I have to say that, sadly, I did not have a very good stay at the Shaba Boutique Hotel. Let me first start with the positives, first of which is the location - the hotel is located in the centre of Stone Town and you can reach all sights within 10 mins walking. Also, the bed was quite comfortable with a nice duvet (not just a bed sheet), and fully working AC. FBreakfastis a continental style and I have to say it was one of the nicest ones I had on the island. There are also some drinks like coffee or tea available 24/7, but not really, since the water cooler was not set up for heating.

There were, however, also quite a few negatives, which the management should really look into. First, I have to say that the staff (with the exeption of the young manager) were not very pleasant, nor they had a very good English knowledge. What I really hated was that my room was located on the ground floor next to the laundry room, thus the room was extremely humid and really really dark due to a lack of windows. The room was also located right next to the main street which could be an issue for some with sleeping problems. The bathroom and shower were okay, but the water pressure was extremely low, so taking a nice shower took quite some time. Also, the tap in the shower was partially broken which was annoying. Finally, for a transportation to the airport they quoted me for $25, which I think is quite pricy and you can get a better price elsewhere (I rode for $15).

All things considered, I would be hesitant to stay in Shaba Boutique Hotel again. It is, however, fair to say that I stayed there during low-season when some of the hotels are closed for tourists completely. It is quite likely that during high season the reality of this hotel would be somewhat improved. Also, I booked the hotel last-minute with a special price. If I paid the full price, I would be very disappointed. For the money that I paid, it was okay.