Best Zanzibar hotels near Stone Town Beach
For a thousand years, Zanzibar was one of the worlds crossroads of trade, with Persians, Arabs and Europeans attracted to its exotic exports. Stone Towns architecture is testimony to that cultural heritage. Masterfully restored, the Zanzibar Serena Hotel occupies two historic seafront buildings within the town, commanding majestic views of the Indian Ocean.The hotel offers the best in island hospitality. All bedrooms overlook the azure waters of the Indian ocean while the interiors echo Zanzibars rich Arabian heritage.Dining is a feast of variety, with local seafood reflecting many cultural influences. Transport is free to the private Mangapwani Beach with its exclusive beach and water sports activities. There are also excursions to the spice gardens and Jozani Forest.
Overall 9,0 Excellent
Based on 396 reviews
All reviews
- All reviews
Excellent
10,0
Pros: The staff was amazing and gracious. The gentleman who took our specific request ( don’t remember his name, it started with ‘M’ was so wonderful and helpful and Amina was also so gracious.
Excellent
10,0
Pros: Fantastic: room, bell man, staff, bar and breakfast!!!
Excellent
8,8
Pros: Lovely service, old world charm, fantastic central location
Excellent
9,6
Pros: The staff were amazing and friendly.
Excellent
9,6
Pros: Wonderful staff, the views, the character of this hotel a
Okay
5,0
Pros: The staff were very friendly and eager to help. However we were given some incorrecr information which completely derailed our plans for the final night.
Good
6,3
Pros: Massage
Excellent
10,0
Pros: Serena Hotel was our first stop in Zanzibar on what has turned out to be one of the best trip of our lives. We spent two nights in stone town at the Serena Hotel. The hotel is really quite a heritage in stone town. Fantastically located, just a short walk from the old city. An excellent breakfast spread and really charming room which still has lots of classic touches that make it quite authentic. Tip: book a sun down dinner at the Emerson Spice which is a 10 min walk from the hotel! And book in advance to get the roof top/terrace!
Excellent
10,0
Pros: Perfect location, and an easy walk to main sites in Stone Town. Mollel at reception was very helpful in booking two nice excursions for me on a very short notice. Yousif Kabir at reception is also very nice and kind. Rabia, Amina at reception and another lady that I cannot recall her name unfortunately. The hotel terrace overlooking the Indian ocean is very nice. I could spend hours just sitting there. Restaurants are very good with excellent quality and taste of food. Excellent service too. Housekeeping is excellent too and very kind and helpful. If I visit Stone Town again, very likely I will stay at the same hotel.
Details
Reviews
Overall 9,0 Excellent
Based on 396 reviews
Location
9,6
Service
9,5
Room
8,0
Breakfast
6,9
Amenities
5,8
Comfort
3,6
10,0 Excellent
Pros: The staff was amazing and gracious. The gentleman who took our specific request ( don’t remember his name, it started with ‘M’ was so wonderful and helpful and Amina was also so gracious.
Cons: Nothing, we loved it.
10,0 Excellent
Pros: Fantastic: room, bell man, staff, bar and breakfast!!!
Cons: Would Like to check out a bit later than 10.
8,8 Excellent
Pros: Lovely service, old world charm, fantastic central location
Cons:
9,6 Excellent
Pros: The staff were amazing and friendly.
Cons: Nothing
9,6 Excellent
Pros: Wonderful staff, the views, the character of this hotel a
Cons:
5,0 Okay
Pros: The staff were very friendly and eager to help. However we were given some incorrecr information which completely derailed our plans for the final night.
Cons: The room we stayed in was poorly located and didn't catch any breeze and so was stiflingly hot and the a/c was glacial. A ceiling fan might be a possible option to ensure the rooms can stay cool. The bathroom was ridiculously small and in need of some upgrades to the fittings, particularly the taps and the showerhead which were encrusted with lime from the water. The sad little shower curtain was not a great look either. The breakfast has been the worst breakfast I have had at a supposedly 5* hotel. Both the hot and cold options were severely limited and underwhelming. The food was not particularly tasty either.
6,3 Good
Pros: Massage
Cons: Incompetence in planning a birthday
10,0 Excellent
Pros: Serena Hotel was our first stop in Zanzibar on what has turned out to be one of the best trip of our lives. We spent two nights in stone town at the Serena Hotel. The hotel is really quite a heritage in stone town. Fantastically located, just a short walk from the old city. An excellent breakfast spread and really charming room which still has lots of classic touches that make it quite authentic. Tip: book a sun down dinner at the Emerson Spice which is a 10 min walk from the hotel! And book in advance to get the roof top/terrace!
Cons: There was a wedding on our last night and whilst it was quite entertaining to watch, I do wish the hotel had informed us as we could not go to bed until after 11pm when the wedding ended.
10,0 Excellent
Pros: Perfect location, and an easy walk to main sites in Stone Town. Mollel at reception was very helpful in booking two nice excursions for me on a very short notice. Yousif Kabir at reception is also very nice and kind. Rabia, Amina at reception and another lady that I cannot recall her name unfortunately. The hotel terrace overlooking the Indian ocean is very nice. I could spend hours just sitting there. Restaurants are very good with excellent quality and taste of food. Excellent service too. Housekeeping is excellent too and very kind and helpful. If I visit Stone Town again, very likely I will stay at the same hotel.
