Dhow Inn Boutique Hotel

The food was the main letdown for us. We had half board, and while the dishes changed daily, the selection was limited and the quality only okay. After eating lunch elsewhere on the island, the difference was obvious. It’s fine to eat at the hotel, but if food is a big part of your trip, you’ll probably want to dine out. Better quality and more options would make a real difference. The rest of the stay was comfortable. Our clean, well-kept room was serviced daily, sometimes more than once. The evening housekeeping visits were brief and mostly involved spraying mosquito repellent. The bed was comfortable, the air conditioning worked well in the heat, and there were plenty of towels. Staff said it was fine to take them to the beach. The minibar had plenty of drinks and snacks with clear prices, and the room also had a kettle, coffee machine, tea, sugar, and a free safe. We had no theft, but were advised to keep valuables in the safe as a precaution. Before our visit, the hotel answered all our emails and questions quickly and clearly, which gave us a good impression even before arrival. It felt very quiet while we were there, with hardly anyone around the pools or at breakfast and dinner. The Spanish lady at reception, Sarah, we think, was especially kind and knowledgeable. We had lovely chats with her, and she shared thoughtful insights about the island. She seems to really love her job and the island. There are four pools, and the water was so warm it was hard to cool off in them during the day. They close at 7pm for cleaning, which wasn’t a problem for us, but is useful to know if you like a late swim. The hotel is right on the beach, just steps from Paje Beach. Outside the grounds, you’ll find the souvenir shops and street vendors common in this part of Zanzibar, with frequent approaches to sell things, offer services, or ask for tips. It can get tiring, though it’s an island-wide issue rather than anything specific to the hotel. There’s a small, secure parking area that was nearly always empty, and an attendant opens and closes the gate each time you come and go. Laundry is $20 USD per load, whatever the amount. The generator kicked in within minutes during both power cuts we had over four days, so the outages were barely noticeable. Wi-Fi was fine for basic use, though slow, as seems common on the island. Dhow Inn Boutique Hotel is a good place to stay. We were well looked after, the staff were lovely, and the facilities were comfortable. With better food quality and more choice, it could be excellent. I almost feel bad giving it 4 stars, since so much of the experience feels like it deserves 5.

The restaurant food was good, and the waiters in both the bar and restaurant were really friendly. The ladies who prepared our room in the evenings were lovely too. We enjoyed our stay. The rooms were great and there were several pools. There’s a bit of space between the hotel and the ocean, so it isn’t right on the beach, though the hotel has a private beach that was fine. We found the place with help from a taxi driver because there was no internet at the time. I had mixed feelings about reception, maybe they were just having a bad day with everything happening in the country.

We were surprised with upgrades for all four rooms we’d booked. The restaurants served different delicious food every day, and the hotel is right on Paje beach, with lovely fine sand for watching the sunrises. Kitesurfers are flying all over, and people young and old were giving it a try. The hotel arranged a taxi for us to visit Stone Town and a Spice Farm, and to go snorkeling near The Rock. Excellent stay at Dhow Inn Boutique Hotel. An address to keep for coming back!

The location is beautiful, but the lack of a private beach left the place feeling unstructured and not very cohesive. Check-in was far too slow, and the greeter couldn’t find our reservation. We had a honeymoon-like appearance, but weren’t treated particularly well, and the slow service in the areas we asked for was frustrating too. It didn’t live up to our expectations. The one positive was staying in a charming bungalow-style house instead of a hotel room.