Barefoot Zanzibar

At $20 a night, I liked how affordable this place was and how close it was to the beach. It isn't right on the beach, but for $10 you could get a guest voucher at a nearby hotel and spend the day there. The rooms are basic but clean. The mosquito net didn't fully cover the bed, though the mosquitoes weren't malaria mosquitoes, and the fan kept them away from me at night.

The bungalow is small, and there were mosquitoes and sandflies around all day. This place needs a lot of repairs and feels quite overpriced for this standard. Be aware, the owner can act quite aggressively if you don't eat there. The food is good but totally overpriced, and he lied to me a lot about there being no cheaper restaurants nearby.

There's a lovely, quiet beach just 100 meters away, and the location feels tucked away from the usual route. The rooms are fresh and chic, with a European style. A big recommendation if you want to avoid Nungwi's Russian crowd and see this great part of Zanzibar before it fills up with tourists.

Andrew was a great host, and the staff were friendly and helpful. The small hut was nicely decorated and very well kept, with carefully made furniture. You can tell he's an artist. His bar is beautiful for a meal or a drink, and I wish I'd taken a picture. The only downside was no hot water, though a swim in the warm Indian Ocean makes up for it.