Reviews of 236 Hurumzi
(60%) From 2 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
| 
West suite in 236 Hurumzi
Our 2 night stay at 236 Hurumzi was disappointing after our first leg. We were first shown to a room resembling a prison cell with no windows, generally grubby, and in the adjoining building. With a maisonette kitchen, it felt like a youth hostel, certainly not what we wanted on honeymoon! We then spoke to reception about our room and were offered a similar room next door. Finally we were begrudgingly offered the West suite which was a beautiful room. Unfortunately by that stage the experience had been tarnished by this poor start. We got the distinct impression that unless you knew to request one of the nicer suites, you would be put in the far less impressive part of the hotel.
Our stay at Hurumzi was so disappointing because you could see that as a hotel it had so much potential. Unfortunately, despite the good views and ideal location in Stone Town the overall experience was poor. The food was uneventful, overpriced and at times rather bland with very slow service. The decor was beautiful in places but starting to look shabby and unkempt. Large numbers of staff who loitered around the hotel gave it a strange and rather unrelaxing feel at times. The service was very average and not particularly friendly.
236 Hurumzi review
We stayed at 236 Hurumzi for one night at the conclusion of our trip to Zanzibar. It is known for its array of striking rooms, and we enjoyed the peculiar architecture of the building.
We stayed in the room called the Keep, which had an interesting open floor plan, a private bedroom with a large harem-style bed and air conditioning, and a private rooftop terrace with excellent views of the city. From their literature it is clear that the hotel, formerly known as Emerson and Green, underwent an impressive restoration in the late 90's making the hotel that it is today. Although it is still clear that a great deal of creative design energy went into the beautiful renovation, it is now beginning showing its age, and it seems that the hotel's upkeep is not quite equal to its original vision.
Service was adequate, but not as attentive as the high-end resorts or hotels.
We heard great things about the dinner at the rooftop restaurant, but we were unable to get a reservation. The included breakfast was served at the rooftop, and we had fantastic views of Stone Town and the sea. These appear to be the best views available from a hotel. The breakfast itself was unimpressive, however.
We did not utilize the hotel's expertise for local tours or excursions. It has a good location in Stone Town, as it is near most attractions.
All in all, my wife and I had a decent, but not unforgettable stay.
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.