Cons: Nothing I can think of
For a thousand years, Zanzibar was one of the worlds crossroads of trade, with Persians, Arabs and Europeans attracted to its exotic exports. Stone Towns architecture is testimony to that cultural heritage. Masterfully restored, the Zanzibar Serena Hotel occupies two historic seafront buildings within the town, commanding majestic views of the Indian Ocean.The hotel offers the best in island hospitality. All bedrooms overlook the azure waters of the Indian ocean while the interiors echo Zanzibars rich Arabian heritage.Dining is a feast of variety, with local seafood reflecting many cultural influences. Transport is free to the private Mangapwani Beach with its exclusive beach and water sports activities. There are also excursions to the spice gardens and Jozani Forest.
Zanzibar Palace Hotel is in the heart of Zanzibar Town, within a 5-minute walk of House of Wonders and Christ Church Cathedral. Featured amenities include express check-in, express check-out, and complimentary newspapers in the lobby. For a surcharge, guests may use a roundtrip airport shuttle (available 24 hours) and a ferry terminal shuttle.
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Overall 9,2 Excellent
Based on 58 reviews
All reviews
- All reviews
Excellent
10,0
Pros: This is such a beautiful venue with a unique local flair, super friendly & accommodating staff and great food as well. Rooms are very spacious, comfortable & clean, everything you could ask for. As for Danielle, the new hotel manager, she is such a sweetheart and has quite the life story. Don’t even think about it, you’ve found the perfect place!
Good
6,7
Pros: Interesting location, large room, helpful staff.
Excellent
9,2
Pros: The staff is absolutely lovely and caters to your every wish. The place is absolutely clean and well furnished, so you can relax and enjoy your stay.
Excellent
8,0
Pros: The hotel was a wonderful gem nestled amongst the streets of stone town. Walking distance from the ferry we arrived early and could drop our bags and get information on the city from the really helpful staff. The room was beautifully furnished. Breakfast was plentiful with a wonderful addition of coffee and tea in brought to our room in the morning. We had a fabulous stay.
Excellent
10,0
Pros: loved this authentic boutique hotel in the heart of old Zanzibar stone town
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Details
Reviews
Overall 9,2 Excellent
Based on 58 reviews
Food
10,0
Location
10,0
Vibe
10,0
Service
9,6
Room
9,0
Cleanliness
8,8
10,0 Excellent
Pros: This is such a beautiful venue with a unique local flair, super friendly & accommodating staff and great food as well. Rooms are very spacious, comfortable & clean, everything you could ask for. As for Danielle, the new hotel manager, she is such a sweetheart and has quite the life story. Don’t even think about it, you’ve found the perfect place!
Cons:
6,7 Good
Pros: Interesting location, large room, helpful staff.
Cons: AC master control was centralized and turned off during the day making staying in the room extremely uncomfortable, even between breakfast and check-out at 11AM.
9,2 Excellent
Pros: The staff is absolutely lovely and caters to your every wish. The place is absolutely clean and well furnished, so you can relax and enjoy your stay.
Cons:
8,0 Excellent
Pros: The hotel was a wonderful gem nestled amongst the streets of stone town. Walking distance from the ferry we arrived early and could drop our bags and get information on the city from the really helpful staff. The room was beautifully furnished. Breakfast was plentiful with a wonderful addition of coffee and tea in brought to our room in the morning. We had a fabulous stay.
Cons: Nothing! We had a great stay.
10,0 Excellent
Pros: loved this authentic boutique hotel in the heart of old Zanzibar stone town
Cons:
Zanzibar Palace Hotel is in the heart of Zanzibar Town, within a 5-minute walk of House of Wonders and Christ Church Cathedral. Featured amenities include express check-in, express check-out, and complimentary newspapers in the lobby. For a surcharge, guests may use a roundtrip airport shuttle (available 24 hours) and a ferry terminal shuttle.
Nestled in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Stone Town, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Zanzibar - Stone Town is the perfect base from which to experience the sensory Island of Zanzibar. Formerly the Old Court House, the hotel has now been restored, developed and decorated with traditional Zanzibari influences. Just 20 minutes’ drive from Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, this inviting Stone Town hotel is set amongst historic buildings and offers easy access to vibrant markets and Stone Town attractions, including the Sultan’s Palace and the House of Wonders. This charming Stone Town hotel provides the ideal setting for impressive business and social events, conferences and weddings for 6 to 200 people. The conference center offers eight versatile meeting rooms and breakout spaces, a complimentary 24-hour business center, contemporary A/V facilities and inspired catering services. The top floor of the conference center is a tranquil, open space, flooded with natural light and offering magnificent views over the city. Unwind in a comfortable guest room or suite, beautifully decorated with traditionally hand-carved furniture and equipped with everything you need to relax and stay productive. Stay connected with complimentary WiFi, browse channels on the 40-inch TV and work in comfort at the spacious desk. Savor delicious European specialties in the stunning rooftop bar and restaurant or sip a glass of wine as you admire splendid city views at sunset. Our friendly staff look forward to welcoming you to our hotel in Stone Town with a warm chocolate chip cookie on arrival.
Overall 8,8 Excellent
Based on 863 reviews
All reviews
- All reviews
- Couples
- Families
- Solo
Excellent
10,0
Pros: Beautiful and clean hotel, very friendly staff, great location. The beach is a 2 min walk. Breakfast is great.
Good
7,9
Pros: Location and breakfast
Okay
4,2
Pros: The location.
