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Cheaper
Average
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About
4.0
#3 of 6 inns in Stone Town
Location
4.5
Cleanliness
4.3
Service
3.8
Value
3.8
At Spice Palace Hotel we have comfortable amenities that help you get the most out of your stay in Stone Town. We offer accommodation in 28 elegant rooms of various categories, including some spacious Superior suites for families. Each room is equipped with flat screen TV and AC, offering offer exceptional comfort and tranquility to every guest.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Trendy
Family
Languages Spoken
English
Location
Sokomuhogo Street Jaws Corner, Stone Town, Zanzibar City Tanzania
Spice Palace Hotel
97 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
The location is very good, everything within walking distance but we did manage to get lost in the small alleys twice, luckily there is always someone (a local) who will help you find your way to the hotel for a 1$. The check-in is at 14 o'clock so we arrived at 14 but we couldn't enter our room until 15:30 for an unknown reason, I had to ask three times before they reacted and let us in the room which made me very angry. The room was spotlessly clean but very noisy from the steeet so we haven't had much sleep. The pool was very small and unattractive. The coffee in the hotel lobby was very expensive. We had a half board option and it was very good, you can choose one appetizer, one main and one dessert, everything was surprsingly good! They offered us (THEY OFFERED, WE DIDN'T ASK FOR IT) 'breakfast to go' for our last morning as we had early flight and we gladly accepted but next morning it seemed that nobody knew anything about it and nobody prepared it. So all in all lousy service but good location.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Luyska N, General Manager at Spice Palace Hotel
Responded Feb 28, 2020
Dear Maja, Warmest greetings from Spice Palace Hotel! Thank you for taking a moment to share your review. It was a pleasure to have you our guest, we are delighted to read that you loved our restaurant and appreciate the food. This is unfortunate to read that you encountered some disappointments during your stay which is not a norm of our hotel, we sincerely apologize for the inconveniences caused and your concerns have been well noted for improvising our services. We would like to have to opportunity to welcome you back on your next arrival for a more pleasant experience at Spice Palace Hotel. Yours sincerely, Luyska Nikolaieva, Hotel Manager.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This was was 3rd stay at the Spice Hotel since my last visit to Zanzibar 2 years ago. The 1st time I came, I loved the place so much & I've since referred my friends and family to this hotel.
Something seems to have changed at Spice. Understandably, these can be tough times, especially for hospitality businesses but there seemed to be too many shortcuts especially with the FOOD. First, the breakfast which used to be one of the best in stone town has become a quick box with convenience store options.
The juice options were "drink fruit mixes" ?? C'mon Spice!! For dinner, we ordered room service and they didn't most of the items on the menu, we told them to give whatever was available.
I still like this place & it's usually been a highlight of my trips to Zanzibar but I hope they fix these problems soon
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Date of stay: October 2020
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed at Spice Palace together with our kids, and I can say that one of the best experiences in Zanzibar we had. Usually we are booking 5 stars properties, but was high season and we couldn't get into Serena, booked Spice palace and never regretted! Everything from the moment of check in and all period the stay we were treated like a family. It's 6 stars hospitality! Staff is very good and friendly. Hotel is new, you can see all furniture, equipment is very new and looks very clean. I'm allergic person so not really into old hotels, so Spice Palace with it European cleanness and modern furniture was a heaven for me. Restaurant on the roof has absolutely stunning views, don't forget to try their Indian food! Rooms are good and clean, hot showers and AC which was absolutely needed after long walks. Everything works perfectly.
Gym is the best! All hotel with those small touches like good night cookies next to your room, morning wishes at the breakfast, funny sayings in the lift's wall makes you feel very very welcome.
Pool is good, we enjoyed, you can order their signature cocktails and it can be served by the pool. Breakfast is the best among all the hotels we stayed! It's a buffet with variety of selection, they had all possible tropical fruits and menu for breakfast was changed every day.
With all said, Spice palace beat all the 5 stars hotel and always will be our number one destination in Zanzibar. Asante Sana! We will be back!
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Date of stay: January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hotel, room, rooftop restaurant, location everything is nearly perfect but beware of the dishonest Reception and travel desk staff.
