Sultan Sands Island Resort & Spa

Amazing resort with great facilities. The beach is under your legs. The best of all is the people who work, they made us feel like we belong there. The service was very kind and friendly. Hakuna Matata friends!

Zanzibar is a special place, beautiful, historic and full of character. Sultan Sands is a very good resort and I’d happily recommend it, but there are a few things I wish I’d known before booking. The staff are fantastic: warm, funny and attentive without being overbearing. Chris at the bar/restaurant deserves a special mention - endlessly upbeat, professional and determined that everyone have a good time. Julius on night security was another gem. That warmth runs through the whole place. Rooms are comfortable and immaculately kept, with AC, mosquito nets, safe, turndown service and mosquito spraying. Wi-Fi can be painfully slow and some of the tech feels tired, but frankly, look outside, you’re in Zanzibar. Even the occasional power cuts become oddly charming. One caveat: another guest had cash go missing from their room. My own experience was faultless, I left my laptop and belongings out without issue, so I suspect an unfortunate one-off. Still, use the safe, but keep cash with you, and be sensible. Otherwise I felt extremely safe, including walking the beach alone at night, and security is visible throughout. The beach is beautiful. White sand, warm turquoise water and huge sandbanks at low tide. Bring sea shoes because there are plenty of sea urchins. Watersports are readily available with helpful staff. There are also lots of beach traders: generally friendly guys, but after the twentieth sales pitch you may develop the thousand-yard stare. The dive centre is exceptional. Harry, my instructor, was brilliant, safe, relaxed and great fun. Book early, especially if you’re diving near the end of your trip and make sure to leave enough time before your last dive and your flight. My main criticism is the “All Inclusive” package, which comes with an asterisk large enough to be visible from mainland Tanzania. The buffet is included and perfectly decent: good choice, some nice curries, themed evenings, and you certainly won’t go hungry. But it’s noticeably below the standard of the à la carte restaurants. Also meal times are restricted to breakfast lunch and dinner, there isn't really 'room service'. If you want to eat ad hock, the grill bar is great, but expensive... and your only 'full meal' option. Some restaurants belong to neighbouring sister resort Bluebay and carry a $25 surcharge. Sultan Sands’ premium restaurant is included once, then also costs extra. The food at these restaurants is great (the lamb kebabs at Cinnamon deserve repeat visits) and $25 itself isn’t unreasonable. But if you’ve seen multiple restaurants advertised alongside an all-inclusive package, don’t assume they’re all included. The same applies to drinks: they can make plenty of things, but many cost extra. That’s really the frustration: Sultan Sands is close to being exceptional. Wonderful staff, gorgeous setting, good rooms, excellent diving, strong restaurants and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. A few tired details and an all-inclusive package that doesn’t feel entirely all-inclusive stop it quite getting there. Would I recommend Sultan Sands? Absolutely. Would I go back? Quite possibly. But read exactly what your package includes before booking, because there are comparable resorts offering more genuinely comprehensive deals. With a handful of small tweaks, Sultan Sands could go from very good to genuinely brilliant. Happy travels.

I had an amazing stay at Sultan Sands Resort, and it was one of the best resorts I’ve ever visited. The resort is peaceful, beautiful, and the perfect place to relax. The tropical gardens, palm trees, and stunning beachfront create an incredible atmosphere that makes you feel refreshed from the moment you arrive. The rooms were spacious, spotless, and very comfortable. Everything around the resort was clean, well-maintained, and beautifully landscaped. The pool was lovely, and the beach was absolutely breathtaking, especially during sunset. One of my favorite parts of the experience was the daily entertainment. Every evening after dinner, there were enjoyable live shows that made the nights fun and memorable. In the afternoons, they also organized beach volleyball games, which created a great atmosphere and gave guests a chance to have fun together. I would especially like to thank Fatima, who made our stay even more special. She was incredibly kind, friendly, and always greeted us with a warm smile. She went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and happy throughout our stay. Her exceptional hospitality truly made a difference, and she deserves special recognition. Thank you to the entire team at Sultan Sands Resort for the outstanding service and warm hospitality. I highly recommend this resort to anyone visiting Zanzibar, and I will definitely be coming back! 🌴🌊☀️.

Absolutely fantastic – highly recommended. I stayed here alone, but I didn’t feel lonely for a single second. The atmosphere was so warm and welcoming that I felt completely at ease from the very first moment. The bed was super comfortable, the food was simply delicious every single day, and the beach was a dream: soft sand, turquoise water – pure relaxation. The staff were incredibly friendly, always smiling and helpful, and truly made me feel well taken care of. The entire hotel is beautifully maintained and radiates such a peaceful, feel-good atmosphere. Honestly, I couldn’t have wished for anything better. This place is a true hidden gem, and I can highly recommend it to anyone – whether traveling solo, as a couple, or as a family. I will definitely be back! Mimi ☀️🌴🌊🫶🏽