Meliá Zanzibar

Adi Dagan

We spent here 4 nights We are a couple with a 4-year-old. This is a big resort, like a very big resort you can find here a donkey farm, beehives, a mineral cave... The beach- it is on the edge of the resort that means you need to take a buggy to get there or you can walk for like 15 minutes. But it wasn't a big issue because the minute you get to the beach you just want to spend your entire day there, and this is what we did because it had everything you needed from games to a very good beach restaurant, a volleyball court, Frisbee and darts... Whatever you need to just relax. And of course don't forget the beautiful views. Food - they have one main restaurant where they serve breakfast and dinner. The breakfast buffet is very nice and has whatever you need to start the day. We preferred eating every night at The jetty restaurant which is a seafood restaurant that we loved. You have to order in advance a place at The jetty restaurant. The main restaurant has every evening a different kind of buffet, but because we are pescatarians we preferred to to eat seafood every evening. Kids - we did come with our 4-year-old not during a vacation time so that means they weren't a lot of kids around. They do have kids menu in each restaurant at the resort mostly the basic of chicken nuggets, pasta/pizza. The activities for kids are pretty nice and chill lake feeding the turtles or the donkeys. The kids club is cute but not something to admire but listen you're in Zanzibar so you have to be outside and not cooked up in an air condition room. I do have to admire that the entire staff was very nice to our little one and wave to her all the time and everybody remembered her name and the resorts which was pretty cool. Rooms - first I have to say that the simple room is pretty big, compared to other resort where you ‏get a rather small room here you get a very huge room, ‏but i must say the setting of The room was kind of strange because you have a huge shower area. We did have some problems in our room but the hotel helped us move to a different kind of room very quick and efficient. All rooms are towards the ocean that you can see which is cool. We did not spend a lot of time in the room so it was just a place to get organized and sleep which is for us great but probably if you like to spend time in the room you should maybe upgraded it. Staff - first of all I must say ‏there are a lot of guards the secure which is a big plus, even at the beach they try to make it more chill when it comes to the sellers that come to you at all the beaches in Zanzibar. The staff was very nice and attentive; we had great conversation with the staff about their life and they were very open and friendly. The gym- how's everything you need even a sauna. It is right next to the adult pool which looks great but we didn't use it because we were with our little one. The main pool area - we were a bit disappointed by the pool and the kids area at the pool which was very basic, should definitely go through renovation and make it a much better looking pool area. They do have a restaurant there that has everything you need food and drink wise. If you have the option to use the adult pool I will definitely go to that area which looks much more elegant and peaceful.

Abdullah Berkay İlhan

Dear Melia Zanzibar Family, We would like to express our heartfelt thanks for giving us the opportunity to spend one of the most special moments of our lives our honeymoon in such a magical setting. Thanks to your elegance, warm hospitality, and thoughtful attention to every detail, we truly felt like we were living in a dream. A special and sincere thanks to Ms. Bahati, who made this beautiful experience even more memorable. Her kindness, genuine care, and attentiveness made us feel truly valued and at home. It was a great joy to create such wonderful memories with you. We look forward to returning again as soon as possible. With love, Abdullah Berkay

Paula Cornejo

I'm giving it 1 star because I love animals, and it really upset me to see that the hotel had donkeys tied up in a very small area. In the morning, with temperatures over 35°C (95°F), they were made to work on the beach pulling carts full of seaweed and carrying heavy loads. It was the same every morning, and it made me want to cry every time I saw them. When I was leaving, I told the hotel manager, and his response was, "They're fine, we rescued them from animal abuse." But honestly, what they were doing also seemed like animal abuse to me. Everything else was fine: the staff was very friendly, the breakfast was generous, and the hotel was nice and clean.

Şevval Bahar AKGÜL

Melia Zanzibar truly made our honeymoon a dream come true. From the moment we arrived, we felt surrounded by warmth, kindness, and care. Our room was incredibly comfortable, the staff always greeted us with genuine smiles, and the food offered endless delicious options. The special touches prepared just for our honeymoon touched our hearts deeply. A very special thanks to Ms. Bahati, whose sweet words, bright smile, and professionalism made us feel completely at home. Whenever we faced a small issue, everyone was genuinely willing to help and made sure everything was solved quickly and kindly. We will always cherish the beautiful memories we created here. Thank you for making our stay so magical, we cannot wait to come back one day.

Lena Sutor

Our experience at the Melia was mixed, with both positive and negative aspects. Negatives - Upon arrival, we were placed in a room directly next to a construction work. The noise started as early as 7 AM, and after three days, we finally complained and were upgraded to a bungalow. While this new accommodation was much quieter, it had several maintenance issues: the TV kept freezing, the air conditioning wouldn’t cool below 24°C, despite being set to 18°C, the stairway light was broken, which made it dangerous at night. - Another major issue was the overpriced services. The laundry service was outrageously expensive, washing a basic T-Shirt cost $5. The hotel shop was even worse, charging $28 for sunscreen, more than five times the European price. Additionally, the store had very few hygiene products for women. - Service across the hotel was inconsistent. Requests were often ignored or not followed through. For example, I asked for a bottle of water, and instead of receiving it immediately, I was told it would be brought to my room, but it never arrived. - The hotel lacked an ATM, forcing guests to go to unsafe areas to get cash. Additionally, there was not enough change available at the reception, so we couldn’t just change euros either. - At the pool bar and beach bar, service was frustratingly slow. Despite several staff members standing around, they either ignored WhatsApp orders or took over 30 minutes to ask what we wanted to drink. - The constant, unnecessary phone calls from staff were another annoyance. We were called in the morning and evening to check if everything was okay, yet when we actually needed something, no solution was provided. - In the first few days while having breakfast, staff constantly tried to push activities, but 90% of them never actually happened. - Additionally, the overly friendly interactions before getting basic service felt excessive. Every single time when we wanted to order we had to go through small talk. That can be tiring for European guests. - Housekeeping was unpredictable. Sometimes, staff would enter the room during dinner to prepare it for the night, but other times, they wouldn’t show up at all. Even worse, the cleaning staff repeatedly knocked on the door in the morning despite the “Do Not Disturb” sign. - There were also frequent power outages, and the backup generator did not kick in immediately. Each time, it took around five minutes for the air conditioning, TV and internet to start working again. - The bathroom amenities were also disappointing, not high quality for a hotel of this price range. - The hotel houses several rescued animals within the property. While this is a kind hearted initiative, the living conditions are far from adequate. The animals have very little space, no proper hiding spots, no toys or activities to keep them mentally stimulated. The intention to care for these animals is admirable, but their conditions do not meet basic welfare standards. It would be better if the hotel improved the conditions or partnered with a proper sanctuary. Positives - Despite these issues, a few exceptional staff members stood out: for example Emmanuel, Bruno, Dailami, Secilia, Said, Abdul and Bahati. They cared about providing good service and also remembered details like gluten free requests or no ice in drinks. - The hotel occasionally hosted great shows. - The food selection included a gluten free station. - The beach was beautiful, lined with palm trees and monitored by security personnel, creating a safe and relaxing atmosphere. - The resort is beautifully designed. One of the highlights is the wildlife. We saw monkeys playing in the trees and even spotted elephant shrews, which was a unique experience. Conclusion - While the Melia had some good aspects, the overall experience did not justify the price. Poor service, overpriced essentials, and frequent maintenance issues made our stay frustrating at times. If the hotel improved its efficiency, maintenance, and pricing, it could provide a much better guest experience.