The Residence Zanzibar

Abi★★★★★★★★★★5.04 months ago

Our stay at The Residence Zanzibar was honestly one of the most magical experiences of our lives. We chose this beautiful hotel for our honeymoon, and from the moment we arrived, everything felt special, calm, and incredibly luxurious. The villa was stunning, private, spacious, and spotless, giving us the perfect mix of comfort and romance. Every detail felt thoughtfully designed to make guests feel relaxed and spoiled. What truly made the stay exceptional was the staff. Every single person we met was warm, attentive, and genuinely caring. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and they constantly went above and beyond to make our honeymoon feel unique and personal. The grounds are breathtaking, the food is delicious with plenty of choice, and the atmosphere is peaceful and indulgent without ever feeling pretentious. Whether we were relaxing by the pool, cycling through the gardens, or enjoying sunset walks along the beach, every moment felt like a dream. We’ve travelled to many places, but this is hands down the most special hotel we’ve ever stayed in. It’s the kind of place that stays with you long after you leave. We’re already talking about when we can come back. If you’re considering staying here do it. It’s pure paradise!

Jo Newton★★★★★★★★★★5.04 months ago

There are few words to describe how much we enjoyed our 16 night stay at the Residence. What sets this place apart are the incredible staff members. After over two weeks, it's safe to say that some of them felt like family. There are too many amazing people to mention, and I'm afraid to miss someone out, so I want to thank ALL of the incredible people who made our stay so memorable. The hotel itself is stunning. The pools are so warm, you don't even flinch when you get in them. The main pool is the largest I've ever been in! And having our own pool at the room was such a treat. I could go on and on about how wonderful this place is.... but you'll just need to find out for yourself. 10/10!

Ibrahim★★★★★★★★★★4.04 months ago

The Residence Zanzibar is a visually appealing resort with spacious, clean villas set across a very large, beautifully landscaped property. The villas are generously sized, well designed, and consistently kept clean by housekeeping. The overall atmosphere is calm and peaceful, making it a good choice for guests looking to relax and recover. Because of the size of the property, the resort provides bicycles for guests to move around between villas, restaurants, and common areas. This is a thoughtful and practical touch that makes getting around the resort easier and more enjoyable, while also allowing guests to explore the grounds at their own pace. The resort also offers live music and evening entertainment, including local performances, which adds a pleasant atmosphere to the evenings and provides a nice cultural element to the stay. However, for a hotel positioning itself as a 5-star resort and charging premium rates, some aspects fell short of expectations. The food was underwhelming in terms of quality and variety, especially considering the price point. At this level, a more refined and consistent dining experience would be expected. The private pool experience also did not feel as exclusive as advertised. There was visible work being done in a neighboring area, and workers could be seen from the pool area, which reduced the sense of privacy. Additionally, many of the extra services and activities offered by the resort were priced quite high and did not feel justifiable for what was provided. In summary, while The Residence Zanzibar offers comfortable accommodations and a tranquil environment, the shortcomings in food quality, privacy, and pricing of additional services make it difficult to justify its 5-star positioning. With improvements in these areas, the resort could better match the expectations of guests paying premium rates.

Ellie Crowe★★★★★★★★★★5.02 months ago

From the moment we arrived at The Residence Zanzibar, we knew we had found somewhere truly special. The resort is absolutely beautiful, peaceful, surrounded by nature, and full of wildlife that makes the whole experience feel even more unique. The villas and grounds are stunning, and the entire resort is immaculately maintained. You can really see the care and attention that goes into keeping everything looking so beautiful. The twice-daily housekeeping is also a fantastic touch and really adds to the luxury experience. Getting around the resort is effortless thanks to the buggies, which are such a thoughtful addition, especially if you’re tired or when it rains. A special mention has to go to Aziza (apologies if I’ve misspelled the name!) and a gentleman who worked on the jetty — unfortunately, we didn’t get his name. Both were exceptional. Nothing was ever too much trouble for them, and their warmth and attentiveness really made our stay even more memorable. During our stay, a large group checked in who were quite lively, and at times it felt like management prioritised them over maintaining the usual peaceful atmosphere. That said, it didn’t take away from what was otherwise an incredible experience. Overall, this resort truly feels like paradise. We would absolutely return without hesitation.

Arsh Chattha★★★★★★★★★★1.04 months ago

The staff were very kind and helpful, which we appreciated. However, the overall experience didn’t fully meet our expectations. The property felt quite commercial, and the food was average. There were several power outages during our stay, which unfortunately meant we couldn’t use the steam room or sauna. The Wi-Fi was also inconsistent. Given the size of the property, we expected reliable backup power, but there didn’t seem to be any generators in place. Considering the price, this was disappointing. At times, the atmosphere was also affected by the attitude of some other guests, which came across as a bit snobbish and made the stay feel less welcoming and relaxing than we had hoped. Overall, it wasn’t as pleasant experience as anticipated. I