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What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Travel safe during COVID-19
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What you can expect during your stay
- All linens sanitized in high-temperature wash
- Face masks required for guests in public areas
- Face masks required for staff in public areas
- Floors marked for social distancing
- Hand sanitizer available to guests & staff
- Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
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Updated 06/18/20 Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
A note from Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar
Updated 06/18/20 Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
About
#3 of 41 hotels in Nungwi
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Travelers' Choice
The All Inclusive Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar, renovated in 2019, opens all year round and is located directly on Nungwi Beach, on the northern tip of Unguja, the main island of the archipelago of Zanzibar. Riu Palace is the most elegant category in the RIU hotel chain, with hotels that meet the highest standards in terms of luxury, excellence and sophistication, creating a unique experience. The location is ideal due to its proximity to Nungwi (3 km), Stone Town (57 km) and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) (66km) and invites you to explore the area. The hotel has 200 cozily furnished rooms with free WiFi and offers many amenities. Relax in our spa or get in shape at the gym. 3 outdoor pools, one of them with integrated whirlpool, and 1 relaxation pool at the Spa area. Daytime and evening entertainment. For lovers of gastronomy, live cooking stations at our main buffet, Fusion and Steakhouse specialty restaurants, as well as 4 bars.
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Room & Suite (649)649
Full view
Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Bar / lounge
Beach
Canoeing
Car hire
Parking
Wifi
Pool / beach towels
Pool with view
Outdoor pool
Private pool
Fitness / spa locker rooms
Fitness classes
Coffee shop
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Poolside bar
Diving
Snorkeling
Water sport equipment rentals
Aerobics
Entertainment staff
Evening entertainment
Tennis court offsite
Taxi service
Spa
Head massage
Massage
Open-air bath
Salon
24-hour security
Baggage storage
Currency exchange
Gift shop
Shops
Sun deck
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun umbrellas
24-hour front desk
Laundry service
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Room features
Bathrobes
Air conditioning
Desk
Housekeeping
Minibar
Cable / satellite TV
Sofa bed
Bidet
Private balcony
Safe
Separate living room
Sofa
Telephone
Laptop safe
Private bathrooms
Electric kettle
Whirlpool bathtub
Bath / shower
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
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Room types
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Lagoon View
Romantic
Languages Spoken
English, French, Arabic, Afrikaans and 2 more
Location
Full view
42Car recommended
Grade: 42 out of 100
12Restaurantswithin 0.75 miles
2Attractionswithin 0.75 miles
Contact
Nungwi Road, Nungwi Tanzania
Getting there
Rental CarsSee all Nungwi rental cars
2600Reviews361Q+A100Room tips
Reviews
Traveler rating
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Popular mentions
Fantastic experience. Pros: The hotel is very clean, very modern. Our room was exceptional. Pools and bars are great. You can eat and drink all day if you want to. Pools look great. Staff is very polite and friendly. The WiFi system is the best I have ever seen anywhere, the hotel place is huge but they have good WiFi connection everywhere with decent speed. Cons: The beach is not private, which is a huge disappointment because it's full of people who are trying to sell you stuff. The beach and the water is beautiful but you can't enjoy it because there are like 10-15 people who are constantly bothering you and trying to sell you stuff. They have 3 a la carte restaurants but we were not able to book a place to any of them despite being there for a week. Overall a very good experience which I highly recommend for everyone. …
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip: Go to the beach in the early morning because that's only time you can be there peacefully
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Helpful
The RIU was a relaxing last few days in Zanzibar for us. The facility and beach were beautiful. The staff was extremely helpful. Many of the restaurants were not fully opened because of Covid but the buffet meals were delicious. Drinks at sunset were delicious and relaxing. Loved being able to check out paddleboards and kayaks. Renting a jet ski on the beach was fun too!
