in the world. There is virtually no light pollution and the view at night is incredible. You do not need a torch to walk around at night because they are so bright.
Staff can organise excursions across the island to places like Jozani Forrest, but you have to bargain for prices!
The hotel is owned by Zion Jumba who will organise transfers from the airport, just email him.
*** OPEN DURING THE RAINY SEASON *** Theme: HotelPrice: US$20-40 » Currency ConverterComparison: less expensive than averageAddress: P.O. Box 2589, Zanzibar, United Republic of TanzaniaPhone: +255 747 439034 or+255 747 43900Directions: JAMBIANI - EAST COAST. Located in the north of the villageWebsite: http://www.mountzion-zanzibar.com/ Other Contact: znzmountzion@hotmail.com
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The Casa Del Mar is a nice small hotel in the middle of the Village and borders several other hotels. It does have lots of great reviews, but I am afraid I did not stay here. I did, however, find them one very hot day as I walked down the beach. They have a circular and open sided restaurant that is very close to the beach and offers some great views of the Indian Ocean. They do not serve alcohol, but the cokes are ice cold and the staff were very friendly and professional. The hotel certainly looked up to a high standard and they keep their beach and sandy paths cleaned.
Even if you do not stay here, I would recommend at least one evening meal here, just for the atmosphere.
*** CASA DEL MAR IS OPEN IN THE RAINY SEASON ***
Casa Del Mar is a nice small hotel in the middle of the Village and borders several other hotels. It does have lots of great reviews, but I am afraid I did not stay here. I did, however, find them one very hot day as I walked down the beach. They have a circular and open sided restaurant that is very close to the beach and offers some great views of the Indian Ocean. They do not serve alcohol, but the cokes are ice cold and the staff were very friendly and professional. The hotel certainly looked up to a high standard and they keep their beach and sandy paths cleaned.
*** CASA DEL MAR IS OPEN IN THE RAINY SEASON ***
Please note the fantastic pictures are with the kind permission of the nice people who own Casa Del Mar Hotel! Theme: HotelPrice: US$20-40 » Currency ConverterComparison: less expensive than averageAddress: Jambiani Village - East CoastPhone: 00255 - 777 455 446Directions: Jambiani Village - East CoastMiddle of the village. Full address is P.O. Box 4146 Zanzibar United Republic of TanzaniaWebsite: http://www.casa-delmar-zanzibar.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=36 Other Contact: info@casa-delmar-zanzibar.com
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 by grets
The reception, bar and restaurant area is covered with an enormous thatch roof - said to be one of the largest in Africa. The area is large, airy and breezy, with lots of seating areas, a library, dart board and on some nights, disco.
The rooms are all one storey, linked by wooden walkways, on several different levels. Large rooms with mosquito nets, a huge bathroom and seating area outside. Very clean and comfortable.
The beach is not private, but we didn't see any other tourists there during our stay. There were a few touts on the beach, but we didn't find them intrusive.
From the beach the hotel can arrange kayaking and there is bicycle hire available.
Charlie, the resident entertainer, tried his best to involve eveyone in the activities. For some people this would be ideal, for us it smacked of Holiday Camps. We hated the loud music by the swimming pool and the organised volley ball etc, but that is purely a question of peronal taste.
The food was excellent, a buffet dinner with a choice of international and local dishes, always something tasty and interesting. Very friendly and helpful staff.
The hotel really is miles from anywhere - six miles down a rutted dirt track from the main road, with miles of palm trees on three sides and the ocean on the fourth. Nearest public transport six miles away, and very infrequent. Taxis expensive as they have to travel 1 1/2 hours from Stone Town before they pick you up. The hotel can arrange organised excursions, but they are expensive, especially if no-one else wants to join in (most people there during our visit just wanted to laze by the pool and weren't interested in seeing the island) Theme: HotelDirections: On the east coast about 1 1/2 hours drive from Stone Town. The last six miles along a few pot-holes joined together by a dirt track.
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 So many books......so little
time by Geisha_Girl
You also have access to their complimentary internet access in this room.
(The morning of departure to Zanzibar, I had completely lost my voice.......first time ever in my life! So the internet access was a great way for me to email loved ones and explain why I couldn't phone them!!! So yes, I was the "Mute Geisha" in Zanzibar........made for some pretty hilarious stories. Trying to do ~sign language~ in Swahili is no easy task!!)
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