Travel Diary – Melia Zanzibar

One of our valued staff members recently experienced the fabulous Melia Zanzibar for a 3- night stay. We love getting into the details with our team, who provide the latest information on products within our portfolio of luxury properties.  This special property is built on a 40-acre estate that leads out to a beautiful beach with white sands with a natural coral reef. A real island escape!

Once you arrive at the magical property of Melia Zanzibar, you literally feel like you have arrived in Paradise. A refreshing welcome drink awaits and a friendly staff member greets you with a smile at the reception with a warm, heartfelt ‘jambo’ (hello) from one of the speedy porters.

Your dedicated travel experts will arrange a luxury road transfer from the international airport, which is approximately a 45-minute scenic drive away.

There are several different room types available. Our staff member stayed in the beautiful Garden Room. Some of the other room types include ocean bungalows and The Level. We highly recommend rooms at The Level if you are looking for something more luxurious. They are secluded, modern and have amazing views. The beach pavilion room is spacious with a balcony and views of the turquoise ocean.

The villas offer butler service and you can also opt to have breakfast in the privacy of your villa.

There are five restaurants and four bars, an in-house spa with sauna, and a well-equipped gym.  Each morning the Melia team offer different group exercise classes at the gym. The spa is great for restoring balance and harmony and we would highly recommend making a booking.

Gabi Beach and its long jetty is a private beach exclusive for Melia guests – with hammocks, a beach bar, lounge chairs, board games, kayaking and a restaurant. This beach is a wonderful place to relax and spend your days. The restaurant at Gabi Beach serves a choice of grilled meats, seafood, salads and a wood-fired pizza in a relaxed beachfront setting.

They hosted movie nights in the evening where they set up a huge screen and had a delicious popcorn trolley.

At the dinners,  Masai dancers performed alongside live bands, a real treat with a celebratory atmosphere. Every night there was plenty of choice at the various restaurants, and all the meals were delicious. Melia also features theme evenings and one night the focus was on a buffet of Indian food- beautiful and redolent! With this variety on offer, your palate will never be bored. The African dishes at the Tamu restaurant were delightful as well.

The a la carte menu at the Jetty restaurant is definitely worth trying out, especially the seafood. They do provide an all-inclusive package which we recommend as this includes multiple options for drinks and food, including a range of choices for vegetarians.

There are vast grounds and lush manicured gardens at Melia Zanzibar, in which to explore,  providing many opportunities to snap idyllic island holiday pictures. The entire resort is lovingly tended and it’s a joy to walk the many paths and enjoy the views.

Melia Zanzibar is suitable for all members of the family. But it is important to know that it is a large resort, so if you prefer a boutique-style hotel, then this is not the ideal option. The property is so vast that there are golf carts used as modes of transport.

For honeymooners, we would recommend opting for The Level room types, as no children can be accommodated here and it is more private and intimate. At night the estate is lit up, and is especially romantic as the sun sets and the lights twinkle off the warm ocean.

Highlights of the property

Even though there were many guests in-house, nobody felt that it was too crowded due to the size of this property.

The wide variety of activities and facilities on offer is a big plus.

A sure highlight is the 300-meter long beach located beside the main part of the hotel.

The great service and hospitality from all the staff who have an abundance of energy and are super helpful.  They go out of their way to provide the best experience.

Conclusion

Due to the myriad of restaurants, 3 swimming pools and lounges to choose from, you can have an extended stay at Melia Zanzibar and never get bored.

Are you ready for the perfect memorable beach vacation in Zanzibar?