We really loved the peace and quiet of the Sunshine Hotel, along with the beautiful setting. We found the management to be very attentive and engaged in running the hotel, and yet at the same time personable and friendly with the guests. The staff as a whole were very good - well run place. I saw one of the reviews that indicated they were not happy the managers walked their dogs on the beach, but we found them to be friendly, very well behaved pets that did not get in the way of guests at all, and quite frankly thought it actually added to the family style atmosphere.

The pool was kept clean, as were the lawn and beach chairs. The food was particularly good - we had some of our nicer meals here, and it was great to just hang out at the restaurant bar and have a few cocktails looking out over the beach.

As to the rooms, we had #1 and #2 on the second floor in the cabin near reception. Our biggest concern when we booked was "no air conditioning", but we were assured there would be a nice ocean breeze and it would be ok, and it was. They have 3 fans in each room, but it was a bit warm - not unbearable, but a bit warm. This is the only reason I hit 4 star instead of 5 star in my rating. Outside of that, the rooms were big enough, with nice balconies to sit out on and take in the view, the sunset, etc.

Regarding the snorkling, we went with one of the guys on the beach who offered us a trip at a lower cost than the more expensive organized outings, and it was perfectly fine. We checked in with management first to be sure it was safe, and they vouched for them so we did it and saved ourselves some money. We went out to Mnemba atoll and the snorkling was great - really nice spot.

If I ever go back to Zanzibar, I would absolutely stay there again.

The Sunshine Hotel is located right on Matemwe beach which is a beautiful long beach where you can make beautiful walk. We chose the Seabreeze suite and even if it is a little bit more expensive it really worth it.
We had had our private jacuzzi on the the terrace and our private access to the beach.
The food was ok! I loved the pancakes! I would not suggest the full or half board plan.
Everything in the hotel was perfect; we could rent bicycle and snorkeling equipment.
We were just a little bit disaapointed with the sea temperature that was incredibly warm and not so pleasant to bath in.
And we expected matemwe a little bit more crowded with bars and restaurant, but in the evening the beach was quite desert

Myself and my boyfriend stayed here after leaving a more budget hotel in Stonetown and even though the setting and hotel was beautiful we found that it lacked a bit of character compared to the cheaper, smaller hotel we had come from. The other guests staying here were probably mostly honeymooners so the vibe was a bit quiet and subdued. The food was expensive but the smoothies and cocktails were delicious and sipping them on the white beach was dreamlike. The room was gorgeous and the pool was stunning. The beach was fantastic as was the bright blue sea and scenery. Overall, a beautiful hotel, friendly, helpful staff but quite expensive and you'd really just want to be going for a very quiet, sun worshiping stay cause that's all you'll find here.

I enjoyed every minute of my stay here. The facilities are excellent and my room was clean and comfortable. The beach at Matemwe is long, white and beautiful and, with only a few tourists, is a delight to walk along. Doris, Rudi and Katja all helped to make my stay a positive experience. They checked regularly that everything was in order and that I was happy - which I was throughout. The food in the restaurant was also great quality - the fish was fresh every day and delicious. The staff in the restaurant were very polite and efficient and called me "The Captain" (Nahoza in Swahili) because of my white beard. They helped me to learn many words in the language. I wish everyone at the Sunshine hotel happiness and success for the future.