Mnemba Island Lodge
A private island with only 10 rooms and unquestionably the best beach in Africa... Mnemba is certainly worthy of our 5 paw rating. The island is surrounded by Zanzibar’s best diving and has exceeded the expectations of nearly every client that we have ever sent there. Exceptional! |
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Ras Nungwi - The Ocean Suite
Ras Nungwi's Ocean Suite received a surprise 5 palm rating due, if nothing else, to the fact that the suite has a private pool, bar and access to one of the best beaches on the island. This is without doubt the best private suite on the island. |
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The Palms
Palms very nearly received our 5 palm rating - it is a very good hotel indeed. The rooms are certainly very luxurious, and they have good access to a genuinely superb beach. The only issue (and the reason for a 4 not 5 palm rating), is the size of the actual plot of land; it can feel cramped. |
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Matemwe Bungalows
The only reason that Matemwe does not get 5 palms is the quality of the beach; it is so tidal as to disappear for long stretches, and the sea is rocky. The rest of the hotel is very good. Gorgeous rooms, great food, good access to Mnemba diving and overall good value means that Matemwe gets a 4 palm rating. (Some of us would give it 5!) |
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Ras Nungwi
The main reason for Ras Nungwi's 4 palm rating is the quality of the beach and its overall good value. At roughly $200pppn it is certainly cheaper than its main competitors, it is in a stunning location and has charisma and charm for its largish size. Certainly a steal for 2009 as prices have not been raised... and what a beach! |
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Echo Beach
Echo Beach receives 4 palms due to the value that this lodge offers, and the fact that it has all the facilities of a resort yet remains small and personal. The beach is fantastic and the chef genuinely has cooked for prime ministers! A truly great choice for good value. |
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Mchanga Beach Lodge
Mchanga Lodge is the newest of the self-professed 3 star accommodations on Zanzibar, and a very welcome one. We actually prefer Mchanga to Pongwe due to its great location for diving, and the fact that the rooms are properly detatched. A truly great choice for an absolutely superb price! |
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Shooting Star
Shooting Star has been around for years and is an old favorite of ours. Privately owned by a local Tanzanian and with the best views of any Zanzibar lodge, this lodge is charming and beautifully unpretentious. Couple this with the fact that it is superb value and you can see why we nearly gave it 5!
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Pongwe Beach Hotel
Pongwe has long been considered Zanzibar's best value hotel, simple and with a beach to die for. We have given it a 4 star rating, however, newcomers nearby are upping the ante in terms of service and comparable prices, knocking Pongwe off its pedestal rather. Nevertheless, Pongwe provides good value, and a great beach. |
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Baraza
A new addition to the nearby Palms/Breezes portfolio, the ethos has been to merge the qualities that have made Palms and Breezes work so well, the luxury of Palms, facilities of Breezes and smooth management of both. Untried as yet, with 32 luxurious rooms, Baraza will be the first Zanzibar hotel to cater specifically to families, while still appealling to honeymooners! |
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Zamani Kempinski
This hotel is not a favourite of ours, due to its sheer size and somewhat blockish accommodation. However we cannot deny that the Kempinski offers some of the most luxurious accommodation on the island. For those wanting a resort experience, this hotel is certainly worth a look... but it is not our cup of tea! |
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Breezes Beach Club
Breezes caters for the package market and in all fairness is probably the best of the larger resorts. As a company, we aim to stay away from this style of accommodation, but it certainly does offer what a specific market is looking for. Great for families, but for couples we prefer Ras Nungwi. |
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Matemwe Retreat
On a recent visit to Matemwe Retreat we felt sadly let down by the quality of the rooms, the beach and value for money. The service was good and the food was good, but not to the standard we had expected. In summary, fine enough facilities and accommodation, but we prefer Matemwe Bungalows! |
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Unguja Resort
Much of what we love about Zanzibar is its amazing beaches. Unfortunately, Unguja's beach is virtually non-existent, and for that reason alone we cannot give it any more than an average rating. It is a shame, as the rooms and management are both fantastic. |
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Fumba Beach Lodge
Fumba's unique selling point is that it is located away from the crowds of Zanzibar's east coast. However the area the lodge is located has poor beaches in comparison to virtually everywhere else... on the basis of failing Zanzibar beach appeal, Fumba will only ever get 2 palms!
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Blue Bay
Blue Bay is your perfect example of a good package resort, sold to the masses on cheap package holidays. We are not fans of this style of accommodation but do realise the need for this kind of market and would say that Blue Bay can cater well for families. We prefer Breezes. |
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The Z Hotel
The Z Hotel fits into a market for young single professionals who are looking to enjoy Zanzibar's party atmosphere. It is certainly not a hotel for honeymooners, and neither is it for more mature clients. Families may well enjoy the area for the activities on offer, but we were not impressed. |
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Gemma D'ell Este
10 years ago Kendwa was Zanzibar's most sought-after traveller destination. A beautiful, unspoilt beach, with a handful of $20 a night bamboo and thatch bungalows. Then came Gemma, a 300 roomed colossus, loved by the Italian market. Needless to say we cannot stand it! But it really does have an exceptional beach. |
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Ocean Paradise
Ocean Paradise is another example of package tourism at its nastiest. The hotel looks good from the outside, and does have a good beach. However the food and service are notoriously poor. The up-side is that this is reflected in the price; .but in our view it sits alongside the worst of Zanzibar's large resorts. |
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Kilindi
We see Kilindi as the new number on the island. It is expensive, but an extremely reasonable price for its bracket, allowing it to stand out on its own. The private pavilions are in our eyes some of the best two person accommodations in Africa and the standard of service simply make it a ‘must’ on Zanzibar (if it’s within your budget….). |
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Kono KonoKono Kono is located on the south eastern coast of Zanzibar, these Barefoot Luxurious Villas overlook the beach of Michamvi Kae, only an hours drive away from the Zanzibar International Airport. The advantage of this side of the Island is that it offers some of the best beaches in Zanzibar.
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KashaKasha Boutique Hotel is located on the North East coast of Zanzibar, in Matemwe, The Hotel, which is built on a cliff, has 11 luxury Villas, situated with an amazing view over the lagoon of the Mnemba Atoll coral reef.
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