Travel reviews by Miss A from Harrogate
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
3
Excursions taken
0
My Zanzibar break in Jan 18
Zanzibar and 1 other country between 17 Jan 2018 and 23 Jan 2018
"Actually rather disappointing. The trip notes were inadequate and despite assuring me that my coeliac condition had been passed to both Chumbe Island and Kholle Hotel, this was not the case. On the island that was not a problem as the food was mainly fish and salads but at the hotel it most certainly was a problem.
The Kholle House is a lovely boutique hotel but was not the most relaxing. see me earlier comments. Not what i expected. Very disappointed.
However the Lazizi hotel was a lovely but I did feel that the charges by Expert Africa for arranging this were high to excessive when looking at the hotel website."
The Kholle House is a lovely boutique hotel but was not the most relaxing. see me earlier comments. Not what i expected. Very disappointed.
However the Lazizi hotel was a lovely but I did feel that the charges by Expert Africa for arranging this were high to excessive when looking at the hotel website."
Feedback response
We are sorry for the experience that this traveller had during her stay in Zanzibar. Expert Africa takes our travellers dietary requirements very seriously, and we always clearly communicate these to the relevant hotels. Kholle House and Chumbe Island Lodge confirmed that they understood her dietary requests, and that she was served a gluten free diet during her stay. We are sorry if she felt that there had been a miscommunication here.
Arranged By Lyndsey Marris
Kholle House
"Kholle House Review"
1 night
Arrived
17 Jan 2018
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Poor
Service
Good
Activities
Poor
Rooms
Good
Food
Poor
Facilities
Average
Feedback response
We are sorry for the experience that this traveller had during her stay at Kholle House. As noted on our website, Kholle House does not currently accept credit cards, however we apologise if this had not been clearly communicated. Expert Africa takes our travellers dietary requirements very seriously, and we always clearly communicate these to the relevant hotels. Kholle House confirmed that they understood her dietary requests, and that she was served a gluten free diet during her stay. We are sorry if she felt that there had been a miscommunication here.
Kholle House have a check in time of 12:00, two hours afters after this traveler arrived at the hotel. All guests have access to the communal areal, including the lounge, pool and verandah at all points, and unfortunately she was required to wait for 45-minutes whilst her room was being prepared. We are sorry for the inconvenience she experienced. Kholle House apologised for the delay in returning her bag to her, and this is not typical practice for the hotel.
We are sorry that her day of rest was disturbed by children playing in the swimming pool. Kholle House confirmed that these were the children of hotel guests, and not local residents. The use of the hotel pool is solely for the use of hotel guests. It is unfortunate that this was not the relaxing setting she was hoping for, however the hotel can not restrict how the pool is used by its guests.
Kholle House have a check in time of 12:00, two hours afters after this traveler arrived at the hotel. All guests have access to the communal areal, including the lounge, pool and verandah at all points, and unfortunately she was required to wait for 45-minutes whilst her room was being prepared. We are sorry for the inconvenience she experienced. Kholle House apologised for the delay in returning her bag to her, and this is not typical practice for the hotel.
We are sorry that her day of rest was disturbed by children playing in the swimming pool. Kholle House confirmed that these were the children of hotel guests, and not local residents. The use of the hotel pool is solely for the use of hotel guests. It is unfortunate that this was not the relaxing setting she was hoping for, however the hotel can not restrict how the pool is used by its guests.
Senior Africa Specialist | East Africa
Chumbe Island Lodge
"Chumbe Island Lodge Review"
2 nights
Arrived
18 Jan 2018
"There is a fixed programme which depends on the tides.
There was only one snorkelling trip per day and that was fixed and from a boat. I wanted to be able to wander into the water but this was not possible. Very disappointed.
The beach has strong rip tides so swimming is not recommended. I wish I had known this before I went.
My "hut" was lovely but only cold water in the shower. At least two of us were told "sorry - your hut only"..so not true! Refreshing during the day but very chilly in the morning!
Boat transfer. You need to advise people that you WILL get soaked during wading to and from the boat. Depending on your height and the wind / swells, up to and including knickers!!
There was no tidal walk at all whilst I was there. No idea why!
Forest walk was OK but underwhelming and could have been done in much less time.
Staff were lovely and the food was fabulous."
There was only one snorkelling trip per day and that was fixed and from a boat. I wanted to be able to wander into the water but this was not possible. Very disappointed.
The beach has strong rip tides so swimming is not recommended. I wish I had known this before I went.
My "hut" was lovely but only cold water in the shower. At least two of us were told "sorry - your hut only"..so not true! Refreshing during the day but very chilly in the morning!
Boat transfer. You need to advise people that you WILL get soaked during wading to and from the boat. Depending on your height and the wind / swells, up to and including knickers!!
There was no tidal walk at all whilst I was there. No idea why!
Forest walk was OK but underwhelming and could have been done in much less time.
Staff were lovely and the food was fabulous."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Activities
Average
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Feedback response
We are sorry that this traveller had a negative experience whilst staying at Chumbe Island. Much of the best snorkelling on Zanzibar is found a short distance from shore, and typically requires a boat to reach it; this is also true of Chumbe Island. We are sorry that this traveler felt that she had been ill informed here.
Chumbe Island is a simple eco-lodge, with accommodation in the form of wooden bandas, or "huts". It is not common place for the showers to only have cold water, and Chumbe Island Lodge apologise that this was her experience.
We understand that whilst this traveller was staying at Chumbe, the wind was stronger than is normally to be expected, and as a result there was quite a bit of spray. We will ensure that our future travellers are aware of these issues.
Chumbe Island is a simple eco-lodge, with accommodation in the form of wooden bandas, or "huts". It is not common place for the showers to only have cold water, and Chumbe Island Lodge apologise that this was her experience.
We understand that whilst this traveller was staying at Chumbe, the wind was stronger than is normally to be expected, and as a result there was quite a bit of spray. We will ensure that our future travellers are aware of these issues.
Senior Africa Specialist | East Africa
Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport
"Lazizi Premier Hotel"
1 night
Arrived
22 Jan 2018
"I was very surprised that the driver and car had to come from the hotel and were not nearby. Wasted 20 mins waiting.
However, once there all was well. Nice room an lovely pool and food.
They are becoming part of the Crown Plaza group so I hope they maintain their standards and do not drop down to the mediocre which is Crown Plaza."
However, once there all was well. Nice room an lovely pool and food.
They are becoming part of the Crown Plaza group so I hope they maintain their standards and do not drop down to the mediocre which is Crown Plaza."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Expert Africa had NOT advised Kholle House that I am Coeliac and required a gluten free diet (despite having said so in my trip notes). This came as a major surprise to them and caused many problems as they had no conception of the requirements and constraints..
They were kind enough to let me leave my main case with them whilst I was away in Chumbe Island for 2 nights. However, when I got back the manager was on her day off and asleep and not to be disturbed. So when I got back around 1030 (the room was not ready for at least another hour which did not help) I did not get my case until 1700. Whilst they did apologise very nicely that was not the point and I was stunned that I could not get my case for 6 hours.
My main day for relaxation was a Sunday. it started well then I found that the management had let 6 local kids in to enjoy the pool. This was a disaster for me - everything got soaked! I retreated to the lovely roof lounge but it most certainly was not what I had envisaged!
Lovely hotel and friendly staff but I will not stay there again.
Did not wander into Stone Town as the hotel is tucked away and I would have got lost! All the little alleys are very confusing and rather intimidating. No maps etc available."