Villa Fiona — Hotel in Unguja

Security & theft: There is no safe to store valuables. During our stay, we were robbed of all our devices — a loss valued at over USD 6,000. Instead of showing concern or offering assistance, the host’s response was dismissive, rude, and accusatory. They implied we had made the whole thing up, suggested we might have left the doors open, questioned how it was possible without “any noise” or “signs of forced entry,” and made personal comments about how people in other countries lock their doors.||||Refusal to help with insurance: The host openly stated that they would not help us obtain a police report for insurance purposes because the local police “did not believe a theft occurred” and found our explanation “not credible.” They repeatedly told us that without proof, “the insurance will never accept to cover this theft” and that it was “incredible” we claimed someone entered while we slept without anyone hearing. They made it clear they would not cooperate unless we could “convince” them a theft had taken place, effectively blocking us from making an insurance claim.||||Support: Despite the seriousness of the incident, support from the host was minimal. There was no proactive assistance with the investigation beyond the first day, no apology, and no empathy for what happened.||||Noise & location: The property is in a busy boat harbour. Fishermen work directly under the balcony during the day, and the hotel next door plays loud music late into the night.||||Beach access: There is no direct path to the beach, contrary to what you might expect from the listing.||||Smells: At night, strong rotten odours came into the bedroom, which disrupted sleep.||||Access to property: The road to the house is in poor condition, and even after asking, we received no directions before arrival.||||||This was one of the most stressful and upsetting holidays we have ever experienced. The combination of a major theft, the host’s hostility, their refusal to assist with our insurance claim, and the lack of basic security left us feeling completely unprotected. We would strongly caution other travellers...

Security & theft: There is no safe to store valuables. During our stay, we were robbed of all our devices — a loss valued at over USD 6,000. Instead of showing concern or offering assistance, the host’s response was dismissive, rude, and accusatory. They implied we had made the whole thing up, suggested we might have left the doors open, questioned how it was possible without “any noise” or “signs of forced entry,” and made personal comments about how people in other countries lock their doors.

Refusal to help with insurance: The host openly stated that they would not help us obtain a police report for insurance purposes because the local police “did not believe a theft occurred” and found our explanation “not credible.” They repeatedly told us that without proof, “the insurance will never accept to cover this theft” and that it was “incredible” we claimed someone entered while we slept without anyone hearing. They made it clear they would not cooperate unless we could “convince” them a theft had taken place, effectively blocking us from making an insurance claim.

Support: Despite the seriousness of the incident, support from the host was minimal. There was no proactive assistance with the investigation beyond the first day, no apology, and no empathy for what happened.

Noise & location: The property is in a busy boat harbour. Fishermen work directly under the balcony during the day, and the hotel next door plays loud music late into the night.

Beach access: There is no direct path to the beach, contrary to what you might expect from the listing.

Smells: At night, strong rotten odours came into the bedroom, which disrupted sleep.

Access to property: The road to the house is in poor condition, and even after asking, we received no directions before arrival.

This was one of the most stressful and upsetting holidays we have ever experienced. The combination of a major theft, the host’s hostility, their refusal to assist with our insurance claim, and the lack of basic security left us feeling completely unprotected. We would strongly caution other travellers...

Mixed Experience – Some Important Considerations for Future Guests

While the house had some positive features, there were several issues that future guests should be aware of:

Location and Accessibility: The house is located in a local village and is very difficult to access by car or taxi. This led to a lack of privacy, as there were people around the house frequently, and at low tide, people were sitting directly under the balcony, creating a lot of noise.

Misleading Bedding Information: The house was advertised as having 6 beds, but there were only 3 available. This only works for 3 couples!

Beach: The property is in a harbor, not near a traditional zanzi bar beach. While there is a small area beneath a 4m cliff at low tide, it's not ideal for those expecting to enjoy beach activities or safe swimming due to reefs and sea urchins.

Noise from Nearby Resort: A resort next door played loud music until 4 some nights, making it difficult to sleep.

Security Concerns and Lack of Host Support: Unfortunately, we were robbed during our stay. Although the house had a gate and wall, its location in a village made it vulnerable. The host was not helpful in resolving the situation and even accused us of making the incident up, which was incredibly frustrating and disappointing.

Overall, while the house itself had some good features like the balcony and pool, the location, noise, and security issues made the experience less enjoyable. I would suggest future guests consider these factors...