Zanziblue

This place is such an amazing spot! We spent 7 days here after a tiring safari. This place is an oasis of relaxation. We were amazed by the beauty of the beach. Here the sand is so white and soft. The staff go above and beyond to make your stay memorable. They all have a lovely smile on their face, ready to answer all your questions or just to have a friendly chat. The food is delicious. Chef Jussi Husa, creates an amazing fusion between North-European and Swahili cuisine. We were able to taste a few ‘special dishes’ during the week, just to add some extra flavour to the normal weekly menu. All the rooms are very clean and spacious. They all have an excellent view. The SPA offers different relaxation treatments that I would recommend. This is a place that cannot be missed during the holiday. We have tried different excursions as well and we can honestly say that the best one is Mnemba island for the best snorkel experience in Zanzibar. We definitely recommend this place and we are looking forward to coming back soon. Thank you Zanziblue for an awesome holiday!

I was looking for a few days of quiet and relaxation after a packed safari with friends and this was exactly what I was looking for. It's a small property which means everything is just a few steps away, including the beach, but without skimping on amenities or privacy. Not always an easy balance but well done here. I had a queen room in the "Iliki" villa. The room itself is pretty small. Their website says 30 sq meters (approx 325 sq ft) but the bed is in the middle of the space and the closet is a wardrobe in the room. There is no additional floorspace and no other seating other than a small stool at a desk. The bathroom is spacious though, with a nice walk-in shower and lots of counterspace. Bath amenities are spartan - there was exactly two towels in the room, one bath towel and one hand towel (in addition to a bath mat.) I very much appreciated the A/C in February. My room was on the first (ground) floor and had a semi-private patio, with a lounge and table and chairs. There was also a shared dip pool. It was really convenient to be able to walk out to the pool/beach BUT it also meant other guests were using the lounges in the area in front of the room. On my last morning, hotel workers were cleaning out the dip pool and were lounging at "my" table, talking on their phones, etc. I would definitely ask for a second floor room -- better views and privacy assured. I ate all but one meal on the property and the food was, overall, excellent. Their simple grilled seafoods were excellent. Their European dishes, like the bouillabaisse, unfortunately didn't translate as well. Still, I appreciated that everything was obviously prepared with care. Breakfasts were "continental" plus a main dish made to order, like eggs, French toast, etc. There is a nice bar, excellent coffee. The menus aren't extensive and there didn't seem to be any "specials" and I was content for a few days but, any longer, I would have wanted more options. I booked a snorkeling tour to Mnemba Island thru the hotel. As it often is, prices are for a minimum party of two, so I paid double (with a tiny discount) to go by myself. Still, for a private tour, with transportation, gear, and a boat/guide to myself, the price was reasonable. I was took advantage of a free reef walk at low tide. Highly recommended. The beach here is beautiful and, at least in February, quiet with very few people and no hawkers. One last note. There were a surprising (to me) number of families here and quite a few kids. Not an issue for me but there were a few "exuberant" times at the pool. Just a heads up that this isn't an 'adults only' type of property.