8 Reasons to Stay at a Boutique Hotel in Zanzibar

Planning a trip to Zanzibar? Congrats, Zanzibar serves up the perfect combo of beach and culture! This amazing island is located off the coast of Tanzania and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Africa. With lots of activities to do like snorkeling, surfing, and kite surfing, as well as the opportunity to learn about culture and history, Zanzibar isn’t just a beach vacation but also an educational experience like no other. 

If you’re already planning a trip to Zanzibar Island or want a great island vacation, there’s a lot you’ll need to know about this beautiful destination, chief among them, the accommodation options. There are different areas of Zanzibar, each with its own feel and vibe, so you want to be able to choose the right place to stay during your visit. When traveling, picking the right hotel can be quite the chore. If you’ve never stayed at a boutique hotel before, you probably don’t know what sets them apart from other hotels, or how you could benefit from choosing a room at a unique boutique hotel. 


What is a boutique hotel?


You might have heard the term ‘Boutique hotel’ taking shape in the last couple of years. Well, they’re not the regular branded luxury chain of hotels you see almost everywhere. These concept hotels are built around the idea of a unique, wholesome experience for guests. A boutique hotel is petite with a strong personality and filled with a contemporary vibe and a quirky, modern spirit. While the reasons are endless, we thought it would be a good idea to highlight some of the best of them. When choosing a place to stay in Zanzibar, here’s why you should go for a great boutique hotel.


1. Personal Service

At a boutique hotel, the main objective of the staff is to provide you with personalized service. Due to the relatively smaller sizes of boutique hotels, their staff are able to cater to the needs of each guest and take personalization to new heights. 


2. Upscale Design

Many traditional, larger hotels feature basic design and aesthetic, with a heavy focus on accommodating more guests. On the other hand, a typical boutique hotel is designed to show off extraordinary architecture. This makes boutique hotels the perfect place to take memorable photos of your time in Zanzibar.


3. Great Location


Since boutique hotels are a lot smaller than chain hotels, they can occupy much smaller spaces. This makes it easier to build the perfect place to stay in choice locations around the island. Location is a huge factor to consider when staying in Zanzibar since it can mean the difference between access and close proximity to several of the island’s highlights.


4. Artistic Decor


From the lobby to the restaurant to the rooms and beyond, boutique hotels usually have a theme that creates a cohesive atmosphere. Some even further extend the theme’s reach by making sure each decoration expresses the individuality of the boutique hotel’s personality.


5. Private and More Intimate Experience

One of the perks of staying in a boutique hotel in Zanzibar is the amount of privacy it provides compared to your average island hotel. The intimate setting of these facilities offers a sense of privacy and communal spaces, particularly for guests who like to mingle. 


6. Relatively Affordable Pricing

Boutique hotels offer a lot of exciting advantages, which probably makes you wonder about the cost of staying in one. Well, the good news is that most of them are actually very similar to average hotel pricing. While generally more expensive than a motel or a hostel, a boutique hotel is still a favorite accommodation option among Zanzibar tourists.


7. Luxurious Accommodations


Accommodation at a boutique hotel is often much more luxurious, such that for the most part, no two stays are ever the same. Boutique hotels can easily change with the years and the seasons, so if you come back next year, you can end up staying in different rooms with radically different aesthetics and layouts.


8. Knowledgeable Staff and Local Connections


Boutique hotel staff are often local, dedicated and incredibly knowledgeable about the area. This allows them to help guests with more nuance and detail compared to the staff of a large hotel. It’s also easier for boutique hotels to make connections to other local businesses, such as partnerships with restaurants, tour agencies, spas, and many other facilities around Zanzibar that guests can benefit from during their stay.

Now you know where to go. Talk to us today about your Zanzibar boutique hotel accommodation and we will work with you to deliver the right fit for your travel needs. 


the hotel
The Z Team
July 17, 2023