Excellent
9,2
Pros: Great location and service.
Excellent
8,8
Pros: Great Location! Literally in walking distance to everything in a very safe quiet area of Stonetown. Great little gym and mini fridge in the room. The staff at this hotel are so amazing!
Excellent
10,0
Pros: Good staff, clean & location is nice
Excellent
10,0
Pros: Very nice breakfast with a variety of choices from omelets to exotic fruits and veggies. The short bananas were a real treat.
Excellent
8,8
Pros: Location and friendly staff. Good shower, large bath towels, clean, and great location. Laundry service great.
Good
7,9
Pros: The location is very good, not far from the airport. You can shop around Stone Town, take a walk at the night market and taste the food, as well as enjoy a delicious meal in the restaurant. It is recommended to stay here.
Good
7,4
Pros: Big clean comfortable beds, spacious room, great wifi, fridge in the room, excellent tv reception with lots of channels
Details
Reviews
Overall 8,8 Excellent
Based on 863 reviews
Service
9,4
Location
9,4
WiFi
9,4
Breakfast
7,9
Room
7,8
Comfort
7,6
Location
9,3
Service
9,1
Breakfast
8,2
Comfort
7,6
Room
7,4
Amenities
6,4
Service
9,6
Location
9,3
Room
7,0
Amenities
7,0
Service
9,5
Room
7,4
10,0 Excellent
Pros: Beautiful and clean hotel, very friendly staff, great location. The beach is a 2 min walk. Breakfast is great.
Cons:
7,9 Good
Pros: Location and breakfast
Cons: Toilets were stinking .
4,2 Okay
Pros: The location.
Cons: A disappointing stay after 3 weeks in Tanzania. Reception area is small and pokey with little room to move around and tight seating. Hallways are dark. Rooms have no views. This is not a good hotel for tourists. The better rooms and service went to the large corporate customers like the aircraft flight staff that stay there. We saw and visited much nicer hotels in the area where tourists were treated as their first priority.
9,2 Excellent
Pros: Great location and service.
Cons:
8,8 Excellent
Pros: Great Location! Literally in walking distance to everything in a very safe quiet area of Stonetown. Great little gym and mini fridge in the room. The staff at this hotel are so amazing!
Cons: The wifi was awful :(
10,0 Excellent
Pros: Good staff, clean & location is nice
Cons: Nothing
10,0 Excellent
Pros: Very nice breakfast with a variety of choices from omelets to exotic fruits and veggies. The short bananas were a real treat.
Cons: The prices for excursions booked by the hotel.
8,8 Excellent
Pros: Location and friendly staff. Good shower, large bath towels, clean, and great location. Laundry service great.
Cons: We could hear noise coming from restaurant above us at times but not too bad. Recommend a floor maybe other than the 4th floor. 405.
7,9 Good
Pros: The location is very good, not far from the airport. You can shop around Stone Town, take a walk at the night market and taste the food, as well as enjoy a delicious meal in the restaurant. It is recommended to stay here.
Cons: The breakfast variety is not rich enough and the service can be done better.
7,4 Good
Pros: Big clean comfortable beds, spacious room, great wifi, fridge in the room, excellent tv reception with lots of channels
Cons: We didn't have hot water the first day. They fixed it the second, but the water pressure wasn't very good- I don't have thick hair and it took awhile to rinse the shampoo out...
It's set back a ways from road so you need help with your bags an the food in the restaurant is limited and prices are high.
Better breakfast at the Serena
Nestled in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Stone Town, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Zanzibar - Stone Town is the perfect base from which to experience the sensory Island of Zanzibar. Formerly the Old Court House, the hotel has now been restored, developed and decorated with traditional Zanzibari influences. Just 20 minutes’ drive from Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, this inviting Stone Town hotel is set amongst historic buildings and offers easy access to vibrant markets and Stone Town attractions, including the Sultan’s Palace and the House of Wonders. This charming Stone Town hotel provides the ideal setting for impressive business and social events, conferences and weddings for 6 to 200 people. The conference center offers eight versatile meeting rooms and breakout spaces, a complimentary 24-hour business center, contemporary A/V facilities and inspired catering services. The top floor of the conference center is a tranquil, open space, flooded with natural light and offering magnificent views over the city. Unwind in a comfortable guest room or suite, beautifully decorated with traditionally hand-carved furniture and equipped with everything you need to relax and stay productive. Stay connected with complimentary WiFi, browse channels on the 40-inch TV and work in comfort at the spacious desk. Savor delicious European specialties in the stunning rooftop bar and restaurant or sip a glass of wine as you admire splendid city views at sunset. Our friendly staff look forward to welcoming you to our hotel in Stone Town with a warm chocolate chip cookie on arrival.
Tembo House Hotel & Apartments is in the heart of Zanzibar Town, within a 5-minute walk of Old Fort and Forodhani Gardens. Featured amenities include a business center, limo/town car service, and express check-in. Planning an event in Zanzibar Town? This hotel has facilities measuring 161 square feet (15 square meters), including a meeting room. For a surcharge, guests may use a roundtrip airport shuttle (available 24 hours) and a ferry terminal shuttle.
Overall 8,5 Excellent
Based on 2 035 reviews
All reviews
- All reviews
- Couples
- Families
- Solo
Excellent
10,0
Pros: Location and staff
Good
7,1
Pros: The location and stuff was amazing. The food was good too
Excellent
10,0
Pros: The stuff was very helpful. The room was big and clean. The location of the hotel is perfect and very close to stone town. Also it has a nice beach which you can see the prison island clearly.
