Zanzibar

Ruan van Vuuren

I am writing to express my deep disappointment regarding the recent stay my spouse and I had at your resort for our honeymoon. Upon arriving at Uroa Bay Beach Resort, we were met with a series of unfortunate circumstances that significantly marred our experience. We checked into our room at an ungodly hour of 3 am, only to find it in an unacceptable condition. The room was dirty, with sticky floors and a pervasive unpleasant odor. The state of disrepair extended to the bathroom, where we found a rusted and unsightly shower head, along with exposed electric wiring. To compound matters, our room was located in close proximity to a construction site that operated with little regard for the tranquility of guests. The noise from grinders and jackhammers, as well as the constant passage of large tractors between rooms, made our stay exceedingly uncomfortable. Despite our immediate request for a room change, we were regrettably directed to seek assistance from our travel agent before any action was taken. It was disheartening to find that the alternative room provided was no better, necessitating yet another relocation. In our interactions with the resort's owner, we were met with rudeness and a lack of assistance, further exacerbating our frustration. Equally concerning was the presence of an older gentleman who, as we were informed by your staff, holds a position of authority within the resort. His inappropriate behavior towards the staff is both distressing and entirely unacceptable. (some would say sexual harassment) Although we appreciate the effort made to salvage our experience with a dinner under the starlight, it does not sufficiently compensate for the overall dismal experience we endured. Our honeymoon, a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, has been irrevocably marred by the regrettable state of your establishment. The lack of maintenance and care for both guests and the physical infrastructure of the resort is abundantly evident. The garden is overgrown with weeds, and numerous lights leading to guest rooms are non-functional. Additionally, there is a concerning hazard in the form of a wobbling bridge over the pool, and the beach is littered with debris, rendering it far from the idyllic setting we had envisioned. Moreover, the predominance of Italian cuisine, while delightful in Italy, was not in line with our expectations for a resort situated in the spice-rich environs of the island. We sincerely hope that this feedback serves as an impetus for improvements that will ensure a more pleasant experience for future guests.

Marco

Staying at this hotel in Zanzibar was an unforgettable experience. The location was breathtaking, right on the pristine beaches. The room was spacious, well-maintained, and offered stunning ocean views. The staff was warm, hospitable, and made us feel at home. The food was a delightful mix of local and international cuisines. The pool area was a great place to relax. Overall, it was an incredible stay, and I can't wait to return!

Nqobile Mphile

The hotel was horrible. The workers have no customer service at all, they need severe training. The food was horrible and they did not refill in their buffet. The cocktails were horrible as well. Fizzy drinks were never fizzy. Wifi only works at the reception, not in the rooms. Even at the reception it was weak. I had a worst experience. Do better.

Mika Greenberg

the food was TERRIBLE, always cold and not at all tasty. the towels (especially the beach towels) were stinky, and the water in the shower is mixed with salt water, which REALLY hurt my skin. there is NO WIFI in the rooms, only in the reception and the dining room. every night they play the same music. same songs, every time. a really bad experience. however, the staff was always nice and welcoming, the garden and the beach were pretty.

Christine Van Der Merwe

The bed was as hard as a rock, pillows as well. When requesting if mattress could be changed, staff placed a duvet under the sheets. After days being on pain meds, I could not wait to leave the resort. If their gardens were better looked after, it would be a beautiful resort. But, I will not return.

Dori Travels

The beach bungalows and restaurant offer an excellent view of the ocean, making this location a great place to stay. The property is covered in fine white sand and provides enough sunbeds and benches. Trees are also present in abundance, offering shade on hot days. However, be cautious around pine trees as they can hurt your feet when walking barefoot. The rooms are spacious but could use a bit of modernization. Each beach bungalow has a swing on the terrace, ideal for relaxing and listening to the waves. The pool is located in the back of the property, protected from the wind, and provides a great opportunity to watch birds and baboons. The hotel is situated in a secluded area, offering peace and quiet. There are hardly any beach boys or Masaai trying to sell things on the beach. However, if you're looking for entertainment and parties, this isn't the right place. You can walk to Paje in 10 minutes, where there are lots of stores, bars, and parties on the beach. Paje is on the east side of the island and experiences strong tides. At low tide, swimming is not possible. However, you can enjoy long walks on the beach. Don't forget to wear bathing shoes, as there are sea urchins everywhere!

Mariusz Laszczyca

Super chill out place, 10m to the beach, walking distance to Paje centre, great & super helpful stuff, a lot of space, shade, nice pool. Very relaxing garden and good spot for kitesurfing!!!

David Ehle

Decent hotel. Rooms are good enough, although they need upgrading. Staff service is nice and friendly, sometimes a bit slow. Pool area needs to be built anew, and investments on new sunbeds are necessary. Same goes for the sunbeds close to the sea. Eating is ok, dinner is better than breakfast. Get tours, otherwise you will get bored quickly.

Erica Clayton

Decent hotel but definitely not 4 stars. As a positive, the AC wasn’t working in my room so the owner kindly switched me to a different room. Breakfast is also decent with eggs made to order. That said, basic services are lacking. No conditioner or lotion, only shampoo and shower gel, bed is not a Queen rather two twins pushed together so there is a crack in the middle, my sheets had a large stain, strange mold in the bathroom, and very slow service. For example I had to ask twice and wait nearly 45 minutes for a bath towel. Wifi also did not work the second night of my stay. Overall average hotel but set in a beautiful location.

Ioan Bordianu

An ideal place to spend a quiet holiday. We got our room from the first hour we arrived and on departure we were let in the room even after the official check-out time. The staff very friendly and attentive to the needs of tourists. Clean beach clear water sand like flour...dreamy. The location is a 20 min walk on the beach from the restaurant area of Paje. Thank you Hakuna Majiwe for a dream holiday.

