We expected intimate 5 star luxury but found ourselves in an all-inclusive Club-Med atmosphere..

We stayed at La Gemma with our family in December 2012. Yes, we knew it will be all inclusive, but this is very common in Zanzibar. What we did not expect was a resort that is set up on a such a mass-scale.
The resort is generally clean, the rooms as well as the gardens. The staff is very helpful and friendly.
But...
On the beach you'll be laying pretty close to others and there might be a weird sewer smell coming by from time to time.
The food is more or less the same every day, for lunch and dinner. The quality of the ingredients used is very average, full of conservatives, sometimes with a chemical after taste. So if you look for authentic, fresh food, you're better off in a charming small lodge that will also cost you half.
All Fruit juices and cocktails are mixed with water and spanked with so much sugar that it's impossible to taste what you're drinking. The assortment of hard liquors is limited to locally brewed c-brands (with stickers covering the original labels).
There's a dress-code for man during dinner: you will be asked to wear a collar and long trousers (with 30 degrees outside), in order to keep the 'elegant' atmosphere.
Next to the daily animation program there's a special 'african night' on Fridays, where you won't find more than some wanna-be Massai's and souvenirs for 3 times the price compared to stores in Stone Town.
Next to that the furniture including mattresses is old and run down (dating from 80's?).

All in all, this place is not worth the money. If you want to have a relaxing holiday with good food and experience a bit of the real Zanzibar, any boutique lodge will do better.

Diamonds La Gemma dell' Est was the perfect way to spend the remaining few days of our honeymoon. The staff were great and the food amazing however it was the location that made our stay. Right on the edge of crystal blue water and white sand, the hotel exceeded all our expectations. The room was made up beautifully each day and the sunset bar out over the water was a prefect spot to sit back and enjoy the included cocktails! This resort by far was the most luxurious hotel we have stayed in but was worth every cent.

fantastic place by any mean, from the pleasant and efficient booking point to the pleasant departure, all is absolutely spot on.
the villas are clean, well decorated and very pleasant, there are several dining options and each is tasteful.
the service from the staff is very friendly and efficient.
the beach is clean and beautiful, the swimming pool is a real treat especially with the pool bar that offer delicious cocktails.
i been there for 3 times and can't wait for the next visit.

Just returned from a family holiday. Lovely location and the property has been 5 star but now 3.5/4 star due to deteriorating maintenance. The management who are non existent are treating this place as a cash cow with little evidence of reinvestment. It is still satisfactory but with the exception of the truly beautiful gardens the rest of the property needs a significant spend. The hotel still advertises itself as 5 star but we were advised locally that the official rating has fallen to 4 and that is a fairer assessment. Staff are very friendly but service is patchy and there is no real sense of leadership throughout the business. An enjoyable holiday - if you are considering staying here ensure you pay the appropriate price for what is now a 4 star resort.