Excellent
10,0
Pros: Right on the beach Breakfast was excellent
Excellent
10,0
Pros: My husband , myself and 14 year old son spent 3 nights at Tembo Hotel on first arriving at Zanzibar. This place exceeded all our expectations ! Our hotel room was across the road from the main building in an alley and it wax wonderful. We had 3 massive beds in a massive room. At night the streets were quiet and we felt 100% safe. The hotel is exceptionally clean and food very good and very good value for money. The pool at the hotel is lovely especially as you shouldn't swim in the sea water in StoneTown ( although beautiful ..due to sewerage running into the ocean. We were centrally located to take an easy trip to Prison Island (we booked online but don't bother doing that you can just book at hotel ...also book at hotel for anything else) We did a walking tour to stonetown including market and it was wonderful. Sometimes it rained a bit which was refreshing! We also loved walking to the little market just a few meters from the hotel. The hotel doesn't serve alcohol but you can have a nice beer on the beach directly next door ! There is an ATM just down the road from Tembo hotel. Make sure to draw cash there before you move on. Our wonderful find of Mama Mia just down the road from Tembo made the best coffee and sold the best Italian ice cream . I loved everything about Tembo Hotel and will definitely go back. Its so central we could easily see all is to see before we went off to the Beach resort for 4 nights ( kwenda rocks,,, beach bungalow!!) where we could just chill. I wouldn't want to travel from that side to Stonetown. There are other weird looking hotels. Defintely stay at TEMBBO !! Book shuttles through hotel ! there are some dodgy taxis who promises to take you somewhere at a cheap rate and once you get in the taxi they say it is further and more expensive. So book through the hotel ! They refer you to trusted drivers Enjoy !
Excellent
8,3
Pros: Hotel by the sea, nice and clean room, friendly staff. The breakfast is varied and tasteful. I'll be back
Good
7,9
Pros: We stayed at the Freddie mercury apartment. The building is a little away from the main hotel and apartments. Would recommend staying at the hotel over the apartments. The feel is better.
Excellent
9,6
Pros: Breakfast was excellent! Location is perfect to explore Stone Town. Staff were very helpful and friendly.
Excellent
9,6
Pros: Great beachfront location in Stone Town. Fantastic for watching the sunsets and people walking by and all the boats.
Excellent
9,6
Pros: Perfect location. This hotel has the best of the two worlds, located on the beach and in the middle of stone town. It is a walking distance from everything: historical sites, restaurants and bars. .The rooms and the building have an authentic style, a genuine taste of Zanzibar and its history. Many thanks to all staff members who were welcoming, helpful and attentive.
Excellent
9,0
Pros: Homely feel, very friendly staff. Just never wanted to leave the hotel. The breakfast chef is amazing and best waiter is Izaka!!
Details
Reviews
Overall 8,5 Excellent
Based on 2 035 reviews
Location
9,7
Service
8,6
WiFi
8,3
Breakfast
8,3
Room
7,2
Comfort
6,1
Bar
1,8
Location
9,8
Service
8,8
Breakfast
8,6
Amenities
7,4
Room
7,3
Comfort
5,8
Bar
2,2
Location
9,9
Breakfast
8,6
Service
8,0
Room
7,7
WiFi
6,9
Amenities
6,6
Food
6,6
Comfort
6,3
Cleanliness
6,0
Location
9,7
Service
8,8
Amenities
7,3
Room
6,8
10,0 Excellent
Pros: Location and staff
Cons:
7,1 Good
Pros: The location and stuff was amazing. The food was good too
Cons: The value for money was not too good. There was no drinking water available.
10,0 Excellent
Pros: The stuff was very helpful. The room was big and clean. The location of the hotel is perfect and very close to stone town. Also it has a nice beach which you can see the prison island clearly.
Cons:
10,0 Excellent
Pros: Right on the beach Breakfast was excellent
Cons:
10,0 Excellent
Pros: My husband , myself and 14 year old son spent 3 nights at Tembo Hotel on first arriving at Zanzibar. This place exceeded all our expectations ! Our hotel room was across the road from the main building in an alley and it wax wonderful. We had 3 massive beds in a massive room. At night the streets were quiet and we felt 100% safe. The hotel is exceptionally clean and food very good and very good value for money. The pool at the hotel is lovely especially as you shouldn't swim in the sea water in StoneTown ( although beautiful ..due to sewerage running into the ocean. We were centrally located to take an easy trip to Prison Island (we booked online but don't bother doing that you can just book at hotel ...also book at hotel for anything else) We did a walking tour to stonetown including market and it was wonderful. Sometimes it rained a bit which was refreshing! We also loved walking to the little market just a few meters from the hotel. The hotel doesn't serve alcohol but you can have a nice beer on the beach directly next door ! There is an ATM just down the road from Tembo hotel. Make sure to draw cash there before you move on. Our wonderful find of Mama Mia just down the road from Tembo made the best coffee and sold the best Italian ice cream . I loved everything about Tembo Hotel and will definitely go back. Its so central we could easily see all is to see before we went off to the Beach resort for 4 nights ( kwenda rocks,,, beach bungalow!!) where we could just chill. I wouldn't want to travel from that side to Stonetown. There are other weird looking hotels. Defintely stay at TEMBBO !! Book shuttles through hotel ! there are some dodgy taxis who promises to take you somewhere at a cheap rate and once you get in the taxi they say it is further and more expensive. So book through the hotel ! They refer you to trusted drivers Enjoy !
