Azao Resort & Spa ★★★★

"Worst experience ever, upon arrival at Azao Resort on the first night, we were placed in an old room that seemed either under renovation or unused. It had a terrible smell, and there were no towels or gowns available. When we raised our concerns, we were assured it would be addressed the next day, but we struggled to get a good night’s sleep, having to run the air conditioning at maximum to mitigate the odor. The following day, we were moved to a better room, but our experience was already marred. The dining experience was just as bad, to make matters worse, the hotel was not prepared for our arrival regarding meals. We arrived just after 9 PM, only to find that dinner service had ended, and there was no food available for us. We were offered leftovers, and I, in particular, only received rice. The hotel did not cater to my vegan diet, and when I requested a simple vegetable dish, I was informed that you hadn’t communicated my dietary needs. I was even told that if I wasn’t happy, I could move to another hotel. As a result, I went without proper nutrition during our stay, which is unacceptable for a holiday. My friend and I booked a full package massage on our last day at the resort, and it turned out to be a huge disappointment. I was completely baffled by what the older lady was doing—she was rubbing my body so quickly, it felt like she was in a rush. At one point, she even laid her body on mine while aggressively rubbing me. It didn’t feel like a massage; it felt more like torture. It was such a waste of money and a really upsetting experience."

Tulia Zanzibar Unique Beach Resort ★★★★★

"If I have to summarise our experience in one word then it would be "Outstanding". From the moment we arrived till we left, we were offered a very personalised yet very private kind of attention. We concluded our Tanzania trip at Zanzibar. After 5 days of safari which was exhausting, Tulia was a breath of fresh air. The location is right on the beach with private access. Its a small hotel in middle of a vast green space. We stayed in the Luxury oceanfront villa which has views of expansive ocean and offers absolute privacy. This room is huge with a private deck and sitting area overlooking the ocean. The cleanliness is on the mark. They offer housekeeping services twice a day. The food is amazing with a new curated menu everyday. We are vegetarian and our menu used to be curated separately and both the chefs used to make sure in person that our dietary needs are very well taken care of. The surprise platter of snacks sent to me by the chef in the room was such a lovely gesture. Front office manager Mr. Andre took great care of us making our stay immensely pleasurable. The entire staff is dedicated to your services making your stay as enjoyable as possible. Every evening we used to have great fun at the bar. The bartenders are very friendly. All our dietary needs and demands were met, usual or unusual. The Tulia family is full of warmth and friendliness. They make you feel very welcome. You completely feel at home. The hotel is very well designed. I am in awe of their sustainability practices. They produce 85% of their fresh produce, have their own chicken and duck farm, in-house supply of water from well and minimum use of plastic. Joseph from the restaurant team took great care of us in making our meal very special and memorable The dinner time is like a celebration. They arrange some sort of entertainment every evening which is like very amazing and enjoyable. I will be grateful to Tulia family for such a memorable stay and wonderful experience. I highly recommend Tulia!!!"

Pongwe Bay Resort ★★★★

"This is realy a warm and welcoming small hotel. We are very happy with all the staff, they were so nice people. The room was also clean and big. The beach is calm and that’s good. I would definitely stay here again."

Moayana Liora Zanzibar ★★★

"For those who are looking for quiet place to stay with the one of the best kitchen we have tried on Zanzibar."

Karibu Beach Resort ★★★★

"No smiles or warm welcome upon arrival. Treated more as an inconvenience from the start. Extremely disappointed with this stay. I splurged on an ocean view. Only to have a vendor directly below my balcony on the property providing no privacy whatsoever - and additional noise. There were holes in the mosquito nets, providing little protection. The open shower is on a decline that runs water into the vanity and toilet area. The floors are light in color so you cannot see it until you exit the shower and slip. I used every tail in the room to clean up the water. This was communicated with the staff with no apology, and worse - no offer to provide a different room. There were plenty as this was low season. They were up front about "beach boy" encounters But not to the extent I experienced. I was literally corralled buy so many that I could barely make it back to the hotel. There is zero security control over this on the property. There is construction going on on both sides of this property. BIG hotels going up with constant noise until sundown. I could not get out of this place fast enough. I booked and paid for 3 nights. I stayed only one. There was not one penny of reimbursement for any and convenience at all. They do have a non-refundable policy that is clearly stated in bold. At the very least, they should have offered a room that was equal to what I thought I was paying for. Unsafe. Uncomfortable. Unfriendly. In no way whatsoever, is this a quaint little resort. Management was unavailable. I left a personal letter at the desk ( loud TV noise coming from the check and desk - sounded like someone was playing a video game. I also emailed management. All communication was ignored. I sincerely hope this review helps someone else moving forward."

The Island Pongwe - Adult Only ★★★

"What a unique and beautiful spot. A perfect way to unwind and enjoy quiet space. The team goes above and beyond to ensure your needs are met. A special thanks to Raphael for his exceptional efforts in helping us explore the beauty of island and the mainland as well."

Pongwe Beach Hotel ★★★

"We were very much in need of a holiday when we arrived at Pongwe Beach Hotel. We flew via Paris, landing in the dark, where we were met by our cheery taxi driver. The journey took a little over an hour and it was midnight by the time we arrived. Shown to our rooms, we collapsed in a heap. The morning was glorious, the tide was gently going out a few steps from our room (book 14 or 15, they are lovely!), birds were singing, and there was a swish-swish that we couldn't identify until we spotted a gardener raking the sand. I dimly remembered staggering across that sand with a heavy bag the night before… We met up with our travelling companion in the dining room. Breakfast was a feast of fruit (mango, papaya, pineapple), yoghurt, and almost any combination of cooked eggs you could wish for. Plus waffles, toast…. There followed almost two weeks of indolence. Walking along the beach, or half way to India at low tide, finding good spots to sit and read under palm-thatched umbrellas. Wherever we sat, a smiling member of the team would always eventually find us, quietly asking if we needed anything. The team. They are what makes Pongwe so special. We were lucky to be there at the close of the season, when there were less guests than usual, and we got to know them all very well. They are smartly dressed, gently spoken, cheerful (despite fasting for Ramadan). Nothing is too much trouble. "Can we..?" we would ask. "Why not?" they would reply. All were exceptional. We learned about the island and Tanzania from them, things we would never have discovered for ourselves. To help you decide….the pool is gorgeous and easy to get in and out of. The beach is private and hassle free. The bedrooms are stunning and new bathrooms are being fitted this year. If you are vertically challenged like me, you might need a step to get into the massive carved bed! There is air-conditioning in every room, and a private veranda with sunloungers. The food is exceptional, there was only one day that we were uninspired by the menu and Pili noticed and asked if we would like fillet steak instead! The bar is well stocked, and Famous Grouse Whisky will be "Famous Goose" forever."

Toa Hotel & Spa Zanzibar ★★★★★

"It’s my first time in Zanzibar, I spent two nights at this hotel and a night in another hotel, all I can say is that this hotel is wonderful, rooms are clean, food is nice and above all the staffs are lovely, very friendly and helpful, I’ve been to many hotels in different countries but I can give a high thumb for the staffs of Toa hotel, The General Manager, Lucas that received me upon arrival and the best of all The Front Desk Manager ESTHER, thanks a lot for the hibiscus Juice the day I arrived and the last cup you gave me before I leave, you never knew but it’s my best and I’ll come back for it again in sha Allah. You gave me free wine lucky I don’t drink alcohol I had to return it back to you, thank you so much and I’ll recommend thousands to use your hotel if I have to and I’m sure you’ll never let them down. All the best TOA HOTELS AND SPA."

Coral Bay Zanzibar ★★★