5* Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa

A relaxed, modern resort laid across one of Zanzibar’s best white-gold beaches. Most of the beaches (largely on the east and south coasts) are tidal, so although it's not possible to swim at certain times of day, it means you can don a pair of reef shoes and walk right out along the beach towards the exposed coral.

This hotel is a modern Arabic-African take on the classic rustic beach retreat. It’s clean and simple with an elegant and warm colour palette of white and gold, and there’s plenty of options to tailor your stay. The half board package is included in your stay and gives you the flexibility of lunch or dinner at the main restaurant, and there are all-inclusive upgrades that let you dine at the a la carte beach restaurant, Gold Restaurant, without a supplement.

Take your pick of rooms that range from Deluxe Garden Rooms to two-bedroom Villas. We love the Beach Suite with Pavilion which are closest to the sugary white beach and have access to an exclusive pavilion. Nestled away from the beachfront in a private area, the Jungle Villas are stunning hideaways with a plunge pool in its own walled garden. Villa guests have the luxury of 24-hour butler service and in-room breakfasts on request too. Most meals are taken in the main Kilimanjaro Restaurant which packs in plenty of character with its huge thatched roof and open sides. We recommend booking a table at the à la carte Gold Restaurant for an exclusive candlelit dinner on the beach.

While the tides around Zanzibar can limit swimming time, the hotel’s spot on Kendwa Beach means you can do laps in the glassy water all day long. Hire a snorkel and look out for starfish on the seabed or spend hours on the immense sandy beach after an action-packed safari on the mainland. There’s a watersports centre for diving and deep sea fishing, or you can book a tour of Zanzibar’s remote islands with a marine guide and a personal chef to whip up meals on your day trip.