My Blue Hotel — Hotel in Unguja

We had a truly memorable stay at My Blue Hotel in Zanzibar! It offered the perfect mix of relaxation, beautiful surroundings, and warm hospitality.

When we arrived, the hotel’s exterior signage wasn’t particularly eye-catching—but as we stepped into the lobby, the atmosphere changed. We were welcomed with a refreshing passion fruit juice, and the check-in process was efficient and friendly. Special thanks to Collins and Betsy at reception, who clearly explained everything from towel cards (don’t lose them—it’s $20 per towel) to how meals and services work. You’re given a wristband depending on your board option—ours was red for all-inclusive. It’s not a big deal, but it does end up in all your holiday photos.

Our Deluxe Room on the second floor was spotlessly clean, with working air-conditioning and Wi-Fi. It was a little too dark for my taste, and the red color scheme didn’t feel very relaxing, but this is just a personal preference. The team responded quickly when our toilet needed fixing, and staff were always polite and helpful. Daily cleaning and mosquito-net turndown service in the evenings were great touches.

The common areas and pool are stunning—spacious, clean, and perfect for lounging. We found the staff to be extremely hardworking and kind, and most spoke English well enough to communicate clearly. We enjoyed learning a few Swahili phrases, and ended up forming some lovely connections with the team. The gym is small but very clean, and though we didn’t use the spa, Magmood was incredibly warm and knowledgeable.

The food was a pleasant surprise. I’d seen mixed reviews before coming, but we really enjoyed it. The pasta station, run by David from Italy, was a standout. The buffet had good variety, and the lunch and dinner options were the strongest. Zarina and Kemal were fantastic servers who made each meal feel personal and welcoming. On my mom’s birthday, the hotel organized a cake and celebration with singing—a beautiful and thoughtful touch that made the day so special.

We were on all-inclusive, and the drink selection was very decent. The only minor letdown was that coffee from the bar wasn’t included—you’d need to pay $2. There’s a local instant coffee in the buffet area, which is okay if you’re not too fussy.

Evenings at the hotel were lively and culturally rich. Here’s a quick summary of their regular weekly entertainment: • Monday – Live music with special dinner • Tuesday – Freedom Dancer Show – absolutely incredible! • Thursday – Masai Show – performed by local market vendors who also showcase their crafts at the resort • Friday – African-themed dinner – surprisingly delicious and full of variety • Saturday – Acrobatic show – we sadly missed this but heard it was great

The beach is breathtaking, though you will encounter local vendors offering tours or to take you to their markets. After we visited once, they gave us space and were genuinely sweet. There are also hotel staff and police around to ensure safety and comfort.

We were there while the owners were visiting, and it was impressive to see how hands-on and present they were—constantly working alongside their team.

In short, My Blue Hotel offers excellent value for an all-inclusive beach getaway. It’s not a flashy 5-star luxury property, but the combination of location, staff, food, and vibe made it one of the most enjoyable and heartfelt hotel experiences we’ve had. I would absolutely return and recommend it to anyone...

When you come to Zanzibar you have to go through the entering procedure. First, somebody checks your obligatory insurance, which is about $40. Then you need to obtain the visa. The process is not transparent. There are some people standing there who supposedly should guide you but we got the impression, that they do not know themselves. In the plane, we got a form to fill in but nobody needed it. Instead, you have to fill another form and go to the first line to apply for a visa. Then you are going to another line to pay for a visa ( $100 each). After that, you can go to passport control. After the passport control, somebody checks your visa. Then after having your bags screened at customs, you are in Zanzibar. In the hotel, you must pay tourist tax, which is about $50 per person for a 10 days stay. So for a party of two you have to pay about $400 just to be present in Zanzibar. I think it is a bit too much. In general, we liked the My Blue hotel. It is a bit old but well maintained and clean. The staff is very helpful and responsive. The hotel is on the west side of the island. So beautiful sunsets can be seen from the beach. The tides are not very high, but still for swimming at low tides, it is good to wear water shoes, better with a thick soil. The ocean is beautiful at all times. We also liked that we had a kettle and a fridge in the room. That was great because I am a tea drinker. Power outlets are of European style except one which is combined English/European. This is convenient. What also is very good that we were able to keep the air conditioner on all the time. This is nice because the temperature was always comfortable in the room. The room key is electronic and made in the form of the silicon bracelet. This is a good idea. However, the safe is closed not with code as usually but with a regular key and room number written in it. What one is supposed to do with the key when going swimming? Our flight back was late at night and we arranged a late checkout for a reasonable price. Thank you very much for that.

Below are a few notes, which might help the hotel to improve the service. We arrived after midnight after a long full day trip. We would greatly appreciate it if we were provided with some drinks and snacks but it was not. The hotel is all inclusive but not everything is free. For example, real coffee is not included as well as some other drinks. The only coffee, which was available, was instant low quality coffee from small bags. It is not like in many other places. Actually staying in all-inclusive places the biggest advantage is that you do not need to think about the payment. In this hotel, when you order some alcoholic beverages, you need to sign a check, even if it is included in all-inclusive. Therefore, the amount of the check is zero in this case. At checkout, you are provided with the receipt with the number of free drinks. Why they do that is not clear, but it is funny and annoying at the same time. There are no places in the room or outside to dry the swimming suits. On the beach and everywhere around there are a lot of people of Masai nation, or maybe just claiming that they are Masai. They try to sell some trash goods, begging actually. This...

When my friend and I arrived at My Blue Hotel at 2:00am, our experience immediately fell short of what one would expect from a so-called four-star resort.|The gentleman manning the front desk could not explain basic features of our “Villa,” rushed us through check-in without telling us breakfast times or amenities, and seemed uninterested in offering any assistance. The reception area itself was unwelcoming, dilapidated with a torn leather couch, old dirty carpets and a few elephant statues—hardly the polished first impression expected from a 4-star establishment. The gentleman’s assistant also complained that he was “tired”. There is no uniform dress code and no professionalism. |We had specifically requested two double beds. Instead, we were given one king-sized bed and a fold-out sleeper couch with broken springs that sagged when you sat on it and springs that squeaked. The pillows were lumpy and smelled musty. When we complained and asked for the Night Manager, we were told there wasn’t one. Instead, the front desk staff laughed at us with a colleague. Eventually, we were shown another room—this one reeking of mould, poorly ventilated, and again, furnished with one double bed and a child-sized cot.|The front desk promised that the General Manager would help us book a “Master Suite” at 8:00am. No refreshments, snacks, or even a glass of water were offered while we dealt with this at 3:00am—we had to specifically ask. Out of exhaustion, we reluctantly agreed to spend the night in the original “Villa.”|The next morning, after struggling with a broken kettle and finding a mouldy extractor fan, a dirty toilet brush in the bathroom, and very old thin towels, we sought out the General Manager. He was nowhere to be found. After waiting 15 minutes, he eventually strolled up the path with his hands on his hips indifferent to our concerns. When asked about the “Master Suite,” it quickly became clear that no such room even existed.|This property markets itself as a 4-star resort, but in reality, it felt like a backpackers lodge for foreigners sold as an “African experience.” It is nothing like the photos. The so-called “all inclusive” package covered only local beer and basic beverages, and there was no sign of the advertised amenities or service standards.|Do not be scammed! This is not a 4-star resort. It is closer to a communal dormitory, with no privacy, poor facilities, and staff unwilling (or unable) to resolve basic guest issues. Incredibly...