Filao Beach by Sansi

Avoid this place. We booked seven nights but moved to another hotel as soon as we could, after just two. The beach was a muddy, smelly swamp, almost nonexistent. It wasn’t just the tide. The all-inclusive food and drinks were extremely poor quality. We know what African standards can be like, but this place was unacceptable. Check the reviews that aren’t fake five-star ratings to get the full picture. We’ll also alert our travel agency and ask them to cut ties with the hotel. It felt like a ripoff, and we’d warn other travelers to stay away.

The evening dinners were a real highlight. There was a different theme each night, with lots of choices and fresh, high-quality ingredients. They lived up to the praise from earlier guests, and we can see why. The entertainment and activities were also nicely planned, adding to the stay without becoming intrusive. Filao Beach by Sansi has a peaceful, intimate feel and never seemed crowded. The beachfront setting is beautiful, and the beach was cleaned of seaweed daily. From arrival, the staff made us feel sincerely welcome. Even though we came in well after midnight, they had kept dinner for us, a small gesture that meant a lot after a long journey. The hotel went well beyond what we expected. For a quiet, relaxing stay with excellent food, attentive service, and kind people, we’d highly recommend it and would be happy to come back.

We loved the pool, which was a good size for the hotel, and there were plenty of sunbeds, so nobody needed to compete for them. The grounds team worked hard to keep everything up to standard. Our room was spacious and had an African style that made it feel comfortable from the start. It wasn’t five-star luxury, but it was just what we wanted. The cleaning lady kept it spotless and brought fresh towels whenever we asked, though I didn’t get her name. The sea isn’t really suitable for swimming. We’d read about that before booking and weren’t bothered, but I know some guests were disappointed. The location is convenient for trips north or south, and not too far from the airport. We’ve just come back from two wonderful weeks at Filao Beach. The staff were incredibly friendly and did everything they could for us. We felt treated like royalty from beginning to end. Isma ran nightly entertainment, from dance shows and casino night to karaoke and quizzes. He brought so much life and happiness to the hotel and made our holiday. There were occasional daytime activities too, like a local village visit, aqua aerobics, yoga, and badminton. The food was fantastic by African standards, though I wouldn’t call it European five-star. They did their best with different themes and plenty of options each day. It’s a small hotel with 30 rooms, so there isn’t a huge selection, but there was enough, and everything was freshly made. Peter, Baby, Edina, and Atea looked after us at mealtimes, and Nassor made incredible drinks. Two men from the entertainment team and manager Isma kept everyone busy and dancing, though unfortunately I didn’t get their names. The Masai were all wonderful and made our stay special. We were pleasantly surprised and would recommend Filao Beach for a friendly, relaxing African holiday.

Some of our best memories came from the nearby fishing village of Chwaka. We made friends with several locals, who took us on excursions around the island and showed us Zanzibar from their point of view. Those connections made the trip feel meaningful, and we’ll carry the experience with us for a long time. Filao Beach by Sansi may not sit in the island’s most famous or dramatic location, but it has a warm, peaceful, intimate atmosphere that made us feel welcome straight away. The staff were kind and always willing to help. For us, it became more than a hotel, it was a place where special memories were made.