Reviews of Pongwe Beach Hotel
(93%) From 39 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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Pongwe Beach Hotel review
This is an idyllic location to relax after an active two weeks safari holiday. A super place to totally chill out.
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Beautiful location, excellent food and service and again, wonderful staff.
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Island beach paradise
Beautiful location. Marvellous welcome from Heidi and Sandy at reception, who gave full explanation of how things worked. This fulfilled ones expectation of what a `tropical beach` location would be -tall palms, white sand, clear sea, coral reef.....and more. Really friendly team, who thought of ones every need- from early morning tea delivered to every room to snacks on the beach.
The `family bungalow` given to us was particularly well located at one edge of the cove on the headland - with personal steps to the beach. We were in heaven. Brilliant holiday.
Would also like to commend Fishermans Tours who transferred us between airport and hotels. Always on time. We also booked a couple of excursions through them which both times exceeded expectations. Particular thanks to Ali Salim who came to call on us at Pongwe.
Fantastic Relaxing Beach Hotel at Pongwe
Wonderful secluded, unspoilt location on a busy island. Fantastic clean white sand beach and lovely pool.
A very high standard of service with friendly, helpful easy going staff. Simply decorated but high quality rooms with great views and outside decks.
Brilliant food, great selection of sea food and happy to accomadate dietry requirements if requested. Great cocktails and bar area. Would return and recommend.
Great place to relax at Pongwe
Pongwe has good management and is in a great location with fab pool, but was probably always going to be a bit of an anti-climax after all our experiences on safari! However, we did have a good time just doing nothing - food was really tasty and varied, and there was a friendly, if somewhat unatmostpheric feel.
We did a spice tour en-route to Stowntown with Fisherman tours, and although it was interesting, we couldn't help but feel this tour didn't take place in a 'proper' spice farm, and we were unsure where our money had actually gone. We bought spices as had been told it was the best and cheapest place to get them, but found we'd had the wool pulled over our eyes a little when we found the same spices in Stowntown for about a quarter of the price! Although this is probably all part of the experience, we felt a little disappointed as also found when we got home our 'ginger' tea was not ginger, just tea!!
I suppose it's important to remember that Zanzibar is much more geared up to tourists than the remote camps we stayed in on the mainland, so just doesn't feel as authentic an experience.
Pongwe Beach Hotel review
Pongwe has a vey nice feel to it - a very lovely and friendly place.
The service it outstanding - very attentive but relaxed and not in your face, which is just what you want if you are on your honeymoon as we were.
The beach is I think one of the very best on the Island.
Pongwe Beach Hotel review
If you can draw in your mind an imaginary tropical beach with fine white sand, warm water, an offshore reef and shallow blue and turquoise water in which you can wade fro miles at low tide then you can imagine Pongwe. With a seascape like this you don't notice the shore very much - but we were provided with comfort and attention throughout our stay. I am a bit worried that i have never been able to do so little for so long before, but the relaxation gets into the bones.
Some nice touches, the kimonos and wraps add a bit of pampering and set the tone for your stay, and the Zanzibar beds with sheets turned back and mosquito nets set up whilst you are dining add a touch of the exotic.. Food was excellent and well presented at all times. Eating on the beach is a further magical experience.
Didn't really get to see much of Zanzibar from here, although we had an enthusiastic response when we wandered through the local village - take supplies of pens if you really want to do this and you will be rewarded with the greatest smiles.
Snorkelling was interesting but not spectacular; lots of zebra fish and a small turtle being the highlights. As there is not much else to do in the area one or two more activities organised at the resort would have been nice and broken up the indulgence but if you are after an all action stay you probably wouldn't choose this resort.
Romantic, relaxing beach break
The setting of the hotel is superb and the bungalows and other facilities are excellent.
It is a very romantic setting and ideal for a lazy beach end to a busy holiday.
Service was excellent and the staff most friendly and helpful. The food was great and the management outstanding.
Great beach
Possibly one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in the world.
Very efficient transfer from Impala.
Very friendly staff at pongwe - very keen to please.
Accommodation was very well located and thre separate beds in the childrens room was much appreciated by them.
Good hot water but bathrooms got a bit damp - not helped by some unseasonal rain showers in the first three days.
The lodge is understandably insulated from the surrounding environment and this gave the resort a slightly surreal air, which was reinforced by the fact that we were the only family in a sea of honeymoon couples. This was fine for 5 days but could have grated after a while!
We have always believed that acting responsibly is the only way to approach tourism and we're one of
the few companies to hold AITO's original coveted 5-star status for responsible tourism. It's a lead
that others are now following.
