Zanzibar Serena Hotel
9.0
Good to know
| Distance to city centre | 1.3 km |
|---|---|
| Location rating | 9.6 |
| Nearest airport | Zanzibar Kisauni |
| Distance to airport | 7.8 km |
Rooms
Executive rooms
$1,085+
Standard rooms
$249+
Reviews
Pros
| "Helpful staff and friendly" | (in 33 reviews) |
|---|---|
| "Excellent location in Stone Town." | (in 5 reviews) |
| "Location is perfect." | (in 19 reviews) |
Cons
| "Beach not clean" | (in 4 reviews) |
|---|
Traveller rating
Time of year
Traveller type
Show reviews that mention
| captures | in 2 reviews |
|---|---|
| feel and spirit | in 2 reviews |
| friendly and welcoming | in 6 reviews |
| frustration | in 3 reviews |
| good breakfast | in 9 reviews |
| good food | in 10 reviews |
| humid climate | in 3 reviews |
| location was so good | in 30 reviews |
| right on the water | in 9 reviews |
| staff is very friendly | in 54 reviews |
| stone town | in 9 reviews |
| view of the room | in 17 reviews |
| walking on beach | in 14 reviews |
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ExcellentAug. 201910.0
Perfect location, and an easy walk to main sites in Stone Town. Mollel at reception was very helpful in booking two nice excursions for me on a very short notice. Yousif Kabir at reception is also very nice and kind. Rabia, Amina at reception and another lady that I cannot recall her name unfortunately. The hotel terrace overlooking the Indian ocean is very nice. I could spend hours just sitting there. Restaurants are very good with excellent quality and taste of food. Excellent service too. Housekeeping is excellent too and very kind and helpful. If I visit Stone Town again, very likely I will stay at the same hotel.
Nothing I can think of
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ExcellentAug. 201910.0
Serena Hotel was our first stop in Zanzibar on what has turned out to be one of the best trip of our lives. We spent two nights in stone town at the Serena Hotel. The hotel is really quite a heritage in stone town. Fantastically located, just a short walk from the old city. An excellent breakfast spread and really charming room which still has lots of classic touches that make it quite authentic. Tip: book a sun down dinner at the Emerson Spice which is a 10 min walk from the hotel! And book in advance to get the roof top/terrace!
There was a wedding on our last night and whilst it was quite entertaining to watch, I do wish the hotel had informed us as we could not go to bed until after 11pm when the wedding ended.
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OkayJun. 20195.0
The staff were very friendly and eager to help. However we were given some incorrecr information which completely derailed our plans for the final night.
The room we stayed in was poorly located and didn't catch any breeze and so was stiflingly hot and the a/c was glacial. A ceiling fan might be a possible option to ensure the rooms can stay cool. The bathroom was ridiculously small and in need of some upgrades to the fittings, particularly the taps and the showerhead which were encrusted with lime from the water. The sad little shower curtain was not a great look either. The breakfast has been the worst breakfast I have had at a supposedly 5* hotel. Both the hot and cold options were severely limited and underwhelming. The food was not particularly tasty either.
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ExcellentMar. 20199.6
Wonderful staff, the views, the character of this hotel a
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ExcellentFeb. 20199.6
The staff were amazing and friendly.
Nothing
About
Overview
For a thousand years, Zanzibar was one of the worlds crossroads of trade, with Persians, Arabs and Europeans attracted to its exotic exports. Stone Towns architecture is testimony to that cultural heritage. Masterfully restored, the Zanzibar Serena Hotel occupies two historic seafront buildings within the town, commanding majestic views of the Indian Ocean.The hotel offers the best in island hospitality. All bedrooms overlook the azure waters of the Indian ocean while the interiors echo Zanzibars rich Arabian heritage.Dining is a feast of variety, with local seafood reflecting many cultural influences. Transport is free to the private Mangapwani Beach with its exclusive beach and water sports activities. There are also excursions to the spice gardens and Jozani Forest.
iHotelier/iStay
Features
9.0 Excellent
based on 396 reviews
Location
Service
Amenities
Comfort
Things to know
- Great menu
- Friendly atmosphere
- Great view
Check in |
14:00 |
Check out |
11:00 |
Cancellation/pre-payment
Policies vary by room type and provider.
Amenities
Photos
All photos (13)
Bathroom (1)
Beach (1)
Bedroom (5)
Dining room (1)
Reviews about Zanzibar Serena Hotel
Location
Most popular landmarks
- Stone Town Beach 280 m
- Old Fort 0.4 km
- Forodhani Gardens 0.4 km
- House of Wonders 0.5 km
- Stone Town 0.7 km
- Slave Chambers 0.7 km
Zanzibar travel guide
Learn about Zanzibar on KAYAK
Getting around
| Zanzibar Kisauni | 7.8 km |
|---|---|
| Dar Es Salaam | 79.2 km |
