Aldiana Club Zanzibar Kwanza

“Beautiful hotel 9,5/10”

The hotel is modern, with spacious rooms featuring a whirlpool or a pool. Housekeeping was done daily, the minibar was regularly refilled and included in the price. Every evening the staff set up the mosquito net and treated the room with insect spray. It is located in a quiet southwestern part of… more

The hotel is modern, with spacious rooms featuring a whirlpool or a pool. Housekeeping was done daily, the minibar was regularly refilled and included in the price. Every evening the staff set up the mosquito net and treated the room with insect spray. It is located in a quiet southwestern part of the island. A major advantage is the jetty, which allows comfortable swimming at any time of day, even during the strong low tide—typically receding 100–300 meters in this area. Around the jetty you’ll find several coral reefs and rich marine life, so bringing your own snorkeling gear is definitely worth it. The food at the hotel is excellent. Breakfast and lunch could offer a bit more variety, but there is always something good to choose from and the meals taste great. I also appreciated the abundance of fresh fruit. Hotel has 3 bars - 10am to 11pm that serves great cocktails. (10 alcoholic, 4 non alcoholic). There are also great juices (guava, mango, pineapple, orange, apple) and smoothies from fresh fruits. Apart from buffet restaurant there are 2 a la carte restaurants. Japanese (serves great sushi) and swahili Cave Restaurant (10$/person). There is a decently equipped fitness center, a sports area, spa, and plenty of activities and animation programs. The staff are very friendly, welcoming, and hardworking. The resort has its own spice & fruit farm. Staff there is always happy to show and talk a little bit about all the plants for free. About 100m from hotel there is a turtle sanctuary where you can swim with turtles for 12$. Definitely worth it. Overall a great resort and I would definitely come back and I can recommend it to everyone. 9,5/10

less

“18 Wonderful Days at Aldiana Resort”

i spent 18 days at Aldiana Resort with my daughter, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. From start to finish, the hospitality was beyond amazing, every single staff member was polite, kind and genuinely caring. A special thank you to Kelvin, the sales manager, who helped us with the booki… more

i spent 18 days at Aldiana Resort with my daughter, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. From start to finish, the hospitality was beyond amazing, every single staff member was polite, kind and genuinely caring. A special thank you to Kelvin, the sales manager, who helped us with the booking and kindly arranged a special rate for our long stay 17 nights. My daughter also developed the sweetest bond with Philip, the General Manager, they hugged every day, and his warm, approachable personality made us feel so much at home. When my daughter fell sick, Abdul and Monica went above and beyond to make sure she was well cared for, preparing exactly what we needed and showing so much compassion, this 2 are beyond amazing. i always want to recognize the amazing food team behind the counters, always greeting us with smiles, especially Essa, and of course, Shaa who never missed a meal with us, breakfast, lunch or dinner, always arriving with his big smile, checking that everything was perfect. Around the resort, the kindness continued, Wilfred, the buggy driver, brought so much positive energy, and Madeleine became a favorite of my daughter, since they both share the love of dancing. Kristin, the rooms division manager, was also incredibly kind, always making sure we were comfortable. and i cant forget Issaya, who makes the best coffee and always remembered to prepare mine with almond milk, with his amazing smile. Entertainment at Aldiana was fantastic, every night there was a group dance performance on stage, and during the day we loved the aqua gym sessions in the pool, volleyball in the water, and so many more activities, thanks to Daniel the entertainment manger who makes sure everything on time. there was always something fun happening, and the energy was infectious. Overall, Aldiana resort is not only a beautiful place to stay but also a place filled with extraordinary people who made our 18 days feel like home. the smiles, the kindness, the care, and the unforgettable moments we shared will always stay with us. We truly had an amazing time and cant wait to return!

less

“Misleading Resort, Rude Staff, Poor Service”

