Reviews of Zanzibar Palace Hotel
Wildlife sightings and reviews
49 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Zanzibar Palace Hotel and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
Mr & Mrs H.
Surrey
"Zanzibar Palace Hotel review"
2 nights Arrived 31 Jul 2023
"This small hotel (9 rooms) has lots of character, is in a great location, easy to find and the staff are all very friendly and professional.
There is a large variety in room style though - 3 different sized rooms on each floor, replicated over the 3 floors. We ended up in the smaller double room and had no space for luggage off the floor as the safe was positioned in the middle of the one and only shelf. It would have been helpful to have somewhere we could sort through our bags other than spreading out and covering the floor. If we were staying more than 2 nights this would have been a problem. The other room the teenagers had had 2 double beds, a massive bathroom and shelving and a seperate seating area. We just didn't trust them with all the luggage!
The cooked breakfast was lovely, the buffet was simple and the lunch/ dinner seemed expensive considering we ate at restaurants right by the sea for less." See all these reviews: 6n in Zanzibar; 5n in Tanzania
There is a large variety in room style though - 3 different sized rooms on each floor, replicated over the 3 floors. We ended up in the smaller double room and had no space for luggage off the floor as the safe was positioned in the middle of the one and only shelf. It would have been helpful to have somewhere we could sort through our bags other than spreading out and covering the floor. If we were staying more than 2 nights this would have been a problem. The other room the teenagers had had 2 double beds, a massive bathroom and shelving and a seperate seating area. We just didn't trust them with all the luggage!
The cooked breakfast was lovely, the buffet was simple and the lunch/ dinner seemed expensive considering we ate at restaurants right by the sea for less." See all these reviews: 6n in Zanzibar; 5n in Tanzania
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Good
Food:
Good
Rooms:
Average
Mr & Mrs F
Sussex
"Zanzibar Palace Hotel review"
1 night Arrived 23 Oct 2022
"Perfect location with quirky rooms up three flights. Very steep stairs would not suit everyone!
Rooms not luxurious but full of character and quirks. Nice bar with friendly bar staff. Full breakfast in the morning before stepping out into the heart of Stone Town.
Lovely to be able to stay in our rooms until the evening as we had such a late flight home.
Fascinating place to spend spend 24hrs and to feel very much part of the town with its hustle and bustle on the door step." See all these reviews: 11n in Tanzania; 5n in Zanzibar
Rooms not luxurious but full of character and quirks. Nice bar with friendly bar staff. Full breakfast in the morning before stepping out into the heart of Stone Town.
Lovely to be able to stay in our rooms until the evening as we had such a late flight home.
Fascinating place to spend spend 24hrs and to feel very much part of the town with its hustle and bustle on the door step." See all these reviews: 11n in Tanzania; 5n in Zanzibar
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Jenny
Faversham
"Zanzibar Palace Hotel review"
2 nights Arrived 15 Sep 2022
"A good location and, amidst the myriad windy streets, relatively easy to find.
My room (a luxury room) was very small and I would recommend going for a larger room or a suite." See all these reviews: 7n in Zanzibar; 5n in Tanzania; 1n in Kenya
My room (a luxury room) was very small and I would recommend going for a larger room or a suite." See all these reviews: 7n in Zanzibar; 5n in Tanzania; 1n in Kenya
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Average
Dr & Dr S.
Knutsford
"Unique hotel with central location"
2 nights Arrived 11 Nov 2019
"This boutique hotel has been sympathetically converted from an old warehouse and offers characterful rooms with tall ceilings and high beds, quite unlike anything we'd stayed in before.
The breakfast was very tasty with a lovely selection of fresh fruit and cooked options.
The location is perfect for exploring old Stonetown." See all these reviews: 7n in Tanzania; 6n in Zanzibar
The breakfast was very tasty with a lovely selection of fresh fruit and cooked options.
The location is perfect for exploring old Stonetown." See all these reviews: 7n in Tanzania; 6n in Zanzibar
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
DGJM
London
"Pleasant centrally-located stay in Stone Town"
2 nights Arrived 19 Jul 2019
"We had a very pleasant stay at Zanzibar Palace Hotel. It has recently changed management, and the new Italian manager welcomed us warmly. She was helpful with local tips for Stone Town, and was able to answer any questions we had.
Our room was very nice and spacious, as we had a suite on the top floor. The room had a mini balcony which we utilized in the evenings when the sun had gone down a bit - provided a nice view of the roofs around Stone Town.
Breakfast was included and very nice each morning, and we especially enjoyed the omelettes. The staff was very friendly and made conversation each day, remembering our names and asking about our experiences around town.
The only other piece of feedback is regarding accessibility - if anyone has difficulty navigating stairs, then the suites at the hotel may not be well-suited, as they are up 3 flights of stairs that are slightly uneven (which is expected given this used to a personal home)." See all these reviews: 5n in Zanzibar; 4n in Tanzania
Our room was very nice and spacious, as we had a suite on the top floor. The room had a mini balcony which we utilized in the evenings when the sun had gone down a bit - provided a nice view of the roofs around Stone Town.