Cons: Everything was wonderful
8,3 Excellent
Pros: Hotel by the sea, nice and clean room, friendly staff. The breakfast is varied and tasteful. I'll be back
Cons: The WIFI connection is not always reliable and the rooms on the ground floor, in front of the pool and restaurant must be rather noisy. Ask for a room on 1st or 2nd floor.
7,9 Good
Pros: We stayed at the Freddie mercury apartment. The building is a little away from the main hotel and apartments. Would recommend staying at the hotel over the apartments. The feel is better.
Cons:
9,6 Excellent
Pros: Breakfast was excellent! Location is perfect to explore Stone Town. Staff were very helpful and friendly.
Cons: You can’t buy alcohol at the restaurant or anywhere at hotel. The coffee wasn’t good at all.
9,6 Excellent
Pros: Great beachfront location in Stone Town. Fantastic for watching the sunsets and people walking by and all the boats.
Cons:
9,6 Excellent
Pros: Perfect location. This hotel has the best of the two worlds, located on the beach and in the middle of stone town. It is a walking distance from everything: historical sites, restaurants and bars. .The rooms and the building have an authentic style, a genuine taste of Zanzibar and its history. Many thanks to all staff members who were welcoming, helpful and attentive.
Cons: Nothing
9,0 Excellent
Pros: Homely feel, very friendly staff. Just never wanted to leave the hotel. The breakfast chef is amazing and best waiter is Izaka!!
Cons: Firm up the beds
Tembo House Hotel & Apartments is in the heart of Zanzibar Town, within a 5-minute walk of Old Fort and Forodhani Gardens. Featured amenities include a business center, limo/town car service, and express check-in. Planning an event in Zanzibar Town? This hotel has facilities measuring 161 square feet (15 square meters), including a meeting room. For a surcharge, guests may use a roundtrip airport shuttle (available 24 hours) and a ferry terminal shuttle.
A stay at Maru Maru Hotel places you in the heart of Zanzibar Town, just a 3-minute walk from Shangani Beach and within a 5-minute drive of Nakupenda Beach. Featured amenities include limo/town car service, express check-in, and complimentary newspapers in the lobby. Planning an event in Zanzibar Town? This hotel has facilities measuring 500 square feet (46 square meters), including a conference center. For a surcharge, guests may use a roundtrip airport shuttle (available 24 hours) and a ferry terminal shuttle.
Overall 8,4 Excellent
Based on 712 reviews
All reviews
- All reviews
- Families
- Couples
Excellent
8,8
Pros: Best location for exploring the Stone Town on foot. Clean, comfortable, good friendly service and reasonably-priced. Good mix of Zanzibari/Western breakfast. We didn't try their lunch and dinner menu, but it looked okay.
Excellent
9,6
Pros: Location of Hotel. Good Indian food. Service of the staff.
Excellent
8,8
Pros: The welcome drink and cold towel during check in was much appreciated. The rooms were clean. The Indian food was great. The Chefs were great as they came to enquire how the food was and were very helpful in helping us what to order.
Excellent
10,0
Pros: Sunsets on the rooftop
Good
7,5
Pros: The location of the hotel is great. The hotel is a lovely old building with surprisingly spacious rooms and good firm beds and pillows. The staff (with the exception of Reception) were helpful and friendly. The restaurant food was good (other than the gobi manchurian, which was awful) and the service was mainly prompt and efficient.
Good
7,9
Pros: Nice view from the terase. Rich breakfast. Clean room.
Excellent
9,2
Pros: Every thing you just mention it. Mr. Babu was very helpful and friendly not to me only but to all.
Excellent
8,3
Pros: The staff were not friendly and seemed disinterested. They did things the way they had been told to do it with no thought for customers.
Excellent
9,7
Pros: Simple but friendly, good quality option in stone town.
Good
6,7
Excellent
9,2
Pros: The location is perfect. Also very very clean.
Details
Reviews
Overall 8,4 Excellent
Based on 712 reviews
Location
9,7
Cleanliness
9,1
Bar
8,9
Room
8,8
Service
7,5
Breakfast
7,4
WiFi
6,8
Comfort
6,4
Room
8,7
Service
7,8
Location
9,7
Service
8,0
8,8 Excellent
Pros: Best location for exploring the Stone Town on foot. Clean, comfortable, good friendly service and reasonably-priced. Good mix of Zanzibari/Western breakfast. We didn't try their lunch and dinner menu, but it looked okay.
Cons: They need to put dampers on the feet of their furniture. If there is a floor above you, every movement of furniture above you makes a horrendous noise below.
9,6 Excellent
Pros: Location of Hotel. Good Indian food. Service of the staff.
Cons: I believe it is slightly expensive.
8,8 Excellent
Pros: The welcome drink and cold towel during check in was much appreciated. The rooms were clean. The Indian food was great. The Chefs were great as they came to enquire how the food was and were very helpful in helping us what to order.
Cons: The Wi-Fi password was per device.
10,0 Excellent
Pros: Sunsets on the rooftop
Cons: Place was great
7,5 Good
Pros: The location of the hotel is great. The hotel is a lovely old building with surprisingly spacious rooms and good firm beds and pillows. The staff (with the exception of Reception) were helpful and friendly. The restaurant food was good (other than the gobi manchurian, which was awful) and the service was mainly prompt and efficient.
