Turaco Spice Tree, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel — Hotel in Shangani

We spent the first 4-6 days of our trip to Zanzibar here at the Spice Tree. Although the location was super convenient, I expected better accommodations from the hotel like hot water, a working toilet, and lights that don't flash and flicker.

When I checked in the first day I was early so my room wasn't ready. while I waited in line a woman next to me was complaining to the staff about her toilet not working. I was told that I could wait in my parents room until my room was ready, since my parents had arrived a few days earlier. After I'd slept for a bit in their room after my overnight flight I checked back on my room. They said my room was ready, but they had moved me. Apparently they'd changed my room from the one near my parents to the room with the broken toilet 😡

So i moved into the room and discovered that my toilet didnt work, I had to get help, they sent a plumber, wasted my time on this issue. Then later when I showered, I discovered that the water did not get hot. The next day I told the lady downstairs and she said they'd send someone to fix my shower. The next day the shower still wasn't hot! Nothing had changed. Then I found the other manager that day and he said he'd move me to another room. now the first day I told them, if the room was problematic to let me change rooms before I unpacked. Now I was going to have to pack up and move and they wanted me to move on their schedule so that they could put me in another room and put someone else in this room with these problems.

we had to go eat, so i couldnt change rooms right away and when I came back the manager explained that none of the rooms have hot water and that they all meet the minimum requirements for hot water, I believe he said 36 Celsius. Then while I wanted to go enjoy my vacation he took me to my room with a thermometer and showed me how the water coming right out of the sink was 36. I said the sink didnt matter, I wanted a hot shower. what's the temperature in the shower?? Also, if body temperature was 36, then the water should be higher than 36 to feel like its hot, right?

He took me to the room that they were going to move me to and the shower water was not higher than 36 so what was the point of moving since that would waste 30 min of my day.

I'm angry that they moved me from a presumably normal room to the one with the broken toilet and wasted my vacation having to try and get them to deal with these issues. To be a 4 star hotel, they should have...

TOWELS/ SLIPPERS/ ROBES: The towels are extremely old, very rough, cheap and have unpleasant smell. They really need to be replaced as soon as possible!  I was comfortable with using them, smelling a different unpleasant smell everyday. I will include a picture of what they are like… The other materials such as the robe and slippers were at least 20 years old. I was not comfortable using these as well as the robe was rough and not a pure white color. The slippers that are normally one-time disposable slippers at other locations had a stain on them. With the slippers having a yellow stain on them, I was not comfortable using that as well as this means not only do they reuse and repackage them, that they do not clean them well. LOCATION: There is always some type of construction going on. So if you are coming for a peaceful vacation, you may not able to have it here. There is a nice semi indoor pool, however being a solo female traveler, you may not feel comfortable with using it. If you are in a group, it will feel a little more comfortable as there is always eager onlookers passing by the room. The hotel halls have a musky, older smell that they try to mask with a heavy chemical fragrance. Although, the fragrance is strong when it wears off the stench is discomforting. The location is within a UNESCO designated area, but the winding narrow alleyways are confusing and shared with motorcycles. The benefit may be close to a tour is not worth staying here. Definitely do not use your points at this location.

However, I was forced to endure the stay here for 6 days without any type of assistance. I contacted the Marriott everyday and talked to several staff members at the location about this (including, but not limited to Hadjima, the front desk supervisor, Zainab, housekeeping manager, Daniel and the customer care). No one decided to provide an option until after 6 days the night before I was leaving. This ruined the stay for me, in addition to my requests being ignored. I have never had a complaint or concern from my over 30 recent stays with Marriott. This location was not able meet basic standards of Marriott hotels and completely unresponsive which...

Gorgeous Boutique Hotel.. Room was spacious and beautiful. Pay close attention to the details in the room, they play a significant role in the history and culture of ZNZ. Front Desk Representatives at check-in were friendly. The warm cookie at check-in was delicious :) Food was incredible. I loved that some the local Tanzanian dishes were in were incorporated into the menu. Freshly squeezed juices paired well with our meals (Hibiscus Ginger and the Soursop Ginger was Top Tier) I Rate this place 5 Stars only because of Chef Alex and his hospitality. Exemplary customer service skills from the beginning of our stay until the very end. A true leader and an asset to the Turaco Brand!! Chef Alex turned a couple of not so good situations into positive. He took the time to listen, he paid attention to the small details that mattered, last but not least... he displayed empathy. Chef Alex, Thank You for your kindness and your staff are Greatly Appreciated Until...