Blue Oyster Hotel, Jambiani Beach, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Location:

This small family-style hotel is located on the east coast of Zanzibar on the white sandy beach of Jambiani. The nearby town of Jambiani is approximately a 50-minute drive from Stone Town and is very small with little to see or do. We found that there was very little to do in Jambiani other than wonder the long stretch of beach during the low tide or to relax on the beach chairs that lined the beach. This area is very quiet and relaxing.

Room Comfort:

The rooms are spacious and had everything to make our stay comfortable. The large and comfortable beds were surrounded by a well-maintained mosquito net which made for a comfortable nights rest. The bathroom was also very spacious with constant hot water. We stayed in a sea-view room and we were not disappointed. We had a large balcony with a couple of authentic lounge chairs and a small table overlooking the beautiful blue sea. The one downside to our room was that our balcony was connected to the balcony belonging to the adjacent room. If our neighbours were on their balcony at the same time as us, there wouldn't be any privacy. This wasn't an issue for us since the room beside us wasn't occupied during our stay.

Cleanliness:

The rooms were very clean. The hotel grounds were also very clean and well-maintained. Although the hotel seemed very clean and well maintained, we did see a rat run out of the restaurant kitchen and out on one occasion while waiting for our dinner to arrive. It's nothing to worry about though, the place is sanitary and we are sure this was a rare and isolated incident.

Service:

The service was excellent. We received quick responses to our emails and a friendly welcome (and welcome drink) upon arrival. When we entered our room, we had flower petals arranged on the bed and a very nice personalized welcome note. Overall, the staff at the hotel and restaurant were very laid back and pleasant to talk to. Moreover, they are able to arrange various excursions or laundry service at reasonable prices, (which was surprisingly difficult to find in East Africa). The staff was very approachable and helped us with all of our queries.

Food:

Breakfast was included with our booking but was very basic and not that filling. It consisted of a small portion of fresh fruit, half an omelette and two pieces of toast. Dinner on the other hand was delicious and more filling. The dinner menu was comprehensive and included a variety of foods, such as fish, pizza, pasta, and so on. We pre-ordered our dinner for a specific time and it was ready on time. The restaurant is located on the upper level of the main building and has an open concept which allowed the cool summer breeze to flow through.

Overall Value:

Overall, the room was very reasonably priced for what we got, even though the breakfast was lacking substance. Nevertheless, despite the small breakfast, we recommend this hotel as it's a good value for this area. If you are looking for a quiet, clean and friendly place where you can relax, this place is it.

Other Notes:

Zanzibar's beaches are tide dependent. This means that depending on the tide, there may not be a beach during high tide or that you can't swim during low tide. The staff at this hotel posted the tide schedule in the reception area and informed us of areas near the hotel where we could swim at all times. Fortunately, the hotel's beach lounge area is strategically designed so that it's actually a couple of meters above the beach, ensuring that you have a beach at the hotel even during high tide. There are stairs leading down to the beach area so even if the tide is high you can still take the stairs down and go for a swim. If the tide is low than ask the staff about the nearest safe swimming area and they will advise you accordingly.

Our Rating: 4/5   Year Reviewed: 2009

For the best possible price, please visit Expedia.ca or try Priceline.com. You can also visit the hotel's website at: www.zanzibar.de

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