Zoi Boutique Hotel: Our full report

Opened in 2010, the Zoi Boutique Hotel (formerly Sunshine Hotel) is located by Matemwe village, on Zanzibar’s ...

... east coast. Situated on a lovely stretch of white beach, it’s a bright and lively place to stay, popular with young couples. The seafront plot here is flat and sandy, and planted with flowers and shrubs.

The central, dining and lounge area is spacious and welcoming and there's an interior, terraced level above it, with plug points for using and charging your devices. Out on the beach, there are cabanas with chairs, tables and recliners.

The hotel offers 14 en-suite rooms in chalets under makuti thatch, all spotlessly clean. In theory, many of them have sea views, but in practice as the coconut palms grow, the views diminish, so 'partial seaview' might be a better description. Only two rooms have a full sea view and those are the Honeymoon Suite and Blue Breeze Suite near the pool and right behind the beach. The other 12 suites are housed in three chalets further back.

The hotel tries to be as eco-friendly as possible, and the rooms have been designed so that sea breeze flows through, making air conditioning unnecessary. That said, each room has three fans – a ceiling fan, a standing fan, and a fan over the bed. The rooms are divided into three categories:

There are two split-level Garden Retreat rooms which are the smallest rooms here, and they have no balcony. There is a bedroom on its first floor, and a small living room and bathroom below. In common with all the rooms, it's been decorated in a bright, simple décor in a lovely warm and sunny yellow, in keeping with the hotel's name. Each room has double or twin beds draped in a mosquito net, a small seating area and a wardrobe, as well as a safe and a lamp. The en-suite bathroom has a shower and a toilet.
The 12 Sunshine Suites are located in three bungalows: Clove, Cinnamon and Coconut. These have four rooms in each, two on the ground floor and two on the first floor. All have balconies, those upstairs with partial sea views, and those downstairs with garden views. The stairs to the upper rooms are quite steep. Please note: because of the stairs and the construction of the balconies, Expert Africa doesn't book these suites for families with children under six.
The two suites, known as the Honeymoon Suite and the Blue Breeze Suite are located in a separate building right on the beach, with their beds facing the sea.
- The ground-floor Honeymoon suite is billed as the hotel's “most luxurious room" and has its own garden with a verandah and private plunge pool.
- Above this, the Blue Breeze Suite covers a similar area but has a large private terrace instead of a garden, with lovely views of the ocean and beach below. Its furniture was created by recycling an old pier from Stone Town.

The main area of the Zoi Boutique Hotel consists of a shady infinity pool with a small waterfall, just by the beach and surrounded by sunloungers. Directly behind this is a slightly smaller pool with further loungers and tropical plants. These are backed by lush green garden filled with flowers and banana trees.

The vibrant beachfront bar is a popular hangout, with an eclectic menu of fruity cocktails on offer, as well as equally colourful and exotic curries and fresh seafood.

Activities at the Zoi Boutique Hotel include diving, snorkelling trips to Mnemba Atoll and various island excursions, such as spice tours and Stone Town visits (it's essential that you read the Quadbike warning in the 'Health & Safety' section below for our comments on insurance issues regarding this activity). Guests should note, however, that it is not possible to swim in the sea here at low tide because the lagoon between the shore and the reef is very shallow.

The hotel loans out snorkelling equipment (fins, masks and booties) and bicycles for exploring the local area, free of charge.

Our view

The Zoi Boutique Hotel is a good-value, welcoming beachside hotel that has a young and lively vibe. Its cheerful name is very appropriate, with bright sunny colours, friendly staff and a pretty beach giving a happy and relaxed atmosphere. It should appeal to those who like their hotel to have a bit of a buzz while remaining unpretentious.

Jessica Plumb

Zanzibar expert

Geographics

Location: East Coast Zanzibar, Zanzibar
Ideal length of stay: We would recommend a stay of at least three nights.
Directions: It takes around 35 minutes to fly to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam, then it’s a further hour by road to the Zoi Boutique Hotel.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Half Board
Food quality: A buffet breakfast is served from 7.30am until 10.00am and consists of a choice of bread, fruit, jams and spreads, with tea, coffee and juices to drink. You can also order a hot breakfast, with eggs cooked to your preference.

Lunch, served from 12.30pm until 3.00pm, tends to focus on light, fresh meals such as pasta, sandwiches and snacks, from an à la carte menu.

At dinner, served from 6.30pm to 9.00pm, there is a choice of various hot dishes such as fish, seafood, curries and samosas, as well as chef's specials that change daily. Every Tuesday Zoi Boutique Hotel have a Swahili dinner, with local dishes such as Zanzibari pilau rice and cooked green banana.
Dining style: Individual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service: No room service is available except in the honeymoon suite, which has a private beach banda.
Drinks included: No drinks are included.

Special interests

Family holidays: The good-value Zoi Boutique Hotel welcomes children of all ages. With its unpretentious, vibrant atmosphere, nice pools and friendly staff it’s a good choice for family beach holidays in Zanzibar. Cots and high chairs are provided by the hotel.; See ideas for Family holidays in Zanzibar
Beach holidays: Located on a pretty beach, typical of Zanzibar’s east coast, Zoi Boutique Hotel is a good-value lodge which is colourful and vibrant. Away from the beach’s attractions, it has pleasant gardens and a relaxed lounge and cocktail bar.; See ideas for Beach holidays in Zanzibar

Children

Attitude towards children: Zoi Boutique Hotel welcomes children of al ages.
Property’s age restrictions: There are no age restrictions at Zoi Boutique Hotel.
Special activities & services: None
Equipment: Cots and high chairs can provided by the hotel.
Generally recommended for children: Although Zoi Boutique Hotel appeals mainly to young couples, in its lively, fun atmosphere families with children can feel welcome, too.
Notes: Children should be under parental supervision at all times, especially around the swimming pools.

Communications

Power supply notes: There's a backup generator
Communications: WiFi is available throughout and cellphone signals come and go.
TV & radio: There are no TVs or radio here.
Water supply: Mains
Water supply notes: Most of the hotel's water is supplied from the village's public supply, but drinking water is supplied in bottles (one 250ml bottle per guest per day free of charge).

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended: Yes
Medical care: The hotel has a first-aid kit and there is a hospital in a nearby village.

Quadbike warning: quad-biking is sometimes available as an activity from the Zoi Boutique Hotel. As with any potentially dangerous activity, it's vital that you take responsibility for ensuring that you have adequate travel insurance prior to getting involved. Be aware that some insurances cover quad-bike activities only for bikes with lower engine ratings: check such clauses particularly carefully before you get on a quad bike.
Dangerous animals: Low Risk
Security measures: Zoi Boutique Hotel is gated with guards on the front gate. There are also 24-hour guards on the beach.
Fire safety: Fire extinguishers are available in the main areas. The hotel also has a pump that takes water from the swimming pool that can be used in an emergency.

Activities

Birdwatching
Boat trip
Kayaking
Scuba-diving
Snorkelling
Watersports

Extras

Disabled access: On Request
Laundry facilities: Laundry is available for an extra charge, this is around $2 per item.
Money: The hotel accepts Tanzanian shillings, US dollars, GB pounds and euros, and will offer an exchange service if they have enough cash.
Accepted payment on location: MasterCard, Amex and Visa are accepted here but a 5% commission will be added.