Riu Palace Zanzibar Hotel

The buffet at Promenade was one of the highlights of our week. There was lots of variety, and the food, presentation, and service were all fantastic. The chefs and staff clearly take pride in their work. The resort also had plenty of options for dietary needs, and the staff were happy to help with requests. We had no particular expectations going in, but our stay at Riu Palace Zanzibar exceeded them. The rooms were beautiful, the food was outstanding, and the evening entertainment was consistently excellent. We especially appreciated how seriously guest safety is taken. Although the beach is public, staff and security regularly monitor the area and check wristbands, which helped the resort feel safe and well managed. We also enjoyed the water activities and the atmosphere. Jambo jambo, we had an incredible all inclusive week ❤️

Narayan in the dining hall took great care of us, including arranging bland food for my granddaughter, which I really appreciated. Lorena also helped us with a late checkout. All the staff were kind, friendly, and helpful. Our flight was delayed, so we arrived at night, but they helped with the rooms we had requested for my husband's 70th birthday. We had a great time, and the food, service, and cleanliness of the resort were superb. I'd highly recommend Riu Palace. Thank you!

The biggest problem was the beach. Vendors around the hotel were very persistent and aggressive, repeatedly interrupting guests and making it hard to relax or even get into the water without being approached. The buffet also became repetitive during the stay, with little variety in the fruit and desserts. For a tropical place like Zanzibar, I expected more variety and better quality there. There were some other things that felt unprofessional. When the shower gel ran out, it was replaced with an unlabelled bottle, with no indication of what was in it. Beer was opened, poured into one glass, and the rest kept in the freezer to serve later. I didn't find that transparent or appropriate. The staff were friendly and polite, though often too pushy and intrusive. Overall, my stay at Rio Jambo Hotel in Zanzibar was well below expectations. Several areas need significant improvement for guests to have a truly relaxing, quality experience.

I still remember this stay as a really special one. The beach was clean and beautiful, with lots of fun activities during the day, and all the meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, were delicious. The rooms and views were lovely too, and the staff were incredibly friendly. The hotel exceeded my expectations.