Unguja, Tanzania hotel rooms at the Independent

"Had the most wonderful time at Melia Zanzibar, full of the kindest people who made our trip spectacular. The food menu at the beach club is great, as the jetty restaurant. Breakfast is delicious too! "

"It was right on the beach! Great staff! Rooms are great but #9 was right by kitchen, so avoid that room."

"What a wonderful island and hotel. No complaints at all, fabulous holiday. Now to start saving up to return "

"This was the perfect place for a holiday! The hotel is located in the best possible spot, with easy access to everything you need, yet surrounded by peace and nature — absolute harmony. The beach is simply stunning — the cleanest and most beautiful we’ve seen, with incredibly fine, soft sand like powder. A true paradise! We stayed in a villa with a private pool, and it was absolutely amazing! We especially recommend the overwater villas — it’s not just a stay, it’s a true experience. Housekeeping was done twice a day, everything was always spotless and perfectly maintained. The staff were exceptionally attentive — kind, welcoming, always ready to help. You can truly feel their genuine care and dedication to top-level service. The cuisine was outstanding — breakfasts and five-course dinners felt like dining at a Michelin-star restaurant. Delicious, refined, and beautifully presented. Evenings featured live music and shows, creating a wonderful, festive atmosphere. If you’re interested in local excursions, they’ll organise everything quickly and at great prices, including smooth, reliable transfers. And a special mention goes to their attention to detail: on our way to the airport, the staff called the taxi driver to make sure he wouldn’t make any stops and would get us there on time. I’ve never experienced such care and consideration — absolutely top-tier service! Highly recommended! "

"This is an amazing property to stay in Zanzibar. We were upgraded to the frangipani villa which was spacious and well appointed. The private pool was great. The main swimming pool is huge and doesn’t get too crowded. The food options at the main dining room were good with a lot of vegetarian options for breakfast and dinner. Beverage options are nice and reasonably priced. The complimentary fruits at mid morning and ice cream at mid afternoon around the pool area are a great touch. The staff is polite and extremely helpful. We had to see the onsite doctor as one of us wasn’t feeling too well one day. The staff promptly arranged for the doctor to arrive who was extremely helpful and thoughtful in his advice which we highly appreciated. The doctor didn’t charge us for his visit and medication even when we asked if he was sure. As has been discussed previously in other reviews, most beaches in Zanzibar have big tidal ranges and at low tide, the sea retreats by a lot. We didn’t swim on the beach for that reason and there’s also a lot of sea weed that the staff tries to clean every day. Nevertheless, the main and private swimming pools more than made up for it. There are a lot of monkeys around the resort and the staff warn you at the outset to keep the doors closed. It is advice that must be heeded to. The resort is family friendly. That’s great if you have kids of your own but if you don’t, it can feel a bit like school nursery during breakfast / dinner time. "

"Absolutely loved our stay at Toa Hotel and Spa! The service was exceptional, with staff who truly go above and beyond. I wish I can give it a 10 star for their service! The rooms are stunning, with private pools and direct beach access. We enjoyed the delicious food made with love, and the beach dinners were unforgettable, complete with an amazing show under the stars. The pools are beautiful, and the whole property feels peaceful and luxurious. If you’re coming to Zanzibar, this is the place to stay. Highly recommended!"

"This place is AMAZING! If you want a luxurious stay with good food and kind people go! I enjoyed every minute of my stay here and I would gladly stay here again and again. I went for my birthday and it was the best experience of my life."

"This is a lovely quiet each front hotel, we stepped from our door onto the sand. Roo.s are good and the staff were wonderful! We stayed in four hotels in zanzibar, the staff here are exceptional, very attentive and friendly. Hotel even supprised us with a free trip to the 'rock resaurant' and star fish beach! We would stay again in a heart beat..."

"Alot of thought has gone into the different little expierances you can have, in areas you can choose to relax. Food and drinks were great! We were up-graded to a amaising luxury villa! Our butler Ramson was very attentive and thoughtful. He really went the extra mile staying up and helping us with our cases at 12.30am and helping with our taxi. All the staff were friendly and helpful. We really enjoyed our stay! Thank you..."