Cons: Our experience with Reception was uniformly poor. We had booked a car to meet our plane, but it didn’t arrive. We got a cab. When I showed Reception their confirmation email, she said that the person who sent it had left - then took a photocopy. She quoted a rate for the room which was higher than the booking.com confirmation. I showed her the confirmation - she took a photocopy and charged us the lower rate, but with a whooping 4% surcharge for using a debit card! When the eftpos machine finally worked (on the 4th attempt) it chewed up the merchant copy. She asked if they could keep the customer copy. We said no - so she took a photocopy, which the Manager then insisted we sign. We asked if they could change some money - she said no, but gave us (incorrect) directions to the nearest bank. We asked if they would need to see our passports and she said no - also incorrect, they needed the passports....
7,9 Good
Pros: Nice view from the terase. Rich breakfast. Clean room.
Cons: We ordered the child´s bed and it wasnt prepared. I send there many emails about this and without any answer. I asked many times to transfer us from the airport to the hotel and anybody answer neither. I asked many times about our early check-in at 5 am and nobody answered, eventhough I kept sending emails from different email addresses. So - administation was very very poor!!!
9,2 Excellent
Pros: Every thing you just mention it. Mr. Babu was very helpful and friendly not to me only but to all.
Cons: I didn't like to leave the hotel and continue our 5 remaining days, but we had to move to another hotel where our relatives were staying in.
8,3 Excellent
Pros: The staff were not friendly and seemed disinterested. They did things the way they had been told to do it with no thought for customers.
Cons:
9,7 Excellent
Pros: Simple but friendly, good quality option in stone town.
Cons: Kayak's price was ~$30 less than booking at the hotel. The person at reception couldn't match the rate even though I was standing at the reception desk while booking.
6,7 Good
Pros:
Cons: I didnt like that i booked big room and they give us different rooms as per available not as per booked twice i got different room as per available not booked in booking
9,2 Excellent
Pros: The location is perfect. Also very very clean.
Cons: Breakfast was average.
A stay at Maru Maru Hotel places you in the heart of Zanzibar Town, just a 3-minute walk from Shangani Beach and within a 5-minute drive of Nakupenda Beach. Featured amenities include limo/town car service, express check-in, and complimentary newspapers in the lobby. Planning an event in Zanzibar Town? This hotel has facilities measuring 500 square feet (46 square meters), including a conference center. For a surcharge, guests may use a roundtrip airport shuttle (available 24 hours) and a ferry terminal shuttle.
With a stay at The Seyyida Hotel And Spa in Zanzibar Town (Stone Town), you'll be within a 5-minute drive of Nakupenda Beach and Shangani Beach. Featured amenities include a business center, dry cleaning/laundry services, and luggage storage. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available 24 hours).
Overall 8,3 Excellent
Based on 482 reviews
All reviews
- All reviews
- Couples
- Families
Excellent
8,8
Pros: Wonderful rooftop dining and drinks area. Great location on the edge of Stone Town.
Excellent
10,0
Pros: Amazing breakfast with yogurt, fruit, bread, eggs, and pancakes or French toast. The food for lunch and dinner is also great and there’s a gorgeous view of the sea from the dining area. Everything about this place was superior. The staff is phenomenal.
Excellent
10,0
Pros: Beautiful interior. Lovely food and cocktails. Very helpful staff. Great location
Excellent
8,3
Pros: Good location. Boutique hotel with all the necessary amenities in the room. Stylish with traditional touches. Nice rooftop to chill at the sunset. Used to be part of the palace
Excellent
9,6
Pros: Seyyida Hotel is a great place- we checked in early as the room was ready, and they allowed us to stay by the pool after the check-out. Additionally, we got some free massages as we were in our honeymoon. Great breakfast!
Excellent
9,2
Pros: Loved the character of the building and the rooftop restaurant. The room and bathroom were large and the netted bed gave it a luxurious feel. It was in a great location to explore the city and night markets
Excellent
9,2
Pros: The breakfast was amazing and the staff very helpful and friendly. The local community around the hotel is also friendly - it was nice to stay close to them. They offered us a nice massage as it was our honeymoon.
Excellent
10,0
Pros: We came to The Seyyida Hotel with family, 3 kids, aged 11, 9 and 3. We took "The Apartment" and were pleasantly surprised all around. The apartment was large, clean and comfortable, staff was very helpful and location was spot on. Very much recommended.
Excellent
10,0
Pros: The staff were so helpful. The views were really nice. They let us check in earlier because our flight landed so early and even threw in a free massage because I was celebrating my birthday. It's close to everything. The room was lovely and I loved that they gave us little cookies each night as part of the turn down service. Would definitely recommend this hotel!
Excellent
9,6
Pros: Everything
Details
Reviews
Overall 8,3 Excellent
Based on 482 reviews
Beach
10,0
Location
9,2
Comfort
8,7
Room
8,2
Breakfast
8,0
Wellness
7,9
Service
7,9
WiFi
3,5
Location
9,4
Vibe
8,3
Wellness
8,0
Breakfast
7,8
Service
7,7
Room
7,5
WiFi
3,0
Location
9,0
Comfort
8,7
Room
7,9
Amenities
7,9
Service
7,6
8,8 Excellent
Pros: Wonderful rooftop dining and drinks area. Great location on the edge of Stone Town.
