Grownup Accommodations
Boutique Accommodations in Zanzibar
The great thing about being a grownup is that we have a little more money to spend on accommodations with a few more creature comforts. That being said, I like to apply the High/Low model to mixing it up when I travel. While I always prefer to look for places that are unique or boutique, I often opt to save money on some places so that I can really treat myself to others. In this case, we splurged more where we would be spending more time – at the ocean. In Stone Town, where we knew we would be out exploring more than in the room itself, we took it down a notch or two, but still found a one-of-a-kind option.
SCORE!
PONGWE BEACH RESORT, Zanzibar
I’m almost hesitant to post this hotel, because it’s one of those ‘best kept secrets’ that I uncovered on the web, and it would be nice to keep it that way! Pongwe is a boutique hotel made up of a dozen or so duplex thatch-roofed bungalows located on the east coast of Zanzibar, just steps from the Indian Ocean. It’s the perfect place for a romantic getaway, with its quiet location, beautiful white sand beach and intimate number of guests. Paradise, however, comes without air conditioning, as most of Zanzibar’s electricity is unreliable, so be prepared to enjoy those hot sultry breezes by the pool, especially when the tide is at its lowest You’ll be astonished since the ocean seems to disappear, but when the tide returns a few hours later, it’s some of the warmest water you will ever swim, snorkel, or kayak in.
Aaaaahhhhhhh!
STAY
ZANZIBAR COFFEE HOUSE, Stone town
If you’re going to stay in this historic Arabic town, you might as well stay deep in the heart of it. Zanzibar Coffee House is just that – as one of the oldest buildings in Zanzibar, it dates from 1885, and is located in the centre of the labyrinth that is the old quarter. Definitely not a cookie-cutter hotel, its rooms are all a little different, so if you like your hotels a little quirky, with the scent of fresh coffee drifting up from the coffee shop on the main floor, you’ll like this hotel a lot. What I loved best was the breakfast room on the very top of the hotel, looking out over the rooftops of the town as you lounge on cushions and enjoy your breakfast.
Want to read more about our experiences in Zanzibar? Click here.
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