AHG Sun Bay Mlilile Beach Hotel - Zanzibar

The à la carte setup was a big part of what we liked. It felt nicer and more luxurious than normal all-inclusive. The food was really tasty, and a big thank you to everyone in the kitchen. We travel a lot, and our eight days at AHG Sun Bay Mlilile Beach were among our best holidays. Marco manages the hotel really well and has a great team. Special thanks to Arafathi and Margreth from Restaurant/Bar, the reception staff, and all the hotel staff. We got home to the Czech Republic yesterday evening and hope we'll come back.

The reception lady was competent and helpful, but the rest of our stay was a disappointment. The new section, opened in December 2025, felt much less cozy than the older part, which I suspect accounts for many of the positive reviews. Short power cuts happened often and turned off the air conditioning, which we had to restart ourselves. Returning to a hot room was uncomfortable, and it got too warm to sleep at night. We booked a sea-view room, but mostly looked out at the pool and restaurant. A receptionist admitted it wasn't a real sea view, saying the other rooms were already full. The bathroom smell was the worst issue. We reported it and asked to move, but were told it would be fixed. It never was, and we weren't moved. Wi-Fi often failed, meal times weren't clearly explained, and the bartenders seemed especially unfriendly. Lunch ended at 2:30 PM and dinner didn't start until 7:30 PM, with nothing to eat in between unless you bought food. The hotel pizza was low quality, so a local restaurant was a better choice. There was no cold food like ice cream, and they were reluctant to give out ice for drinks. All-inclusive ended at 10 PM, after which even soft drinks cost extra. The room came with only 1 liter of bottled water per day, and they wouldn't provide more. During the day, water was only available by the glass. I'd choose another hotel.

We liked the quieter, low-key feel at Sun Bay Mlilile. It was a relaxed resort, without entertainment being pushed on us all day, though some dinners did have entertainment. The beach was gorgeous and quieter than other stretches of the same beach, and the pool was beautiful. Staff were kind and friendly, and the food was amazing, especially the pasta, which was unreal every time. My husband and I enjoyed our six nights, even though the rooms were just okay and the construction next door was a downside.

We had a great seven-night visit last week, and the staff helped with every request. The manager was great too. Don't let the negative reviews put you off. Thanks again for a lovely stay.