Sultan Sands

“AWSOME MEMORIES”

The Sultan Sands island resort Zanzibar exceeded all expectations! Of course, the view all round are to die for the food was excellent, great variety to choose from some stations in which there were things freshly prepared was amazing, alcoholic drinks you would pay but all the cocktails are includ… more

The Sultan Sands island resort Zanzibar exceeded all expectations! Of course, the view all round are to die for the food was excellent, great variety to choose from some stations in which there were things freshly prepared was amazing, alcoholic drinks you would pay but all the cocktails are included in the all inclusive package but offer enough variety to be inclusive for everyone. The same counts for (evening) entertainment which there was a different theme, Zanzibar night, oriental, Indian all very enjoyable. As for the service & the staffs you could not ask for anymore, I really could go on & on so I’ll stop now, but definitely highly recommended. Zanzibar we will be back.

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“Paradise in all ways”

Amazing location on the East coast , white sands and endless beaches , warm Indian Ocean just a few steps from the private elevated beach. The buildings are all authentic thatched and low level , from the beach the resort blends into the palm trees. Rooms are spacious , well equipped, very clean wi… more

Amazing location on the East coast , white sands and endless beaches , warm Indian Ocean just a few steps from the private elevated beach. The buildings are all authentic thatched and low level , from the beach the resort blends into the palm trees. Rooms are spacious , well equipped, very clean with a great balcony , all facing towards the sea on a small incline, no more than 2-3 minute walk through the gardens to the beach. Air con worked great , shower was hot,fridge worked well, mosquito nets supplied and room sprayed each night, although mosquitoes weren’t an issue at all. Beach was very clean , raked every day , plenty of sun loungers even round the pool , never had an issue getting one , pool towels supplied daily and very clean and fluffy. Pool was very clean , warm and spacious for the small resort. 2 bars were next to the pool so no issues with drinks , we got served on the beach as well. Main beach is public , has a few traders but they’re not aggressive and the resort security as very efficient , no problem swimming or doing a beach walk and getting hassled. Sea is warm and depending on tide you can walk 100’s of metres out to Seaweed farms and see coral,starfish etc. Sometimes the tide brings in seaweed,and being a public beach it doesn’t get cleaned but it’s not too much and doesn’t affect the amazing white sand stretch of the hotel. Food was buffet and I can’t overestimate how fresh, good quality it was and a great variety with themed nights every night. Food was always topped up and omelettes,eggs,pancakes etc all made freshly to your taste. Plates and glasses were cleared very quickly and service was second to none. We had a la carte restaurants we could use and we did once , also brilliant , but the buffet was more than enough to keep our interest. Entertainment was every night , live and very entertaining during the day there was football , volleyball , aqua aerobics organised to a high standard. The spa is being rebuilt but the rooms used temporarily are more than adequate, my partner had a pedicure and massage , all reasonably priced and excellent , as was the service and attitude of the girls. The overall theme/look of the place is relaxed, casual , clean and very welcoming, it’s a smallish resort with a very professional but casual theme. You can change money , it has a small but well stocked shop , water in the room every day and you can take drinks from the bar to put in your fridge. The staff were all amazing , happy , professional and good at their jobs. I can’t name all who made our stay but Sophia and Moudi in the restaurant, Bilali and Ally in the bar , Happy in the beach bar , Adam the pool boy and I don’t know his name but the gardener who keeps the crows away were outstanding. I cannot recommend this resort enough , we had access to its slightly better rated sister resort but never felt the need to use it as Sultan had everything we needed. Don’t expect a marble clad 5 star type resort, it’s small , friendly and blends in with its surroundings , sure like a lot of places it has a few bits that need a lick of paint or a new part but you have to remind yourself you are on an island off the african coast that’s only had tourism since 1990 and staying in an authentic resort , not soulless could be anywhere hotel.

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“A Great Place to Relax After a Safari, but Some Improvements Needed”

Sultan Sands in Zanzibar is a fantastic hotel to unwind after a few days on safari. The rooms are excellent (spacious, quiet, and comfortable). The social areas are also well above average, with four pools (including a quieter one for those looking to truly relax), several restaurants, bars, and va… more

Sultan Sands in Zanzibar is a fantastic hotel to unwind after a few days on safari. The rooms are excellent (spacious, quiet, and comfortable). The social areas are also well above average, with four pools (including a quieter one for those looking to truly relax), several restaurants, bars, and various game areas like snooker and ping pong. There’s even a spot for beach soccer and volleyball. The staff is attentive and professional, from the gardeners to the receptionists, restaurant staff, and entertainers. Everyone we encountered was friendly and eager to ensure we had a great stay. Two standout aspects of Sultan Sands, in my opinion, are the quality of the food and the beach. - The food is local, spicy, and of excellent quality with a great variety to choose from. - The beach right in front of the hotel is stunning, with soft sand, crystal-clear water, and a perfect temperature. Surrounding the hotel, the beach area has several shops selling local crafts, and there are also numerous vendors who enjoy chatting with tourists. While they are keen to sell their products, they are polite and not overly pushy if you’re not interested, which adds a charming and authentic local flavor to the area. There are a couple of areas where the hotel could improve: 1) The hotel should invest in maintaining the cleanliness of the beach in front of and around the property. The beach and ocean are beautiful, but there is quite a bit of plastic and some litter that should be collected. While I understand that the beach isn't the hotel's direct responsibility, they have enough staff to handle this additional task and greatly enhance the cleanliness of the environment. I strongly believe the hotel should work to ensure the beach is consistently clean and should encourage their staff and local vendors to participate in regular cleanups. 2) All goods at the hotel (food, drinks) are priced in the local currency. However, when it comes time to settle the bill via credit card at the end of the stay, the hotel only accepts payment in USD, with an exorbitant exchange rate—nearly 15% higher than the actual rate. If prices are displayed in the local currency, it doesn’t seem fair to force guests to pay in USD, especially with such a significant markup. My final payment ended up being considerably higher than the advertised cost for additional products and services.

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