Pongwe Beach Hotel

We stayed for four very enjoyable nights at Pongwe Beach Hotel. It is a small tranquil hotel right on the white sandy beach of the turquoise Indian Ocean. It really is a slice of paradise. Our thatched African styled semi-detached accommodation was as close to the beach as you could get with a spectacular view of the ocean from the sunbeds resting on the terrace. Our room was clean and spacious. It had good quiet air conditioning and a ceiling fan. There was also a mosquito net over the four poster large firm but comfortable double bed. There were also four firm but comfortable pillows. There was a good hot shower in the large shower area which keeps the bathroom floor dry. There were complimentary toiletries and a large bottle of water which is replenished daily. The staff are very friendly and attentive. In fact we thought it was too much so. We had a problem with the latch on our door which was replaced soon after I mentioned it to reception. The swimming pool again by the beach is sparkling clean warm and inviting. There seemed to be enough sunbeds by the pool for the number of guests during our stay but there were not enough parasols and the few in the shade disappeared very quickly. The breakfast is good with a reasonable variety of choices. The freshly cooked part of breakfast is as close as you will get to a full English breakfast in Zanzibar. Lunch and dinner are available in the restaurant. There is a limited choice from the à la carte menu which changes daily. The food is of an excellent quality although by African standards it is extremely expensive and the portions are small. When we arrived on Friday night it was 'buffet night' but as my wife does not like buffets we could choose from the lunchtime menu. There is complimentary tea and coffee with biscuits and cake available all day from the restaurant and at four o'clock a waiter comes round the pool and beach with an afternoon snack of freshly cut fruit. The only thing we didn't enjoy was the extremely loud live musical session on Sunday evening. It was so loud it kept guests from going for a pre-dinner drink at the bar. Also, there was continual inane background music playing which in our opinion is wholly unnecessary and destroyed what is otherwise a peaceful and tranquil environment. Which at the end of the day is why you come to a place like this. Insufficient Parasols: There weren't enough parasols by the pool, and those in the shade were quickly taken. * Loud Live Music: The extremely loud live musical session on Sunday evening disturbed the peaceful atmosphere. * Unnecessary Background Music: we disliked the continual inane background music, which we felt ruined the tranquil environment. * Expensive and Small Portions: The evening menu, while of excellent quality, was considered extremely expensive for African standards with small portions. * Overly Attentive Staff: in our opinion we found the staff to be too attentive.

Taxi/reception welcome 10/10 Rooms and room amenities 10/10 Food and off the menu orders 10/10 Bar and bar service 9/10 Restaurant service 9/10 Resort/beach cleanliness 10/10 Service overall 9/10 Management 10/10 (Gabriel and Monika) This is my 6th time to Pongwe and I can see the difference the new hoteliers bring to Pongwe.

I paid to use the facilities here for one day for a change, as I was staying at the hotel next door. The amenities were fantastic, and the beach security was really helpful. However, two female waitresses at the pool were not polite at all and spoke to us in a VERY unwelcoming tone. It really spoilt our experience. I want to be clear that I was polite with all the staff. I used to work in hospitality and understand very well how guests can be and how it can feel. I left this place with a bad feeling. It’s a shame because it has everything to be a five-star spot.

Set in a stunning location on the beach, this hotel feels safe and comfortable. They have a great menu selection for meals, private pools for many apartments and an infinitely pool above the beach with fantastic views across the bay. Stunning!