Meliá Zanzibar — Hotel in Unguja

I came here for a 10 night stay with my daughter and we had a wonderful time. Thank you to the manager Vikram who looked after us and made us feel looked after and welcome. The rooms are lovely with huge bathrooms, and the food is great too - we were all inclusive. I really can't tell you how friendly and welcoming the staff were - thank you for making our holiday so memorable with your kindness. Especially Elizabeth the waitress - she was just lovely and made me so happy with her lovely smile! ||We did LOTS of excursions so we didn't spend too much time at the pool - the pool at The Level is lovely where we spent the last 3 nights, but I wasn't over keen on the main pool - in fairness it was broken when we arrived so wasn't infinity as it was leaking, but once fixed that did look better, but I do think the main pool area could do with a refurb. The pool at The Level is what I would expect as standard in a 5 star hotel and it was beautiful there. Our room at The Level was also breathtaking it was so beautiful. Plenty of sunbeds at both pools so no reserving of sunbeds going on.||The beach is lovely - it's called Gabi beach and it's a private beach belonging to the hotel. The hotel grounds are huge I think about 2km along the coast so there are little buggies running about the whole time which is great. Gabi beach is situated at one end of the hotel rather than in front of the hotel, but it's no problem at all. There are a few vendors selling there (permitted by the hotel) but they were friendly and didn't bother us at all. In fact my daughter had some henna done by a couple of lovely ladies on the beach and we had a nice sing and chat with them! The people on this island are all so happy and friendly. Definitely eat lunch at Gabi beach the food is lovely and views fantastic.||Zanzibar is very tidal so when the sea is out of course it doesn't look as pretty, so don't worry if you arrive at low tide as as soon as the tide comes in it is stunning - crystal blue sea and white sand. Stunning.||We also had dinner at the Jetty one night - amazing experience eating in the middle of the sea out there! There are nets on the side of the jetty too which make for great photos and are fun to lie on!||I also had a massage at the lovely spa. Felister did my massage and when I tell you this was the BEST massage I have ever had in my entire life - I mean it! I am 51 so I've had a lot of massages in my life, but I just wish I could have another massage with Felister as it was unreal. Highly recommended and thank you so much to her! I would return just for another massage!! The spa had a great gym with air conditioning and a lovely little pool with a wonderful view so worth a visit.||We booked all of our excursions with Erick at the hotel and he was super friendly, professional and organised many, many trips for us. A huge thank you to Erick for making our holiday so special. As it was just me and my daughter I wanted to book with the hotel to feel safe, and he really made all our trips feel well organised and safe which I really appreciated. In fact the whole island did feel very safe to us as 2 female travellers. Thank you Erick you were amazing,||Zanzibar is really poor country but the people seem so happy and far less stressed than everyone back home! Pole Pole (slowly slowly) is one of their sayings and it was so nice to chill and relax and take everything slowly here.||We visited an orphange called Kidundo - highly recommend going to spend some time with the children here who were delighted to receive food we bought at the supermarket first (oil, rice, washing powder etc) and also just so happy to show us around and sing and chat with us. What a great afternoon we spent there!||We also visited Salaam cave where a local guy (who lived in Oxford!) rescues sea turtles from fishermen who caught them and educates them not to eat them, then he buys them and they stay in the cave until he takes them back out to sea. Swimming with these turtles was amazing in the cave!||We also did Safari blue and a boat trip to the sandbank which was fun. We also visited Stone Town and Prison island - worth visiting but quite sobering as you learn about the slave trade which is important to learn about but so depressing. On prison island we loved seeing the giant tortoises.||We also did a safari day trip to Mikumi and that was a great day where we saw elephants, lions, zebra, giraffes, hippos, and more - amazing! ||So we had an action packed amazing holiday and staying at the Melia made it even more special. Thank you to everyone there! We...

