- Safari Tour: Masai Mara National Reserve
- Safari Tour: Samburu National Reserve
- Hotel Review: Park Hyatt Zanzibar
- Glamping Review: Osero Lodge
- Flight Review: Ethiopian Airways Business Class A350
- Flight Review: Ethiopian Airways Business Class 777
Introduction
The Park Hyatt Zanzibar is a 67 room luxury hotel located in the historic Stone Town beachfront on Zanzibar Island in Tanzania. Enjoying the stunning views of the Indian Ocean at this luxury hotel is the perfect last stop at the end of a long safari tour of East Africa. Part of the hotel used to be a 17th century mansion with beautiful architecture that combines Swahili culture alongside Arab, Persian, Indian and European elements. The impressive decor and design, along with its ideal location near tourist attractions makes this hotel stand above the rest.
Booking
Since this is a category 5 hotel, I was able to use the points plus cash rate of 10,000 points plus $125. I also used a suite upgrade certificate and was booked into the 1,000sq ft Park Suite King room, which normally goes for $960 a night in the summer. The cheapest room goes for $460 a night in the summer, making point redemptions a great value at this location.
Check-In
After emailing the hotel, they coordinated an airport pickup at a reasonable rate. The check-in process was swift and staff was friendly. I also was easily able to book tours of Zanzibar at the concierge desk with ease.
Location (5/5)
If you are looking to tour Stone Town with ease, while also having access to the beach, this is the perfect hotel. If you are looking to stay on a private beach away from crowds, this may not be the best choice. The beach in front of the hotel is small and most hotel guest hang around on the hotel property where there is a small pool and plenty of seating areas with amazing ocean views. When you are ready to tour Stone Town, all you need to do is step out of the hotel and you are there.
Property (5/5)
This property is gorgeous and impressively designed. I loved how they combined architectural elements from Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, reflecting the culture that makes up the history of Zanzibar. The hotel was so close to the ocean it felt like I was on a cruise ship when I looked out at the ocean from most areas of the hotel.
Food (5/5)
Like many things in Zanzibar, the food was also a fusion of many foods like Indian, African, and Middle Eastern dishes. All the food was well seasoned without a bland dish in site. Even the hamburgers were amazing!
Room (5/5)
The room was huge and had two separate balconies and bathrooms with high quality furniture. The ocean view from the insanely comfortable bed was the best I have had. I was very tempted to lay around all day in the bed and just stare out the window.
Gym (5/5)
The gym was a good size with top of the line equipment. I don’t think i’ve seen nicer equipment in a hotel.
Service (5/5)
From the front desk staff, concierge, to wait staff, the service in the hotel was professional, friendly, and eager to help. Wait times for food were efficient and booking tours from the hotel was an easy process. I appreciated the welcome note and fruit on arrival, which is starting to disappear at Hyatt Hotels.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Park Hyatt Zanzibar is a special hotel rooted in history with impressive architecture and design. The ocean views from the hotel are unbelievable and its location in the heart of Stone Town makes it the perfect launching point for tours of Zanzibar. Additionally, the food and relaxing atmosphere of the Park Hyatt Zanzibar provides a wonderful experience at the end of any East African Safari.