We were told that a trip to prison Island in a group of 6 costs 30usd pp incl guide, boat ride, snorkeling however when we reached there, there was no guide and no snorkeling equipments.
It was a local boat which we could have taken for 10-15dollar from the port but we chose to overpay to have better experience. But the boat driver was sort of a drunkard, dropped us and asked us to return within an hour.
When we returned to the hotel to re-check what all was included at least as per the *written* rates, guide and snorkeling charges were levied without service.
Additionally, worst part was that the printed rate for tour pp was also 20usd in a group of 6 instead of 30usd. When we confronted that you lied to us, they had no comeback and made stories like they called the boat driver who apologised and this that.
It was a waste of half day with a bitter experience on our last day of the trip. That way, we could have simply taken any tour from any random person outside.
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A jewel in the meandering lanes of the old Stone Town. Excellent location, friendly and helpful staff. Rooms are spacious and originally furnished and clean and every night there is a cookie and message on your pillow. Rooftop restaurant has smiling and kind staff and it is quite pleasant to have breakfast or coffee or cocktail or candle lit dinner there. Small swimming pool for those who like to lazy about the place. Would love to come back soon.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The hotel in general looks nice, simple and clean, but they need to look after details specially maintenance. The shower area (in the room) was having a big leakage due the glass door was broken. In other way, breakfast was nice, services (waitress) needs more training.... Even though the location is in a very busy area of stone town, was cool, quiet and chill the terrace, very confortable to relax. For those who likes to stay in the heart of stone town is perfect.
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Date of stay: September 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I was disappointed with this hotel. it's advertised on websites as a 4-star hotel, but in reality, it's a 3 star at best. We booked a double ground floor room with a pool view, but when we got there, we were on the 2nd floor with a frosted window looking out onto a building site. They are advertising rooms with a pool view but there are no rooms with a pool view. The aircon struggled to keep the room cool as it was old. Breakfast is average at best, unattended food being eaten by birds, advertising a Happy hour that doesn't exist. The staff let themselves in your room in the afternoon to empty a can of chemical bug spray, so your room is useless for the next hour. Staff are nice, the pool is clean, and the location is good for exploring Stone Town. The room did have a decent shower, and there is fresh water in your room daily. Don't expect anything 4star here as you'll be disappointed. Poorly advertised on Booking.com and other sites!
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I thought this was an ok option for a budget hotel in Zanzibar town. The rooms were nice and the staff was pretty helpful, but there was a lot of weird stuff like keys not working, lights burning out, and people coming in during the day to spray bug spray in the rooms.
Next time I go, I’ll probably pick somewhere else.
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The hotel is situated in the heart of stone town, you get to pass through the alleys of Zanzibar while getting to the hotel. Nearby to Forodhani (food market), Cape Town fish market is also a 3 minute walk away. If you want to catch the ferry to the mainland, it’s also just a few minutes walk away. A lot of cafes around. Hotel is clean, friendly staff, good breakfast! Definitely recommend this hotel for a stay in Stone Town.
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Date of stay: February 2021Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed here after my Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater safari to get some vitamin sea. The hotel is really quite wonderful, the staff was very helpful, and the food and location were excellent. I was working remotely while I was there and had some trouble getting wifi in certain spots but one of the guys from the lobby walked me around all the rooms until we found one with excellent wifi and let me stay in that one rather than the room I originally booked. I would happily stay at this place again!
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Date of stay: November 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I don’t know about the dinner, but breakfast was a buffet with different food and fruits everyday and fresh juice. They also maked fried egg or omelet for you if you wanted.
London, United Kingdom1 contribution2 helpful votes
No - just stayed there. The entrance and tiny pool look live they have been renovated but the rooms have not at all. They are dated with very old air conditioning units.
There are more places to choose from in the Stone Town area.
PRICE RANGE
$65 - $130 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
TanzaniaZanzibar ArchipelagoZanzibar IslandZanzibar CityStone Town
NUMBER OF ROOMS
28
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Are there any historical sites close to Spice Palace Hotel?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Mkunazini, Urban West, Zanzibar (0.1 miles), David Livingstone's place of rest (0.2 miles), and Tippu Tip's House (0.2 miles).