I celebrated my birthday at Meliá Zanzibar, and the whole experience was truly wonderful. We’re both chefs and work in the hospitality industry, so it’s very special when we can go somewhere, truly relax, and recognise excellent service. The staff really went above and beyond, giving us an unexpected upgrade from a bungalow to a pavilion at The Level, which helped us unwind when we really needed it.||We can’t thank them enough for making our stay so special. Overall, I’d highly recommend it.||||- Check-In||We were warmly welcomed at arrival by Silma, who immediately made us feel at home with his kindsmile and professional attention. He explained everything clearly, let us know about our upgrade to TheLevel, and guided us through the process with efficiency and warmth. It set the perfect tone for the entire stay.||||- Accommodation||Our room was spacious and impeccably clean, with thoughtful amenities like multiple pillow options, a constantly refilled minibar, and a very comfortable bathroom with a great bathtub. A beach bag was also provided. The highlight was the balcony, where we enjoyed breathtaking views of the sunrise each morning and even watched the full moon rise over the ocean. Housekeeping was consistently excellent||– our room was always spotless whenever we returned.||||- Dining||Breakfast at The Level was delicious, with a mix of à la carte options and a plentiful buffet, fresh juices, and a wide variety of coffees and teas. Dinners there were equally memorable, with an extensive menu and consistently delicious dishes. A special thanks to Chef Emmanuel, who cooked a perfect steak one evening and whose biryani became a favourite we ordered multiple times. He was so kind when we asked to thank him personally.||Lunch at Gabi Beach was a highlight every day, right on the shore. The shrimp with garlic sauce on our last day was unforgettable, as were Chef Roja’s pizzas, which we ordered more than once. Fresh fish, crisp fries, and lovely veggie sides were always well prepared, and the drinks – especially the piña coladas – were consistent and refreshing. Chef Roja was warm and friendly every time we spoke with||him.||We also loved dining at The Jetty, set out over the water with absolutely stunning views. We visited once for lunch on my birthday and once for dinner, enjoying the fresh seafood focus and the welcoming atmosphere.||||- Pool & Beach||The Level pool was always pristine and beautifully maintained. The main pool was large, with water kept at a perfect temperature, and there were also smaller warm pools. We often swam at sunset, watching the full moon rise in a magical setting. Staff worked tirelessly to keep the area immaculate – skimming leaves, arranging cushions, umbrellas, and towels in the morning, and tidying everything up in the evening.||The beach was equally well cared for, with the team out early to clean the sand. We loved spending mornings on the big cushions under the trees, ordering drinks and enjoying the sea breeze. It was the perfect place to switch off from the world.||||- People Who Made Our Stay Special||The true highlight of Meliá Zanzibar is the people. Their warmth and genuine hospitality reflect the beauty of Zanzibar itself. We want to give a huge shout-out to:||||# Zainab, whose radiant smile and joyful welcome greeted us every time.||# Zawadi, who went above and beyond to make our birthday dinner unforgettable.||# Witness, always full of positive energy and kindness. She also made my birthday dinner memorable and fun. ||# Paul, the first to guide us during Swahili night at Gabi Beach, checking in on us every day.||# Lilian, with her genuine sweetness and fun conversations.||# Cecilia, who even taught us a bit of Swahili and made my birthday lunch at The Jetty special.||# Prosper, cheerful and funny, always bringing good energy.||# Atumani and Tumaini, who helped us during breakfast and lunch and recommended the garlic prawns we loved at Gabi Beach.||# Andrea, who served us many times with a genuine smile and fun, carefully pouring beer with no foam.||# Raymond, from the service team, and the wonderful housekeeping ladies, who kept everything perfect.||||And a big special thank you to Yulia from guest relations, always approachable and polite, who regularly checked in with us and made sure everything was going smoothly.||||- Conclusion||From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to Meliá Zanzibar and its entire team for making this journey and stay truly memorable.||Kwa dhati ya moyo wangu, asanteni sana Meliá na timu yote kwa kufanya safari yangu na ukaaji...

Our experience at the Melia was mixed, with both positive and negative aspects.

Negatives Upon arrival, we were placed in a room directly next to a construction work. The noise started as early as 7 AM, and after three days, we finally complained and were upgraded to a bungalow. While this new accommodation was much quieter, it had several maintenance issues: the TV kept freezing, the air conditioning wouldn’t cool below 24°C, despite being set to 18°C, the stairway light was broken, which made it dangerous at night. Another major issue was the overpriced services. The laundry service was outrageously expensive, washing a basic T-Shirt cost $5. The hotel shop was even worse, charging $28 for sunscreen, more than five times the European price. Additionally, the store had very few hygiene products for women. Service across the hotel was inconsistent. Requests were often ignored or not followed through. For example, I asked for a bottle of water, and instead of receiving it immediately, I was told it would be brought to my room, but it never arrived. The hotel lacked an ATM, forcing guests to go to unsafe areas to get cash. Additionally, there was not enough change available at the reception, so we couldn’t just change euros either. At the pool bar and beach bar, service was frustratingly slow. Despite several staff members standing around, they either ignored WhatsApp orders or took over 30 minutes to ask what we wanted to drink. The constant, unnecessary phone calls from staff were another annoyance. We were called in the morning and evening to check if everything was okay, yet when we actually needed something, no solution was provided. In the first few days while having breakfast, staff constantly tried to push activities, but 90% of them never actually happened. Additionally, the overly friendly interactions before getting basic service felt excessive. Every single time when we wanted to order we had to go through small talk. That can be tiring for European guests. Housekeeping was unpredictable. Sometimes, staff would enter the room during dinner to prepare it for the night, but other times, they wouldn’t show up at all. Even worse, the cleaning staff repeatedly knocked on the door in the morning despite the “Do Not Disturb” sign. There were also frequent power outages, and the backup generator did not kick in immediately. Each time, it took around five minutes for the air conditioning, TV and internet to start working again. The bathroom amenities were also disappointing, not high quality for a hotel of this price range. The hotel houses several rescued animals within the property. While this is a kind hearted initiative, the living conditions are far from adequate. The animals have very little space, no proper hiding spots, no toys or activities to keep them mentally stimulated. The intention to care for these animals is admirable, but their conditions do not meet basic welfare standards. It would be better if the hotel improved the conditions or partnered with a proper sanctuary.

Positives Despite these issues, a few exceptional staff members stood out: for example Emmanuel, Bruno, Dailami, Secilia, Said, Abdul and Bahati. They cared about providing good service and also remembered details like gluten free requests or no ice in drinks. The hotel occasionally hosted great shows. The food selection included a gluten free station. The beach was beautiful, lined with palm trees and monitored by security personnel, creating a safe and relaxing atmosphere. The resort is beautifully designed. One of the highlights is the wildlife. We saw monkeys playing in the trees and even spotted elephant shrews, which was a unique experience.

Conclusion While the Melia had some good aspects, the overall experience did not justify the price. Poor service, overpriced essentials, and frequent maintenance issues made our stay frustrating at times. If the hotel improved its efficiency, maintenance, and pricing, it could provide a much better...