Reviews of Serena Inn

"First class hotel, best position in Stone Town with very comfortable rooms (although tiny bathrooms with showers only), beautiful balconies overlooking ocean. Service and food of a very high standard.

Pool area is like an oasis and perfectly positioned for sunsets." See all these reviews: 8n in Zanzibar; 4n in Tanzania

"Lovely pool, nice location. Service staff need a bit of Training but are trying hard to please." See all these reviews: 6n in Tanzania; 2n in Zanzibar

"We only had a day room for a few hours but a good port of call." See all these reviews: 8n in Tanzania; 7n in Zanzibar

"We are thankful of the advice given to us by Ellie who suggested spending our last night in Stone Town rather than doing a day trip. It was lovely to experience the daytime and night-time of the place.

As we only spent one day at the Serena there were some facilities that we didn't use.

The room was lovely with a great view out to sea and a large balcony. The safe wasn't working when we arrived and it took a chase-up phone call before it was mended and we were able to head out in to town.

Breakfast was very good with plenty of choice and good service." See all these reviews: 7n in Zanzibar; 5n in Tanzania

"The Serena in Stone was a really good choice. It may be a bigger hotel but is still steeped in history with great service and restful rooms.

Also the best sunsets we saw in Tanzania. Relatively expensive to eat in the hotel but this is a great way to combine the madness of Stone Town with some peace and quiet. Loads of good quality restaurants are nearby - we had lunch in the Monsoon and would have liked to have gone back for an evening meal as it was so good.

The hotel also have a private beach which is by a free 20 min shuttle so you also get to see some of Zanzibars countryside. The only thing to we aware of is that immediately next door is a HUGE Hyatt hotel currently being built around the clock. This is making the local neighbourhood less than pretty as its currently wrapped in scaffolding and tarpaulin. We also expect this when complete to ruin the views from the Serena terrace restaurant as this will tower over the top.

If you want to go, go very quickly! Hairdryer and good quality toiletries again supplied so no need to overload packing." See all these reviews: 6n in Zanzibar; 5n in Tanzania

"We had a great last two days of our holiday in this hotel. After a rural retreat it was good to be in a lively city hotel. Colonial style hotel with an amazing large pool right on the beach edge. Lovely private balconies to our rooms and excellent air conditioning (when needed). Even though the Serena is a fairly large hotel the staff made an effort to talk to us and made sure all our needs were met. It was nice to be so centrally located and we loved our guided walk around old Stonetown.

We really enjoyed our stay at the Serena." See all these reviews: 9n in Zanzibar; 7n in Tanzania

"Perfect location for walking into local town area and shops. Staff were very very good particularly in the restaurants.

Excellent place to relax before flight home." See all these reviews: 8n in Tanzania; 5n in Zanzibar; 1n in Kenya

"Good hotel, but not excellent. Service good, facilities average.

Food generally good apart from one meal where I was served raw chicken." See all these reviews: 5n in Tanzania; 2n in Zanzibar

"Excellent hotel. Could do with a lift as stairs tiring if you are on the top floor. Pleasant room with excellent bathroom and sitting area. Rooms are too dark with no reading light. I had to use a head torch in bed! We couldn't see very much in the bedroom.

Fisherman's Tours charged much more for trips to the Spice Farm than we organised ourselves using Big Joe, the doorman. Our taxi also gave us a tour of the city and waited for us outside the cathedral and market while we explored for just over half the price Fisherman's Tours were going to charge. Fisherman's Tours would have been picking other people up on the way and leaving very early in the morning. Would therefore recommend organising one's own tour contrary to advice we were given.

The tea in the afternoon was very pleasant and we enjoyed watching the sunset from the terrace." See all these reviews: 4n in Zimbabwe; 4n in Zanzibar

"We loved the Serena Inn. At a fantastic location, a beautifully restored colonial building which reminded us of the Raffles Hotel in Singapore - only much smaller. A haven to return to after adventures out in Stone Town in the heat.

Our room was lovely, but disappointing. I had booked a Prime Room on the basis of the Serena's own description of its Prime Rooms being "exceptionally spacious". Our room (no 23) was anything but spacious. Whilst lovely, and beautifully appointed and decorated, it was exceptionally small. It had a huge king sized bed, and a wonderfully large L shaped balcony overlooking the sea with a huge hammock. But with two people and two (not very large) bags, inside the room it was a squeeze. The bathroom, again beautifully done, was so small that only one person at a time could fit in it. There was next to no storage or hanging space and nowhere to put toiletries other than on the floor under the basin in the bathroom. However, we were there only for two nights, so it wasn't too much of a problem other than my being cross because I did believe that the room would be larger than it was - a point I was particularly interested in.

We had a lovely meal at the Serena's open air roof top terrace, which overlooks the sea. The food was extremely good. However, be aware that it is a fixed price 5 course menu, something that we were not told about by reception when they offered to make a booking for us for the evening of the day we arrived. We were not the only people not to realise (to be told), that it was not a la carte. I cannot eat 5 courses, and I was not alone in that. Nowhere in the Hotel's literature was it mentioned that this was a fixed menu restaurant.

We had a very nice second evening meal in the restaurant/bar which has a varied menu and is very prettily done out.

Breakfast is in the main restaurant and is very good and generous indeed. This restaurant also looks over the sea, and has lovely wide open windows to catch the sea breeze.

Service is brisk and efficient (most of the time!), but not unfriendly." See all these reviews: 2n in Zanzibar