Reviews of Beyt al Salaam
Wildlife sightings and reviews
44 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Beyt al Salaam and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
"Beyt al Chai review"
"Good location in historic centre"
Rooms are vast and with a local flavour.
Surprisingly quiet at night.
We ate in the restaurant which was good quality, albeit a bit pricey.
Management team helpful, offering sound advice in the face of riots outside of the historic centre.
The highlight of our visit was enjoying a sundowner on the roof terrace of Africa House, watching the sun sink below the ocean as a dhow glided serenely past ." See all these reviews: 7n in Tanzania; 7n in Zanzibar
"Beyt al Chai review"
Restaurant food quite good for dinner, but service poor. Breakfast very poor. Took 40 minutes to serve two bowls of cereal and two omlettes. Never got the cookies and muffins we ordered. (There was only one other guest). Breakfast tray on last morning arrived five minutes before we were picked up and was stale bread and butter and very wet fruit so we had to wait until Dar to get breakfast.
Main problem was no water on first morning. We were told it would be back in 30 minutes, then another 10 minutes, etc. We asked for bottled water to at least wash and were given one bottle between us. Didn't seem to be any contingency or understanding that this was quite a major problem. Our toilet was quite unpleasant! Water did eventually come back on but too late to shower before our city tour. Not ideal in a very hot climate." See all these reviews: 6n in Zanzibar; 4n in Tanzania
"Beyt al Chai review"
"Beyt al Chai review"
Friendly staff
Good food
Rooms upgraded and thankfully were air conditioned
Things to do better - can't really comment." See all these reviews: 8n in Tanzania; 6n in Zanzibar
"We were at Beyt al Chai for last night."
"Beyt al Chai review"
All the staff were very helpful and friendly, and there were even helpful masai security men just outside!
The restaurant is first class with delicious choices, primarily of fish and sea food. The included breakfast is served here and is also very good quality. A slight downside is that there is no seperate lunch menu but this is no problem on a short stay.
Stonetown is easily covered in a stay of one or two days as it is very compact. There is some interesting architecture and it is possible to observe fishermen at work on the seafront and get a flavour of local life.
Unfortunately we were plagued by people trying to sell us everything from CDs to carvings and scarves, and taxidrivers touting for business. Also many do not take no for an answer, and will follow you. It can be difficult to remain polite under these circumstances! It was probably worse for us , as it was low season with relatively few other tourists. Also I would recommend sticking to the larger souvenir shops where prices are displayed, or at least trying them first to know what to expect to pay, otherwise you will need very good bargaining skills and great patience to get a bargain!" See all these reviews: 10n in Tanzania; 6n in Zanzibar
"Beyt al Chai review."
We were warmly welcomed and given an upgraded room overlooking the square.
We had a good evening meal in the restaurant but left too early in the morning to sample their breakfast. However, the manageress was kind enough to leave fresh fruit and provide toast for us before we left at 5.00 am !" See all these reviews: 8n in Zanzibar; 6n in Tanzania
"Charming Beyt al Chai"
On arrival we were delighted to be upgraded to the Sultan room and given a cold bottle of bubbly as they knew it was our 10th wedding anniversary. This was a lovely touch.
In the evening we ate at the Beyt al Chai restaurant and enjoyed a really great seafood dinner with a nice bottle of wine. We stayed here for two nights, which was a perfect amount of time to explore Stone Town." See all these reviews: 5n in Tanzania; 5n in Zanzibar
"Beyt al Chai review"
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Other lodges in Stone Town
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Serena Inn
Now trumped by the nearby Park Hyatt, the Serena Inn, in its historic building, was formerly Stone Town's only international-style hotel.
Zanzibar Coffee House
The Zanzibar Coffee House is a small quiet hotel tucked away in the back streets of Stone Town, with lovely, simple rooms.
Zanzibar Palace Hotel
The Zanzibar Palace Hotel is a highly regarded boutique hotel with very personal service and just nine rooms, all of them Zanzibari in style.
Dhow Palace Hotel
The Dhow Palace is a very good-value, mid-range hotel, full of Swahili character, and the pool makes it appealing to families.
Emerson Spice
Emerson Spice is a beautiful small hotel in the heart of Stone Town with individually designed rooms adorned with gorgeous fabrics.
Kholle House
Kholle House offers an atmospheric Stone Town stay in a historic building, and is very good value for money.
Jafferji House
Jafferji House is a converted old house that blends modern facilities with traditional style. The ten, unique rooms are show great attention to detail.
Swahili House
Swahili House is a traditionally styled boutique hotel furnished to a high standard with a convenient location in the centre of Stone Town.
Tembo Hotel
The Tembo Hotel is a good-value, family-friendly hotel right on the seafront in Stone Town, with 36 rooms and a good-sized swimming pool.
Emerson on Hurumzi
Emerson on Hurumzi was Stone Town's first boutique hotel, featuring antique furniture, unique, stylish rooms and a superb rooftop restaurant.
Mbweni Ruins Hotel
Mbweni Ruins Hotel is very convenient if you want to stay on the beach, but very close to Stone Town, or visit Chumbe Island.
Maru Maru Hotel
In the heart of Stone Town, Maru Maru combines contemporary style and creature comforts with a Zanzibari twist.
Park Hyatt
The Park Hyatt Zanzibar is a high-quality example of this group, with excellent facilities and service.
Kisiwa House
Kisiwa's central location in the heart of Stone Town's Shangani area makes it a great base to explore this fascinating town.
Seyyida Hotel
The Seyyida is a characterful old hotel near the seafront in Stone Town, with the rare bonus of a swimming pool.
