Mayai Ocean Resort

The beachfront location is good, and the staff were genuinely friendly, polite and accommodating. The property has an eco-friendly approach, uses recycled materials and has a relaxed atmosphere. But at roughly USD 170-180 a night, the stay didn’t feel worth the price. It seems misrepresented on booking platforms. With only about 10-12 rooms for around 20-25 guests, the higher operating costs may explain the rate, but didn’t make it feel like good value. This should be presented clearly as a premium eco-lodge, rather than somewhere implying five-star comfort and convenience. Guests at this rate expect comfort, safety, reliability and ease, not constant workarounds. In hindsight, it wasn’t for us, and based on how it looked online, we made a mistake booking. If the limitations, house rules and service constraints had been clear up front, we wouldn’t have booked. We won’t return. Breakfast was à la carte and very limited, with the same menu each day and only one fruit changing over four days. A rotating menu would help. It felt more like cost control due to low occupancy than added value over a buffet. Americano coffee was unreliable too: on day one we were told the machine was broken, and on other days power outages affected availability. That shouldn’t be uncertain at this price. The room lacked basic features. The bathroom door didn’t lock, the ceiling fan didn’t work and we were told it would stay that way until parts arrived. There were no cupboards or storage, and no room phone, so we had to walk to reception for help. Housekeeping required leaving the room keys at reception. This was explained at check-in, but felt highly inconvenient and unusual for a property marketed at this level. Power and water cuts happened often. Power outages were called “normal” and usually lasted 5-10 minutes, but were still disruptive. On Christmas Eve, the power went out around 6:30 PM for over an hour, with no backup lighting, leaving guests in complete darkness. Water also stopped during power cuts. During one outage around 7 PM, the water cut off mid-shower in the dark. Soap got in our eyes, and while trying to find water, a glass broke at the sink. Without room phones, there was no way to call for help. It felt genuinely unsafe. Management didn’t apologize or acknowledge the repeated power and water issues. The shop was selling expired products. We returned a packet of Lays that had expired on 9th December 2025, after checking in on 21st December 2025. Payment was disappointing too: a 5% card surcharge or an exchange rate of 2300 TZS per USD felt inappropriate for a property positioning itself as premium or five-star. Photos are attached for reference. If management takes this feedback constructively and addresses the basics, it could go a long way toward improving the guest experience.