andtrev

We will be in Zanzibar for four nights in late March after a camping safari. Do we stay the whole time in stone town and travel around or do we stay in stone town the first and last night and travel to other accommodation around the island for the other two days.

In regards to accommodation, does anyone have any recommendations in the price range of no more than around $US150 to 200 for a twin room.

Any touristy things that you recommend?

Thanks

sandi

Suggest you go to Trip Advisor, select Forums, Select Africa, Select Tanzania, Select Zanzibar. Often on the left column will be a list of various hotels on the Island where you can read details and comments.

www.tripadvisor.com/forums

ShayTay

I don't think you'd need more than about 1 night in Stone Town. I like to stay at Tembo House by the water. On the east side of the island, my favorite beach lodge is Pongwe. They are considered to be one of the best values on the island. Their rates are $90 - 95 pp, depending on the season. The issue would be if there was availability when you wanted to go. If you're going this March, they may be full. You could also check out Shooting Star Lodge further up the coast. In March, their rates for a garden lodge room (not per person) is $180 B&B or $210 HB (includes dinner.)

tanzaniatouroperator

I'd agree with ShayTay....1 night is enough in Stone Town unless you really want to immerse yourself in the history. Pongwe is a great shout...fantastic lodge at a great price for what it offers (stunning beach!). If you cannot get in then Shooting Star is a good bet also.....and the Kendwa hotels up on the North West tip of the island. (these have an exceptional beach but a younger traveller crowd). You could look up in Nungwi....Flame Tree Cottages or the Z Hotel would have prices close to what you are looking for. Sunshine Hotel and Matemwe Beach Village are also good shouts, worth a look.

Julian - Director, Africa and Tanzania Odyssey

Elainee

Only the Sarena hotel in Zanzibar has a pool and that hotel is very expensive.

sandi

Elainee - Only Serena Hotel has pool!????
Sorry, wrong and this hotel is the Se rena Inn located in Stone Town. Yes, expensive, but so too are some other properties in Stone Town. But for your info.. Serena has pool, so too Tembo, Dhow, and others.

At the beach resorts, most every hotel has a pool, if not certainly access to the beach.

KathBC

It really depends on what you're looking for.

Last June I spent 7 days glorious days in Zanzibar and loved it!

4 days at the beach just relaxing and reading after 2 weeks on safari and 3 days in Stonetown.

Tembo Hotel looks good,is reasonably priced and has a nice little cafe right on the beach to watch the sunset or people.

There's also Beyt al Chai, a little funky place with a great restaurant, about a block over from the Tembo and across the street from the Serena where I enjoyed a drink while watching the dhows sail by.

I really enjoyed walking around old Stonetown and taking in the

Elainee

I wish we had known because we were hot, very hot and would have loved a pool.

KathBC

oops! wth?

Anyway I really enjoyed walking around old Stonetown and taking in the culture.

From Stonetown you can look into a Blue Safari that departs from around Fumba in the south island.

You can choose to relax at the beach for a few days and then use Stonetown, where hotels are cheaper, as your base to do the spice tour, Jozani Forest to see the red colobus monkeys or Prison Island which really isn't much but it was cool going out there in a boat and then seeing dolphins on the way back.

Again it really depends on what you're looking for.

KathBC

Another oops as it's Stone Town, not Stonetown.

andtrev

Thanks everyone for all your help. Any further comments will be appreciated.

ShayTay

You can also snorkel out by Prison Island. In Stone Town, one of my favorite restaurants is Monsoon, on the outside of the tunnel by Forodhani Gardens. The terrace of the Serena is a nice place to have a sundowner and watch the dhows go by. The cafe at Tembo House is also by the water, but faces further north and they don't serve alcohol if that's your choice. If you're out for a day trip from Stone Town or are being transported back to ST from the beach areas, consider having lunch at Mtoni Marine. They have really great food. The lodge is on the western side of the island, about 10 minutes north of Stone Town and could be another possibility for a beach stay for you. I'm not sure what their rates are, though.