Robert Walton

Kena Beach is an extremely peaceful and relaxing hotel with beautiful gardens, spacious fully-detached rooms, large bathrooms, indoor and outdoor showers, many food options, a dive centre, and wonderful staff. It was the perfect retreat after 10 days of safari and we didn't want to leave. We travelled with our father/father-in-law, and he was there a few days before us alone. The staff looked after him so well. He also learned to dive with the great dive centre Scubafish. We went B&B but had lunch in the hotel everyday as well, and some dinners. The food is good value. There are also many options for dinner nearby, and we particularly liked walking along the beach to The Rock and Seles. The beach is great is beautiful. The whole place is very relaxing and quiet but with the excitement of diving. The perfect place to rest and recharge. Would definitely return.

K J

THIEVES WORK HERE and the hotel doesn't care. We had multiple items taken from our locked room while staying here. We notified staff in writing and recieved no response. AVOID AT ALL COSTS if you don't want to be robbed on your holiday and then have nothing done about it. Was prepared to believe it was one bad egg ruining our holiday but the absolutely disgusting lack of service and/or care highlights that this is a deeply rooted issue and they aren't worthy of guests.

kolak108

Top rooms, perfect food with lots of different flavors and even better service and wonderful staff All recommendations

Sheila Mary

We stayed for a few nights here and also went to the dive shop! They have air conditioning in the rooms which is great and also a spa on site, and wifi throughout the rooms and hotels. The staff is super friendly and accommodating. We got the breakfast package and then charged the other things to the room (it's cheaper to pay cash). The buffet was great and changed every night. They also changed their drink specials every day which is nice! The drinks are made with fresh fruit (there is fresh fruit everyday with all the meals available as well). They do offer all inclusive food packages but I decided not to do it so I could eat at other restaurants at the beach. Con: regular meals (not buffet) can be pricey for the portions you receive. Bedroom had a outdoor patio and outdoor shower which was nice. They even have two robes and a safety box in the room. Overall I would recommend staying here and they offer services like spa, and tours at the front desk. Don't forget to bring cash to tip!

G Landaverde

Beautiful property. A bit too far from airport. Nice and peaceful to really relax. Good food. Friendly staff.

Caroline Goodchild

A beautiful resort with amazing staff. We had a fabulous week here. The food was delicious and varied and there were lots of vegetarian options. The rooms were lovely and we had the biggest bed I have ever seen! The grounds of the resort are beautifully maintained. Would definitely recommend The Bluebay and would love to come here again.

Bjorn Jochems

An amazing place, with the best staff. Beautiful rooms that are kept clean at all times Delicious food and amazing shows Beach view perfect for snorkeling. Daily trips are available to stone town Scuba Diving trips can be booked. Just the best place for an amazing relaxing holiday

tina auricchio

If you want to get robbed this is the place for you. While getting a massage, faced down, the therapist went into my wallet and took American cash. I immediately noticed when the massage was over ( I am very particular about the way I place my money) and I demanded to speak to the manager. I told them if they didn’t handle this I was going to tell all guests what happened. The manager told me to go about my day and he will be back in touch with me. He came to my room within the hour and told me he would comp my massage and also give me a 200 American credit minus whatever I would spend at the resort and also the resort VAT. He explained that their protocol was to have the therapist require me to fill out a form listing my personal belongings before my massage which she didn’t so he will hold her accountable. The next day at checkout he changed his tune knowing I would not have interaction with guests. He did give me a credit of 200 but I still had to pay for my massage. The amount of money I received back was not what she stole from me. He turned very arrogant. To top it off the front desk staff told the others in my group that stayed longer than I did that I didn’t pay my bill. If you read the reviews the same exact thing happened previously. The staff is aware. FYI- she is still employed at this resort so BEWARE.

Steven Kasanofsky

A great getaway spot on the beautiful Indian Ocean, Rooms were great, large clean. Plenty of beach chairs on the beach , and seats by the pool . We were on the inclusive plan and the food was very good. We also ate at the alacarte restaurant, having prawns ( plentiful ) and fresh tuna. Excellent. The staff was very accommodating , always nice and helpful. Not sure if it a thing or not here, but umbrellas would be good for the beach. Also pay for for incidentals in local money , as the credit card only does US dollars and their exchange rate is typical of a hotel ( lower ) . Otherwise the place is perfect for a getaway and we plan on returning . thank you

Mbessin “Mam” Sonko

Pros: The rooms are spacious and most have balconies. The resort is well groomed and tranquil. Mosquito nets were provided, which was super helpful and the plumbing worked well. Staff were kind, pleasant and genuinely interested in your experience. They communicated well to ensure any asks were addressed. Quiet and restful atmosphere, well suited for families but not necessary for younger travelers/groups of friends. Cons: Overall the food quality offered at the resort is poor. It’s clear that they fumigate the food — leaving products like bananas smelling like bug spray or pesticide. I got food poisoning from the buffet on the first day and my companion travelers experienced the same, leading me to believe the buffet is not well regulated for germs. Any incidentals at the end of your trip are converted from the local currency to USD using some strange math that meant we ended up paying an extra $45 USD on top of what was actually owed. Resort is not near, walkable or convenient to any other beaches or restaurants, which means the hotels limited options are pretty much all that’s available to you unless you pay for transportation. It’s difficult to see anything else in Zanzibar if you’re staying on this part of the island. There’s not much of a beach for swimming or lying around on as the tides change the coastline very drastically, lounge chairs are not allowed on the beach and harassment is prevalent on the beach. The hotel does have grassy areas and a small sandy area for guests to lounge out on.