I’m currently staying at Aldiana Resort Zanzibar and I’m sharing my honest experience to help other travelers make an informed decision. Beach & Location: The resort is built on a cliff — there is no proper beach. The tide is out most of the day, and when it comes in, the water is rocky, not the t… more

I’m currently staying at Aldiana Resort Zanzibar and I’m sharing my honest experience to help other travelers make an informed decision. Beach & Location: The resort is built on a cliff — there is no proper beach. The tide is out most of the day, and when it comes in, the water is rocky, not the turquoise, sandy beach shown online. The “beach” is man-made, rocky, and only accessible by walking over stones. This is highly misleading, and anyone expecting a real island beach will be disappointed. On the beach night, a family of 10 was placed at a trestle table, and the staff simply brought extra chairs in on the side. We had two babies, and their high chairs were randomly placed in corners. A proper 5-star resort would have reserved a suitable table for the family, but we were essentially just placed in a corner to eat and leave. For other days, tables were reserved properly, but this beach day service was poorly handled and felt dismissive. Service & Staff: The staff here are rude and unprofessional. For example, I politely asked a waiter to remove a plate and even tried to help him, and he made a disgusted face. I realized there are two sets of waiters: service and cleaning. Even so, this behavior is unacceptable. I’ve stayed at multiple 5-star resorts where managers even assist guests in such situations. On the first day of our 10-night stay (family of 10 across 4 rooms), we requested to move hotels due to these issues. Kevin, the hotel manager, refused our refund request. When I explained that I run my own company and always ensure client satisfaction, he dismissively replied, “that’s your company policy, my policy is different.” The arrogance and rudeness were shocking. We had many issues during our stay, and it was clear that management and supervisors do not know how to properly train or correct their staff. I have stayed at many 5-star resorts and have always respected and enjoyed the staff, but most of the staff here were just plain rude. Bar & Room Issues: The strawberry milkshake was watery, and shockingly, the chocolate milkshake had a worm in it. The mango mocktail and iced tea were okay. Our room had no hot water for three days, the hairdryer didn’t work, the bathroom smelled damp, and the towels were thin and musty. When we raised concerns, Diana, the front desk manager, moved us into swim-up rooms with sea views, which helped, but the rudeness from other staff continued. For example, when bringing pizza back to our room for my wife and sleeping grandchild, a waiter rudely questioned us, and the manager publicly refused to correct his staff, embarrassing us in front of other guests. He refused to give his name and effectively told us to leave. Meanwhile, I witnessed other guests take takeaway meals and snacks without issue — clearly inconsistent and unprofessional enforcement of rules. Spa: The spa staff were excellent — Maher, the spa manager, was very humble, and Rabia gave a great massage. Sadly, this was one of the few highlights in a stay where we paid 5-star prices for 3-star treatment. Food: The food was disappointing. Breakfast was limited and repetitive, and desserts felt artificial. However, the chef made a great chicken curry on request, and Ismail at breakfast was excellent — making eggs exactly as requested and serving fresh fruit. The entertainment team did try to make the stay enjoyable, and the evening shows after dinner were fun and entertaining. Conclusion: This resort is misleading, poorly managed, and staffed by rude personnel. While Diana’s intervention improved our stay, the overall experience makes this feel more like a 3-star property. Zanzibar is a beautiful destination and deserves to be experienced in the best possible setting. Based mainly on the location and overall experience, this hotel should be rated as a 3-star property. I do not wish to receive feedback from Kristin Heinze, as the response appears automated and simply consists of an apology and a welcome back. I am sharing this review to genuinely warn others so that the same mistake is not repeated. Tip: Check beach access in person before booking, and be prepared for poor and inconsistent service. A few times I asked a waiter to bring drinks from the buffet, as some waiters do offer, and she replied that I would have to get them myself. The bar is a walking distance away, so if you want another drink, you must go there yourself. Despite the all-inclusive claim, bar drinks are not served to guests — this is inconvenient and misleading.

less