Cons: No view to speak of from our bedroom, but that may be the nature of most buildings in Stone Town which are built very close together.
10,0 Excellent
Pros: Amazing breakfast with yogurt, fruit, bread, eggs, and pancakes or French toast. The food for lunch and dinner is also great and there’s a gorgeous view of the sea from the dining area. Everything about this place was superior. The staff is phenomenal.
Cons: We had a slight mixup with our bills and the taco to the airport but it was all quickly sorted out.
10,0 Excellent
Pros: Beautiful interior. Lovely food and cocktails. Very helpful staff. Great location
Cons:
8,3 Excellent
Pros: Good location. Boutique hotel with all the necessary amenities in the room. Stylish with traditional touches. Nice rooftop to chill at the sunset. Used to be part of the palace
Cons: Nothing
9,6 Excellent
Pros: Seyyida Hotel is a great place- we checked in early as the room was ready, and they allowed us to stay by the pool after the check-out. Additionally, we got some free massages as we were in our honeymoon. Great breakfast!
Cons: Wi-fi connection could be better in common areas like roof and pool.
9,2 Excellent
Pros: Loved the character of the building and the rooftop restaurant. The room and bathroom were large and the netted bed gave it a luxurious feel. It was in a great location to explore the city and night markets
Cons: We were promised a breakfast box as our flight was departing early but it was forgotten.
9,2 Excellent
Pros: The breakfast was amazing and the staff very helpful and friendly. The local community around the hotel is also friendly - it was nice to stay close to them. They offered us a nice massage as it was our honeymoon.
Cons: The internet connection was not bad, but could be better, specially in the swimming pool and the rooftop.
10,0 Excellent
Pros: We came to The Seyyida Hotel with family, 3 kids, aged 11, 9 and 3. We took "The Apartment" and were pleasantly surprised all around. The apartment was large, clean and comfortable, staff was very helpful and location was spot on. Very much recommended.
Cons: None.
10,0 Excellent
Pros: The staff were so helpful. The views were really nice. They let us check in earlier because our flight landed so early and even threw in a free massage because I was celebrating my birthday. It's close to everything. The room was lovely and I loved that they gave us little cookies each night as part of the turn down service. Would definitely recommend this hotel!
Cons: Nothing
9,6 Excellent
Pros: Everything
Cons: Internet connection and check in you’re
With a stay at The Seyyida Hotel And Spa in Zanzibar Town (Stone Town), you'll be within a 5-minute drive of Nakupenda Beach and Shangani Beach. Featured amenities include a business center, dry cleaning/laundry services, and luggage storage. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available 24 hours).
With a stay at Jafferji House and Spa in Zanzibar Town (Stone Town), you'll be a 3-minute walk from Shangani Beach and within a 5-minute drive of Nakupenda Beach. Featured amenities include dry cleaning/laundry services, a 24-hour front desk, and luggage storage. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available 24 hours).
Overall 8,4 Excellent
Based on 325 reviews
All reviews
- All reviews
- Couples
- Solo
Excellent
9,2
Pros: The sizes of the room
Okay
5,0
Pros: The location, history and decor of the hotel. Read the stories posted outside each room as it offered a nice glimpse into a colourful past.
Excellent
9,6
Pros: The hotel has a gorgeous Zanzibari setting. The AC Was perfect and so was the decor and courtyard. The breakfast was average. But the mixed juice delicious. Staff were helpful and amazing, they packed me a to go because I had to leave early. The location was amazing, great boutique right in front as well on to the side of the hotel. Unfortunately I didn’t go to the rooftop! Very close to Forodhani gardens and main areas! I would stay here again.
Mediocre
3,8
Pros: Good Location. Good Rooftop Restaurant. That's all.
Good
6,3
Pros: The designs/ambiance
Excellent
10,0
Pros: the unique rooms! I stayed in Mercury room, it was amazing!
Excellent
9,6
Pros: Location is in the heart of Stone Town and hotel itself is decorated in a very interesting way. One of the most special room I've ever seen. Breakfast on the terrace with view was nice as well.
Excellent
9,2
Pros: The location was great - right in the heart of Stone Town. The hotel is absolutely beautiful as each room is uniquely decorated based on a specific them associated with Zanzibar. The breakfast is plentiful and fresh, with everything prepared to order
Excellent
8,8
Pros: Quirky is a word that I would use to sum up Stone Town and especially this hotel. There is a real sense of stepping back in time in Stone Town and despite some 'shabby chic' appearance and need of renovation, there are gems of original features and exotic decoration. Wooden staircases and richly coloured walls combine with wooden shutters and brass trimmings to create a feeling of how the Town might have looked in its heyday. This hotel captured all that wonderfully.
Good
6,3
Pros: Comfortable bed.
Details
Reviews
Overall 8,4 Excellent
Based on 325 reviews
Vibe
9,7
Location
9,6
Amenities
8,4
Breakfast
7,4
Room
7,1
Service
6,7
Comfort
6,2
Cleanliness
4,2
WiFi
3,8
Value
3,2
Location
9,5
Breakfast
7,4
Room
6,9
Service
7,5
Room
6,9
Comfort
6,5
9,2 Excellent
Pros: The sizes of the room
Cons:
5,0 Okay
Pros: The location, history and decor of the hotel. Read the stories posted outside each room as it offered a nice glimpse into a colourful past.