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Date of stay: May 2021
Rooms
Location
Service
Helpful
First thing---- I cannot say enough good things about Cosmas Golyawa, our daily breakfast and lunch server at he Promenade. He knew our names and was quick to provide us a warm greeting every time we arrived, and he was highly attentive the entire time we were there. He went above and beyond to make sure my girlfriend and I had the best experience possible. He even taught us some Swahili. Someone I see being promoted in the future. The Hotel-- Property was GORGEOUS! Pristine soft white sand beach right in front of the hotel with amazing staff at every stop. The all-inclusive package was clutch for our stay! There were not many other dining options in the area so this was a must. CONS-- Only thing that was bad was the dinner. The meals at the promenade buffet were great for breakast and lunch but very disappointing for dinner. To avoid this make sure to get a reservation at one of their non-buffet restaurants in advance as seating is limited! We were lucky to get a seat at 'ia restaurant' and it was amazing! Our server/host Martha made the experience great for us!…
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Date of stay: June 2021
Rooms
Location
Service
Helpful
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Marketing at Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar
Responded 1 week ago
Dear Guest, Thank you very much for sharing your experience with us on Tripadvisor. It makes us very happy to read your comment and it is a great pleasure to see that you have a wonderful memory of your stay. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back on your next visit to Zanzibar. Yours sincerely, Hotel Riu Zanzibar Online Reputation Manager
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I spent two weeks "quarantining" at Riu before flying back to Dubai where i live. Honestly would not have expected such an amazing establishment. Nitin is a superstar! Every F&B outlet we went too (all 3 restaurants, main restaurant, pool and ginger bar) he was there checking on guests and ensuring everything is running smoothly. If he isn't the Food and Beverage Manager he should be promoted! I misplaced my phone one evening and he ensured he was available to help assist me. What a genuine individual who cares so much about the guest experience! Welldone my friend, i will return to Riu Zanzibar just because of you! Second mention is Michael from reception, he was incredible and always available to assist us! Always a smile on his face and never a request too big to handle! Keep it up Michael you are a gem in the Reception team. Overall, 10/10 from me. Yes i could mention the plug sockets like other reviews but that's my own fault. I should have checked. I did have the plug issue but Michael had two multiplugs sent to my room within 5 minutes. I would return in a heartbeat, well done Riu Palace Zanzibar keep up the amazing work!…
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Date of stay: May 2021
Rooms
Location
Service
Helpful
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Marketing at Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar
Responded 2 weeks ago
Dear Denzil, Thank you for choosing RIU Hotels & Resorts and taking the time to leave a review about your recent stay. We are glad to know you had an excellent experience at our property and it was a pleasure to see that our hotel and staff provided great accommodations for your holidays. Thank you and we hope to see you in the future. With our best wishes we remain, Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar Online Reputation Manager
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1. Overall property and location - absolutely gorgeous! Possibly one of the best hotels / sights. The beach with its white sands was amazing - super crystal clear waters. Annoying part was the beach boys and at certain points we felt the security guards were not active enough in ushering them away. 2. Food was very good - lots of variety and every meal was a different theme. We did the all-inclusive deal (my partner and I do not drink alcohol so we cannot comment on the variety of alcoholic drinks). We can assure that the food is very good and the service is brilliant. 3. Rooms: we felt the rooms were a little rundown, especially the beds, pillows and blanket. They have stains on them and the bed creaks a lot. Our room also didn't have hot water one of the days. Overall, service was good and the ambiance was nice. Only let down was the fact that the main pool was crowded and many times people were smoking and drinking inside the pool. At one point we saw a couple spill their red-drink into the pool without a concern. This was deeply dissatisfying and unhygienic. Other than that - a fantastic job by the team, waiters and everyone at Riu for making our stay memorable and longing to return back someday.…
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Date of stay: May 2021
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Choose the rooms closet to the ocean / pool.
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Helpful
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Marketing at Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar
Responded 2 weeks ago
Dear guest, Thank you for sharing such a nice review with us! It brings us great joy to know that you enjoyed your stay with us! We look forward to welcoming you back! We will forward your points of improvements to our management team to follow up since we are concerned by your words. With our best wishes we remain, Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar Online Reputation Manager
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PRICE RANGE
$270 - $1,211 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
TanzaniaZanzibar ArchipelagoZanzibar IslandNungwi
NUMBER OF ROOMS
200
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar
Which popular attractions are close to Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar?
Nearby attractions include Kendwa Beach (0.5 miles) and Bahati Beach Boutique (0.5 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, a pool, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar?
Top room amenities include a minibar, air conditioning, and a bidet.
What food & drink options are available at Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and a poolside bar during their stay.
Is parking available at Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar?
Conveniently located restaurants include Bistro' del Mar, Essence Restaurant, and Fisherman lokal restaurant.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar?
Yes, guests have access to a pool, a fitness center, and fitness classes during their stay.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, French, German, Arabic, Afrikaans, and Swahili.
Are there any historical sites close to Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Fukuchani Ruins (2.0 miles).
Does Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the lagoon view available here.
Is Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar accessible?
Yes, it offers reduced mobility rooms and facilities for disabled guests. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.