Ayras Hotel Zanzibar

The rooms are outdated, and the power problems bring a whole string of issues: no water, no AC, and unreliable internet. Other hotels have generators, so you barely notice the local outages there. Breakfast was very poor too. After the first guests ate, the plates were almost always empty, and when I asked for avocado or a banana, staff looked at me like I was crazy. Half the time there was nobody at reception, so you had to call or use WhatsApp to get anything sorted. There are plenty of other places that are much more worth your money, time, and nerves.

We trusted the owner, Thomson, when he said he’d refund the two nights we wouldn’t stay, but he later refused without giving a specific reason. Booking told us the refund could be processed if the hotel answered their calls or emails, but they didn’t reply. I even borrowed a friend’s phone to reach the hotel, and Thomson answered then. Our room had no AC, and the replacement room’s unit was on but too weak to cool it. It took three hours to try to sort that out. The next day, in 37 degrees Celsius, the power and running water were both out. We couldn’t shower, brush our teeth, or flush the toilet. The pool was extremely dirty, with everyone using it to wash. We tried to move hotels but it was New Year and everywhere else was booked, so we changed our flights to the 30th. We still had to stay the 29th and 30th to give 24 hours for the flight change. I contacted Thomson and asked for a refund; he said he was happy to provide one through Booking, so I called them on the taxi ride back after landing. We didn’t ask to be reimbursed for the days with no power, running water, or decent AC. We were willing to pay for the nights we stayed, even though it was £100 a night and basic things were missing. Service was generally slow, there was no restaurant or alcohol to order, no fan or bedside tables, and we had to move rooms. The listing said there was a spa, but they said massages were done in the room we’d booked. Breakfast wasn’t great either. We thought paying for the nights we stayed was fair and trusted his word. This one star is for our experience and the hotel’s unfaithfulness. Shame on you.

My husband and I spent all year saving for this Zanzibar trip, and I’m sobbing as I write this. When we arrived, there was no electricity or shower, and the restaurant was closed. We also saw wild animals tied to a tree all day on their own. The worst part was the misogynistic owner. I saw him yell at other clients when they brought up problems with the hotel. I feel awful for the staff, who were professional and kind to us but have to endure their manager’s tyranny. This has left us with the worst holiday memories and so much disappointment over how we spent our money this year. Please don’t make the same mistake.

For eight days in a row, staff knocked on my door telling me to pay or go to the ATM right then. The website said I could pay at any time, and usually guests pay when checking out. I felt watched and treated like they didn’t trust me, even though I was on holiday. I paid them 1,000 US dollars and still felt like I was being watched like a hawk. The rooms are very small, and the service felt demanding instead of welcoming. After 35 hours of travel, I didn’t want the airport pickup to stop on the roadside so staff could run errands and buy food for the next morning’s breakfast. When I asked for an extra towel to dry my hair, I was told each person only gets one. There were stains on the pillows and sheets. I should have felt like a guest. If someone asks for one extra towel, bring two just in case. Hotel guests should be treated as guests in your home, and the hospitality here was terrible.