The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Zanzibar

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to Zanzibar

The Beach of Zanzibar, Tanzania The Beach of Zanzibar, Tanzania

If it's your first trip to Zanzibar, Tanzania for the activities and sightseeing, then you're in for a treat. But the biggest question is often where to stay for a first time visitor to Zanzibar. With so many amazing hotels to choose from, it can be tough to make a decision to make the most of your first trip here. That's where we come in! In this comprehensive guide, we'll help you find the best hotels for first-timers in Zanzibar. After analyzing all of the hotels based on price, location, amenities, ratings, and more, we have come up with our list of the best hotels in Zanzibar for first time visitors. We'll cover everything you need to know about these hotels, including the amenities, location, prices and ratings. So, whether you're traveling solo, with family, or as a couple on a romantic getaway, you'll find the perfect hotel if you've never visited Zanzibar beofre. So check out these terrific hotels, many of which have sparkling swimming pools, delicious restaurants, and top-notch amenities, along with the perfect balance of comfort, location, and affordability. So, let's get to it and discover the best hotels in Zanzibar for your first trip!

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Madinat Al Bahr Business & Spa Hotel

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $137 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Zanzibar
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at Mbweni, Stone Town, P.O Box - 4858, Madinat Al Bahr Business & Spa Hotel has great rooms from $137 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving. It has a terrific 8.80 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 5 km from the city center, first time visitors will especially love snorkeling, a bar, child care, laundry services, and a hot tub at this relaxing hotel. Unwinding at the restaurant after sightseeing is a nice way to end the day. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


View hotels on the map:

Zanzibar Serena Hotel

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $355 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.

A great place to stay is Zanzibar Serena Hotel which has nice rooms starting at $355. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, scuba diving, and snorkeling, it also has a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Kelele Square, Stone Town, P.O Box 4151, Zanzibar, Tanzania. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a bar, laundry services, a game room, a child pool, and free parking which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 1.3 km from the city center. Make sure to set aside some time for swimming in the pool, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool


Mizingani Seafront Hotel

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $92 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Zanzibar
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

We found Mizingani Seafront Hotel to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $92. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, scuba diving, and snorkeling, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at Mizingani Road, Malindi District. You'll also find a bar, rooms with kitchens, laundry services, city views, and a game room which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 0.9 km from the center of town. Don't forget that there's a kitchen in the room to cook your meals, too. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Kitchen
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room


Zanzi Resort Private Paradise

5-star Resort with prices starting at $330 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

With terrific rooms from $330, Zanzi Resort Private Paradise, at Kama PO Box 3663 provides an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving. Its terrific guest rating is 9.50 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers snorkeling, a bar, hiking, laundry services, and golf. It's located just 12.7 km from the city center, too. Nothing says relaxation like having room service delivered.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Tembo House Hotel

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $83 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Zanzibar
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

Tembo House Hotel has a great guest rating of 8.40 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, scuba diving, and snorkeling. The great rooms here start at $83 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at Forodhani Street, 3974. Furthermore, it also offers rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, child care, laundry services, and golf, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 1.2 km from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. It's always nice to have a kitchenette to cook some basic meals or have an easy breakfast. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool


Bawe Island Zanzibar

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $644 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

The great guest rating of Bawe Island Zanzibar is 9.20 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $644, and it's located at 3604 Bawe Beach Rd. We also love the snorkeling, a bar, rooms with kitchens, laundry services, and a game room which are great for visitors. And since it's just 7.7 km from the center of the town, the location is great, too. The pool bar here is a fun spot to relax while you unwind on your trip.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Tennis
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool
  • Kids' club


Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa

5-star Resort with prices starting at $425 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A cool place is Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa because it has great rooms that start at $425. It has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.10 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at Kendwa Beach. Only 46.8 km from the city center, travelers will especially love snorkeling, a bar, child care, laundry services, and a hot tub at this convenient hotel. Everyone loves a good hot tub, and this one is really nice.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Child pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Kids' club


Baraza Resort & Spa Zanzibar

5-star Resort with prices starting at $925 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Zanzibar
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Baraza Resort & Spa Zanzibar offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $925 (before taxes). It's located at Bwejuu Beach and has earned a guest rating of 9.00/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers snorkeling, a bar, a spa, a child pool, and free parking which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 37.3 km from the city center.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Child pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Tennis
  • Kids' club


Breezes Beach Club & Spa

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $357 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at Bwejuu Beach, South East Coast, Breezes Beach Club & Spa has great rooms from $357 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 9.00 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find scuba diving, snorkeling, a bar, a spa, and a pool table which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 37.1 km from the center of town.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Karafuu Beach Resort & Spa

5-star Resort with prices starting at $235 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Zanzibar
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.

A great place to stay is Karafuu Beach Resort & Spa which has nice rooms starting at $235. Offering an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also has a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Pingwe. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers scuba diving, snorkeling, a bar, child care, and laundry services. It's located just 34.9 km from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Child pool
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Tennis
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Saltwater pool
  • Kids' club


Also, take a look at the first time trip hotels in nearby destinations: Zanzibar, Jambiani, Nungwi, Dar Es Salaam, and Paje.

For more terrific hotel ideas in Zanzibar, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Zanzibar, Best Luxury Hotels in Zanzibar, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Zanzibar, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Zanzibar, Best Hotels for One Week in Zanzibar, Best Hotels for One Night in Zanzibar, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Zanzibar, Best Party Hotels in Zanzibar, Best Hotels for Scuba Diving in Zanzibar, or Best Business Hotels in Zanzibar.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Zanzibar?

Zanzibar Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$187

After analyzing 59 first time trip hotels in Zanzibar, Tanzania, we found the average first time trip hotel price to be a remarkably economical $187. Naturally, this destination has many fantastic first time trip accommodation options with a variety of prices. The price will vary by the hotel's amenities, available dates, and the general location. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Zanzibar.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $399
  • 4-star hotels: $125
  • 3-star hotels: $129
  • 2-star hotels: $53


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