The Palms Zanzibar

Access to Sister Properties: Guests have access to additional amenities at neighboring hotels, including a gym, spa, lap pool, tennis courts, and water sports facilities. This ensures a balance of exclusivity and variety.

Last month we spent an utterly perfect 5 days at the end of our honeymoon at The Palms. From the moment we arrived, we were made to feel like royalty. The staff are welcoming, attentive and always have a smile on their faces. Siriak, the operations manager, was always on hand to chat, check we were having a good day, and happy to sit and teach us how to play bao. The bar and waiting staff; Kibalabala, Jackson, Ngasa and Mau (apologies if any misspelt!) were wonderful, so kind and friendly and nothing was ever too much to ask. This is all without even having got on to describing the hotel itself, which is simply idyllic. There are only 7 bungalows, so the whole thing feels so intimate and exclusive. It is so quiet and peaceful, and you really feel like you’re the only people in the world, a feeling amplified by the staff who always made us feel so special. Our bungalow was so spacious and beautifully decorated, with a seating area, a gorgeous bathroom with free standing bath, a separate dressing room and a whole other bedroom and bathroom which we just used for storage! The little private terrace and mini pool was such a wonderful place to sit in the evenings before dinner. The communal areas, again, are beautiful. They are so thoughtfully decorated, such that they feel authentic and in keeping with the surroundings, but also modern. The pool area is lovely, with a little pool bar where lunch was served most days - however they like to shake things up occasionally and on one day we found our beach cabana transformed into a private beach dining area, and on another the staff created an entire wooden and palm-leaf structure right on the beach for everybody to have lunch under, with the waves lapping almost at our toes. Similarly the tables for dinner were moved to slightly different spots every night, which kept things exciting and interesting. Almost every night there was different entertainment, from live music to a talk on local history. The food itself was exceptional, hats off to Chef William! There was so much variety every day, and everything was cooked to perfection and presented beautifully. We could hardly move after five days of 4 course lunches and 5 course dinners every day! Similarly with the drinks - the bar staff are always on hand to create something delicious - we were big fans of the passionfruit mojitos! We really miss our morning non-alcoholic cocktails in our beach cabana and being brought our sundowners and canapés with the dinner menu every evening. I cannot find a single criticism of this place, and could talk about how wonderful it is all day. We have travelled a lot around the world, The Palms is hands-down our favourite. We hope to be back one day

This place is terrific. Personal, tailored service from start to finish. From management (Siriak, operations manager) through everyone on the staff, well, team, there is a keen desire to make sure your experience is perfect. The setting is stunning. The accommodations are beautiful and thoughtfully designed and executed. We have a few dietary issues that were 1) inquired about, and 2) taken very seriously. Quality of food is outstanding. I give this place my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION.