Travel reviews by Mr S-S from West London
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
3
Excursions taken
0
Fisherman
Zanzibar between 19 Feb 2009 and 4 Mar 2009
I was disappointed that I had to initiate the arrangements for the transfers from all three hotels. Particularly at the ZCH, the receptionist spent an entire morning trying to contact the Fisherman office (on the two numbers provided by EA) to arrange my pick-up to the airport. Although the telephone numbers were ringing, noone was picking-up. In the end the receptionist called Mr Ali's emergency mobile. If pick-up times had been agreed between EA and Fisherman, I was unaware of them. I suggest transfer times are included in the itinerary letter you send to customers prior to departure to avoid any confusion."
Feedback response
We’re sorry that this traveller had problems with the timings of his transfers on Zanzibar. Normally, on arrival in Zanzibar, each traveller is met by our representatives in Zanzibar (“Fisherman”) and handed a local itinerary, which confirms the precise timings of their transfers.
Problems have been rare with this system over the years, but we have apologised for those that occurred here, and looked into exactly why things did not run smoothly. As the result, we’ve modified the way that this information is passed to our travellers, to try to avoid similar confusion in the future.
Arranged By Claire Scott
Mchanga Beach Lodge, Zanzibar (this camp has since closed)
"Mchanga Beach Lodge review"
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Breezes Beach Club
"Breezes Beach Club review"
Breezes is not cheap and it is therefore a shame that the hotel feels the need to charge excessively for some services, e.g. Tsh7,000 for half an hour's internet use (this compares with Tsh1,000 for half an hour at the Shangani internet café in Stone Town). Also, the yoga classes were more expensive than in London. I would have liked to have practised yoga in a class but did not do so as it was impossible to pin the yogi down.
Incidentally, Mchanga charged US$5 for 20 minutes' internet use, which also seems unnecessary. Noone goes to Zanzibar to spend time on the internet but there is need to check-in for flights or deal with the occasional email and, providing internet usage is minimal, there really should be no charge."
Zanzibar Coffee House
"Zanzibar Coffee House review"
Although Stone Town is compact and easy to walk around, at night there is little street lighting and virtually no street signs. As many of the restaurants are around Shangani Road, which is quite a distance from the ZCH, it is easy to become disorientated trying to find one's way back across town late at night and I got completely lost doing so!
I hired an excellent guide from under a tree outside the Serena Inn, who charged US$5/hour.
I ate at the Silk Route Restaurant (next to the National Bank of Commerce), which was a tasty Indian restaurant (main course: Tsh15,000)."
Everyone I met in Zanzibar was friendly and the staff at Mchamba were especially so, particularly Master, who spotted me in the market in Stone Town, a week after I had left Mchanga, and came up for a chat with his girlfriend.
[Ed: In a review for his next hotel (Breezes) this traveller commented further:
"Incidentally, Mchanga charged US$5 for 20 minutes' internet use, which also seems unnecessary. Noone goes to Zanzibar to spend time on the internet but there is need to check-in for flights or deal with the occasional email and, providing internet usage is minimal, there really should be no charge."]"