The Residence Zanzibar

After 16 nights at the Residence, we can only say 10/10. The hotel is stunning, and the pools are so warm that getting in feels effortless. The main pool is the biggest I’ve ever seen, and having a pool of our own by the room was such a treat. What really made it memorable was the staff. After more than two weeks, some of them felt like family. There are too many wonderful people to name without leaving someone out, so thank you to every single person who helped make our stay so special.

The food was disappointing for the price, both in quality and variety, and the resort’s extra services and activities seemed expensive for what they offered. For somewhere charging premium rates and presenting itself as five-star, I expected a more refined, consistent dining experience. The private pool also felt less private than advertised because work was visible nearby, with workers in view from the pool. The Residence Zanzibar does have comfortable, spacious villas that are well designed and regularly cleaned by housekeeping. The grounds are very large, attractive, and beautifully landscaped, and the atmosphere is quiet and restful. Bicycles are available, which makes it easy and enjoyable to get between the villas, restaurants, and shared spaces while exploring at your own pace. Live music and evening entertainment, including local performances, add a pleasant cultural touch. Still, the food, privacy, and prices of additional services make the five-star positioning hard to justify. Improvements there would better match the premium rates.

A large, lively group checked in while we were there, and sometimes it seemed management put their needs ahead of keeping the resort’s usual peaceful feel. Even so, the rest of our stay was incredible, and we’d return without hesitation. The place feels like paradise: beautiful, quiet, surrounded by nature, and full of wildlife. The villas and grounds are stunning and meticulously maintained, with care clearly going into keeping everything lovely. Housekeeping twice a day was a great touch. Buggies made getting around easy, especially when we were tired or it rained. Aziza, apologies if I’ve spelled the name wrong, and a gentleman who worked on the jetty whose name we didn’t get, deserve special thanks. They were warm, attentive, and always happy to help.

The staff were kind and helpful, which we appreciated, but the stay didn’t live up to what we expected. The property felt commercial, the food was average, and the Wi-Fi kept cutting in and out. Several power outages also meant we couldn’t use the steam room or sauna. For a property this size and price, I expected dependable backup power, but I didn’t see any generators. Some other guests came across as a bit snobbish, which made the atmosphere less welcoming and relaxing. It wasn’t as pleasant as we’d hoped. I