Hotel Slipway — Hotel in Dar es-Salaam

I recently had the pleasure of staying at the exquisite Hotel Slipway in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and I must say that it was an absolutely delightful experience from start to finish. This waterfront gem exceeded all my expectations and left me with cherished memories that I will carry with me for a lifetime.

Arrival and Check-in (★★★★★): From the moment I arrived at Hotel Slipway, I was greeted with warm smiles and a refreshing welcome drink. The check-in process was swift and hassle-free, thanks to the efficient and courteous staff. They provided me with a map of the property, highlighting all the amenities and services available during my stay.

Accommodation (★★★★★): I stayed in one of their beautifully appointed sea-facing rooms, and I was left in awe of the breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean. The room was spacious, immaculately clean, and tastefully decorated. The comfortable bed and plush linens ensured a restful night's sleep, and the private balcony provided a serene spot to enjoy my morning coffee while watching the sunrise.

Dining (★★★★★): Hotel Slipway boasts an array of dining options, each offering a unique culinary experience. I dined at Slipway Restaurant, where I indulged in a diverse range of dishes, from fresh seafood to delectable international cuisine. The quality of food was exceptional, and the service was impeccable. The oceanfront setting created a romantic ambiance for a special evening.

Amenities (★★★★★): This hotel offers an impressive range of amenities. The pool area is an oasis of relaxation, complete with comfortable loungers and attentive staff serving refreshing drinks. The spa and wellness center provided a tranquil escape, and the fitness center was well-equipped for those who wish to stay active during their stay. The hotel also has a shopping center and an art gallery, making it a one-stop destination for leisure and entertainment.

Location (★★★★★): Hotel Slipway's location is one of its biggest assets. Situated right on the waterfront, it offers stunning views of the Indian Ocean and easy access to the Slipway shopping complex, which houses various boutiques, restaurants, and cafes. The hotel also provides a complimentary shuttle service to popular nearby attractions, making it convenient for exploring the city.

Service (★★★★★): The staff at Hotel Slipway are undoubtedly one of its greatest strengths. They were consistently attentive, friendly, and went above and beyond to ensure my stay was exceptional. Whether it was arranging transportation, providing local recommendations, or fulfilling any special requests, they were always eager to assist.

Overall Impression (★★★★★): My stay at Hotel Slipway was nothing short of remarkable. This boutique hotel combines luxurious accommodation with a warm, welcoming atmosphere. It's the perfect place for a romantic getaway, a family vacation, or a business trip. I left Hotel Slipway with a sense of gratitude for the incredible experience and a desire to return. I highly recommend this hidden gem to anyone visiting Dar es Salaam, as it truly offers a slice of paradise on the...

After three intense and exhausting days of travel, our group of 24—of whom six people aged around 60 and above—arrived at this hotel at 1 a.m. with a confirmed reservation for 13 rooms made well over a month in advance through Booking.com. Upon arrival, we were informed by the receptionist that no rooms had been allocated to us because the hotel had failed to transfer the booking into their internal system. We received no apology, nor were we offered any form of reasonable assistance. When we attempted to find a solution ourselves in the middle of the night at the Delta by Marriott hotel located next to Slipway, where we confirmed that our group could indeed be accommodated, the receptionist at Slipway explicitly lied to us about room availability over there and instead tried to split our group across different hotels that did not meet the standard we had booked and expected. To make matters worse, only after nearly two hours were we offered nothing more than some water. This level of negligence is completely unacceptable. The receptionist showed no initiative, provided no solutions, and behaved with a degree of indifference that was both unprofessional and insulting. To add to this, there was no manager on duty to handle the situation, leaving us stranded without accommodation after an exhausting journey. From what we could tell, the manager was at home and, when politely asked to come to the hotel to assist us, she told us she would only arrive at 8:30 a.m. A hotel that presents itself as being of a supposedly high standard yet cannot honor a confirmed reservation—especially one made for a large group, well in advance—demonstrates gross mismanagement and a total disregard for its guests. Such incompetence is inexcusable and casts serious doubt on the hotel’s credibility and reliability. I strongly caution prospective guests: DO NOT risk booking here, especially when traveling in larger groups. You may very well find yourself abandoned in the middle of the night, with no support, no accountability, and no room despite holding a valid reservation. For those wondering how this situation was resolved: after several hours of effort, we finally managed to contact Booking.com customer service via internet calling. Following a long and exhausting discussion, we received professional support, and Booking.com agreed to cover the considerable difference in price for accommodation at the Delta hotel. We ultimately left the Slipway hotel reception around 5 a.m. I can only imagine what the arriving guests must have thought when confronted with a group of 24 exhausted travelers and piles of luggage scattered across the reception floor. If it is not yet clear, this was by far the worst hotel experience I have ever had. Even in far less prestigious locations, whenever problems arose, we were at least offered support and some form of solution. The treatment we received here was atrocious—far below any acceptable...

This place has gone down a lot. After over 20 years of staying here on different occasions this time was definitely the last time.|First I enquired about vacancy via their website contact form to which I never got a response. Then getting nervous I wrote a second enquiry about availability and prices to the reservation email. Hours later I got a confirmation of the booking (which I hadn't made so far). Already on checkin they proudly presented me with "my requested room" which wasn't the one I had asked for (they misread my email).|Anyway, my request couldn't be accommodated (seaview/higher floor) so I stayed with what I was given. Very tired after about 20 hrs of travel.|Then the live music started at the Thai restaurant. Meanwhile the fridge was rattling like a dala dala because there was so much ice build-up (see photo). I needed to pull out the fridge to reach the plug and while I was at it I defrosted the fridge over night. There was also a lot of noise harassment from reception area during the night. Seems to echo up the hallway. |The next day they offered to shift to another room but I wasn't prepared to pack and unpack again. However, I should have (they could have given me a warning!) as the second night there was yet more live music, this time on the hotel terrace in front of my window. Full blast TV plus aircon could not drown the incredible noise until 23:00. They even slipped a paper under the door "sorry for inconvenience".|That was two nights with hardly any chance of sleep.|Asking for a late checkout (afternoon) to catch up with some much needed sleep before another 24 hrs of travel ahead just prompted very unpleasant and unprofessional communications with a nice but not very competent lady at reception. Supposedly no manager around (it's weekend?!). Then after yet another enquiry I was supposed to pay full price for a couple of hours extension, then was offered 10% discount on full rate, then was offered 80usd, then 60usd. Is this a bazaar? The lady at reception never got back at me (supposedly she phoned the room, however the phone never rang - maybe that's also not working? and why not send someone up if clearly the guest was waiting for an answer?). |They need some training in communications and I can't believe there is no manager with decision making competence over the weekend?!? |Zero goodwill shown after two nights of incredible party noise. It seems to be no problem to check in hours before regular checkin but there is no grace for checking out a few hours later. Not even after hotel related sleep deprivation. Now sitting in the hallway writing this review, the receptionist came with the phone....... manager wants to talk to me?!? Where was he/she during the last 24 hrs? |Luckily there are many other good options in the area meanwhile but this experience leaves a very bitter taste after so many years of...