Villa Lala

The beachside location is beautiful, but the construction directly behind Villa Lala and the restaurant next door were concerns. The restaurant noise was tolerable during our stay, though we wondered how it would be in peak season. For the price, the overall experience was disappointing. Power went out several times each day. At first we were told this was a general Zanzibar issue, but nearby accommodations had steady electricity and we seemed to be the only guests affected. When the power cut, the water did too, sometimes leaving us without a shower or usable toilet for hours. On departure day we couldn't shower and had to start a 10-hour trip home with saltwater still on our skin. The generator only ran the lights, not the air conditioning or water. The AC was unreliable, which made nights unbearable in the heat. Wi-Fi was so poor it was practically unusable. My husband is self-employed and needed to work, but couldn't. Staff were friendly and helpful, yet came and went so often, as gardeners, pool attendants, and cleaners, that we barely had privacy. The beach is public, which is fine in itself, but local children sometimes jumped into the pool without permission when they thought nobody was around, despite the promised security. We didn't always feel safe either. Men passing by regularly approached women, especially those in the pool, and sometimes did so quite aggressively. Aside from the first few evenings, the advertised security was hardly visible. The location gives the accommodation potential, but with the electricity, water, Wi-Fi, and security problems, the value for money is poor and I can't recommend staying there right now.