Breakfast was included and very nice each morning, and we especially enjoyed the omelettes. The staff was very friendly and made conversation each day, remembering our names and asking about our experiences around town.
The only other piece of feedback is regarding accessibility - if anyone has difficulty navigating stairs, then the suites at the hotel may not be well-suited, as they are up 3 flights of stairs that are slightly uneven (which is expected given this used to a personal home)." See all these reviews: 5n in Zanzibar; 4n in Tanzania
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
F, N & I
UK
"Quirky/old fashioned stay at Zanzibar Palace"
2 nights Arrived 6 Aug 2017
"Accommodation more scruffy and basic than we'd become used to at the safaris, but still clean and acceptable. Staff less forthcoming."
See all these reviews: 7n in Tanzania; 6n in Zanzibar
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Good
Service:
Average
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Average
Miss R
Barnsley
"Perfect beginning to our honeymoon"
2 nights Arrived 5 Aug 2017
"Fantastic location within the historic maze of Stone Town.
The room and facilities were amazing; Dunia suite was superb with the great surprise of the outdoor bathroom and private roof terrace overlooking the whole of Stone Town.
The staff were all so friendly and extremely helpful-nothing was too much trouble for them. The hotel staff organised for us to have a personal tour guide; he was extremely knowledgable and very pleasant. Breakfast was superb with plenty of choice." See all these reviews: 9n in Zanzibar; 4n in Tanzania
The room and facilities were amazing; Dunia suite was superb with the great surprise of the outdoor bathroom and private roof terrace overlooking the whole of Stone Town.
The staff were all so friendly and extremely helpful-nothing was too much trouble for them. The hotel staff organised for us to have a personal tour guide; he was extremely knowledgable and very pleasant. Breakfast was superb with plenty of choice." See all these reviews: 9n in Zanzibar; 4n in Tanzania
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs T
Goole
"Zanzibar Palace Hotel review"
2 nights Arrived 10 Jan 2017
"We really enjoyed this rather quirky hotel which reflected the history and heritage of Stone Town. It was in a good location enabling us to walk around and get to know the town.
The restaurant was expensive with a limited choice - we enjoyed breakfast and never saw anyone eating otherwise." See all these reviews: 5n in Tanzania; 5n in Zanzibar
The restaurant was expensive with a limited choice - we enjoyed breakfast and never saw anyone eating otherwise." See all these reviews: 5n in Tanzania; 5n in Zanzibar
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Average
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Average
Facilities:
Good
Ms J
Denmark
"Zanzibar Palace Hotel review"
3 nights Arrived 3 Nov 2016
"The Zanzibar Palace Hotel is a very pleasant, atmospheric hotel.
We enjoyed our stay there & found the personnel very obliging & friendly." See all these reviews: 10n in Tanzania; 10n in Kenya; 3n in Zanzibar
We enjoyed our stay there & found the personnel very obliging & friendly." See all these reviews: 10n in Tanzania; 10n in Kenya; 3n in Zanzibar
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Good
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Mr/Ms S
Seattle, WA
"Zanzibar Palace Hotel Review"
3 nights Arrived 28 Sep 2016
"Zanzibar Palace Hotel is on the edge of Stone Town (the older portion of Zanzibar Town). It is convenient to the harbor and many popular sites in Stone Town are within easy walking distance. The hotel offers breakfast along with the room: a choice of typical egg and meat choices, some fruit, juices, breads and coffee/tea. With the many restaurants in the area, we did not have other meals there, although lunch and dinner were available.
The room we had, the Sultana, was charming and the air conditioner made it comfortable with the outside temperature very warm and humid. We also complement the service staff at the front desk for their very warm welcome and helpful assistance with various questions that came up during our stay.
Our only disappointment was the first room we were assigned, a "luxury" room (called "Nadia", I believe). This room, on a lower floor, is a very dark and tiny room with a small double bed. For $250 U.S. per night, it was completely unsatisfactory for the two of us, who were anticipating a relaxing haven for several days. After complaining, we were able to 'upgrade' to the Sultana room, which is a larger room on an upper floor. In hindsight, we may have been able to arrange nicer accommodations for a better price if we had done more research ourselves, comparing hotels in the area." See all these reviews: 6n in Zanzibar
The room we had, the Sultana, was charming and the air conditioner made it comfortable with the outside temperature very warm and humid. We also complement the service staff at the front desk for their very warm welcome and helpful assistance with various questions that came up during our stay.
Our only disappointment was the first room we were assigned, a "luxury" room (called "Nadia", I believe). This room, on a lower floor, is a very dark and tiny room with a small double bed. For $250 U.S. per night, it was completely unsatisfactory for the two of us, who were anticipating a relaxing haven for several days. After complaining, we were able to 'upgrade' to the Sultana room, which is a larger room on an upper floor. In hindsight, we may have been able to arrange nicer accommodations for a better price if we had done more research ourselves, comparing hotels in the area." See all these reviews: 6n in Zanzibar
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Good
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Average
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Average
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