Cons: Unfortunately we didn't have the best experience with the reception staff and upon reading old reviews, this was not a one time occurrence. We didn't quite get her name but she was extremely rude, unwelcoming and thought it would be a good idea to have an attitude problem whilst we were trying to deal with the payment. Remember this whoever you are, you only get one chance to make a first impression and shouting at us like a fish wife in the market is not the way to go. Our second experience was in the evening with the man on reception with whom we booked a taxi to the airport. He was busy counting out cash (which you should not do so out in the open, given that your reception area opens out onto the public street) and made it very clear that we (paying guests) were bothering him with our request. With a huff he attended to us, also with an attitude problem and proceeded to get our pick up time wrong, twice. Rude reception aside, we got a bit of a surprise when we noticed a few cockroaches running around the bathroom floor and sink area, questionable health standards. Oddly enough, we can deal with the cockroaches, but the rude reception staff? No thanks, we'd rather stay somewhere else than deal with them again.
9,6 Excellent
Pros: The hotel has a gorgeous Zanzibari setting. The AC Was perfect and so was the decor and courtyard. The breakfast was average. But the mixed juice delicious. Staff were helpful and amazing, they packed me a to go because I had to leave early. The location was amazing, great boutique right in front as well on to the side of the hotel. Unfortunately I didn’t go to the rooftop! Very close to Forodhani gardens and main areas! I would stay here again.
Cons: The food wasn’t that great. Water smelled weird.
3,8 Mediocre
Pros: Good Location. Good Rooftop Restaurant. That's all.
Cons: 1. Hygiene Located in the heart of the old city, there are many rats inside and around the hotel. I stayed in the Princess Salme Room, the rats ran on the ceiling and was too noisy to sleep from 10 o'clock at night. While staying for two nights, I also saw rats on the stairs of the hotel. 2. Employees' ability to solve problems Despite these conditions, the staff members' response was poor. The rats in the lodgings were insignificant for them and they did not provide a clear solution. Communication between employees is also a big problem, and the afternoon employee didn't know or didn't take any action. 3. Untrustful Manager The manager in charge responded with a lie and a high-pressure attitude to avoid the moment. We did not receive the service for comfortable sleep after paying expensive accommodation. We had to argue with the manager to convey our inconvenience. The manager here acted like a market trader, not a service worker. 4. WiFi is not available at the room. They have very slow Wi-Fi access in the lobby and no Wi-Fi in the room. 5. Slow breakfast This place is not a buffet breakfast, but it serves an order for each menu. The problem is that it takes too much time to take an order and get food. If you have a schedule in the morning, you should go ahead and order breakfast earlier than you think. (+ Others) * The bathtub is made of concrete so it cools down quickly even if you receive warm water. * The hot water tank is small, so the hot water drops quickly and the cold water comes out. It is recommended that the next person take a shower at least 15 minutes after the shower. * There is no door in the bathroom, so you could feel embarrassed.
6,3 Good
Pros: The designs/ambiance
Cons: There was some type of animal droppings in the shower every day — clearly coming from the ceiling. The showers without doors seemed romantic at first but steamed up the room too much. The bed was rock hard and I didn’t sleep well.
10,0 Excellent
Pros: the unique rooms! I stayed in Mercury room, it was amazing!
Cons:
9,6 Excellent
Pros: Location is in the heart of Stone Town and hotel itself is decorated in a very interesting way. One of the most special room I've ever seen. Breakfast on the terrace with view was nice as well.
Cons:
9,2 Excellent
Pros: The location was great - right in the heart of Stone Town. The hotel is absolutely beautiful as each room is uniquely decorated based on a specific them associated with Zanzibar. The breakfast is plentiful and fresh, with everything prepared to order
Cons: The WiFi was a bit patchy in places but other than that there wasn't really anything else to complain about!!
8,8 Excellent
Pros: Quirky is a word that I would use to sum up Stone Town and especially this hotel. There is a real sense of stepping back in time in Stone Town and despite some 'shabby chic' appearance and need of renovation, there are gems of original features and exotic decoration. Wooden staircases and richly coloured walls combine with wooden shutters and brass trimmings to create a feeling of how the Town might have looked in its heyday. This hotel captured all that wonderfully.
Cons: Our antique bed could have been a little longer - maybe they were shorter back in the day?!
6,3 Good
Pros: Comfortable bed.
Cons: Received an indecent phone call to my room at 10pm offering a „gentle massage“, then claiming my confirmed airport transfer for 12:30am was cancelled and I had to leave the hotel by 11:45pm. Went down to reception, where I realized it was the night receptionist, who called. First he denied it was him, then he gave in and started begging me not to report him. As my transfer was actually there before midnight, I had to comply and leave. Communicated with management, they agreed to reimburse me for the night. Never materialized. They claim that booking.com refused to transfer my money back, but why should they, not having anything to do with it. It‘s exactly 4 weeks after I checked out, today and still not resolved. Very slow and unsatisfying communication with the hotel, so I guess, I will not get my money back. Very bad ending to an otherwise nice vacation.
With a stay at Jafferji House and Spa in Zanzibar Town (Stone Town), you'll be a 3-minute walk from Shangani Beach and within a 5-minute drive of Nakupenda Beach. Featured amenities include dry cleaning/laundry services, a 24-hour front desk, and luggage storage. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available 24 hours).
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